Is This the End?
Rev. Lara Bolger
3/27/16
Promise- Sermon 3
Rev. Lara Bolger
9/21/14
Description:In Joseph we find not only the story of a man of dreams, but also of one who was seduced and wrongly accused of adultery. Through slavery, prison, and living in the midst of a foreign empire, we see that God is with Joseph even when the structures of power are against him. God does not prevent us from experiencing all that is risky in life, but God does not abandon us.
Promise- Sermon 2
Rev. Lara Bolger
9/14/14
Description:To make a real beginning is the most difficult act- and when called by God at 75, Abraham made quite the real beginning. All beginnings, no matter how small, are blessings from God. When we take a small step out in faith toward the places that God calls us to we find hope, life, and joy. Abraham doesn't make this step by himself- he has Sarah and many generations of his family to journey with. For when God calls just one of us, God calls all of us.
Promise- Sermon 1
Rev. Lara Bolger
9/7/14
Description:The creation story is often cut short in our usual worship readings. In this sermon Pastor Lara explores the sections of the story of Noah that we tend to glance over- the sections in which God suffers in the disappointment of humankind, causes distruction, and then has a momentous change of heart. In the great flood of the Old Testament God does not change humanity, but promises to turn to us in a new way.
The Plight of the Woman at the Well
Karyn Kuan
2/2/14
Description:When we encounter the woman at the well, do we judge and offer forgiveness, or do we offer dignity as Jesus did? When we are the woman at the well, do we lie about our identity, or do we come to God and one another in truth and honesty?
Finding Your Passion
Rev. Cara Scriven
1/19/14
Description:Dian Fossey acted on her passion for mountain gorillas to help change the way the world viewed and treated them, just as Jesus acted on his passions to change our world.
Choices Matter
Rev. Cara Scriven
12/24/13
Description:In her Christmas Eve message, Pastor Cara reminds us that our choices really do matter.
Hope for those Living in Exile?
Rev. Cara Scriven
11/24/13
Description:Pastor Cara's touches on the recent challenges the United Methodist Church has been facing in the news and the prophet's temptation to offer a false hope when deliverance may still be far away.
Annointing the Future Today
Rev. Cara Scriven
10/20/13
Description:Pastor Cara shares the Biblical story of the unexpected annointing of a shepherd boy named David as the future king of Israel, weaving it together with a more contemporary baptism.
Home
Karyn Kuan
10/6/13
Description:Karyn Kuan recounts the story of the Israelites wandering through the desert while ruminating on the meaning, and experience of, the word home.
Missing the Big Question
Rev. Cara Scriven
9/22/13
Description:Pastor Cara shares the story of Jacob experiencing God in a vision and asks us to consider how we might work to be aware of God's presence with us everyday.
Gossip and the Art of Self-Control
Rev. Cara Scriven
8/4/13
Description:Pastor Cara candidly discusses the reasons we tend to engage in gossip before suggesting some ways we can all work toward a more disciplined life, and why we might want to do this.
Gentleness is not for Sheep
Rev. Cara Scriven
7/28/13
Description:Popular understandings of the word gentleness suggest cuteness and timidity. Pastor Cara speaks to a different kind of gentleness as we share the hope within us.
Kindness > Niceness
Rev. Cara Scriven
7/21/13
Description:In her first sermon plumbing the theological depths of the Big Band Theory sitcom, Pastor Cara discusses the difference between being nice as a social convention and being kind as a matter of spiritual faithfulness.
Peter and the Supremes
Rev. Cara Scriven
6/30/13
Description:Pastor Cara continues to explore the moment of the Spirit on the early church in Acts while also touching on more recent developments.
Go and Do!
Rev. Cara Scriven
6/23/13
Description:Pastor Cara talks about the mission of the church as seen in the story of Peter or Cornelius in the Book of Acts. Will we focus on our obstacles or our mission?
Washing Jesus' Feet
Hiroshi Goto
6/9/13
Description:Lay speaker Hiroshi Goto talks about forgiveness, a woman's bold move, and what it means to our lives.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Rev. Cara Scriven
6/2/13
Description:Pastor Cara discusses the story of Phillip, the Ethiopian eunuch, and those whom we might find be surprised to discover within the circle of God's love.
Batman, Elisha and the Insurrection of Jesus
Rev. Cara Scriven
5/5/13
Description:Pastor Cara explores some connections between our tendency to look elsewhere for salvation and God's call to a discipleship that empowers us all.
Practicing with Thomas
Rev. Cara Scriven
4/21/13
Description:In light of recent tragedies, Pastor Cara explores what First Responders can teach us about moving beyond our doubts to live lives of faith.
Gone Fishing?
Rev. Cara Scriven
4/14/13
Description:Pastor Cara explores the meaning of Easter for us today as she looks at the story of Jesus sharing breakfast with his disciples on the beach.
Our love may need a little defining
Rev. Cara Scriven
2/3/13
Description:Sharing a litany of bad examples, Pastor Cara challenges the community to move past love as some abstract goal to amble toward, encourage all instead to live in love as God defines it.
The Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle
Rev. Cara Scriven
1/27/13
Description:Pastor Cara shares the story of the old woman who lived in a vinegar bottle and asks us what we have in common. From where does happiness evolve in one's life?
Dueling Stories of Joseph or Hindsight is Always 20/20
Rev. Cara Scriven
12/23/12
Description:Pastor Cara looks at two stories of Biblical Josephs; one from the Hebrew Bible and the second the father of Jesus. Both are faced with difficult choices and each allows God's grace to work through them to make the best future possible a reality.
Bells @ Redmond Lights Festival
RUMC Bell Choir
12/1/12
Description:A short video of the Redmond United Methodist Bell Choir rockin' the Redmond Lights Festival tonight! Thanks to @CityOfRedmond for the opportunity!
The Lord is Our Shepherd
Rev. Cara Scriven
10/28/12
Description:In times of grief and tragedy it doesn't always feel as if God is with us. Even in the midst of these times we can see God though the acts of those who care and support us.
Living in the Light
Rev. Cara Scriven
10/21/12
Description:Keeping secrets is a norm in our society but by keeping them, are we doing more harm then good? Pastor Cara explores the benefits of confessing our secrets.
Amazing Grace
Rev. Cara Scriven
10/14/12
Description:Looking through the book of Nehemiah, Pastor Cara explores the mistakes we as a society have made. She reminds us that even when we make mistakes, God is still walking with us.
Responsibility and Grace
Rev. Cara Scriven
10/7/12
Description:Pastor Cara looks at the story of David and Bathsheba and its implications for us today. She explores what it means to take responsibility for our actions and the importance of doing to our spiritual lives.
Clarity
Rev. Cara Scriven
9/9/12
Description:The New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus working wonders and interacting with countless people. It also tells stories of him going off, leaving the crowds to regain focus and reconnect with God and the Kingdom vision he preached and practiced. As followers of Jesus we would do well to learn both from his practice of dedicated service and the awareness that we all need to dedicate time to center ourselves.
Put Down the Sword
Rev. Cara Scriven
7/29/12
Description:Pastor Cara discusses Jesus' words to Peter in the garden and asked whether we've been faithful to them. We use violence to stop violence at what cost?
The Unexpected Call
Rev. Cara Scriven
7/22/12
Description:The audio for this sermon has several cuts where people were asked to work on projects or engage in thought/conversation. Hope it is still enjoyable.
When Donkeys Speak
Rev. Cara Scriven
7/8/12
Description:The story of Balaam and his donkey is discussed in connection to the difficulties we face sometimes in seeing the path ahead. There are several 'interactive' portions of this sermon that have been shortened significantly with sensitivity to those listening at home.
Breath of God
Rev. Katie Stickney
7/1/12
Description:Rev. Katie, deacon at Redmond UMC and Pastoral Counselor, tells the story of Sam and Michelle and how they work through the disappointment of not being able to have children. She parallels this story with that of the early church as Jesus' disciples plans change from how they envisioned things.
Restoration
Jon Carson
6/24/12
Description:Seeing the potential to return something to what it is supposed to be is part of the art of car restoration. It is also the essential work of God in our lives and of God's church in the world.
Kneading the Dough
Rev. Cara Scriven
6/17/12
Description:Pastor Cara discusses the process of making bread and how that relates to the development of our faith lives; how we become the people we are and why things sometimes need a little work. Christian education is lifted up during this short homily.
Beyond the Guidebook
Rev. Cara Scriven
6/10/12
Description:Pastor Cara shares a recent travel experience and reflects on the journey of life and the different resources available to us to help along the way.