Brent Ness

Yesterday we received amazing, wonderful, “pinch me it’s so fabulous news” from K and Lea and Aurora at General Conference. LOVE WINS!

This week we jump ahead in the lectionary to what will be the early days of forming Christ’s church in the world.

A few years back, we did a little exploration of the question, ‘What’s a church for?’ It was a provocative question, and we came up with some interesting answers.

When it comes to the Risen Christ, it seems like believing is seeing. Walking on the road to Emmaus that evening of Easter, two disciples encounter Jesus. But, of course, they don’t recognize him.

While Easter Sunday is a once a year event, the Easter season lasts 50 days. Over the course of these 50 days we’ll be thinking as a community about how to be Easter people in a hurting world.

Sunday, we mark the time when Jesus makes his final entrance into Jerusalem.  We will wave palms, shout our hosannas, pray, and give praise to the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

People have been puzzling out the meaning of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus since the moment it happened.

Yikes! If I got bitten by a snake, I’m not sure I’d go to Moses for a cure. But I have felt strangely drawn to this scripture lately.

The congregation that became St. Paul & St. Andrew officially began on March 5, 1835!

So, at worship this Sunday we will celebrate turning 189 years old by singing, praising, praying and dedicating the restored stained-glass window, ‘Paul Before Agrippa’.

At first glance, this invitation of Jesus seems anything but inviting. Deny myself? How do I do that? Take up my cross?