From The Pulpit of DUMC

In this Sunday’s gospel reading, we will hear the Parable of the Sower, one of Jesus’ most well-known and beloved parables. Jesus often spoke in parables to help his listeners get a glimpse of what God’s kingdom looks like. So, how are we enlightened by a story about a farmer sowing seeds? What can we learn about ourselves; and most importantly, what can we learn about God? Read Matthew 13: 1-23 t...

This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about the Bible. It's the most widely read book, but the least understood. They discuss the basics of where it came from and then dig deeper on where to begin and how to read it.

This Sunday the appointed gospel has Jesus issuing his great words of invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Jesus here permits us in these words to peer into his own heart, letting us see who he truly is. This week let us respond to the invitation.

This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about forgiveness, what it is and what it means, and how to forgive. Also Shane gives an update on his car mirror and Karen answers a listener question on how she came to DUMC.

This Sunday our appointed gospel reading picks up where last week’s reading left off. After telling his disciples that they should have no fear of those who can kill the body—for there is no death in God and the fear of death should never order the followers of Jesus—Jesus advances this week true cost of following him, saying, “Whoever loves mother or father or children more than me is not worthy...

This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin and Karen are all back together! They discuss prayer - what it is, why it's important to pray daily, and some tips on how to pray. Karen also shares a story about her dog and Shane has a run in with an antelope. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.

This Sunday the appointed gospel has Jesus, encouraging his followers before they set off for mission, saying, “Do not fear those who can kill the body. Fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Hades.” This week let’s talk about fears, our current fears, and put, however we can, our fears in place. Fear is a good but only when rightly ordered. Let’s talk about how to rightly order our...

This week on Page - Turner Kevin is back and Karen interviews him about his calling and what it's like being the Pastor for Music and Worship at DUMC.

This Sunday in worship we will reflect on Jesus’s words, “I am the bread of life…those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have life in them.” So scandalous and graphic were his words in the context of John 6 that most of his followers abandoned following him in this moment. Still the Lord insisted: to share in his eternal life requires that we consume him. Jesus is true food indeed. This Sunday l...

This week on Page - Turner Shane gives an update on reopening the church and Karen interviews Shane about his calling and what it's like being a pastor. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.

This Sunday we come to one of final great liturgical Sundays of the year until Christ the King Sunday in November: Trinity Sunday. Each year after the Sunday of Pentecost the Church designates the following Sunday as a time to reflect on the God revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus: that the true God is Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Far from an abstract doctri...

This week on Page - Turner we discuss Shane's statement regarding the events associated with the death of George Floyd and how we can change our ideologies; Shane also explains the traffic light analogy for returning to church

This Sunday we come to yet another great day in the Christian year: the Sunday of Pentecost. Pentecost, which means fifty days, and which in the Christian calendar concludes the great fifty days of the Easter season, commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, animating them for their mission, giving birth to the Church. This Sunday we’ll recall a few important features of the...

This week on Page - Turner we discuss deeper about Ascension Sunday, some current quarantine trends and Shane provides another update when we might be worshiping in person again. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.

This Sunday we will commemorate yet another high holy day of the Christian year, the Sunday of Christ’s Ascension. Let’s revisit this great moment in the life of our Lord and remind ourselves what the event truly meant to the disciples and what it truly means for us today. Because Christ has ascended into heaven, we should possess within ourselves a lively, confident hope.

This week on Page - Turner we discuss the effects quarantine has had on us, confirmation, the trend of young adults leaving the church, and answer a viewer's question on when we might be returning back to worship in person. (Please note Shane's statement regarding returning in June was before the Bishop's recommendation of postponing worshiping together in person until after June 30. We will be fo...

The Sunday, the sixth in the Easter season, we will continue to reflect on the final words Jesus speaks to his disciples before his passion and resurrection. Last week the Lord said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." This week we will pick up where we left off. Jesus continues comforting his friends, saying in this week's lesson (John 14:15-21), "If you love me, you will keep my commandment...

Join our Pastors, Shane and Kevin, and our Director of Communications, Karen Payne, as they discuss Kevin's recent accomplishment and how we are reaching out to the congregation to worship during this pandemic.

This Sunday—the fifth Sunday of the Easter season—we will reflect on the appointed passage this week from John 14:1-12. In these verses, and hours before his death, Jesus begins laying out for his disciples the sheer mystery of his divine nature. It could take weeks to explore all the marvels hidden in these sentences. We will therefore limit ourselves to considering our Lord’s glorious response t...

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, bears the title “Shepherd Sunday.” Based on the appointed gospel lesson for the day (John 10:1-10), we will spend a few minutes focusing on Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd. In this Sunday’s lesson Jesus says is he the gate of the sheep and the guardian of the sheep who will protect his flock from the thief who comes only to steal, to kill, and...

This week we will take a look at the appointed gospel for this Sunday from Luke 24: Jesus’s appearance to two disciples walking to the village of Emmaus. It is one of the most beloved stories in all the gospels. There is, however, important lessons contained within its winsome sentences, which I will hope to draw out this week. Have your bible ready and we will walk through the story together, pon...

In our online worship service this weekend, we will look at how the disciples spent their time in the hours and days following Jesus’ emergence from the tomb. While Easter is a time of great joy and celebration for us today, those initial hours after Jesus’ resurrection brought fear and trepidation to his closest followers. We read in John’s gospel how Jesus returned to his friends to address thei...

For the fifth Sunday of Lent, the church appoints as the gospel reading on the great tales in the Gospel of John: the raising of Lazarus in chapter 11. This Sunday I will make a few observations about this story and how it may very well be a timely word for our current situation.

This Sunday we will worship together online. The live stream will begin at 9:30am. We have, for obvious reasons, put on hiatus our Lenten sermon series on the seven deadly sins and the seven life-giving virtues. This Sunday and for the next few Sundays we will revisit the appointed readings of the week. The appointed reading for this week concerns Jesus’s healing of the blind man in John chapter 9...