Sermon Central

The story of Zacchaeus and Jesus - Luke 19:1-10 The crowds grumble at Jesus’ self-invitation to stay with Zacchaeus, and their righteous indignation isn’t without cause. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus has extorted money and acted in collusion with the empire, using his position to oppress his own people. It is important to call out oppression, and yet, Jesus offers mercy. That mercy then begets mor...

Our Sermon Series, Everything In Between, is studying stories and parables found in the Gospel of Luke. Each story shows how Jesus addressed the polarities people were living in, challenging his listeners to think of things in a new way. So for us– thousands of years later–this series invites us to spend Lent navigating the polarities in our own lives with more faith, intention, and openness… so t...

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT Luke 10:38-42 (Mary & Martha host Jesus) In many translations, Jesus says that “Mary has chosen the better part,” which has been used to create a divide between Mary and Martha. However, in the Greek, Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’s tasks are called “ministry.” Therefore, perhaps Mary represents our faith, our desire to know God intimately, and Martha rep...

Everything In Between Stranger and Neighbor by BrecksvilleUMC

Today we conclude our worship series Fully Alive, based on the book of the same title by Elizabeth Oldfield. The book reminds us of the wisdom our Christian faith tradition holds. There are a million places for us to find meaning and wisdom for our lives, and so often Christianity gets overlooked as irrelevant—out of touch with current reality. But within the Christian faith, there are signposts t...

Fully Alive: Gluttony - From Numbing to Ecstasy by BrecksvilleUMC

Today we continue with our worship series Fully Alive, based on the book of the same title by Elizabeth Oldfield. We are each searching for meaning in our lives—searching for wisdom. And there’s millions of places for us to find it. In Fully Alive, Elizabeth Oldfield reminds us of the wisdom that our Christian faith tradition holds. Within Christianity, there are signposts that show us how to beco...

Today we continue with our worship series Fully Alive, based on the book of the same title by Elizabeth Oldfield. We are each searching for meaning in our lives—searching for wisdom. And there’s millions of places for us to find it. In Fully Alive, Elizabeth Oldfield reminds us of the wisdom that our Christian faith tradition holds. Within Christianity, there are signposts that show us how to beco...

Fully Alive - Avarice: from stuffocation to gratitude and generosity by BrecksvilleUMC

Today we continue with our worship series Fully Alive, based on the book of the same title by Elizabeth Oldfield. This book focuses on the question, “Who am I becoming?” In a world that is rife with division, pointing fingers, selfishness, and ecological destruction, am I becoming someone who is part of the problem or part of the solution? Am I becoming someone who is fully alive, or am I simply g...

Today we begin a new worship series entitled Fully Alive, based on the book of the same title by Elizabeth Oldfield. This book focuses on the question, “Who am I becoming?” In a world that is rife with division, pointing fingers, selfishness, and ecological destruction, am I becoming someone who is part of the problem or part of the solution? Am I becoming someone who is fully alive, or am I simpl...

Today, we conclude our worship series, “Words for the Beginning.” It’s a series that’s led us through Advent and Christmas, giving us reminders like, “Hope is worth the risk,” “Love knows your name,” “We can’t go alone,” and “Do the good that is yours to do.” These words have been like steady ground as we walk forward into the unknown of the future. At first glance, they seem like words we would t...

This week, we are in the gospel of Luke, with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, challenging the people then as well s us now, asking: what good am I called to do here and now?

One of life’s most essential lessons is that we are never meant to go alone. And yet, modern culture pushes us more and more into lonely silos. If Ruth had followed her culture’s norms, she would have gone home to her family of origin after her husband died, but instead, she commits herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Together they form a new family and covenant. Ruth and Naomi travel together to...

As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.

In scripture, we find stories that were written in and told through even more turbulent times than ours. They’ve provided forms of collective resistance, and spiritual steadying for billions of people throughout the centuries. And God is still speaking and working through these scriptures today.

"This past week, voters decided who the next president of the United States would be. And the feelings about this decision run the gamut of human emotion: excitement and relief and validation, and shock, disappointment, and grief. In many ways, this election has felt like the ultimate fight between “us” and “them.” Both sides convinced that their candidate would bring in a new era for “their peopl...

On All Saints Sunday, United Methodists around the world publicly remember and honor those who have passed away. All Saints Sunday honors the impact each life has on another.

Abundant Life: Justice and Love by BrecksvilleUMC

Abundant Life Embraces Compassion by BrecksvilleUMC

Today we begin our annual stewardship campaign, and with it, a new worship series. Our stewardship campaign is a time we carve out each year to intentionally talk about the ministry of BUMC and ask you to prayerfully consider how you will support our church community in the coming year. It’s also a great time to think about what it means to “be the Church,” and hold ourselves accountable to that w...

We conclude our Kindness Campaign with a meditation on Finding Common Ground, with guest speaker Rev. Cara Stultz Costello

God's words are not hidden from us. God's will for us has not been kept a secret. God has told us what is good and all that is required of us: To do justice. To live kindness. And to walk humbly with our God. – Micah 6:8

We are in the second week of our sermon series, “Do Unto Others,” campaigning for kindness. It’s the middle of September and we are already deep into election season here in the US. And now, more than ever, we need to be reminded of how we are called to live in the world as followers of Jesus. Last week, Pastor Bruce Hitchcock talked about how in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares the Golden Rule...

We begin a new worship series called The Kindness Campaign. What would happen if we each chose to live The Golden Rule: Do unto others...? We see division and polarization in our country, communities and even inside the walls of our own churches. It’s easy to wonder if we will ever go beyond agreeing to disagree, yet Jesus shows us a better way. Jesus taught us that we should treat others as we wa...