Pastor Jenn was sick this weekend. So Barb preached two Messages from her Basket, and Pastor Jenn recorded her sermon from home. This communion Sunday recording is therefore longer than usual, but such good stuff–we hope you’ll listen to all of it!
Today we looked, with Jesus, at the questions, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and “Who’s my neighbor?” (Turns out they’re related.) We discover that parables work because we’re usually all the characters, one way or another. And also, Jesus Himself is hiding somewhere in them, too.
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Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan
Message in a Basket x 2: Rev. Barbara Jernigan
Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)
Why do we tell stories? Why are there so many stories in the Bible? Why would Luke, trying to write an orderly account of the life of Jesus, bother to include so many of Jesus’ stories which were, in fact, fiction?
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Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand
Message in a Basket: Paul Layte
Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)
Five people publicly commit their lives to Jesus through baptism by immersion. Then we all learned about how prayer can form us from there: After Pausing, Rejoicing, Asking, and Yielding to the love of God, all of life can become a prayer–just as Jesus’ did. (Unlike most Sundays, this week’s audio includes the entire service.)
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Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs
Message in a Basket: Sandi Gunderman
Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)
…are apparently a Baptist thing, although I guess I never thought about it before. Anyway.
Let it be known that this is one tweet whose response I can really get behind…and that I don’t mind continuing to be associated with. I will not be deleting this tweet. So excited for Sunday!
P.S. I think we’re all set on the baptismal robes.
Exodus 17:8-13 A story about a battle between flesh and blood (the Amalekites against the Israelites) gives us insight into how to handle it when our bullies are NOT flesh and blood.
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Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan
Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan
Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)
“Sometimes I wonder if the reason some of my prayers go unanswered is because I’m asking for the quick fix that will get me off Jesus’ back, rather than the long-term solution that will bring me closer to Him.” –Pastor Jenn
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Technologically, this has been the weirdest recording we have ever produced. The audio was inaudible at the beginning of the service. Pastor Jenn’s mic battery died 2/3 of the way through her sermon. Therefore, all that is included here is the Message in a Basket, and the sermon up through the point where the mic died, with a re-preached audio clip attached at the end, with the end of the sermon. Thank you for your grace and patience. Good news! We’re getting new equipment soon. And also batteries.
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Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan
Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)
Winter/Spring courses are in session and if you’re not taking them now, I hope you’ll get in on the Summer/Fall rounds. Here are some dates and registration links to get you started. (Click on the banners for more info regarding each class.)
Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM Eastern
Begins August 4, concludes October 27
Class size: minimum 3, maximum 6
$400 per person, up to 3 optional and complimentary spiritual direction sessions available for each participant
No registration links yet, but you may also want to save the dates for the 2023 Winter Solace online retreat: January 6-8, $100 per person (or computer, really). Stay tuned for more information.
Please reach out with any questions or to discuss the possiblity of scholarships or discounts. Hope to see you “on the road” soon!