WORD for the Week for January 14, 2018
Second Sunday After the Epiphany
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WORD for Sabbath Beginnings | 8am Border Chapel
Worship Leader:
Rev. Dwight Haberman
Holy Communion:
The Character of God - Marcus Borg writes that the Bible sees God as punitive and threatening and at the same time gracious, loving and compassionate. Do you see or experience God in either of these ways-both?
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WORD for Sacred Journey | 8:30am Art Gallery
Reflection: Speaking Christian...God's Character is the theme for this Sunday at Sacred Journey. We will read Hosea 11:1-11 and John 3:36 as we explore the questions: What does your experience reveal about the character of God? How and why do bad things happen in a friendly universe? Borg says that ultimately God cannot be both loving and punitive. Do you agree? Steve Blons will help us reflect on our own experience of the character of God.
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WORD for Traditional Worship | 10am Sanctuary
Preaching: Rev. Nate Melcher
Reflection: Last Sunday, we explored the nature of God and found God is much bigger, deeper and more present than any way in which we could define God by the limits of our human imagination. This Sunday, we explore God's character. Where does the intention of God lean? Toward chaos and hate, to destruction and conflict? Or toward a new order and love, to rebuilding and reconciliation? Marcus Borg reminds us in this week's Speaking Christian chapter that "the passion and character of God are intrinsically related". By the passion of God, I mean what we mean when we ask of somebody, 'What's your passion in life - what do you care most about, what are you passionate about?' Passion flows out of character. If that is true for humankind, what passion flows out of God? In the Lectionary, the three-year cycle of scripture readings that many churches follow (including HAUMC for quite some time) the Hosea text for Sunday only appears once and it's paired with a great parable from Luke and the beauty that is Colossians 3, a new way to live in relationship. Because of this, it's quite possible many haven't experienced Hosea in worship very often, and you're encouraged to read a little about Hosea (http://www.enterthebible.org/oldtestament.aspx?rid=22) as well as about this particular passage from a trusted source: EnterTheBible.org, a ministry of Luther Seminary.
For the Children: Sometimes, we have a tough time making choices. And God is asking us to choose, too, when it comes to how we live in God's world. Have you ever made a choice that turned out to really help someone? Have you ever made a choice that didn't go well? Even when we make a choice we wish we hadn't, God still loves us. When we make a choice that makes the world better, God loves us and celebrates with us!
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Podcast Ministry
Subscribe (
iTunes), stream, or download Sacred Journey & Traditional Worship sermons.
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The Bible is in your hands...
You're invited to "dig deeper." Here are a handful of resources:
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church resources:
Worship Bulletins | online archive of HAUMC worship bulletins
Podcast Ministry | HAUMC Sacred Journey and Traditional Worship sermon podcasts
Devotional Ministry | HAUMC seasonal daily devotional ministry
The Life Mosaic | Rev. Nate Melcher's blog about faithful, creative, intentional living
Pause | Rev. Sally Johnson's blog about the contemplative spiritual journey
Scripture exegesis and commentary resources:
Bible Gateway | the Bible in hundreds of translations (NRSV, CEB,
The Message, etc.)
BibleHub | parse out the original Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT)
David Lose | commentary from the renound preaching professor and Mt. Olivet Senior Pastor
Enter the Bible | historical/cultural context for each book of the Bible from Luther Seminary
Oxford Biblical Studies | historical/cultural context for each book of the Bible from Oxford
Working Preacher | read and listen to lectionary commentary from Luther Seminary faculty
Art and Music resources:
Hymnary | a resource for both modern and traditional worship music and hymns
Sing for Joy | a worship music and hymn resource from St. Olaf College |
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WORD for the Week offers people an opportunity to prepare their hearts and minds
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WORD for the Week is a ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.
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Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
511 Groveland | Minneapolis, MN 55403
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