word for the week
 
WORD for the Week for April 8, 2018
Second Sunday of Easter

Come and Worship!

WORD for Sabbath Beginnings | 8am Border Chapel 

Scripture Text: Luke 24:50-53 (NRSV)

Worship Leader:  Rev. Dwight Haberman

Holy Communion: The various Biblical versions of the Ascension story may suggest that the meaning is not in the earthly details, but the spiritual meaning. Borg suggests 4 meanings: 1. Jesus is no longer here as a flesh and blood person but is "with God". 2. He is no longer constrained by time and space. 3. The ascension is associated with the Lordship of Jesus, that is, his authority. 4. Finally, the ascension is about the abiding presence of Jesus in the experience, conviction, and lives of his followers... He is Emmanuel, "God" with us. Marcus Borg "Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart. Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part."

WORD for Sacred Journey | 8:30am Art Gallery
 
Scripture Text: Luke 24:50-53 (NRSV)

Reflection: "Who is Lord? To affirm 'Jesus is Lord' systematically subverts all other lords, including the lords of culture." This statement by Marcus Borg in Speaking Christian in his chapter on Ascension will be held alongside the scripture for the day from Luke 24:50-53. Reflection questions to be considered: What else could it mean to say Jesus was "raised from the dead?" Is Jesus Lord? If not, who or what is? Borg says the ascension story proclaims that Jesus joined God and, therefore, is in all places and times and shares in God's full authority. What do you think?

WORD for Traditional Worship | 10am Sanctuary 

Scripture Text: Luke 24:36-53 (NRSV)

Preaching: Rev. Nate Melcher

Reflection: Nestled between the celebration of the empty tomb and the celebration of Pentecost is this episode of the risen Jesus and his disciples. In this brief moment, told twice in both Luke 24 and Acts 1, Jesus ascends to a new state of being with God in anticipation of the Spirit of God descending upon Earth. There is some sort of divine exchange happening, one that begs questions and wonder. To attempt to wrap our heads around the logistics of such an elevator chase is an exercise in missing the point. Instead, perhaps we get to feel with the disciples. They've witnessed their master die, then return, and now leave almost as soon as he reappeared. What is it to have faith in the midst of transition? Where does hope fit in a time and place where mystery overtakes certainty? What is next? May we seek God's responses to these questions as we go forth to live as Easter people. This Sunday we have a double blessing of the sacraments as we celebrate both a baptism and communion!

For the Children: How high can you reach? Can you reach as high as your parent or guardian's height? Maybe you didn't know this, but if you spread your arms out left and right, that's approximately how tall you are, too. How far can you reach? The reach of the love of God knows no bounds, no depths. Basically, nothing can stop it and nothing can work as a wall against it. Jesus ascends, or goes up, to be with God in a new way while the Holy Spirit descends, or comes down, to be with the people in a new way. No matter which way God moves, God is always moving toward humankind, moving closer to us in love. Are there times you can feel the love of God more than others? Who do you talk to about being a loved child of God? How far can you reach with love?

Podcast Ministry

Subscribe ( iTunes), stream, or download Sacred Journey & Traditional Worship sermons.


Worship Bulletin Archive



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:
Art in the Christian Tradition | The Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library at Vanderbilt
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

 
 

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
511 Groveland | Minneapolis, MN 55403 
612.871.5303  |  spire@haumc.org  |   hennepinchurch.org