Sermon writing and worship preparations are a holy art. I prayerfully engage the living word with imagination, curiosity, and an openness for the Spirit to dance!
My hope as your pastor through “Neeley’s Notions” is to offer stories and perspectives to ignite your own imagination, curiosity, and openness to the Spirit. - this will be a periodical email offering as the Spirit leads!
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Sharing with others, whether they realize it or not, is a part of my sermon writing process. I have loved our FPC Tuesday at noon offering of Lectio Divina, a prayerful Bible study. It has been a gift to gather and marvel in the sacred stories of our faith as a small group.
It has inspired me to share even more, not just with a small group, though that will certainly still be a part of my process, but with any in our FPC family who wishes to be a part of the conversation. That is where the inspiration for this email release came from. I will share with whomever whishes to join the mailing list thoughts and inspirations that have come to me through my call as a pastor, as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, and most often child of God.
There will be a button at the bottom of this email to subscribe to future editions of "Neeley's Notions" whenever I am called to share. I hope you'll enjoy this little Friday inside peek into my message for Sunday morning!
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Receiving and Extending Grace in My Life |
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Earlier this week during our church staff meeting we gathered around the table for our weekly devotion. Our topic – grace. We spent time together reflecting on situations in our lives when we have received grace and incidents when we have extended grace. I shared the grace I have felt through being a first-time head of staff pastor during a pandemic. Thank you, church family! We found ourselves expressing gratitude for the grace that overflows in big moments of our lives and in the simplest occurrences. |
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For me, grace is vulnerability. Grace is admitting we need one another. Grace is forgiveness. Grace is a hug. Grace is love. Grace is the kitchen table. In my home growing up, the kitchen table was a holy space, a place where my parents would offer grace time and time again. They taught my sisters and me how to extend grace to ourselves. Grace is leaving the porch lights on for when for when we are ready to come home. My understanding of grace like shimmering porch lights is from my grandmother, Memama. Who has taught you about grace?
If you wish to share with me who has taught you, just reply to this email. I would love to hear from you.
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Picture of Memama and my daughter, Paisley... Memama's porch lights are always on! Thanks be to God! |
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This Sunday we will explore what grace looks like through the parable of the prodigal. |
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All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him.
The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus told them this parable:
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“A certain man had two sons.
The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ Then the father divided his estate between them.
Soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away. There, he wasted his wealth through extravagant living.
When he had used up his resources, a severe food shortage arose in that country and he began to be in need.
He hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.
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When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, but I’m starving to death!
I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired hands.”’
So he got up and went to his father.
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"The Prodigal Son" giclée print
© Kaye Redman
Bible series, based on Luke 15:11-32.
I love this artwork: The vibrant colors, the warmth, the arms interlocking, the son home in his father’s arms. The artist depicts the road. The scripture reads, “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him.” (Common English Bible)
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“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him.
Then his son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!
Fetch the fattened calf and slaughter it. We must celebrate with feasting
because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
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“Now his older son was in the field. Coming in from the field, he approached the house and heard music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
The servant replied, ‘Your brother has arrived, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he received his son back safe and sound.’
Then the older son was furious and didn’t want to enter in, but his father came out and begged him.
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He answered his father, ‘Look, I’ve served you all these years, and I never disobeyed your instruction. Yet you’ve never given me as much as a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
But when this son of yours returned, after gobbling up your estate on prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’
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Then his father said, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found.’”
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God’s grace is a prodigal grace: lavish, and full to the brim. I invite you to reflect on your understanding and experiences of grace as we prepare our hearts for worship. Remember to give yourself grace and extend grace to another today! |
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With love,
Neeley Rentz Lane
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