beloved

,

The Stark Humanity of Jesus and of Us

,

Perhaps like you, I got smudged this last Wednesday.

 

The 18th, as you may recall, was Ash Wednesday, the first day in the season of Lent. It’s a day that dares us think about this thing called life, but also about this thing called death – a day in which we are reminded of the dust from which we were created and the dust to which we shall return. Perhaps more than anything, though, it’s a day that reminds us of our humanness, that in the midst of being real, fleshy, messy human beings, a need for the Holy still exists.

Listen to or read Cara Meredith’s entire sermon by clicking “read more.”

,

Precious and Beloved: An Eternal Truth

,

Our first reading today comes from the book of Isaiah. In it Isaiah tells the people that they are precious in the sight of the Lord. They are loved by God. But He speaks these words to a people who feel anything but that. For generations, things have not been going their way. The dream of a united kingdom had fallen apart within months of Solomon’s death. There were constants wars back and forth. Oppression and corruption were rampant. The poor got poorer and the rich got richer. The orphan and the widow were neglected. It was a dark and bad time, but the rotten cherry on the top of this sundae was that the Babylonians had come and sent the people into exile. This was not a time when anyone could look around and say, boy, do I feel precious in the sight of the Lord.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

,

Beloved Is Your Name

,

this grace and mercy, the restorative, healing power of Jesus, does not discriminate. It is available to all. In Jesus, our binary distinctions and separators, our groupings of ins and out, in fact ALL dichotomies, are done away with. None of that has any effect on the love of God for all of God’s beloved children, for we are all one in the love of Christ.

To hear or read Ryan’s entire sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, click “Read More.”

   St. Mary's on Instagram     
follow us: @st.marys.eugene
Guest Preacher - Author Cara Meredith On Sunday, February 22nd, we will have a special guest preacher at the 9:30 and 11 AM services. Cara Meredith, a Pacific Northwest native, is the author of “Church Camp” and “The Color of Life.
A picture from Christmas past! 🎄 St. Mary’s kids singing 🎵 at a party? or a retirement home? Maybe someone who remembers can tell us!

Worship. Serve. Grow in Faith.