According to the gospel of Mark, after the women disciples hear the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and are commissioned to go and tell, they utterly fail, leaving in fear and saying nothing to anyone. That is where Mark leaves the ending of his resurrection story! What’s up with that ending?
Recently, biblical scholars have begun to change their minds about Mark’s choice for an abrupt ending. They agree that his resurrection story was not a crash landing but a brilliant one. Mark leaves the ending open as an invitation for us to join in and finish writing it. Do you have an unfinished story that awaits resolution? Resurrection isn’t a conclusion, it’s an invitation.
Come and see. Come and hear! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.
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In this Palm/Passion Sunday, I will be exploring the inevitability of Jesus’ march to the cross. Resurrection will always be an unprecedented shock that interrupts every normal expectation. We, like Nicodemus and Joseph, are called to make our own contributions to the story of the shocking victory of God in Christ. –Pastor Dale
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
March 17, 2024
“The Women”
We continue our Lenten journey at the cross reflecting the witnesses’ stories at Jesus’ crucifixion. Are you there?
Did you know that there were many named and unnamed women following Jesus from Galilee, and they had been with the mission the entire time? They were there when other male disciples fled. They were there. Some gospel writers do not even give these women a voice in their witnessing, but they were there. They were there because they found in Jesus a new brother, a new son, a new father, and a new family.
Come, friends! Let us hear these women’s witnesses.
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
March 10, 2024
“The Beloved Disciple”
My message for this week centers around the mysterious “Beloved Disciple” in the Gospel of John. I take it that this character represents every one of us. Let us be embraced by God-in-Christ at the depth of our being. What kind of love claims us? Love that gets its hands dirty, gets involved, reaches out inclusively and experiences the essence of God. —Pastor Dale
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 17, 2024
The Women
Mark 15:40-41
*
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
March 3, 2024
“The Soldiers”
We continue our Lenten journey at the cross reflecting the witnesses’ stories at Jesus’ crucifixion. These witnesses help us spend time with Jesus’ suffering on the cross. This Sunday, we hear slightly different stories of the soldiers from each gospel. What was their witness? I wonder how their job impacted their lives. One of the soldiers, Centurion, at the cross claims, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Hearing their witnesses and experience of Jesus’ crucifixion invite us not only to remember Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross but invite us to pick up the stories ourselves and allow it to shape us into the future. Come, friends, join us! We invite you to be witness of the Cross.
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.
To join Sunday Worship via Facebook, log onto your Facebook account and search for the ‘Lake Merritt United Methodist Church’ page or click here.
To watch the live stream of our service on YouTube, click here.
2024 Lent Worship Series
Witness at the Cross
March 3, 2024
The Soldiers
John 19:23-24
Luke 23:47
*
March 10, 2024
The Beloved Disciple
John 13:23
John 19:26-27
*
March 17, 2024
The Women
Mark 15:40-41
*
March 24, 2024 | Palm / Passion Sunday
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Mark 15:42-46
*
March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Taizé service
*
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Easter and Membership Celebration
Mark 16:1-8
February 25, 2024
“Winning by Losing”
This Sunday, Pastor Dale will preach on the theme “Winning by Losing.” He writes, “On the cross, God in Christ wins against all forms of domination and oppression. God wins by giving. God wins by forgiving. As the choir sings “God So Loved the World”, we will be guided in meditating on the victory of love.”
Join us in person or via Zoom, Facebook or YouTube Live.