Climate Justice:

What’s at Stake?

Welcome to the second Sunday of our Climate Justice worship series!  Dr. Tremwel kicked off the Climate Justice worship series last Sunday when we were informed, inspired, challenged, and charged to move into action to rescue God’s beloved creation. This Sunday, we have our own conferences’ Climate Justice Task Force committee chair, Rev. Sharon Delgado, blessing us with a video-recorded sermon from her home in Nevada.  

Jesus said: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky.” (You can predict the weather by looking). “But,” he said, “you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”  – Matthew 16:3

Rev. Sharon Delgado writes, “Earth’s changing climate is one of the major signs of our times, but most of us have not yet come to terms with its profound implications. This summer, as heat records are being shattered and weather-related disasters are taking place all over the world, we will squarely face what is at stake with climate change. As followers of Jesus, it’s not OK for us to fall prey to denial or disinformation or dogma, or despair. Rather, we are invited to speak the truth and hear the truth and face the truth in love.”

She continues to write, “We are at a critical juncture in the history of life on earth, a time of danger and a time of choice. Scientists say that it is in this decade that we must act.  We can continue along the present course, or we can repent, seek to discern God’s will, and take action under the Spirit’s guidance. We can work together to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, foster the earth’s regenerative ability to sequester carbon, and transform the systems that cause climate change.”

Come friends!  Join us!

Climate Justice:

Dream a New Church Relation with Creation

¹⁹For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God – Romans 8:19-21

Siblings, we now begin a new worship series on “Climate Justice.”  We have multiple speakers lined up to weigh in on this important issue in our world.  This Sunday, we are honored to have Dr. Terry Tremwel who will be kicking off this series!

Dr. Tremwel writes, “In today’s Gospel, chaos is God’s enemy sowing poisonous seed among the wheat. Climate chaos was seed sown by a specific group of enemies. The Church is called to be good seed in the world; then we can multiply our efforts one hundred times or sixty times or thirty times if we are quiet. Good, small seeds grow up into great, global results.” 

Dr. Tremwel continues to write, “This is the charge:  It’s not enough to be concerned about what affects us and our surrounding community; we are also called to live in a way that shows love and concern for our sisters and brothers half a world away, as well as the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every community on earth. Climate chaos caused by our poisonous emissions shows a complete lack of concern for others. Any solutions must be collective, but even our individual actions of love may serve as seeds that just may grow into a movement. Our time is fraught with danger, but pregnant with opportunity and hope. Go and spread the Gospel of radical emission reduction! Go be the beloved community!  

Beatitudes:

Blessed are The Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God” – Matthew 5:9

This Sunday’s beatitude is “Blessed are the Peace Makers”.  Sister Sherri Elinson walked where Jesus walked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and she will be sharing what it means to be a peacemaker.  She shares, “Get up, go ahead, do something!  Move you, peace makers, for you shall be called children of God!”  

Beatitudes:

Blessed are Those Who are

Persecuted for “Righteousness’ Sake”

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  -Matthew 5:10-12

We are getting to the tail end of Jesus’ words on “Blessed are you…” or “Happy are you…”  This Sunday’s blessing is a difficult one:  Be happy because you’re persecuted!  That’s a bit much, right?  Join us as we reflect on this scripture and what it teaches in your life!

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Beatitudes:

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8

We welcome Rev. Dr. Dale Tremper this Sunday as we pray for the visibility and vitality at Lake Park United Methodist Church. God is so good!  Pastor Sunae will be recapping Bishop Sally Dyck’s message at the Annual Conference Session and also speak on the sixth beatitude, what it means to have pure heart in our lives!  Come and join us!

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Annual Conference Report:

Witnesses of a New Thing

Clergy and Lay members of the California-Nevada Annual Conference gathered on Thursday, June 15^th to begin the activities for the 175^th Session of the Annual Conference in Sacramento.  This year, the session events began on Thursday and closed on Sunday to recognize Monday’s Juneteenth observance, now a federal holiday.

Sue Dickey, Laurel Williams, and Pastor Sunae came back inspired and challenged to share the work that we’ve done with our leadership, both clergies, laity, and the conference staff under the leadership of our Interim Bishop Sally Dick.  In the midst of the United Methodist Church experiencing the church disaffiliation, our own Bishop Minerva Carcano’s suspension, church closures, and membership decline, as well as church plants and how our churches are bringing God’s “sozo”, salvation, and redemption here and now, we were reminded that even then, even now,….God is doing new things in our lives.  Come friends, join us as we hear the Annual Conference Session report and give thanks to God.

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