SERMON
PODCASTS
(Audio files; .mp3) Archive
from previous years
Peace
on Earth: Jesus' Coming and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Dec 2: Pt. 1 "Who Started the Conflict? Myths & Misunderstandings"
Dec
9: Pt. 2 "What's it About?"
Dec
16: Pt 3 "Why Does it Matter?"
- New!
Dec 23: Pt 4 "
When Will it End?" - New!
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To watch the Christmas
in Bethlehem missionary video, click here.
Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service:
"The Dear Christ Enters In" Luke 2:1-20
Dec
30: "Who Put That Star There?" Matthew 2
Jan
6 : "Grace Upon Grace" John 1:1-18
Jan
13: "Forsaking All I Take Him" Exodus 3:1-14, 1 Corinthians
15:1-10 (Gary Conover)
Jan
20: "Come and See" John 1:29-42
Feb.
3 : Road to Recovery, "Finding Help"
Feb.
17 : Road to Recovery, "Coming Clean"
Feb.
24 : Road to Recovery, "Making Changes"
Mar.
2 : Road to Recovery, "Restoring Relationships"
Mar.
9 : Road to Recovery, "Staying on Tack"
Mar.
16 : Road to Recovery, "Recycling Pain Into Healing"
Mar.
23 : "Eternity Crashes In"
Mar.
16 :Leaving the Empty Tomb, "Belief Through Doubt"
April
6 : "Eye-Opening Bread"
April
13 : "Foolish Obedience" The Net Results"
April
20 : "A New Purpose in Life"
May
4 : "From Tent to Temple to Table"
Taking
Care of God's House: The Campaign for Gogginsville Introduction
Podcast
May
18 : "The God of Love & Peace"
May
25 : "Homecoming"
June
1: "One The Move"
June
8: "Signed & Sealed"
June
15: "Not Everyone Laughs"
Ruminations
& Reflections
Past Years Archive
June 2009
Adios and Rejoice!
"Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
What a ride it has been! When I reflect on how far we have come in the past five years, I am filled with a sense of joy. We have taken significant strides towards making our church less self-centered, and more focused on the world around us. We have helped bring more people into the life of discipleship. We have created more avenues to involve people in disciple-forming small groups. We have hired staff to provided greater leadership. We have increased our giving to support the expanding ministries. And we have done many other acts of Christian love and service that are too numerous to detail. As I reflect on all these things, I’m filled not with self-satisfaction or pride, but with thanksgiving and joy. I’ve certainly made my share of mistakes. But despite our shortcomings, God has been doing a new thing. All of this change and growth has happened only by the work of God’s grace in us and through us. So I say, "Praise God!”
When we go through this time of transition—of bidding one another farewell—one of the best things we can do is to celebrate what God has done among us during our time together. In the above verses, Paul concludes his last communication with the Corinthian church by saying, "Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.” Interestingly, the Greek word that’s translated "farewell” can also be translated, "rejoice.” In other words, to bid someone farewell is to rejoice in them, and to rejoice with them. The most meaningful, loving thing we can do as I take leave of you is to remember and rejoice in what God has done.
Saying farewell is still not easy. It also acknowledges taking leave of one another—saying to each other, "fare-thee-well.” You and I have shared many meaningful and significant moments during my time here (baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, hospitalizations, etc.). You have trusted me enough to invite me into the most intimate and difficult moments of your lives—and in so doing, have blessed me. I pray that you will receive the Rev. Mark Richardson and his family with the same openness and trust with which you have welcomed me. You are blessed to be receiving Mark as your pastor. Once Mark arrives, I will turn over to him my mantle as your pastor. Even though I will still be in the County, you will then be under his guidance and care. I am excited for you to be receiving a pastor of Mark’s caliber. I know God will continue to do great things in you and through you to make a difference in this world!
Even though I will no longer be your pastor, my family and I will still be your brothers and sisters in Christ. So I will leave you with my favorite parting word: "¡Adios!” I learned years ago, while conversing in Spanish with other Methodists in El Salvador, that this common word of goodbye is an abbreviation of a phrase: "¡a dios vos acomiendo!” (Translated, "I commend you to God”). In other words, "adios” means, "to God.” So adios, my dear friends. We are always one in Christ Jesus. And may "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
As always, Your brother
in Christ,
Rev. Brad Dulaney, Pastor
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