Rev. Zach

Acts 8:26-40             1 John 4:7-21           John 15:1-8 Take a moment and think about a fear that you challenged and overcame. If you can, think about the people you were with. Think about what motivated you. Think about that moment when you almost gave up. Think about how you felt after you conquered that fear. All of us have hundreds of moments like these throughout our lives. Some are so small and regular to us as we grow that we forget how difficult they must have been in the beginning – like learning to walk or riding a bike. For me, one of those base fears came with roller coasters. As a young child I could not stand roller coasters. I’m told it may have been because of inner ear issues as a baby. Whatever it was, I just could not bring myself to enjoy them. But somewhere along the way I realized that the people that wanted me to share in that joy were not try...

Acts 4:5-12      1 John 3:16-24      John 10:11-18 I am not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say 'Cause we don't want your broken parts I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars Run away, they say No one'll love you as you are But I won't let them break me down to dust I know that there's a place for us For we are glorious So, begins the song, “This Is Me” from the recent film, The Greatest Showman . The movie is a musical based on the life of P.T. Barnum, and his creation of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. It is sung by a bearded lady and chorused by people who were then called “oddities”, and I have to say that it nearly brought me to tears. That’s not because I have a soft spot for musical theater. It’s because I have a soft spot for the church. What I saw in this collection of people that others might label as misfits and freaks is what I have come to experience in the church of Jesus Christ. You may not...

Acts 3:1-10      1 John 3:1-7      Luke 24:36b-48 Have you ever heard one of those stories that is so amazing that you just have to share it? I mean one of those stories that just blows your mind. It’s the kind of thing that changes the way you see the world, and it seems unbelievable even as you tell it. I heard a story like that this week, and I just have to tell you about it! It’s about a guy named Adrian Owen. He is a researcher who has been mapping the brain through MRI’s since the late 1990's. In 1997, he had a breakthrough with a 26-year-old patient named Kate Bainbridge. What follows is a description of this event from nature.com , an online international weekly journal of science. “A viral infection had put [Kate Bainbridge] in a coma — a condition that generally persists for two to four weeks, after which patients die, recover fully or, in rare cases, slip into a vegetative or a minimally conscious state… Months after ...

Acts 4:32-35      1 John 1:1-2:2      John 20:19-31 How many of you have ever had someone try to get you to do something or try something by telling you, “it will change your life?” Maybe it’s something health related, like kale. Come on, it’s a super food! It will change your life. Or maybe it’s more about a new culinary reality, like when someone made roasted sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts for a church lunch. Not gonna lie – it changed my life. It opened me to new realms of culinary delight in places I never wanted to go. We all experience these little epiphanies from time to time. Last night my daughter found out an assignment due date was changed. She was – genuinely, I hope – praising God and sharing the joy with her friends across various platforms of communication. In our community of faith, we’ve had several life changing events in the past few weeks. We’ve experienced tremendously moving worship services with our sister ...

Isaiah 25:6-9       1 Corinthians 15:1-11       Mark 16:1-8 So…what did you get in your Easter basket? I know that baskets of candy are for children, but I just had to ask. If you did not get one today, you probably have fond memories from years past. Traditions do vary from house to house. I always remember that I would get a basket of candy, and the freedom to eat it whenever I wanted. As for my children, their baskets have always involved some kind of prize. In fact, we used to take a trip every year after Easter, and somehow their baskets always included a movie to watch! We all have our wishes for birthdays and magic baskets and other celebrations – some more realistic than others. Every holiday basket includes the age old question of whether we are celebrating for the right reason or not? In fact, just as I was wondering about some Easter equivalent to, “Keep Christ in Christmas!” I saw a post on social media that said, “...