Bluegrass United Church of Christ

Let's be honest; all of us, preachers and pastors included, sometimes have doubts and times when we struggle with our faith. None of us are immune from wondering if God really is there for us. Today, we read the story of the father who brought his son to Jesus to be healed. In a moment of honesty, the father acknowledges that his faith isn't beyond at least a measure of doubt. Even so, his son is healed. Today Kenny expands on how to deal with our questions and doubts when it comes to faith, the bible, and who God is. MESSAGE: “It's My Unbelief" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Mark 9: 14-24 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

All of us have questions and curiosities about some of the bible's lessons, stories, and characters. This Sunday we're going to spend some time addressing some of your questions. MESSAGE: “Ask the Pastors" with Pam Lee-Miller & Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Sometimes we have trouble reconciling the rejection we find in many churches with the radical inclusion we find in the bible's Easter story. Three days had passed. The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, according to custom. No doubt the journey to the tomb was heavy. Perhaps they approached with heads lowered in defeat and grief. But then they looked up and it changed their lives. The barrier that they thought would be there was gone and what they discovered instead was life. That same promise is ours - even if we've been told it is not for us - we believe God's promise of life is for everyone. MESSAGE: “Look Up" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Mark 16: 1-7 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Make no mistake, the powers-that-be in Jerusalem sat up and took notice at the actions of Jesus and his motley crew of palm-waving followers on that morning. It was a show of the "power" of love and injustice for the "least of these," in stark juxtaposition to the military might of the Roman rulers. It was a non-violent action featuring a man sitting on a donkey - an action that has offered hope throughout the ages. Will we sit up and take notice of the injustice of this world and work to eradicate it in ways that honor that first Palm Sunday parade? We're excited to continue our Lent series, What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: “Sit Up and Ride On!: A fictional sermon straight from the donkey’s mouth" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: John 12:12-16 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

“When nothing else would help, love lifted me!” says the old Gospel song. To be lifted up is to be drawn into the love of God. Jesus drew all kinds of people to him during his short tenure on earth, drawing no boundaries for who was invited into that love. As his hour to die drew nearer, he spread the message that all things would be enveloped in his love even after he was gone. What uplifting message will we pass on to others? We're excited to continue our Lent series, What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: "Lifting Up" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: John 12: 20-33 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

John 3:16 is probably one of the most famous and oft-quoted scriptures in the Bible. What follows that verse is important for our Lenten journey. God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but to offer it saving light. As believers in that light, we are called to be those who will continue to light up the world through our lives so that the world might see the hope it yearns for. We're excited to continue our Lent series, What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: "Light Up" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: John 3: 16-21 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

The story of Jesus' response to the temple being made into a marketplace was profound and may have been another step toward his ultimate demise on the cross. He refers to raising up a new temple in three days - something his disciples later remembered as a foretelling of his resurrection. How might we raise up as the Body of Christ and be a holy temple - a holy dwelling place of God - in the world? We're excited to continue this new Lent series called What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: "Raising Up" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: John 2: 13-22 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Jesus was very clear that following him might not be a smooth ride. He was bound to choose the just way, not the easy way, through life. To take up the cross was to lose one's life - to let go of certain expectations of safety and acceptance in order to stand for the Gospel message of love. How are we to take up the causes of Jesus - justice, righteousness, and mercy in our day? MESSAGE: "Taking Up" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Mark 8: 31-38 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

The first Sunday of our new Lent series brings us to the moment at which Jesus comes up out of the water of baptism to hear, "You are my beloved." We are called to come up out of the depths of whatever seeks to keep us under and know that we are beloved of God. Come up, for now is the time to be fully who you are created to be for the sake of the world. MESSAGE: "Coming Up" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Mark 1: 9-13 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Many of us grew up with an apocalyptic view of the future. The fear and dread that resulted were both motivation and intimidation. But was that the message that Jesus was trying to convey? Is our relationship with God supposed to be based on fear? MESSAGE: "Coming Soon" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 41: 10, Psalm 23: 4, 2 Timothy 1:7, Matthew 14: 27 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Most of us have never experienced a world as divided as it is today. Things that usually bring us together are pulling us apart. Issues that have historically not been political suddenly are. As a nation and as a people, we are being forced to choose sides, even when there shouldn't be any. How do we navigate the anger and divisive rhetoric without compromising our core understandings of what we believe faith and justice looks like. MESSAGE: "Them Too" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13a Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Have you ever felt like you were all by yourself and have had to accomplish every task alone? This Sunday we examine Hebrews 10: 24-25 and Ecclesiastes 4:4-10 to explore the reasons why God has called us to community and why living together enhances our life, our church, and the world. MESSAGE: "Together" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10: 24-25 - Ecclesiastes 4:4-10 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King gave what would become one of the great speeches of the twentieth century. Even though it seems our nation has taken steps backward in recent years, we still dare to march toward Dr. King's vision of America as a place that truly believes that all are created equal, is a place where former slaves and slave owners will sit together, where oppression will become freedom and justice, where everyone is judged by the content of their character, where while and Black children will join hands as brothers and sisters, where valleys will be exalted, mountains will be made low, rough places will be made plain, and crooked places will be made straight. Join us as we hear and receive Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. MESSAGE: "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5: 43-48 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

For many, Christmas is over when the sun goes down on December 25th. But there is still more of the Christmas story to tell. Today we look at the experience that the magi had when they traveled from a faraway place in search of the rumored Christ child. We learn they were not looking for salvation or repentance, but only to honor the one who would bring the good news so many needed to hear. MESSAGE: "We Need an Epiphany" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2: 1-5, 7-12 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Today, instead of a sermon, Pam and Kenny take questions from the congregation about the bible, certain passages, the church's role in society, and several other topics on the minds of BUCCers. Questions & Answers with Pam Lee-Miller and Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

This Advent season we have been celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We believe that we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people - those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. In our final Advent service, which happens to also be Christmas Eve, Pam shares with us about the journey Mary and Joseph took to the place where the child was born, and the Love that started there and made its way around the world, changing and making better all of us who listed to and follow its example. MESSAGE: “When Love Was Born" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Luke Luke 2: 1-14 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

In our Advent series, we are celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We believe that we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people - those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. Mary's Magnificat is prophetic as well. She claimed the overturning of injustices even before it has come to pass. In the difficulty of her situation, she "sings" with joy about the very real presence of God growing in her. This week we focus on what it means to be a gift of joy. MESSAGE: “Joy" by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Luke 1: 41-55 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

In our Advent series, we are celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We can be the gift of presence with those who are experiencing life as less-than-peaceful. But this might also be true of how we are personally feeling in this moment. Our lives can feel a bit chaotic or in need of a makeover. The Good News is that God is continually making a way for do-overs. In this we can find our peace, even when life doesn't feel so peaceful. This week we focus on what it means to be a gift of non-anxious presence for those who need it most. MESSAGE: “Peaceful Presence" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Mark 1: 1-8 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

Advent can be filled with worry about finding the perfect Christmas gifts. Deep down we want people in our lives to know they are special and that we love them. But sometimes we overlook the greatest gift of all… our very presence. This season, we are invited to be the gift of presence for our loved ones, for our communities, for those who need it most. Today is about being the presence of Hope in someone's life. Hope can make all the difference if we let it. MESSAGE: “Hope” by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Mark 13: 24-37 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc

This Sunday we will explore the biblical story of ten outcasts who encounter Jesus and in turn, find their healing. In Luke 17, while Jesus is on his journey, he comes across ten lepers who are forced to live their lives on the margins of society because of their disease. When they see Jesus, they cry out for mercy. How might this ancient story invite us to embrace every experience as a possibility to become our greater self? Can we too come to appreciate our journey to becoming and be filled with a worshipful attitude? Join us this Sunday at 10 AM as we do a bit of theological wrestling. MESSAGE: “Thankful Gratitude” by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Luke 17: 11-19 Learn more about us at bluegrasschurch.org Facebook: facebook.com/bluegrasucc Twitter: twitter.com/bluegrasucc Instagram: instagram.com/bluegrasucc YouTube: youtube.com/@bluegrassucc