Epworth United Methodist Church

Back to Basics: March 19, 2006 Epworth Worship Celebration

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Welcome. In Lent we understand ourselves as being "under construction.” Lent is a Spring housecleaning of the soul. The simplicity of Lent calls us to focus on things that matter most. Today’s lesson recites the historic covenant from God through Moses at Sinai, the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. As we prepare for worship, you may wish to reflect on the covenants which order our lives. What promissory arrangements are you a part of? What fundamental guidelines exist for you in relation to God, yourself, and others? How does the covenant of Baptism shape your practice of faith and Christian love?

Hebrew Bible Lesson
Exodus 20:1-17

Then God spoke all these words:
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery;
you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol,
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
for I the LORD your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents,
to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,
but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation
of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God,
for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God;
you shall not do any work--you, your son or your daughter,
your male or female slave, your livestock,
or the alien resident in your towns.
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day;
therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
Honor your father and your mother,
so that your days may be long
in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house;
you shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey,
or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Sermon - Back to Basics Rev. Jack Abel
Click the play button below to listen to the sermon.
(Audio begins with 13 seconds of silence)

Download the sermon: 2006-03-19-epworth-umc.mp3
Right click and "save as" to your computer (Begins with 13 seconds of silence.  Total time: 23 minutes, 13.2 MB file)

Beloved Son: February 26, 2006 Epworth Worship Celebration

Transfiguration Sunday (Year B)

Welcome. Today is the last of the Sundays after Epiphany and we focus on the Transfiguration, an experience of Christ in glory on the mountaintop. We welcome Rev. Jack and the Sister Church Team back from Jamaica, and look ahead to continued ministry in the Rehoboth area, the Gulf States, and around the world. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1. It is a season of preparation for the life of discipleship. As we prepare for worship, consider your sense of the glory of God. Have you experienced it? Are you prepared to act in light of what you have experienced? Does a vision of the Glory of the Lord inspire you to grown in your efforts toward love and service in the world?

Gospel Lesson
Mark 9:2-9 

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John,
     and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
     and his clothes became dazzling white,
     such as no one on earth could bleach them.
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here;
     let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses,
     and one for Elijah."
He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice,
     "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"
Suddenly when they looked around,
     they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain,
     he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen,
     until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Sermon - Beloved Son by Rev. Jack Abel
Click the play button below to listen to the sermon.

Download the sermon: 2006-02-26-epworth-umc.mp3
Right click and "save as" to your computer (44 minutes, 20.2 MB file)