Child of Redemption

Welcome to the Ice skating parking lot!

Unfortunately we were unable to have worship this morning because of the ice on our parking lot. However I hope some of you are able to take advantage of this sermon on the web.

This morning our scripture invites us to witness the revelation of Simeon and Anna, two prophets who recognized Jesus as the Messiah of Israel when he was brought to the temple to be consecrated.
Can you imagine what it feels like to live with such a great anticipation? Then can you imagine what it would feel like to see all your waiting fulfilled?
That is what we can still feel like today if we realize who Jesus really is. He is the Son of God who is always with us, our redeemer, our savior, our Lord. Just like Simeon and Anna, proclaim your faith in Him today.

Peace of the Presence

Well Today is a great day to have a sermon available online. Because of the weather (high winds and -10 temperature) most churches in the area closed. That also meant that 70% of our congregation was wise enough not to venture out on the roads. Hopefully those who missed worship will take the opportunity to listen to what they missed. I think it is definitely a challenging message. Consider the following, listen to the message, then share your comments.

What would have happened if the Virgin Mary had said "NO!"? If she had felt like the visitation of Gabriel was an intrusion in her life, and that she did not want to accept such a great responsibility. That outcome would have been tragic for all of humanity.
But what about today? What if we say no when God asks us to love our neighbor? What if we say no when God asks us to tell others the good news?
Could our response of "No" be just as tragic for those that God wanted us to tell?

Blessings, Pastor Ferguson

Herald

This sermon is a look at the reason for the Christmas season through the Gospel of Mark 1:1-3 and a poem by Robert Frost. It seem a little funny in that Mark begins his Gospel by telling of John the baptist, the one who was sent to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. The words Mark begins with are quotes from the prophets of Isaiah and Malachi 800 and 500 years earlier.
By beginning thus Mark informs us that God has been paving a path of redemption for humanity for a long time. The question is, will we see it, will we follow it, and will we help others to find it?
As Frost said:
"I took the one less traveled and
that has made all the difference."

This Advent season will we choose the path of faith?

Fellowship of the Son

This sermon kicks off our series focusing on Jesus as the reason for the season. This first Sunday of Advent the theme is hope and we are reminded that not only is Christ the hope of the world, but that the responsibility of the Church is to reflect that hope into the world. May we do exactly that this Christmas season.

Pastor Ferguson

All Rise

In this familiar passage of Matthew 25, we encounter the heavenly courtroom scene where God is sitting as judge, jury, and the full body of witnesses. God has summoned each of us to stand before his eternal throne and make account for our lives.

While we may be tempted today to believe that this is a frivolous and fictional court case that should be thrown out of court, (like the McDonalds hot coffee, or Michael Jordan look alike, or Fear Factor make me sick episode) truth is that we have been summoned and we have been charged based upon how we are living out the great command to love God and love our neighbor as our self.

Blessings, and may you be challenged in Christ, Pastor Ferguson

The Real Oil Crisis

In this sermon we take a brief look at Jesus' parable of the ten virgins. Five were prepared and entered the heavenly banquet, and five did not bring enough oil.

The challenge of our life is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and waiting for the glorious return of God. But too often we just assume that our life is good enough and we can just show up on heavens door step and expect to be let in. But Jesus tells us here that if we run out of oil, we will not make it to that heavenly banquet because we did not take time to build our relationship with Christ, and go through the wedding ceremony.

Praise God for the Spirit which guides our lives every single day. Amen.

I look forward to you comments.

Pastor Ferguson

Passing the Torch

This message is a powerful reminder that we have a responsibility to share our faith in Christ. It is not something we should be ashamed of, but we should hold it high.

Using the image of an Olympic torch we recognize that the symbol of the flame unites people of all nations in the spirit of the games. And it is Christ who unites people of faith into one body of believers giving us something we should be proud to let the whole world see.

I hope this message challenges each of you to wear your faith for all to see.

In Christ, Pastor Ferguosn

Sitting or Cleaning?

This is a fun message (a lot better live) that brings to light our understanding of Christian service. This is all shared in the light of All Saints Day and celebrating the lives of our loved ones who have gone on to glory.
What does Christian love and service look like, and what are the bigger issues that we must embrace as Saints in the Kingdom of God?
I look forward to your thoughts or comments.

Joy

Thanks to Marlys for sharing such a wonderful word on Joy that can be found in the greatest commandment.

J - Jesus
O - Others
Y - You

May we seek to love with an abundance of joy in this global community.

Tis a Gift

One of the membership vows of the United Methodist church is to share our gifts. This sermon addresses the difficult topic of finances head on during a difficult economic time.

What is really ours? What has God given us? How do we honor God with all that he has given us?

If you missed the service and would still like to receive your $2 bill, just ask... it will be given.

As always I invite feed back and conversation.

Blessings in Christ, CF

No Excuse Sunday's

Did you know that keeping the Sabbath day holy is in the same list as "Thou shall not Murder?" Yep the fourth command is keep the Sabbath holy. Yet how easy we forget, and how often we make up excuses for why have to miss worship on any given week.

The sad truth is that none of them are valid. In fact I don't think anyone could come up with an excuse for murder either... Hmmm. Well self defense, but I don't think entering the church on Sunday morning is considered breaking and entering.

This sermon is a fun yet serious way to look at our commitment to God through our worship attendance. I hope you will have fun listening to it and laughing. Furthermore I hope it will provoke you to be more regular in your worship attendance.

Intimate Conversations

In this sermon we have the final sermon in the spiritual discipline series. Prayer is something we all know is important, but in all honesty most people just don't feel comfortable praying. It is like navigating a submarine up the Mississippi River, virtually impossible because we have no training. David was a man after God's own heart, and we can learn a lot about how to pray by witnessing the intimacy of David's prayers.

I hope this sermon will help you increase your the health and vitality of your relationship with God. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Ferguson

Think on these things

This is the third in the series of spiritual discipline sermons. Study is the focus, and four keys are highlighted from Richard Fosters - Celebration of Discipline: Repetition, Concentration, Comprehension, and Reflection.
The quality of this recording is very poor because it was not connected to the source. I am sorry, I edited it as much as I could. I even debated going back and rerecording, but in all honest, God had me off of the script more than on it this week. So if you are really interested, you can listen to one sermon and read a second.
I guess this is a good lesson about how much we look act and sound like Christians (even with a good editing, or outward facade) when we are not connected to the source.

Dependency Issues

This is a challenging sermon, one that I bet you have never heard before. The topic of fasting is something that is absent in our American culture and yet scripture and the history of the church lead us to understand that there is great value in this discipline. I challenge you to listen with open ears, hearts, and minds.

I invite you to share your thoughts and comments.

Ssshhh!

In this message, the focus is very practical. We are beginning a series of sermons that focus on personal Spiritual Disciplines; meditation, fasting, study, and prayer. This week the discussion is on meditation.

The practice of Christian meditation has fallen on hard times as our society has become so busy, literally hectic. Moments of silence are all but absent in our lives. How can we honestly expect to hear God? Lets try the practice of meditation for a week and see what God will share with us.

Blessings in Christ, Pastor Ferguson.

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

This message looks at salvation from the perspective of the unnamed soldier. What did he witness that caused him to seek salvation in Jesus Christ? Evangelism is not comfortable for most of us, but Paul and Silas teach us a form of evangelism in this passage that is simply letting Christ shine. The soldier then risked his life and reputation to share his new faith with his family. Will we be so bold?

Blessings, and I hope this opens up the difficult dialogue of Evangelism as uncomfortable but mandatory. Pastor CF

God's Armor

In this Message, Lay Speaker Bob Hill shares with the congregation thre main points from out of Ephesians chapter 6, the armor of God:

1. We have an enemy and we must recognize him
2. He will attack us where we are weakest
3. His word provides the plan of peace that will see us through.

I pray God works through this word in your life.

Carried by Water

The Story of Moses starts with him being pulled out of the water by the daughter of Pharaoh. In this sermon we discuss the similarities of Moses start in life with our own baptism into the kingdom of God.
1. We are all born with a death sentence.
2. We are all place into the waters of life by faith.
3. We are all lifted out of the water by the son of God, and given a new name and purpose.
4. Like Moses, we are saved to do great things.
a. To lead his people through the deep waters of life.
b. To protect them through the deserts.
c. To lead them to the Promised Land.
5. Will we live into the high calling of our baptism?

I pray this challenges each one of us to grow in our Spiritual Faith. Pastor CF

Back Against the Wall

This recording contains the whole service on August 17, 2008. It was a service that we held in the fellowship hall, with a wide variety of coffee's and doughnuts around tables. The concept is that God is with us, where ever we are, and however we come. We don't have to have all of life in order to receive God's love and forgiveness.

The theme of the message is forgiveness. The Story of Joseph is powerful and compelling. I hope that as you list that you will experience the full forgiveness of God in your life, and that you will find ways to grant forgiveness to those people who have wounded you.

Remember it is only as you give forgiveness that you can experience forgiveness and freedom in your life. Brothers and sisters, "forgive as Christ forgave you."

Please feel free to leave your comments on a very different experience of worship.

Pastor C Ferguson

Why Church?

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is; why God created you?

This message hits at the heart of purpose, not just our purpose, but also that of the Church. Jesus had a very specific purpose for becoming human, and that purpose is now the Church's purpose. Luke 19:10 is the clearest statement of that purpose, "to seek and to save the lost."

You will find the image of a rock's purpose compels us. You will further hear that the communion bread and cup are ours to share with the lost of the world.

"For those who have ears to hear, let them listen." Pastor Ferguson

Randy Davis

I have heard from many of you that Randy's Artistic Message was fabulous. I really wish that I could have seen it with you, but God was definitely at work in Jody and I at the School for congregational development. (You will hear more about that this coming Sunday.)

Although we do not have and audio recording of this service, I would like to invite any of you who were touched by Randy's message to make a comment here about how it moved you closer to God.

Blessings in the name of Jesus Christ, Pastor Ferguson

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

This sermon begins with the special music and offering by Jamie Cook (Trumpet) It is in a "sermon chat" style, and pushes the whole congregation out of their comfort zone. It pushes us to realize how much each of us need the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. In a very different format that fits the non-traditional style of this sermon, members of the congregation share their own faith through person testimonies. This is a very challenging service that invites conversation. I look forward to your comments.

Pastor Ferguson

Talents

Guest Speaker David Harner, Executive Director of the Iowa United Methodist Foundation, gives a challenging message on the use of gifts and talents.

This is a very good message and reminder for each of us that we must use the gifts that we have or watch them slip away. However, if we use them for the glory of God we are blessed even more.

Please share this with your friends and family, and feel free to make comments that might further challenge us all.

Worship Through The Years

We all have a prefered style of worship; music, liturgy, even setting. The question must ask ourselves, is what is central to faith, and what elements have changed over time bassed upon individuals, culture, and instrument availability?

As this service also draws attention to, transition has been the norm in church worship for many centuries. How then can we worship a non-changing and eternal God, in our infinitely changing environment?

I think you will enjoy the history of hymns and worship music that is the backbone of this service, but do not miss where it begins, with the reading of the Nicean Creed.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments on this one. Pastor CF

Deal or No Deal?

If we were to play a game show with God, would the briefcase we hold onto be filled with mint, dill, and cummin? What are the expectations of being a Christian today? Do we fulfill our obligations to Christ and to the Church?

This is a difficult text where Jesus accosts the Pharisees, and calls them to a higher standard than the law. What can we find in this text for our world, our nation, and our lives?

I invite each of your comments and thoughts on this difficult passage. How did God speak to you through his word?

Blessings, Pastor C Ferguson

Changing the Rules of the Game

This sermon is a strong proclamation to accountability and a life of Christian Integrity. I know that it has a bit more of an razors edge than most sermons. It does not allow the listener to sit back an assume the words spoken are for the person in the other pew.

I hope these words challenged each of us to contemplate what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and our neighbor as our selves. How are we doing with this great challenge in our personal lives, and in our congregation and community? How could we do it better?

Please share your comments. Pastor CF

Real Life

The truth of life is that most people (especially the postmoderns) spend 3x more time on the internet per day than they to in church per week. That means they stare at a computer screen, watch video's, play games, listen to audio feeds, email, Blog, or Instant Message more than 21 hours per week (That is conservative in my guess) and only spend 1 hour per week engaging God in the traditional venue we call Church. The attempt of creating a greater web presence for Geneseo United Methodist Church, is an attempt at making disciples of Jesus Christ in this modern paradigm.

Each week, I will enter a new post with connection to the audio and print versions of the sermon. I invite members of the congregation and community to post comments, questions, struggles, or otherwise for the benefit of all.

Blessings in Christ, Pastor C Ferguson