Category: First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen
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“Lenten Lost and Found”
Theme: God’s patient forgiveness and joyful welcome extends to each of us, whether prodigal or principled, teaching us to reconcile with another. Luke 15: 1-3; 11b-32 (NRSV): Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and…
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“Love’s Lenten Labor”
Theme: Christ calls on us to turn our lives around, towards a more service-focused, other-centered way of being as Christians – a radical departure from our human hard-wired, self-focused ways. The Good News is that Christ also promises to be present with us, and is – to feed us and encourage us along this transformative…
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“A Lover’s Lenten Lament”
Theme: Even in the face of great challenge, God’s love for us strengthens us and encourages us in our faithfulness to God, and inspires our love for others. Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV): At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to…
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“Triple Dare from the Devil’s Lair”
Theme: Temptation can wear us down, but the Spirit strengthens us to persevere along the Christian journey, to be our authentic selves and not give in, or give up, on our own potential. Luke 4:1-13 (NRSV): Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,…
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“Transformed by Freedom”
Theme: In Christ, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are energized from within, transformed into flourishing people who freely our faith. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (NRSV): Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to…
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“Paul’s Love Letter”
Theme: God loves us so that we might love others – as agents for God’s love in the world. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NRSV): If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and…
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“Listen to This”
Theme: We seek guidance in our lives from God, and help one another to keep the faith. Nehemiah 8:1-10 (NRSV): All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the…
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“A Spirit for the Common Good”
Theme: Every person who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is gifted by the Spirit, with gifts to be used for the common good. 1 Cor. 12:1-13 (NRSV): Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray…
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“Baptized Beloved”
Theme: At our baptisms, God declares us loved and pleasing, just as Jesus was when baptized beloved of God. Luke 3:21-22 (NRSV): Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a…
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“What’s Your Star Sign?”
Theme: God loved us enough to send us Jesus Christ to bring us safely home – and God stays by our side even now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, sending encouraging signs to keep us on course, even when our pathways change. Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV): In the time of King Herod, after Jesus…
Ellen Clark Clemot 