Last Dance

Last Dance

This message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour, Seymour TN, on June 14, 2020. CALL TO WORSHIP & INVOCATION On this new morning and in every moment of our lives, gracious God, from generation to generation, we praise your holy name. Like our ancestors 

Wade In the Water

Wade In the Water

This service was prepared for Bethel UMC – Seymour, Seymour TN, and premiered on YouTube at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, June 7, 2020. CALL TO WORSHIP & INVOCATION L: God asks us, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” P: Here am I; 

God Empowers You – Chrysalis Flight #84

God Empowers You – Chrysalis Flight #84

Prayer to the Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of Your love.  Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created.  And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, Who by 

Carpe Gaudium – Seize the Joy

Carpe Gaudium – Seize the Joy

This message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour, Seymour TN, on August 11, 2020. In a devotional written for Holston Conference, Paige Wimberly of Newburn and Mountain View UMCs in Dublin, VA, wrote: “In Psalm 50, God’s people are on trial. God is the 

Finders, Keepers

Finders, Keepers

The following message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour on August 4, 2019 (8th Sunday after Pentecost). Lectionary readings were: Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43 (UMH 830); Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21. Reading of the Word: Luke 12:13-21 (NIV) Lord, open our hearts and minds 

Teach us how to pray …

Teach us how to pray …

The following message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour on July 28, 2019 (7th Sunday after Pentecost). Lectionary readings were: Hosea 1:2-10, Psalm 85 (UMH 806), Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 Reading of the word: Luke 11:1-13 (NIV) 11:1 He was praying in a 

A Tale of Two Sisters

A Tale of Two Sisters

This message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour on Sunday, July 21, 2019, 6th Sunday after Pentecost. Lectionary readings were Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42. Reading of the word (Luke 10:38-42) Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of 

Mercy Sees, Mercy Does

Mercy Sees, Mercy Does

The following message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour on July 14, 2019 (5th Sunday after Pentecost). Lectionary readings were: Amos 7:7-17, Psalm 82, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 Reading of the word (Luke 10:25-37): Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of 

May I Have This Dance?

May I Have This Dance?

The following message was delivered to Bethel UMC – Seymour on July 7, 2019 (4th Sunday after Pentecost). Lectionary readings were: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, Isaiah 66:10-14, Psalm 66:1-9, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 Lord, speak through me and, if necessary, in spite 

What Are You Doing Here?

What Are You Doing Here?

This message was delivered to Mountain View UMC (South Knoxville) on Sunday, June 23, 2019. Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may 

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are?

Service for Vonore UMC, Sunday, October 21, 2018 Prelude Bringing in the Light of Christ Greetings & Announcements Introit Great is the Lord, TFWS 2022 Call to Worship Responsive Reading One: Praise God in the sanctuary! All: Bless the Lord, O my soul. One: Look 

My Season of Pause

My Season of Pause

Going through the process of certifying as a Candidate and then Local Pastor Licensing School took me out of my regular routine at my home church. Where I had once been fairly regular in attending worship services and active on various committees and teams, I 

When Love Meets Dust: Reflections on Parkland FL and More

When Love Meets Dust: Reflections on Parkland FL and More

Yesterday, I was sitting at home, nursing the tail end of a bout with the flu when I got an e-mail from Alana Levandoski via Patreon about a new song she’d released in honor of the day. It was the first thing I’d seen/heard/read that 

Rise Up! It’s Time! God Is Speaking!

Rise Up! It’s Time! God Is Speaking!

The sixth and final lesson in this series is to take what we’ve learned over the past five weeks, to put our faith, hope, and full trust into God, to give Him control, and to heed His call to “Rise Up”.  Rise up, church. Rise 

Into the Wilderness

Into the Wilderness

The season of Lent begins in just two days. To quote the United Methodist Church: Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means 

Focus! God Is Speaking!

Focus! God Is Speaking!

Introduction God is speaking. He’s called us to rise up and we are rising. He’s called us to listen and we are beginning to hear. He’s called us to move and we are standing up to injustice and hate.  He’s spoken answers to our prayers and 

Refreshing the Dream

Refreshing the Dream

You may have noticed the logo for Spirit Dog Farm has a new look that we feel is a better reflection of who we are and of our priorities. There’s a reason for that.  Sometimes you have to take a few steps back, reassess your options, 

Answer! God Is Speaking!

Answer! God Is Speaking!

Introduction We know how to go to God with our prayers about our frustrations, our needs … O, Lord, hear my prayer. O, Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me … we sang along to that just last week. We call on God 

A Matter of Perception

A Matter of Perception

One week ago after reading/participating in some intra-denominational discussions by clergy about whether worldly politics should be addressed from the pulpit, I was pretty sure I was seeing a pattern developing based on the comments.  Rather than try to point it out in that forum 

Move! God Is Speaking

Move! God Is Speaking

Introduction God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh and tell them that they had gone against God. Nineveh! The home of the enemies of his people! He couldn’t possibly do what God was asking. Why would God care about the very 

Listen! God Is Speaking!

Listen! God Is Speaking!

Introduction “Listen!”, second in the series from UMC Discipleship Ministries’ “Rise Up!”, takes us through listening even when God seems silent and the Word of the Lord is rare. The liturgy (worship service) starts out in quiet, somber tones, asking us to think about the roles 

Rise Up! God Is Speaking!

Rise Up! God Is Speaking!

Welcome to the first in my series of mini-messages based on UMC Discipleship Ministries’ Rise Up! worship series for the Season After Epiphany. I’m going to be adding in the hymns and some of the other parts of the liturgy for each Sunday in the 

Waiting and Trusting; Not My Strong Suits

Waiting and Trusting; Not My Strong Suits

One of the hardest things I’m doing right now is waiting and trusting. UMC Discipleship Ministries released two new Worship series, Rise Up! for the Season After Epiphany and Rehab for Lent, that are outstanding. If I were at an appointment, we’d definitely be using 

It’s In the Details

It’s In the Details

This message was delivered to the congregation at Vonore United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The service also included Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service.  Message: It’s In the Details May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing unto