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At the Table: The Table of Restoration When I was blessed to walk the shores of the Sea of galilee, I could not help but think of this amazing story of Jesus serving up a meal. This powerful story demonstrates the power of the table to bring restoration to our lives. In this case, Peter was guided into restoration in his relationship with Jesus, and commissioned to be a leader in the church. Lord, may we hear your words of restoration and call for our lives as well.

At The Table: The Table of Connection Scripture: Matthew 26:26-30 It is amazing how often important connections with others happen at a table. It should not surprise us to find throughout the Bible how the table and meals play a central part of God’s connection with humanity. Today’s focus is upon the table of the Passover and the table of Communion. Might the discipline of table fellowship be one of the more important spiritual disciplines of our lives?

Begin Again: Nurture an Eternal Perspective Scripture: A few weeks back, I quoted this scripture verse at the graveside service for my grandson, Owen...he was born without a heartbeat. It came clearly to me as I prepared the homily. I clung to the truth that I don’t fully understand. I want to understand, but I have a limited and finite perspective. This verse guided me through the tragic storm as a reminder that we need to nurture an eternal perspective for all the good, bad and ugly of life. How is it with your soul?

Begin Again: Ground Yourself in His Promises Scripture: Hebrews 6:19 Author, Max Lucado points out in his book, Begin Again, that “God’s promises are pine trees in the Rock Mountains of Scripture: Abundant, unbending, and perennial.” Let’s seek renewed life and faith as we trek through the abundance of God’s provision...through the abundance of God’s promises.

Begin Again: Enjoy God’s Good Gifts What word from God can we receive through the story of Job and his incredibly blessed and the “cursed” life. A story of riches to rags, prosperity to poverty, joy to sorrow. Yet, he chooses not to follow his friends suggestion to curse God and die. Wow, that is some advice. But Job has seemed to earn the right to hate and blame. How is it that Job concludes that he will not find the answers to the why of suffering. God owes no person anything, yet we find that God has given us everything. What? And, it is in the storm of life that Job sees God...and God gave Job more than Job ever dreamed. God gave Job himself. Might we be in a storm that we need God’s grace? Can we see and experience God’s good gifts today...and begin again?

Begin Again: Believe Your Trustworthy God Text: Psalm 23:1-4 Based on a book by Max Lucado Lucado writes in his introduction, “Water, All Noah can see is water. The evening sun sinks into it...He can’t remember when he’s seen anything but...Noah has been wondering, How long is this going to last?” “For months they have floated. They have eaten the same food, smelled the same smells, and looked at the same faces. After a certain point you run out of things to say to each other.” “Can God recreate this world? Is he able to start over? Can he, and we begin again?” This becomes the focus of this series, “can we begin again?” All we have seen are the effects of the pandemic...wherever we look, pandemic.” Can we begin again? Not just into a post-pandemic world, but in a world that has shown again the injustices and inability to love God, neighbor and self. We can begin again, and hope and renewal can start today! Today's service: The image of the 23rd Psalm is profoundly inspiring. It becomes a focus for this week. Our ability to begin again...that is begin life with a fresh start and hopefully the future begins with the God who can be trusted to restore our souls. Ok, that is a nice thought, but what about the practice? This week is for you and me to allow the healing, forgiving and guiding presence of God to empower us to begin again.

Begin Again: Believe Your Trustworthy God Text: Psalm 23:1-4 Based on a book by Max Lucado Lucado writes in his introduction, “Water, All Noah can see is water. The evening sun sinks into it...He can’t remember when he’s seen anything but...Noah has been wondering, How long is this going to last?” “For months they have floated. They have eaten the same food, smelled the same smells, and looked at the same faces. After a certain point you run out of things to say to each other.” “Can God recreate this world? Is he able to start over? Can he, and we begin again?” This becomes the focus of this series, “can we begin again?” All we have seen are the effects of the pandemic...wherever we look, pandemic.” Can we begin again? Not just into a post-pandemic world, but in a world that has shown again the injustices and inability to love God, neighbor and self. We can begin again, and hope and renewal can start today! Today's service: The image of the 23rd Psalm is profoundly inspiring. It becomes a focus for this week. Our ability to begin again...that is begin life with a fresh start and hopefully the future begins with the God who can be trusted to restore our souls. Ok, that is a nice thought, but what about the practice? This week is for you and me to allow the healing, forgiving and guiding presence of God to empower us to begin again.

Restoration: Building a World of Difference Restored for Purpose Rebuilding the temple for the Hebrew people was not easy. They also assumed that if they are working, they are holy...but our sacred relationship with the divine runs deeper and demands more than staying busy with church work. By the grace of God, there is an incredible opportunity to make a world of difference, and that difference rests in our trust in God’s holiness, not ours. SugarRiverUMC.org