This Week in Worship • Found Treasure with Reverend Brent Ross, Senior Pastor, of Nornal Heights United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States for Thursday, 6 August 2015
What you'll find in this week's email:
• This Week in Worship:
Found Treasure
• The Wedding of Gerry & Linda
• VBS Pancake Celebration ( This Sunday! • 8:30a - 10:30a )
• Upcoming Movie Night ( 8/22 @ Sunset )
• New Playgroups Start Next Week! ( Tues, Thurs, Fri • 10:00a - 11:30a )
• No More Faith on Tap in East County
• Youth Lock In ( 8/22 - 8/23 • 6:30p - 11:30a )
Earlier this week, a diver while searching a Spanish shipwreck from 1715 made a remarkable discovery…over a million dollars in gold coins. But what makes this an even better story is that the entire discovery was captured on video that you can findhere...
"Found Treasure" by Rev Brent Ross
Earlier this week, a diver while searching a Spanish shipwreck from 1715 made a remarkable discovery…over a million dollars in gold coins. But what makes this an even better story is that the discovery was captured on video that you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16LxaTbOXOY&app=desktop.
Take a moment and watch.
What I love most about this video are the immediate sounds the diver makes as he uncovers thegold hidden for centuries in the sand. You can hear his excitement. His excitement, though, is not conveyed as distinguishable individual words, but rather simply the pure noise and sound of excitement and amazement. Words in this moment are unnecessary. Pure joy and excitement are communicated well enough in his underwater screams of elation.
You ever wonder what that moment must be like? The initial glimpse of a glittering object, the spike of a metal detector meter, or the feeling of a metal shovel striking a equally formidable chest…it is that moment when everything changes. Your perspective, your future, your life all tilted, re-organized and cast anew. I think that feeling must be why people search for treasure or play the lottery. What they want is not so much the physical items discovered or the money deposited in their account, but rather that moment when their life would receive some sort of new perspective. People hunt, not for treasure, but instead for the clarity of a new life.
Our Scripture story this week is about one of these moments. A story that is about the discovery of a treasure that says to the one who finds it “THIS is how your life makes sense now.” Jesus tells thisstory about a man who finds a treasure and then joyfully sells all he has to buy the field in which that treasure is hidden. And in this way, it’s not really a story about gold, but instead about clarity and the joy in giving up everything to receive that clarity.
On Sunday, we will talk about treasure, clarity and that moment when everything falls into line. We will talk about how treasure is not gold, but instead the kingdom of God and its priceless value. That moment for the diver? The pure joy and excitement? I pray we all find it this week in the story hidden centuries ago.[Rev Brent Ross
]Rev Brent Ross grew up loving the Twilight Zone and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. For better or worse both of these things enter into writing his sermons every week.
Scripture Text:
Matthew 13:44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.
John Wesley's Notes- Commentary for Matthew 13:44
Verse 44
[44] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The three following parables are proposed, not to the multitude, but peculiarly to the apostles: the two former of them relate to those who receive the Gospel; the third, both to those who receive, and those who preach it.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field — The kingdom of God within us is a treasure indeed, but a treasure hid from the world, and from the most wise and prudent in it. He that finds this treasure, (perhaps when he thought it far from him,) hides it deep in his heart, and gives up all other happiness for it.
Sermon Story "Finding Unexpected Treasure" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 9 August 2015 with Scripture Text: Matthew 13:44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.
Many times we look at this passage of Scripture and think of pearls or gold, as Pastor Brent shared about the gold coins in an 18th century ship, but there was a man who discovered and expected treasure in the intellectual impaired people he worked with or maybe it was parents who raised such people. This man was a Navy office in the Royal Canadian Navy whose father was a Lietenant Governor of Canada. This man had a philosophy degree who was teaching at a Catholic University to young students. The students appeared to pcik his brain so they would be able to take the knowledge and gain wealth with this knowledge. During this time, a Catholic Priest asked this man to take two men who who in a mental institution/hospital to live with them in a house in the community of Trosky, France. This man discovered that these men who were intellectually impaired would pick his heart rather than his brain. In picking this man heart, they were finding who and where God is. Through this man's career in lving and building community with people who are intellectually impaired, he discovered that the people who are intellectually impaired do have something or many things to offer the society as well as the church in who God is. How do you relate to seeking for treasure? What treasure have you found that was totally unexpected and shook you up? How do you understand the parents who have children who are intellectually impaired and the gifts they of God they see in their children's life? How would you desire God's church to include people who are intellectually impaired in building God's Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven? As we come and eat the Body of Jesus and Drink His Blood through our participation in the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in seeing God's blessings poured out on us and His church living in community. We come to receive God's Blessings singing the Hymn "Blessings" by LAURA STORY
1. We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
Chorus:
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
2. We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
Chorus:
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
3. When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home
Chorus:
'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
4. What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
This man is Jean Vanier and some of the books he writen are:
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
Excerpt
Front Matter : ... OTHER BOOKS BY JEAN VANIER Community and Growth The Broken Body Man and ...See a random page in this book.
Front Matter : ... OTHER BOOKS BY JEAN VANIER Community and Growth The Broken Body Man and ...See a random page in this book.
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
FREE Shipping on orders over $35 and 1 more promotion
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
Into the Heart of God: Jean Vanier Explores the Gospel of John in the Holy Land
Jan 8, 2014
by Jean Vanier
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
Excerpt
Front Cover : jamie arpin-ricci FOREWORD BY JEAN VANIER vulnerableSee a random page in this book.
Front Cover : jamie arpin-ricci FOREWORD BY JEAN VANIER vulnerableSee a random page in this book.
FREE Shipping on orders over $35
Last Sunday was certainly one of those Sundays that reminded us so profoundly of the gift of sacred community. We celebrated the wedding of Gerry and Linda during the service and it was amazing. Right after the service we had a beautiful wedding reception with dancing, food and an amazing wedding cake. We’d like to thank those of you who worked extra hard to make it such a wonderful morning and reception, and a huge thanks to Ashley Sanchez, Heather Ross, Rikk Valdivia, Charlotte Esquival, Doug Flaker, Dana Hoekstra, Benita Page, and Pat Waller. Thank you to everyone who brought food as well! Now, here is where we still need help: If you took pictures or video of the wedding and haven’t already emailed it to me,could you? Thank you!
ATTENTION: We still need 3 volunteers at 7:30am!
Join us for pancakes and eggs this Sunday from 8:30 - 9:45am! At 9:30am, enjoy a small presentation put on by the kids from our Vacation Bible School Camp. They will be singing a few songs and sharing what they learned at camp! Then we will join in on some family-friendly crafts until 10:30 when worship begins. Childcare will be available from9:30am until the end of the service. If you’d like to help out with these breakfasts during any month, just email Brent at brent@nhunited.org. We can always use volunteers!
We're nearing NHUMC's final Movie Night of the Summer! This is a great opportunity to get out, join your neighbors, enjoy your local parks and have a fun, free evening under the stars. We'll be hosting The Jungle Book on August 22nd, starting at sunset in Adams Park. Everyone is encouraged to bring a blanket, food and a friend.. and of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without an intermission dance party! Visit nhmovies.org for more info, and mark your calendars now to see the rest of this Summer's family movies:
August 15th
Ward Canyon Park // The Princess Bride
August 22nd
Adams Park // The Jungle Book
September 12th
Ward Canyon Park // The Mask
Check out these pics from our last movie night, when we watched Paddington!
Starting next Tuesday, we will have open play in our play room three times a week as an option to get out of the heat, but still get out of the house, play, and meet friends. Come and go as you please. All children under 5 and their caregivers are welcome. Play groups are every Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 10:00a - 11:30a.
Starting this month, there will be no more Faith on Tap events in East County on 2nd Thursdays. There will only be one Faith on Tap in Normal Heights every 4th Thursday. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brent at brent@nhunited.org. We look forward to seeing you for Faith on Tap in Normal Heights this month on August 27th!
We’re having a Youth Lock In for kids entering 5th-8th grade! First, there will be dinner and a movie in the park starting at 6:30pm on the 22nd. After the movie, we’ll head to church for games, dessert and lots of laughs! The lock in ends at 11:30am on Sunday, the 23rd. Breakfast will also be included. Please RSVP to Alisa at office@nhunited.org byAug. 16th.
Don’t Forget to Bring: a sleeping bag, pillow, PJ's, personal toiletries, a change of clothes, and a sleeping mat if you have one
Facebook
Email Pastor Brent
NHUnited.orgOur mailing address is:
4650 Mansfield Street
San Diego, California 92116 United States
____________________________
____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment