WELCOME!
As of July 1, I have the great privilege of introducing myself as the pastor of Laguna Country United Methodist Church. On July 2, I’ll be preaching at the church for the first time, from Matthew 10:40-42. This short reading shows us that little things matter. Even a cup of cold water offered to the “little ones” will result in a reward from Christ.
Receiving the prophets and righteous among us will earn us the rewards of prophets and righteous people. This sounds great until we realize that a prophet’s reward might mean death. A righteous person’s reward might mean ridicule or rejection. And there was a time in the U.S. when providing a cup of water to someone of a different race could lead to real trouble.
Jesus knew that little things matter, but that didn’t make them easy. It sounds simple to say, “Love everyone as you love yourself.” But most of us do a terrible job of loving ourselves, let alone loving others in healthy, life-giving ways. Yet, the little things we do to help live into these “simple” instructions are the steps to discipleship that keeps us on the path with Christ. And so we offer a cup of water, a warm welcome to every person, and an open mind and heart to those who teach us ways to strengthen our faith, deepen our discipleship, and improve our world. For these are all the things that change us for the better. Perhaps if we each picked one simple thing each day, we would pave a road of faithful discipleship that will make it easier for others to take their own simple steps toward loving God, loving self, and loving neighbor.
Little things matter as we take the steps of love that will make this church and our world the places we yearn for them to be. Simple or not, I look forward to taking these steps with you in the years to come.
Yours on the journey,
Pastor B. J.
SERMON THEMES
July 2nd Matthew 10:40-42
"Little Things Matter"
July 9th Genesis 21:1-7
“Laughing with God”
July 16th Genesis 22:1-14
“Tested”
July 23rd Genesis 27:1-44
"A Stolen Blessing”
July 30th Genesis 28:10-19a
“Jacob’s Ladder”
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time.