Welcome. The Season after Pentecost is a time for growth in faith under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Easter’s celebration gives way to the hard work of Christian discipleship in grateful response to God’s love. Our text today recounts an extraordinary experience of comfort and promise in the midst of fear and challenges. Our community gathers also this evening in Church Conference session to consider exciting updates to the Comprehensive Plan for Relocation. How does God’s comfort and promise speak to each of us, and to the congregation as a whole? Are we aware of God’s calming presence-even in the midst of our fears-as we reach out and grow in love and service in God’s world? Less

Welcome. The Season after Pentecost is a time for growth in faith under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Easter’s celebration gives way to the hard work of Christian discipleship in grateful response to God’s love. Our text today recounts the unlikely anointing of David, shepherd son of Jesse, as future king of Israel. Today we also reflect on our national observance of Fathers’ Day. Our 11:00 a.m. worship adds the Baptism of Mary Kathryn Barnhart, daughter of Ryan and Liz. When you think of yourself as a child of God, is that rich in the sense of God as divine parent? How does God’s divine parenting, made known especially in the gift of Jesus Christ, inspire your practice of love in God’s world? Less

Welcome. The Season after Pentecost begins with Trinity Sunday. Rev. Tom Starnes, formerly interim senior pastor of Epworth, is our guest preacher. Rev. Jack and others from our congregation are representing the congregation at the closing session of Annual Conference. We are pleased to have you as part of our worshiping community on this day. Consider what do the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit contribute toward your understanding of God? How does the love of God expressed through Christ and the Holy Spirit influence your practice of love for others in God’s world? Less

Welcome. The Easter season is fifty days, a week of weeks. It culminates in today’s Pentecost celebration, in which the church remembers the gift of the Holy Spirit, descending like tongues of fire upon the assembled crowd. Our Pentecost worship includes Holy Communion. The elements we use are wheat bread and unfermented grape juice. All are welcome at the table of the Lord. As we prepare for worship, you may wish to consider your sense of Easter’s continued presence, and its influence in you and others. How does the Easter Spirit of Christ inspire you to love in God’s world? Technorati tags: religion, church, bible, sermon, sermons, theology, beach, rehoboth, delaware, united, methodist, epworth, reconciling, ministries, network, community, open, heart, mind, podcast Less

Welcome. Our focus in Easter is the presence of the risen Christ, through which we discover new life for ourselves. Today’s keyword is “joy.” We celebrate the joy made possible through Christ’s ascension to God in heaven, and the gift of the Holy Spirit among us. Rev. Leonard Hatch is our guest preacher. Rev. Jack returns from vacation on Tuesday morning. How does Christ’s Spirit manifest itself along the journey of your life? How are we called to joy in God’s world Technorati tags: religion, church, bible, sermon, sermons, theology, beach, rehoboth, delaware, united, methodist, epworth (tag), epworth (blog), reconciling, ministries, network, community, open, heart, mind, podcast, sharing, spirit, joy, ascension, sunday, leonard, hatch More info: epworth.typepad.com Less

Welcome. As we continue our celebration of the Easter season we rejoice in a special way today. The word for today is COMMUNITY and what a right and fitting word it is. Today we honor those who have completed a year of study in the three Disciple Bible programs. We honor as well the students of our Sunday School programs and all of our teachers and facilitators. The word traditionally used at a graduation is “Commencement” signifying that the end of the school year is really a beginning. As we anticipate Ascension Thursday and Pentecost can you find the place for new beginnings in your life? Technorati tags: religion, church, bible, sermon, sermons, theology, beach, rehoboth, delaware, united, methodist, epworth, reconciling, ministries, network, community, open, heart, mind, podcast Less