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Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Podcasts
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Friday Dec 03, 2021
Friday Dec 03, 2021
Accepting God
by Chase Rimrodt, Confirmation Student
Read by Chase Rimrodt
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.
–John 1:1-14
A personal story that I have experienced, and maybe what others have experienced also. Everything was shut down and we were scared to go anywhere outside our homes. Why was this happening? It was hard to stay connected with God when my whole world was turned upside down. Safe at home, but it felt more like stuck at home. I particularly veered from my faith and was less connected to the Church and prayed less. I was feeling anxious, and every moment was filled with uncertainty. I needed to eventually learn to cope with the uncertainty and leave what was going to happen in God's hands.
According to the scripture in John 1:1-14 it states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. Then there was a man sent from God whose name was John. He himself was not the light but came to testify to the light. People do not accept him but all who received him, he gave power to become children of God who were born not of the blood or of the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God.”
This passage from the Bible teaches me that all who accept God and the people God has sent will have the power to be children of God.
What I think about my personal story and the scripture of John 1:1-14 is that it may not always be easy to accept God, but God is our light; we do not create our own light. However, if we accept God, He gives us light and the power to be children of God.
God, I pray that you reach out your light for the people that follow your light. Especially, in our darker moments, so that we can become closer to God and to be children of God, Amen
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Gratefulness
by Tian Brooks, Confirmation Student
Read by Tian Brooks
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Therefore, Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth
And he will be our peace
when the Assyrians invade our land
and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
even eight commanders
–Micah 5:2-5a
Ask yourself, what are you grateful for?
A lot of people will say “My house and my health;” but being grateful for something is more than that. Especially throughout the pandemic we all have something we are grateful for--you are alive.
Being grateful doesn’t mean convincing yourself that everything is fine. Living your life with gratitude means choosing to focus on the things you really appreciate and care about. The goal is not to block out difficulties but approach those difficulties from a different perspective and know that God will help us along the way. Gratitude can help us see that not everything is terrible. Practicing gratitude to God with thankfulness can keep our hearts open to the tenderness in our daily experiences.
So, I want you to ask yourself again, what are you grateful for? People who are grateful to God are grateful for those who care for them, as well as God's blessings to them. The main cause of ungratefulness is not knowing by experience the grace and mercy of God. Grateful people are happy people. Grateful people are content with how God has dealt with them. So are you one of these people, if not it is ok, start with being grateful for the little things. Be grateful for God, and God will help you on your path.
Dear God, I am extremely grateful for all your blessings in my life, Lord. I pray that you remind me of just how blessed I am and that you never allow me to forget to show my gratitude in prayer and returned acts of kindness. Amen
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
The Gift of Music
Read by: Denise Utter
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
–Psalm 96:1-2
When I think about Advent, I think about music. As a child, I loved sharing the Christmas story through the songs in the Christmas Program. This experience brought me pure joy. As an older youth, I enjoyed sharing the story by caroling in our church neighborhood to shut-ins. This experience brought me comfort knowing I had touched the lives of others.
As a young parent, it meant sharing the story in a stable service as Mary and Joseph with our first child as the baby Jesus. The songs in the barn that night gave me a sense of peace I will never forget. What is it about music you may ask that made these experiences so powerful? I truly believe music is a way to feel God’s presence. That is why some songs give a sense of peace or comfort, chills of power and strength, or simply pure joy. I encourage you to listen and let music be a gift to you this Advent season.
Dear God, thank you for the music, and the power it gives us to share your story and feel your presence during this Advent Season. Encourage us to take the time to listen and appreciate the gift music can bring to our lives. Amen
--Jill Bandli, LOGOS Leader
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Peace from the Barn
But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.
--Job 12:7-10
A tradition in our farm family was that the children would go out to the barn on Christmas Eve and wait for Santa to visit and leave presents under the tree. Going out to the barn was usually a cold walk but once we got in the barn, we felt the warmth of the cattle around us. The barn smelled of hay and the beautiful Holstein cows peacefully chewed their cud, lowed softly, and observed the humans who seemed to be waiting for something important to happen.
The children nervously awaited a sign from the house that Santa had arrived. But as we watched for the house light to blink the children seemed to be calmed by the quietness of the animals and they too recognized that an important event had happened long ago and was much more significant than Santa. Did Mary and Joseph experience the same calm and quiet from the animals they shared the manger with? Did the warmth of the animals and their lowing make the wait for Jesus a little easier?
What a wonderful experience to share with these wise and gentle animals the anticipation of such a significant event. They knew that a child was coming who would change the world and they made Mary and Joseph’s wait a little easier, just like the cattle in the barn at our farm on Christmas Eve.
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to wait with patience and silence for your arrival like the cattle in our barn and in the stable in Bethlehem taught us to wait. Amen
--Claire and Jack Krause, Confirmation Students
--Pat Cook, Confirmation Mentor
Podcast read by Bill Anciaux
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
"Enduring Turbulence"
Written by Hillary Lobenstein, Confirmation Mentor
Read By Marcia Flaherty
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again, I will say, Rejoice.
--Philippians 4:4
The last two years have been turbulent in society and in my classroom. I teach high school, and that tumult and turmoil has spilled into my classroom. I have students struggling with their mental health, with how to get along with other students, and with their academic work. Recently, I found myself at the precipice of stress. I walked into my first hour class with tears still in my eyes from reaching that breaking point from that overwhelming feeling of stress. A few students expressed genuine concern, and for that, I am grateful.
The next day one of my colleagues came into my classroom before school and asked me, “How do you always have it together?” and she had tears in her eyes from that same level of stress. I laughed out loud and told her I had just been crying at school the day before! I grabbed my box of Kleenex, and we walked back from the metaphorical cliff of extreme stress.
In Philippians 4:4-9, Paul advises the congregation in Philippi. He suggests the following: Rejoice, be gentle, avoid anxiety, pray, be thankful, and be open to the peace of God. He also advises that we stay focused on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Then, Paul recommends that we should put those qualities of the Lord into practice to invite God and peace into our lives.
Dear God, Grant us understanding in our daily struggles so that we may become closer to you. Allow us to experience stress and turbulence so we may grow in our faith. Provide guidance so that we may help others during difficult times. Allow us to be your hands and feet to do your good work in the world. Amen.
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Putting the Stable in Relationships
…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. --Matthew 4:16
We all go through times in life that we might call our own “dark night of the soul.” It is hard to believe in the dark. Finding our way through the darkness requires us to have markers along the way. We need those signs that remind us that we are not alone. Sometimes that may be another person that assures us of their presence; or it might be words of a phrase or song that speak of goodness and the reassurance of life itself.
One such sign was found in a small house in Germany after World War II. The home had been a “safe house” for hiding Jews trying to flee the horrors of the German death camps. These words had been scratched into the baseboard in one of the bedrooms.
“I believe in the sun when it does not shine. I believe in love when I cannot feel it. I believe in God when God does not speak.”
Often, the word that inspires, the witness that encourages us, the marker that points the way, can come to us from the darkness itself. In turn, our own “dark night of the soul” will often turn into a handhold, a marker, and a sign along the way for another who travels the darkness.
One of the assurances of Advent is that God still comes into the darkness of humanity and the events of this world and transforms lives. This transforming presence has come to us through Jesus the Christ. When we can picture that the coming of Jesus into our lives began in a humble stable, it may be the sign or marker we need to remind us that God is with us in all the seasons of our lives and in all our relationships.
Loving God, thank you for the stable that reminds us of the birth of Jesus the Christ that is a sign of your presence with us in our relationships and in the midst of all things. Amen.
-- Jenny Arneson, Lead Pastor
Podcast read by Bill Anciaux
Saturday Nov 27, 2021
Saturday Nov 27, 2021
This week is the first Sunday of Advent, which has a theme of Hope. Our theme for the four weeks of Advent is Stable Relationships. We will light the first Advent candle and hear scripture from Romans 5:1-5. We will also hear Luke 21:25-36. Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled Stay Alert to Hope.
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving!! Please join us for a short Thanksgiving Day Devotion.
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
The Scriptures in worship this week will be Psalm 126 and Matthew 6:25-33. Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart".
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
The Scriptures in worship this week will be Genesis 3:1-13 and Matthew 7:15-20. Pastor Brad's sermon is titled, Episode 92
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
The Scriptures in worship this week will be Psalm 18:1-6 and John 11:32-44. Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled, The Blessing of Community. We will share in the sacrament of Communion both online and in-person.
We would love to know you’ve been with us. Would you please record your attendance with us? Visit https://forms.gle/oqCX124a5pU1sZ8j8 to record your attendance anytime.
Visit our website and social media to learn more about us. https://www.sunprairieumc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairieumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunprairieumc/
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
This week, we will celebrate All Saints' Day when we remember those from our faith community who have died in the last year and remember those people in our own lives who have gone to be with God.
The scriptures will be 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 and Mark 12:38-44. Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled, The Grace of Giving.
isit our website and social media to learn more about us. https://www.sunprairieumc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairieumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunprairieumc/
Saturday Oct 23, 2021
Saturday Oct 23, 2021
This week the scriptures will be Psalm 34:1-8 and Mark 10:46-52. Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled, Be Encouraged.
During the month of October, our stewardship theme will be Blest Be the Ties that Bind Us.
Beginning on World Communion Sunday, October 3, and culminating on All-Saints Sunday, October 31, we will hear about the many ways our ties bind us to the people and ministries of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church. The ties that bind us as the Body of Christ are strong within our church and in our community. Bless you as you prayerfully consider your investment in the people and ministries that bind us in love to our faith community.
View bulletin here: https://www.sunprairieumc.org/worship/
We would love to know you’ve been with us. Would you please record your attendance with us?
Visit https://forms.gle/oqCX124a5pU1sZ8j8 to record your attendance anytime.
Visit our website and social media to learn more about us. https://www.sunprairieumc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairieumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunprairieumc/
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
This week the scriptures will be Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35 and Mark 10:35-45.
Pastor Jenny's sermon is titled, "Generosity Serves".
During the month of October, our stewardship theme will be Blest Be the Ties that Bind Us. Beginning on World Communion Sunday, October 3, and culminating on All-Saints Sunday, October 31, we will hear about the many ways our ties bind us to the people and ministries of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church. The ties that bind us as the Body of Christ are strong within our church and in our community. Bless you as you prayerfully consider your investment in the people and ministries that bind us in love to our faith community.
View bulletin here: https://www.sunprairieumc.org/worship/
We would love to know you’ve been with us. Would you please record your attendance with us? Visit https://forms.gle/oqCX124a5pU1sZ8j8 to record your attendance anytime.
Visit our website and social media to learn more about us. https://www.sunprairieumc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairieumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunprairieumc/
Saturday Oct 09, 2021
Saturday Oct 09, 2021
his week the scriptures will be Proverbs 20:5-7 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Our Pastor of Youth and Young Adults, Rev. Claire Douglass will offer the message this week. Her sermon is titled, Bound and Rebound.
You can find the Pixar Short Boundin here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WyR4AqRweY
During the month of October, our stewardship theme will be Blest Be the Ties that Bind Us. Beginning on World Communion Sunday, October 3, and culminating on All-Saints Sunday, October 31, we will hear about the many ways our ties bind us to the people and ministries of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church. The ties that bind us as the Body of Christ are strong within our church and in our community. Bless you as you prayerfully consider your investment in the people and ministries that bind us in love to our faith community.
View bulletin here: https://www.sunprairieumc.org/worship/
We would love to know you’ve been with us. Would you please record your attendance with us?
Visit https://forms.gle/oqCX124a5pU1sZ8j8 to record your attendance anytime.
Visit our website and social media to learn more about us. https://www.sunprairieumc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairieumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunprairieumc/