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The Spirit of Fire and New Creation
For Pentecost Sunday, Tim Reardon asked us, “So what is the Holy Spirit? What place do we give the Spirit? How do we talk about her?” And “What do you imagine is happening on Pentecost?” Was this simply a sign, or is there more going on here? And what does the Spirit do? Tim invites…
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Interwoven Images
On June 2nd, Jason Smith reflected on Acts 16:16-34. Jason, accountant by day, painter by night (his Clark Kent/Superman existence ), wove together the works of artist Dinh Q. Le with the accounts of the healing of a fortune-telling slave woman and Paul and Silas’ subsequent imprisonment and release. As Dinh Q. Le weaves Vietnam…
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A Sabbath Community
Reflecting on John 5:1-10, Steve Chun spoke to our church community last Sunday about the story of the man healed by Jesus at the pools of Bethesda. This story is different than many in John, in that he doesn’t appear to respond as a follower of Jesus, and we don’t see a transformation beyond the…
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Nonresistance is Not Enough
Engaging with the reading of Matthew 5:38-48, Tim Reardon tackled the topic of peace. The Christian peace tradition was Tim’s draw to the Mennonite denomination during the build-up to the second Iraq war. This is peace not relegated to our hearts while taking up arms against enemies, nor as an ideal or demand or a…
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What Motivates Us to be Missional?
Bekah Estrada asks, “What does it mean to be missional?” She describes this as a wholistic understanding of what missions is. It’s about participating in the kingdom of God — about acting out our faith. And talking about faith is just one small part of this. Based in Luke 2:25-38, with Simeon and Anna in…
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On Being the Potter AND the Clay
Accompanied by slides and a demonstration on a potter’s wheel, Al Dueck spoke to us on April 7th from Jeremiah 18:1-5 and Isaiah 64:1-2. His reflections follow. I would like this morning to reflect on two ways of being Christian. To a certain extent they reflect the difference between these two representations: photographic and impressionistic.…
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Seeing, Believing, and Understanding
On Easter morning, reflecting on Isaiah 65:17-25 and John 20:1-18, Sam Bills spoke to us about the resurrection story. Early in the morning, Mary approaches the tomb where Jesus had been laid with ointments to tend to the body. She suspects foul play when she sees the stone blocking the entrance has been moved aside…
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Embodied Forgiveness
On April 14, Palm Sunday, Tim Reardon spoke about the Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Luke 19:28-44, and his words from the cross in Luke 23:32-46. The celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is tinged by coming of the cross, and the willingness of those who had celebrated to now condemn him. Emmanuel, God with…
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Hagar’s Story
On March 24, Lauren Murtidjaja addressed Genesis 16, and referenced Genesis 21 — to talk about the story of Hagar. Hagar’s story is sandwiched in between God promising Abram a child despite his old age. In the midst of the stories of Abram and Sarai, Hagar’s story seems to be forgotten. If she is remembered,…
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An Exodus People?
On March 17, our Poet of the King, Tim Reardon, revisited the Exodus through Exodus 13:2-10 and Luke 9:51-56. Our interaction with Sarah Augustine and learning about the Doctrine of Discovery have offered a rereading of these passages. We in Pasadena meet in land originally inhabited by the Tongva people. And so what does it…
Pasadena Mennonite Church 