LISTEN TO HIM!

March 13, 2011, 1st Sunday in Lent
The scripture reading is from Mark's Gospel, chapter 9, beginning at verse 2:

Mark 9:2  Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”  Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

Questions for Personal Reflection from Jerry Tankersley

How many Facebook friends do you have?

Has one of your Facebook friends ever posted a personal message for you?

From whom would you like to receive a telephone call or a text message?

If you could hear one message at this moment In your life, what would it be?

Is there a message you do not desire to receive?

Out of all the people you have known who was the best listener?

If God were seeking to deliver a message to you, what would you hope that message might be?

Are you a  good listener?  What are the qualities of a good listener?

The heavenly Voice said to the three disciples, “Listen To Him!”  What did they need to hear?

Prayer:

Eternal God,

we confess that we do not expect and long for

the transforming power of your love

to work miracles in these hard hearts of ours.

Yet we secretly long for a rescue, an escape, a miracle,

to relieve us of the responsibilities and the challenges you set before us.  Healing Spirit, renew our confidence in your power

and in the power of love to change our lives,

and give us courage to be the fully responsible persons

Christ calls us to be. Amen.

Ash Wednesday, Day 1: "Cheers, Facebook and a Loaf of Bread"

Ash Wednesday Worship and Communion, 7pm

Begin your Lenten journey tonight!

The scripture reading is from Mark's Gospel, chapter 8 beginning at verse 14:

Mark 8:14   Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”  16 They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.”  17 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  18 Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?  19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.”  20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.”  21 Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” 

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Questions for Personal Reflection from Steve Sweet

1) For what do you hunger and thirst?

2) How do you fill your need for for God and for community?

Prayer:  God of all seasons, in your pattern of things 

there is a time for keeping and a time for losing,
a time for building up and a time for pulling down.
In this season of Lent as I journey with you to the cross, 
help me to discern in my life
what I must lay down and what I must take up,
what I must end and what I must begin.
Give me grace to lead a disciplined life,
in glad faithfulness and with the joy that comes 
from walking face to face with you, Lord and Christ. Amen.

Welcome to The Ultimate Social Network this Lent, 2011

Laguna Presbyterian Church welcomes you during this season of Lent to participate in this network of discussions on LPC’s sermons and the Gospel of Mark as together we set aside 40 days face-to-face with Jesus.  This blog may be used as your devotional reading during Lent.   Each Monday morning this blog will post the previous Sunday's Scripture reading, along with questions for reflection written by the preaching pastor, there will also be a link to Sunday's sermon Podcast, there may be additional links to articles, books, etc. mentioned in Sunday's sermon.  


This blog will serve as a forum to engage in the most important and relevant question[s] of our time, who do you say Jesus is and what does our answer say about how we are called to live?  The blog will be moderated by LPC's pastoral staff and comments will be posted once reviewed.  Anyone can respond to comments and questions.  Comments may be made anonymously as well.


The start date for this blog will be March 9, 2011, Ash Wednesday.  Join us in worship and communion at 7pm at Laguna Presbyterian Church. Reverend, Dr. Steve Sweet, Preaching. Families are encouraged to attend this service together (no childcare).  Logos students are encouraged to attend the service and will meet in the Youth Center following the worship service.