Perseverance the Comes from Hope

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 24A1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Starting today, I’m preaching a five-part series on the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. We choose our scriptures for Sunday mornings using something called the Revised Common Lectionary. It’s a cycle of assigned readings that repeat every three … [Read more…]

Idol Talk

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Nineteenth Sunday after PentecostExodus 32:1-14 Last week, we considered the ten commandments, as presented in Exodus 20. This week, we will explore what happens twelve chapters later in Exodus 32. What happened in between? Well, you might remember that at the end of last week’s passage, the people … [Read more…]

White Fragility

On October 11, Early Church is beginning study of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo. You can join in Sunday mornings at 8:30 via Zoom. Use the link bit.ly/earlychurchfg. You might also find this reading guide helpful.

Thou Shalt Not

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 22AExodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 This text from the second book of the Torah, the book of Exodus, describes a key moment in the formation of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. God, acting through Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, has just liberated the … [Read more…]

October Messenger

As we continue in the liturgical season of Ordinary Time in October, we will consider scriptures from the Book of Exodus and the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. We revisit God’s gracious giving of the law at Sinai in the Ten Commandments. We see how, even from the beginning, God’s people had trouble … [Read more…]

Kenosis

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Seventeenth Sunday after PentecostPhilippians 2:1-13 Early Christian communities in the first century have two significant problems. The first is that they have quite a lot of internal division and disagreement. This is a new religious movement, made up of people from all over the known world, people from … [Read more…]

The Usual Daily Wage

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 20AMatthew 20:1-16 IT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT FAIR. No self-respecting American worker would stand for it. We’d go straight to the boss and complain. We’d file a union grievance. We might even sue the company or lead a walk-out: equal pay for equal work. It … [Read more…]

Breathing Smoke … Seeking Hope

a time of prayer, reflection, and praise As wildfires rage, we add to our prayers yet another crisis. Our individual prayers are crucial, but our corporate prayers are needed, too. Join United Methodists from across the Greater Northwest Area in a time of prayer, reflection, and praise in online worship this Sunday, September 20, at 3 … [Read more…]

District News from Wendy

Fire Updates in Cascadia District as of Thursday Morning  I want to keep you informed related to the fires throughout the Cascadia District and also offer a word of prayer.  Please know that you are held in my prayers.  We are not alone in the midst of these challenges and crises.  God provides us comfort and … [Read more…]

Youth Group

All middle school and high school youth are invited to meet on Sundays starting September 13th at 6 pm. We’ll play games, check in with each other, explore questions of faith. Join via Zoom at bit.ly/forestgroveumy or with Meeting ID 973 5210 9417 and password FGUMY.

Love One Another

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 18ARomans 13:8-14 In the United Methodist tradition we have something called the Historic Examination. These are the questions that John Wesley used to ask of his traveling preachers, and they have been ask of those who are about to be ordained from the … [Read more…]

Campfire in the ZoomYard

It’s our tradition to gather at this time of the year for Campfire in the Courtyard. Since we can’t yet gather in person, we’ll gather using Zoom. On Sunday, September 6, at 7 pm, join us for a campfire, singing, and stories. Login with this address greaternw.zoom.us/j/91922325473 or with the Meeting ID: 919 2232 5473. … [Read more…]

September Messenger

As we continue in the liturgical season of “Ordinary Time” in September, we will consider scriptures from the Gospel of Matthew and the letters of Paul. We contemplate two of Jesus’ parables, one about the power and re- sponsibility of forgiveness and the other about jealousy and the overwhelming power of God’s grace. From the … [Read more…]

Get Behind Me

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Thirteenth Sunday after PentecostMatthew 16:21-28 Today’s sermon is about Rocky. No, it’s not about the boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone. It’s about the apostle Peter. Peter isn’t his given name though. You might remember, when Jesus called him, his name was Simon. But Jesus gave him a nickname. … [Read more…]

Crumbs from Your Table

Rev Dr. David D. M. King The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 15AMatthew 15:21-28 I have always found the story from Matthew today to be one of the most disturbing in the Gospels. The version in Mark is about Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. Here in Matthew it is the story of Jesus and the … [Read more…]

Walking on the Sea

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 14AMatthew 14:22-33 There certainly is a lot of power on display in the gospel lesson today. Jesus performs all sorts of impressive miracles. But we’re likely to miss quite a lot of the significance if we just focus on the power and the … [Read more…]

Wrestling Jacob

by Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 13AGenesis 32:22-31 The passage that we have from the Book of Genesis this morning is such a good story.  There are some bible passages that are good because they contain really good doctrine, really good theology. There are some bible passages that … [Read more…]

August Messenger

During the month of August, we’ll be ex- ploring the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Matthew. From Genesis, we’ll see how Jacob wrestled with God and won. From Exodus, we’ll hear the story of five faithful woman who did God’s will by breaking the law. And from Matthew, we’ll read three stories of Jesus and … [Read more…]