Podcast
Sermon Central
Hosted by BrecksvilleUMC · EN
Brecksville UMC strives to be an inclusive church. We intentionally make space for everyone to encounter a loving God—no matter your age, gender, race, income level, sexual orientation, or ability. No matter if you’re an atheist, someone struggling with faith, you live with constant faith in your heart, or you’re somewhere in between. You are welcome here and you are invited to participate in the life of our church. Here at BUMC we’re all about creating safe spaces to grow with God and one another!
15episodes
Episodes
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Free Will in the Wild: You Are Allowed to Change Your Mind
Jun 100:48:04Tap to summarize"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The word conform means to take on an outward pattern or shape— often unconsciously allowing yourself to be pressed into a mold or adapting yourself to fit others’ expectations—the systems and assumptions and dominant values of the culture squeezing and shaping you into something that works for its benefit. Fitting you into a box or category that’s easily understood. Fear, outrage, consumerism, productivity, political tribalism, shame, scarcity, success culture… these things are constantly working to form and conform us… IF we’re willing to allow them. Paul tells us, “Don’t let the world decide your shape.”—don’t give the world that sort of power over you. Instead, Paul says, “be transformed.”
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Free Will In the Wild: You Are Not Powerless
May 2600:43:14Tap to summarizeGod of morning light and flickering stars, you breathed your Spirit into dust and called humanity good. You placed within us the sacred freedom to choose what we will carry, what we will release, what we will nurture, and who we will become. And yet, there are days when the world feels heavy— when fear grows louder than hope; when we forget that even small acts of love can illuminate the darkness. So as we gather together again, kindle your light within us. And if we come today feeling weary or powerless, remind us who we are: people created in your image, and filled with your Spirit; people called to shine. May our worship today become light for the world. In the name of Christ, who is our light and our life, we pray. Amen.
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Our Money Story: Restore
May 2000:47:54Tap to summarizeWe began our series by remembering—by recognizing our spoken and unspoken money stories and how those stories have impacted our relationship to money. Then, we acknowledged those parts of our story that keep us from freedom and wholeness, and practiced release. Last week, we began to reimagine our money story, recognizing that God refuses to let brokenness become destiny. Today, we conclude our series focusing on restoration.
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Our Money Story: Reimagine
May 1100:49:26Tap to summarizeToday we continue the worship series, Our Money Story. Money and possessions are one of the most common topics in scripture—Jesus talked about money more than both faith and prayer. Because how we use our money—the way we choose to steward or spend it—is a deeply spiritual practice—and connected to what we think about God. Do we think God will provide? Do we think money is power or freedom or security or opportunity or control? Do we think that the money is ours because we worked hard for it, or do we think it’s God’s because everything we have is a gift from God? Our answers to all of these questions make up our money story—a story that has been written by our early experiences with money, and now shapes our beliefs and values surrounding money. Whether we realize it or not, we all have a money story. It might be a story of fear or shame, or a story that our actions won’t have an impact, or that we don’t have enough. The goal of this series is to give each of us an opportunity to pause and acknowledge the money story we’re living into and then wonder, “Is this story helpful?” and if not, “How might God be speaking a new narrative into our lives?” We began our series by remembering—by recognizing our spoken and unspoken money stories and how those stories have impacted our relationship to money. Then last week, we acknowledged those parts of our story that keep us from freedom and wholeness, and practiced release. This week, we reimagine our money stories.
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On Second Thought
May 10, 2023Tap to summarizeWe are a church with a long history which includes wonderful messages from pastors and guest speakers alike. This audio library includes sermons from our pastors Rev. Heidi Welch, Rev. Clark Stein, Rev. Karen Oehl, and special guests - Rev. Dr. William McCartney, Betsy Wooster, Rev. Lisa Drew, Rev. Dave Patton, Michael Jasczcak, Rev. Joy (Parker) Fenton-Jones, Janet Kleckner, Rev. Steve Clunn, Rev. Rob Leveridge, A. Current-Felder, Rev. Kathy Dickreide, John Brachna, Jenny Gee and Rev. Peg Welch.
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