Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church

February 18, 2024       Acts 2:42-27; John 12:1-8

Lent is a good time for reflection, for introspection, or for reviewing our relationship with God and with one another.  Over my 12 Lenten seasons with you here at Hunting Ridge, we have used a variety of themes to carry us on our journey to the cross and the resurrection of our Lord.  Over the next four Sundays we will be exploring our attitudes about several arenas of our lives as individuals and as a church—the way we practice our faith (today), the way we identify culture (next week), and then how we look at gender and then paying attention to how race impacts the way we interact with one another in our church family.  We each carry within us a perspective, a worldview, a belief system that is either embedded in us or which we have intentionally adopted with respect to any of these arenas and more.

I invite you to walk with me this Lent as we explore how the scriptures and our Christian ancestors speak to us in our current society full of so much variety and diversity.  We will find that sometimes this variety can create division.  

Our word for today is PIETY.  It is not a word we use all the time. Yet it is something that affects our lives day in and day out.  Piety is the way you choose to approach God, the way you practice your faith.  You may have grown up with a certain style of worship music or you have adopted gender inclusive language for God.  You may shout “Amen” during the sermon or you may feel uncomfortable when others clap while singing.  You may feel comfortable praying spontaneously or you may prefer to use prayers prepared by someone else.  You may best connect with God in this sanctuary or you may best connect with God in private.  You may feel strongly that the patterns of prayer found in scripture are what must be used or you may appreciate different expressions and styles of prayer.

Continue reading “Open your eyes:  Attitudes about Piety  “ →

  Gen. 9: 8-17, Mark 9:2-9      Transfiguration Sunday 

Transfiguration Sunday is today.  It is not one of your top five Christian holidays.  Likely it is not on your list at all!  Transfiguration Sunday is always the Sunday just before Lent begins.  Remember that Lent is a journey to Jerusalem, to the cross and the resurrection, just like Advent is a journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The transfiguration event on the mountain is a real turning point in the ministry of Jesus.  From this point on, he is directing his steps toward Jerusalem, toward the end, toward the culmination of his ministry on earth.  So today we focus on the transfiguration and on Wednesday we begin the journey to Jerusalem, heading toward the crucifixion.

Transfiguration is not the same as transformation.  Jesus was transfigured.  His outward appearance had noticeably changed.  Right in front of the eyes of the disciples who had hiked up the mountain with him, he was shining like the light from a lighthouse. He no longer looked the same, but he is truly no different on the inside.  He is still Jesus, the Messiah, the beloved Son of God.

Transformation is what happens to the disciples as they witness this amazing sight– Jesus shining like an advertisement for bleach and the mysterious presence of perhaps the two greatest prophets in Israel’s history:  Moses and Elijah.  Their eyes are opened to a whole new understanding of this rabbi they had been following around.  When they see historical figures talking with Jesus, they make a connection between the ministries of Moses and Elijah and the ministry of Jesus.  And then they hear that he is on audible speaking terms with God!  They all saw the same thing.  They all heard the same voice.  No one was dreaming it.  Peter, James and John’s image of Jesus was transformed, changing their relationship with him from this point onward.

Continue reading “Shine On 2/11/2024” →