Welcoming All, Empowered by Christ, Sent Forth to Serve

April 2, 2017 message: “Giving Up Our Lives”

God creates life from death, nothingness, and hopelessness. The Bible is full of such paradoxes, as Jesus tells us that those who try to keep their lives will die, but those who give up their lives for others will live. We are used to thinking of our life in terms of fixed beginnings and ends, but the story of Jesus calls us to throw away our old categories and embrace God’s larger vision of eternal life that begins her and now.

To read Pastor Mary’s message, based on John 11: 1-45 and Ezekiel 37: 1-14, click here.

The 2003 Czech film, “The Bridge” is a short, but extremely powerful story of love, sacrifice, hope, and forgiveness. It is too long to use in worship to illustrate the message, but well worth viewing. Click on the links below to view the film.

Full version

10 minute version