Towards Sunday

Sermon Series: Interactions with Jesus

June 13, 2021 – Interactions with Jesus: Living Water

by Dustin Dawe | June 8, 2021 | Interactions with Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

As we continue our series on Interactions with Jesus, we are looking at a scripture in John chapter 4… John 4:3-19; 27-34 New Revised Standard Version4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than...

June 6, 2021 – “Interactions with Jesus: Questioned by a Lawyer”

by Dustin Dawe | June 1, 2021 | Interactions with Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

We are starting a new message series this week. This series will be our focus during the summer months. The title of this message series is Interactions with Jesus. We will be looking at some brief interactions that Jesus had with different people and see what we...

Sermon Series: Awe Yeah

May 30, 2021 – “Awe Yeah….Jesus”

by Dustin Dawe | May 24, 2021 | Awe Yeah, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will be finishing up our series on Rediscovering our Awe. Our focus this Sunday will be Jesus; Awe yeah… Jesus! The scriptures we will be looking at are… John 3:16-17 New Revised Standard Version16 “For God so loved the world that he...

May 23, 2021 – “Awe Yeah…The Technology of Fire”

by Dustin Dawe | May 18, 2021 | Awe Yeah, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will be continuing our series of Rediscovering the Awe. The passages we will be centering around will be… Exodus 3:1-6 Ezekiel 1:3 – Ezekiel 2:10 Daniel 7:9-10 Luke 3:15-16 Hebrews 12:28-29 That is a lot of reading. Do you see a common theme? ...

May 16, 2021 – “Awe Yeah…Creation”

by Dustin Dawe | May 11, 2021 | Awe Yeah, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

As I find myself sitting in the church office on a Monday afternoon, I am looking out the window, watching the trees dance in the wind as the birds fly in and out of the trees. It is a sunny day with a blue sky, and I am thinking about God’s creation and watching it...

May 9, 2021 – “Awe Yeah… Hallowed Be Your Name”

by Dustin Dawe | May 4, 2021 | Awe Yeah, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This week will start a new four-part series on the Rediscovering the awe of God. This week to kick off the series we will be looking at Hallowed be your name. Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray, and that prayer was recorded in Matthew chapter...

Sermon Series: Who Are We

May 2, 2021 – “Who Are We…We want to actively invite the faces we see each day into the way of Jesus”

by Dustin Dawe | April 27, 2021 | Towards Sunday, Who Are We | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will be ending our series on Who are we…With the last message, We want to actively invite the faces we see each day into the way of Jesus. The scriptures we will be looking at this week are… Matthew 28:18-20 New Revised Standard Version...

April 25, 2021 – “Who Are We….We are Sustained by God’s Love”

by Dustin Dawe | April 20, 2021 | Towards Sunday, Who Are We | 0 Comments

This Sunday we are continuing in our series "Who are we…" The theme of this Sunday is "Who are we… We are sustained by God’s love". The scriptures we will be looking at are… Psalm 73:25-26 Psalm 136:1-26 Ephesians 4:17-24 We know that God loves us, but do we...

April 18, 2021 – “Who Are We…We are Being Transformed by the Spirit”

by Dustin Dawe | April 13, 2021 | Towards Sunday, Who Are We | 0 Comments

We are continuing our series on "Who are we?" This Sunday we will look at being transformed by the Spirit. The scriptures we will be looking at this Sunday will be… Romans 12:1-212 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to...

April 11, 2021 – “Who Are We…We are a Community Rooted in Christ”

by Dustin Dawe | April 6, 2021 | Towards Sunday, Who Are We | 0 Comments

The next several weeks we are going to look at what we believe at Marion, well kind of. If you are reading this, that means you are on the Marion Mennonite website. Take a second to click on the “What We Believe” box on the main page. What do you think when...

Sermon Series: Easter 2021

April 4, 2021 – Easter Sunday. “Deep in the Feast: Called to Deep Living”

by Dustin Dawe | March 30, 2021 | Easter 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

It’s Easter Sunday! He is risen. We are continuing with our theme of Deep calls to Deep. This Sunday we are looking at Deep in the feast: Called to deep living. Our scriptures are… Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 John 20:1-18 Acts 10:34-43 1 Corinthians...

Sermon Series: Lent 2021

March 28, 2021 – “Deep in the Current: Called to Deep Hope”

by Dustin Dawe | March 23, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

It’s Palm Sunday! We will be continuing our Lent theme of deep calls to deep. This Sunday’s theme is… Deep in the current: Called to deep hope. The scriptures for this Sunday are… Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 John 12:12-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Hope...

March 21, 2021 – “Deep in the Earth: Called to Deep Growth”

by Dustin Dawe | March 16, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday is the fifth Sunday of Lent and the theme is; Deep in the earth: Called to deep growth The scriptures for this week are… Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 John 12:20-33 Hebrews 5:5-10 Being a Jesus Follower is not a spectator sport. God calls us to be...

March 14, 2021 – Lent #4 – “Deep in the Wilderness: Called to Deep Healing”

by Dustin Dawe | March 9, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

As we continue our Lent Journey, this week's theme is… Deep in the wilderness: Called to deep healing The scriptures for this Sunday are… Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3; 17-22 John 3:14-21 Ephesians 2:1-10 We find the Israelites in the wilderness and in need of...

March 7, 2021 – Lent #3 “Deep in the Changing Sky: Called to Deep Wisdom”

by Dustin Dawe | March 2, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

As we continue our journey through Lent, the theme this Sunday is… Deep in the changing sky: Called to deep wisdom. Our scriptures for this week are… Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 John 2:13-22 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Are you a rule follower or do rules feel too...

February 28, 2021 – Lent #2 – “Deep in the Woods: Called to Deep Commitment”

by Dustin Dawe | February 23, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday is the second Sunday of Lent. This week our theme is… Deep in the woods: Called to deep commitment. The scriptures we will be looking at are… Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31 Mark 8:31-38 Romans 4:13-25 What experiences in your life has...

February 21, 2021 – Lent #1 – “Deep in the Sea: Called to Deep Relationship”

by Dustin Dawe | February 16, 2021 | Lent 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This is the first Sunday of our observance of Lent. The theme of Lent for us this year is… Deep Calls to Deep. Our focus this Sunday will be… Deep in the sea: Called to deep relationship. The scriptures we will be looking at this...

Sermon Series: Epiphany 2021

February 14, 2021 –

by Dustin Dawe | February 9, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day… oh wait I mean Happy Transfiguration Sunday! Is that a thing? Transfiguration seems like one of those fancy church words that we kick around once a year. Transfiguration comes from the Greek metamorphothe, from which we get the word...

February 7, 2021 – “Let’s Tell Our Story”

by Dustin Dawe | February 2, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This week as we continue using scriptures from the lectionary, we will be looking at the following scriptures… Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Mark 1:29-39 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Some weeks it seems easy to find a connection with all four scriptures. Some...

January 31, 2021 – “Our Words or God’s Word”

by Dustin Dawe | January 26, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This week we will look at some scriptures that will invite us to consider which voices we choose to listen to, God’s voice or our own? Before we answer that question, let’s check out our scriptures for this week. Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 111 Mark 1:21-28 1...

January 24, 2021 – “The Holy Spirit at Work”

by Dustin Dawe | January 19, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we feel some urgency in our scriptures. Do you wait until the last minute because you work better under the pressure? Do you prefer to take your time and move at a slower pace? Do you prefer the pace of a rabbit or a turtle? Our scriptures this week...

January 17, 2021 – “Come and See”

by Dustin Dawe | January 12, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Would you recognize Jesus if you bumped into Him today? What characteristics would help you identify the person as Jesus? This Sunday we will look at two passages where folks almost missed their opportunity. The lectionary...

January 10, 2021 – “Power in the Water”

by Dustin Dawe | January 5, 2021 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

There is something about water. I could sit in a beach chair and listen to the waves all day. There is nothing like being on the lake, whether you’re tubing, fishing, or just hanging out. There something about the water. This Sunday we will be looking a few...

January 3, 2021 – “On the Road to Radiance”

by Dustin Dawe | December 29, 2020 | Epiphany 2021, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Happy New Year! It's Epiphany Sunday. We are continuing our theme of, On the road. This week we are, On the road to radiance. The scriptures for this week are... Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Last week, we experienced...

Sermon Series: Advent 2020

December 27, 2020 – “On the Road to Rejoicing”

by Dustin Dawe | December 22, 2020 | Advent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

It's Christmas! This Sunday we will be continuing our theme... On the road. We will be focusing on, On the road to rejoicing. Our scriptures for this Sunday will be... Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40 This Sunday we will spend most of...

December 20, 2020 – Advent IV – “On The Road to Revelation”

by Dustin Dawe | December 15, 2020 | Advent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

It is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. Our theme is On the Road. This week we are on the road to revelation. Here are the scriptures for this week... 2 Samuel 7:1-11 Psalm 89:1-4; 19-26 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38, 46b-55 Our focus on Sunday will be on...

December 13, 2020 – Advent III – “On the Road to Restoration”

by Connie Detwiler | December 8, 2020 | Advent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

The Psalmist, Isaiah the prophet and Mary the mother of Jesus, offer hope-filled words of redemption, joy and gratitude. On this third Sunday of Advent we’ll be focusing on “restoration”, a journey toward wholeness in body, soul, and spirit. God loves to take broken...

December 6, 2020 – Advent II – “On the Road to Repentance”

by Dustin Dawe | December 1, 2020 | Advent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Advent #2 On the road to repentance Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 God is always moving and working in the world. In what ways it is easy to see God working? What happens when God is moving in a way that surprises us? What...

November 29, 2020 – Advent I – “On the Road to Readiness”

by Dustin Dawe | November 24, 2020 | Advent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Advent Season is upon us. The advent theme for this year is... On the road. This Sunday the theme is... On the road to readiness. The Advent scriptures for this week are... Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark...

Sermon Series: Unity in the Community

November 22, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: What Can the Church Offer the Culture Around Us?”

by Dustin Dawe | November 17, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

What do Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther all have in common? This is the last Sunday in our Unity Series. You are probably familiar with the story of Esther, but what about Ezra and Nehemiah. If you have some time this week, check out the books of Ezra and...

November 15, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Gossip, The Unity Killer”

by Dustin Dawe | November 10, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

As we continue our series on Unity, this Sunday we will talk about Gossip, the unity killer. Our society seems to love gossip and sadly the church isn't far behind. What is it about gossip that intrigues us? Look at what James has to say about the power of the...

November 8, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Let’s Work Through Conflict”

by Dustin Dawe | November 3, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Conflict is all around us, it is hard to avoid. Do you enjoy a passionate debate about a difference of opinion or would you like to avoid a confrontation if at all possible? Can you recall some stories in the Bible involving conflict? When you are engaged in a...

November 1, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Believe the Best in Others”

by Dustin Dawe | October 27, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Do you usually see the positive side in a situation, or are you more of a cynic? What do you see first in others? What keeps us from seeing the best in other people? Is it our pride, our jealousy, or something else? Romans 12:9-12 Let love be genuine; hate...

October 25, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Embrace our Differences”

by Dustin Dawe | October 20, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

1 Corinthians 12:12-30 New Revised Standard VersionOne Body with Many Members12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into...

October 18, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Humility It’s Essential”

by Dustin Dawe | October 13, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

I am the most humble person I know... really. What does it mean to be humble? Humility is essential for Unity. We are halfway through out Unity series and I want to remind you of our Unity passage... Colossians...

October 11, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Acknowledge our need for Community”

by Dustin Dawe | October 8, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Fellowship with Jesus means fellowship with others. Consider these three scriptures this week... Ephesians 2:19-22 New Revised Standard Version19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the...

October 4, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Remember our Common Identity”

by Dustin Dawe | September 29, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Week #4 in our Unity Series. The thought for this Sunday is… Remember our common identity. Romans 5:1-5 New Revised Standard Version 5 Therefore,...

Sept. 20, 2020 – “Unity in the Community: Trust the Work of the Holy Spirit”

by Dustin Dawe | September 15, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Week #3 in our Unity Series. The thought for this Sunday is… Trust the work of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 47:1-14 The Message 1-2 Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east (the...

Sept. 13, 2020 – Unity in the Community: Prayer Makes a Difference!

by Dustin Dawe | September 8, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

Remember to be spending time with our Colossians passage as a part of your daily routine. Colossians 3:12-15 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience....

September 6, 2020 – “Unity in the Community…Why is it Important”

by Dustin Dawe | September 2, 2020 | Towards Sunday, Unity in the Community | 0 Comments

We are starting a new series on Unity. What is unity, why is it important and what does the Bible say about unity. During this series, I would like us to keep Colossians 3:12-15 in our hearts and minds. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy...

Sermon Series: Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)

August 23, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Love

by Blaine Detwiler | August 18, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

During our summer series we have been exploring the emotions of Jesus. This Sunday we will be looking at Jesus’ emotion of love. In many respects Jesus having the emotional experience of love may seem like a no-brainer. But could Jesus’ emotion of love be particular...

August 16, 2020 – “Jesus’ Emotions…. Pain”

by Dustin Dawe | August 11, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

What comes to your mind when you think about pain? Are you reminded of a time when you experienced pain? Was it a physical pain, emotional pain, or something else? As you think about these scriptures this week, think about the pain associated with each scripture....

August 9, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Shame

by Blaine Detwiler | August 4, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Scripture lessons: Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer...

August 2, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Surprise

by Blaine Detwiler | July 28, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will take note of Jesus’ emotion of surprise. In English the word surprise, as a verb, means to feel astonishment or shock at an unexpected event. The Greek word used in the two scripture lessons below means to cause marvel or wonder. Apparently,...

July 26, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Compassion

by Blaine Detwiler | July 22, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will give attention to Jesus’ emotion of compassion. Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” It is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. In the 2...

July 19, 2020 – “Jesus’ Emotions (really?) The Joy of Jesus”

by Dustin Dawe | July 15, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

What brings you joy? What if you made a list, what would be on it? Jesus experienced joy. What things do you think brought Jesus joy? Joy is much deeper than happiness. Joy is not dependent on life's circumstances. Joy is an emotion that is an outpouring of...

July 12, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Sadness

by Blaine Detwiler | July 7, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will continue to explore Jesus’ range of emotions. Thus far we have noticed that Jesus experienced situations that caused him to be angry, anxious and peaceful. Emotions do vary in intensity and do not always fit cleanly into one category or another. ...

July 5, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) – Peace

by Blaine Detwiler | June 30, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

In our Jesus’ Emotions (really?) series thus far we have explored two emotions Jesus experienced, anger and anxiety. This Sunday we will look at three scripture lessons (below) that suggest Jesus also carried peace in his emotional toolbox. In...

June 28, 2020 – Jesus’ Emotions (really?) Anxiety

by Blaine Detwiler | June 23, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we continue our series on Jesus’ Emotions. In English anxiety can be described as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease about an event. In the three scriptures below are some bolded words. I am using anxiety as an umbrella word to cover the...

June 21, 2020

by Dustin Dawe | June 16, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Happy Father’s Day! Hebrews Chapter 11. Spend time reading about some of the “Heroes of our Faith”. Does some on the list surprise you? Which ones? David, as we all know was called a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22)(1 Sam...

June 14, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | June 9, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Jesus’ Emotions (really?) - Anger This Sunday we will explore Jesus’ emotion of anger. Below are 3 scriptures. Within these scriptures are 4 bolded words, anger, grieved, zeal and indignant. Though different words they carry a similar thread of...

June 7, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | June 2, 2020 | ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we begin a new worship series called ‘Jesus’ Emotions, (really?)’ . Many of us have been taught not to trust our emotions. And yet, emotions are part of what it means to be a human being. This series it meant to discover some the emotions that...

Sermon Series: Pentecost 2020

May 31, 2020 – Pentecost

by Blaine Detwiler | May 26, 2020 | Pentecost, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Towards Sunday – Pentecost, 2020 This Sunday is the annual church calendar date when the event of Pentecost is celebrated by many Christian churches around the world. Pentecost is associated with the advance of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Christian...

Sermon Series: Easter 2020

May 24, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | May 19, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Ascension Day was on Thursday. Traditionally it comes 40 days after Easter. It is a day on the church calendar that keeps tracking the major events of Jesus. Next Sunday is another one, Pentecost Sunday. For our Zoom gathering on Sunday...

May 17, 2020

by Joyce Lehman | May 12, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

by Dustin Dawe Acts 17:22-31 The Message (MSG)22-23 So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. “It is plain to seethat you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated withall the...

May 10, 2020

by Connie Detwiler | May 5, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

MOTHERS DAY FROM THIS WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE As a daughter, I liked having a day to honor my mother. As a mom, I like having a day where my kids and husband honor me. Many feel that way and find Mothers Day delightful. Mothering is not for the faint of heart...

May 3, 2020

by Joyce Lehman | April 27, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

by Dustin Dawe So then what…? Let not your hearts be troubled. Acts 7:55-60 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he...

April 26, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | April 21, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Easter was two Sundays ago. We now find ourselves in the season of Easter where our scripture lessons unfold the events that happened afterwards. In the lesson from Luke’s gospel (below) Jesus makes an everyday style appearance with two people. ...

April 19, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | April 15, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Easter was last Sunday. We celebrated the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Now we are moving into the season of Easter where the scripture lessons begin to unfold the events that happened afterwards. In the lesson from John’s gospel Jesus...

April 12, 2020 – Easter Sunday

by Blaine Detwiler | April 8, 2020 | Easter 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

For most of us this Sunday will be a very different kind of Easter Service. Present circumstances can help influence the way we read and understand the bible. Below are 4 scripture lessons with a bolded line or phrase in each one. After reading each...

Sermon Series: Lent 2020

April 5, 2020 – Sloth/Joy

by Blaine Detwiler | April 1, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday is the last in our series on the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Virtues. We have been taking these ‘7s’ in no particular order. Nonetheless it comes off as a bit ironical that we should land on Sloth/Joy in the middle of the current COVID -19 pandemic. ...

March 29, 2020 – Pride/Humility

by Blaine Detwiler | March 25, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

We began this series on the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Virtues back on February 23rd. Since then the scenery of our lives has been changing rapidly. One of the tools we have been using is the Cherokee parable of a grandfather telling his grandson about the battle that goes...

March 15, 2020 – Gluttony/Temperance

by Blaine Detwiler | March 10, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

During our current series on 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Virtues we have been using a Cherokee parable. This parable speaks of an old grandfather speaking to his grandson of about how life is like having two wolves that live inside us. One is good and the other...

March 8, 2020

by Blaine Detwiler | March 3, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Greed/Generosity During this series we have been using the Cherokee parable about a grandfather talking to his grandson about the two wolves that are inside each of us. For this Sunday, as we are giving focus to greed and generosity, we might ask ourselves which...

March 1, 2020 – Anger/Love

by Blaine Detwiler | February 25, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we turn our attention to Anger/Love. Anger is something we all experience. At its best anger is wanting to tell us something. At its worst anger can produce deadly results. Anger has the power to push apart. Love, in all its variations, has the power of...

February 23, 2020 – “Envy/Contentment”

by Blaine Detwiler | February 19, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

During this series of 2 part - sermons during Lent we will be giving attention to sin and repair. The image of ‘greening up in the spring’ is a helpful metaphor for our approach. This Sunday we will give focus to Envy and Contentment. Consider the...

February 16, 2020 – Lent

by Blaine Detwiler | February 11, 2020 | Lent 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will be getting an early jump on the season of Lent. Lent is the church season that gives attention to themes of sin, penance and salvation. For this Sunday I’d like for us to consider the two scripture lessons below. The questions are meant...

Sermon Series: Epiphany 2020

January 26, 2020 – Epiphany

by Blaine Detwiler | January 21, 2020 | Epiphany 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Below are two scripture lessons we will be using during this Sunday’s worship gathering. To begin, read through the Psalm 27 reading. This particular Psalm comes to us is in the form of a prayer. Then, for some math fun, count up the number of times...

January 19, 2020 – Epiphany

by Blaine Detwiler | January 14, 2020 | Epiphany 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

There are more ways than one to approach a scripture lesson. We can read a scripture lesson as mere history. It happened like that, back then, and that is that! Another way to approach a scripture lesson is to place yourself within the action that is being...

January 12, 2020 – Epiphany 1

by Blaine Detwiler | January 7, 2020 | Epiphany 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

During the current season of Epiphany our scripture lessons aim to ‘present’ Jesus to the world. As a way to prepare for our gathering this Sunday consider these 3 lessons. As a prophet Isaiah was tasked with critiquing the current situation of his people. A prophet...

January 5, 2020 – Epiphany

by Blaine Detwiler | December 31, 2019 | Epiphany 2020, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Welcome to the New Year of 2020. The two scriptures below appear during the season of Epiphany. Scriptures can be used in a variety of ways. Sometimes they are memorized. Sometimes short verses are put on placards and posted by mailboxes. Other...

Sermon Series: Advent 2019

Sunday, December 29, 2019

by Joyce Lehman | December 26, 2019 | Advent 2019, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Author: Dustin Dawe Christmas has come and gone. Another Advent season is over, the waiting, the expecting, the celebration! Now what? How has the hustle and bustle of this past Christmas season and the craziness of everyday life left you feeling. In this Sunday’s...

December 15, 2019 – Advent III

by Jason Barthlow | December 11, 2019 | Advent 2019, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Looking towards Sunday; "what are we waiting for?" This week I am trying to draw out what fear looks like when we add it to our waiting. Lots of waiting/anticipating in Advent but it can be impatient and frustrating as we've already learned. ...

December 8, 2019 – Advent II

by Connie Detwiler | December 3, 2019 | Advent 2019, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This week’s texts push us to enter into God’s imagination. Open your eyes, ears, hearts and minds as you read: ISAIAH 11:1-10 (NIV) The Branch From Jesse A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear...

Dec. 1, 2019 – Advent I

by Blaine Detwiler | November 27, 2019 | Advent 2019, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday will mark a decided turn in our calendars. The November feast of Thanksgiving (USA) will be fading in our rearview mirrors and Christmas will begin appearing on the horizon. We have these 4 weeks to make preparations. Below are the four...

Sermon Series: A Community Rooted in Christ

November 24, 2019 – “We are a Community Rooted in Christ”

by Blaine Detwiler | November 19, 2019 | A Community Rooted in Christ, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday is the last of an extended series we have been doing in connection with our Vision Statement. For the past month we have been paying closer attention to first line ‘We are a Community Rooted in Christ.’ The title for this Sunday’s focus is ‘We...

…A Community Rooted in CHRIST”

by Blaine Detwiler | November 12, 2019 | A Community Rooted in Christ, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we pick up another highlighted word from the opening line of our Vision Statement, ‘We are a community rooted in CHRIST.’ Below are three scripture lessons. All three are excerpts from church letters that Paul wrote, one to a church located in...

November 10, 2019 – “…a Community ROOTED in Christ”

by Blaine Detwiler | November 5, 2019 | A Community Rooted in Christ, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Jesus was fond of using artful stories called parables. Below is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. Notice where He is while He is telling it. Matthew 13:1-9 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around...

November 3, 2019 – “… A COMMUNITY Rooted in Christ”

by Blaine Detwiler | October 29, 2019 | A Community Rooted in Christ, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

For the next 4 Sundays we will be working from the first line of our Vision Statement; ‘We are a COMMUNITY rooted in Christ.’ For this Sunday I want to center our focus on the word community. The scripture lesson below uses the word church. Jesus was...

Sermon Series: Love

October 27, 2019 – “Love: As a Verb”

by Dave Strausbaugh | October 22, 2019 | Love, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

John 15:9-14 (NRSV) As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy...

October 20, 2019 – ‘Love: is the Greatest’

by Blaine Detwiler | October 16, 2019 | Love, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

The past two Sundays we have noticed how other languages work define the word love. Greek has 4 separate words that sharpen the meanings. Hebrew has a word that describes love as a new condition that can occur when giving takes place. Neighbor is...

October 13, 2019 -“Love: One String Attached”

by Blaine Detwiler | October 8, 2019 | Love, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Deuteronomy 7:8-9 It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you—for you were the fewest of all peoples. It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the...

“Love: What are We Sayin’?”

by Blaine Detwiler | October 1, 2019 | Love, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

We are a community ROOTED in Christ, being TRANSFORMED by the Spirit, SUSTAINED by God’s love, actively INVITING the faces we see each day into the way of Jesus. On Sunday we will begin a 4 part series centered around the ‘sustained by God’s love’ part of our vision...

Sermon Series: The Holy Spirit

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit; Gifts and Fruit”

by Blaine Detwiler | September 17, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Galatians 5:22-26 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions...

Sept. 15, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit is a Helper” (advocate)

by Blaine Detwiler | September 10, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

John 14:15-26 ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him,...

Sept. 8, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit REnews”

by Blaine Detwiler | September 3, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday we will be continuing our series on the Holy Spirit. We can read about the Holy Spirit in our bibles as in the 4 short scriptures below. Persons can also have experiences with the Holy Spirit. This Sunday we will be talking about one of the...

Sept. 1, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit Heals–Be Open”

by Connie Detwiler | August 27, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Isaiah 57: 18-19 - “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will heal him.” Sit yourself in a...

August 25, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit; Exploring Symbols”

by Blaine Detwiler | August 20, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

This Sunday will feature a survey of how the Holy Spirit is ‘represented’ in Scripture, and beyond. To begin consider this definition of what a symbol is and how a symbol functions; A symbol is a mark, sign or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as...

August 18, 2019 – “The Holy Spirit; Two Unsettling Scriptures”

by Blaine Detwiler | August 14, 2019 | The Holy Spirit, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Exodus 3:(1-6) 13-15 3Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he...

Sermon Series: The Way of Jesus

August 11, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Wrap-up of Sermon Series

by Blaine Detwiler | August 6, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

The Way of Jesus John 14:6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the...

August 4, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Leave Footprints”

by Blaine Detwiler | July 30, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Luke 4:18-19 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release...

July 28, 2019 – TOWARDS SUNDAY 2

by Connie Detwiler | July 23, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

I am very aware that change can be hard. Reforming our church governance structure is a big change. Isaiah 43:19 tells us that our...

July 28, 2019 – WAYfarers Keep Growing

by Blaine Detwiler | July 23, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Mark 9:36-37 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my...

“The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Hob Nob with Wisdom”

by Joyce Lehman | July 17, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Proverbs 8:1-21 New Living Translation (NLT) Wisdom Calls for a Hearing 8 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as...

July 14, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Have Gumption”

by Blaine Detwiler | July 9, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Ezekiel 4: 1-3, 9-15 And you, O mortal, take a brick and set it before you. On it portray a city, Jerusalem; and put siege-works against...

July 7, 2019 – “WAYFARERS WIDEN TABLES, Feeding at the table of conspirators”

by Connie Detwiler | July 2, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Two weeks ago Carl’s brother, Pastor Phil, in his sermon, described “Ruach (the breath of the Holy Spirit) and that the real meaning of “conspiracy”...

June 30, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Handle Their Treasures”

by Blaine Detwiler | June 25, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Luke 6:43-45 ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not...

Please pray for our Up-coming Congregational Meeting

by Connie Detwiler | June 19, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Prayer for upcoming Congregational Meeting June 26, 2019 To discuss proposed by-law changes and approve FY20 budget Lord,The events of a day in the...

June 23, 2019

by Blaine Detwiler | June 18, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Genesis 2:4-9 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth...

June 16, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Have the Freedom to Dance”

by Blaine Detwiler | June 11, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Jeremiah 31:31-33 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of...

June 9, 2019 – “WAYfarers: Tend to God’s Garden”

by Jason Barthlow | June 6, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

So I've been reading and gathering thoughts for Sunday's message which is titled WAYFarers: Tend to God's Garden. I'm hoping to explore how we...

June 2, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Grow Roots”

by Blaine Detwiler | May 28, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Marion Mennonite Church's vision statement: We are a community rooted in Christ, being transformed by the Spirit, sustained by God's...

May 26, 2019 – “WAYfarers Pursue Peace”

by Carl Kniss | May 22, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

The biblical vision of Shalom is much larger and all-encompassing than simply the absence of war or conflict that might come to mind when we say...

May 19, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Embrace Hope”

by Blaine Detwiler | May 15, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 1 Comment

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain...

May 12, 2019 – “The Way of Jesus: WAYfarers Travel”

by Blaine Detwiler | May 7, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Here are 4 short scripture lessons to consider towards this Sunday's gathering. Isaiah 65:17 For I am about to create new...

The Way of Jesus: “WAYfarers Have Fingerprints”

by Blaine Detwiler | April 30, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

May 5, 2019 Below are 4 scripture lessons for us to consider in preparation for this Sunday's gathering. Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, ‘Let us make...

April 28, 2019

by Blaine Detwiler | April 24, 2019 | The Way of Jesus, Towards Sunday | 0 Comments

Good afternoon all,This Sunday is launch Sunday of a series called "The Way of Jesus". This particular emphasis was germinated from the work...

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