Blog of FPC Lebanon

Bible Reference(s): John 20:19-31 Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn In her weekly blog, my friend Rev. Rachel Hackenberg wrote a little post-Easter exercise that I would I would like to share with you this morning.  You don't have to write down your answers...although you are welcome to...and you don't have to answer verbally either.  Also, don't over-think or over-analyze...just take the first thoughts that come to your mind.  The quiz, if you will, has only three questions.  Here is the first one: What do you know to be true? Remember...first thought.  What do you know without question to be true? Next question: What do you know to be true about yourself? Again, take the very first thought that comes to your mind. What do you understand to be inherently true for you about yourself? Now: How do those two truths show up for you? Where do you experience affirmation of these truths? What evidence do you witness that affirms what you believe? You see, when we know som...

Bible Reference(s): Matthew 26:1-10 Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn So, I'm thinking that after seeing that video, there really isn't much else that needs to be said, is there?  We've sung our traditional Easter hymns; we've practiced the timeless Christian response, Christ is risen...he is risen indeed.  And now we've heard the resurrection story told in a unique way.   What more could we want? Not to mention, the title of today's message is:  Courage To Tell The Story.  Well, folks, trust me, participating in that video took courage...and whole lot of technical expertise from Neal Crouse.   I mean, to be videotaped on the spot and know that some snippet of what you said would be used to create a video over which you have no control?  That's way too much  vulnerability for some of us.  Still, these faithful folks courageously participated in spite of any apprehension they may have had.   And, I think we will all would agree, i...

Bible Reference(s): Matthew 20:1-11 / Matthew 26:14-27 / Matthew 27:15-26 Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn So,  I'm not the only one who was ready for a little Glory, Laud and Honor this morning, right? It is the perfect song for Palm Sunday, as we rejoice with the crowds who lined the path while Jesus made his way into Jerusalem. However, unlike the crowd, which had no idea of what the week ahead would bring, those of us on this side of the resurrection already know how it gets played out.  We have the blessing, and the curse, of knowing that Easter is coming, next Sunday morning.  It a blessing because, as with any story, knowing that there is a happy ending makes the challenging parts of the story more bearable.  Being confident that Easter is coming somehow softens the assault that the Passion story makes on our eyes, ears, hearts and minds. Sadly, this is also the curse of knowing that Easter is coming.  The happy ending makes the Passion story a less disturbing....

Bible Reference(s): John 11:1-45 Sermon by Rev. Terri Thorn A thirty-four year old man named Michael Sharp is dead.  He entered into his own version of a cave of death several times during his short life, and each time he returned home alive.  Until now.  This time he did not come back. In early March, Michael made his way into the rebel-held jungles of the Congo, just as he has been doing for years -- first as a Mennonite mission worker, and when the funding ran out, as a UN Security Council Expert on peace-making.  However, Sharp and his Swedish colleague, Zaita Catalan, along with their interpreter and motor bike drivers, went missing as they were investigating a relatively new rebellion in the Kasai region.   As feared, on Monday it was announced that the bodies of Michael and Zaita had been found in a shallow grave.  The others are still missing. As you might imagine, Michael's family and friends here in the United States are devastated by this ne...