Which Table?

"Whenever religion holds hands with empire, religion loses", said a colleague of mine, and she has said it exactly right. When I hear calls for God to bless America, I'm never sure if I'm hearing calls for us to follow in the way God would have us go, or if I'm hearing a prayer for God to affirm the decisions we have already made. In the parable of the table, in Luke 14, Jesus gives advice about not exalting yourself when seating yourself at your host's table. If we are trying to put the church at the place of honor around the American cultural table, who is the host and who is the guest? Is it not more appropriate for the American culture to find its place around God's table?

Come, join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon from Luke 14, "Which Table?", by clicking HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Hope Diamond

What a piece of work are you! Three and a half million years ago, give or take a hundred thousand, two Australopithecines came together to produce a baby Australopithecus. If the leopard had gotten either one of them, you wouldn't be here today. The fact that you are here is such an improbable event that I have trouble believing in you, even though I see you. God's words to Jeremiah were "I knew you before you were in the womb". God has consecrated a purpose for each of us, and to accomplish that purpose He has shepherded uncounted loving embraces to assure that you would be here to add your unique contribution to the mix. Really...you're a diamond of great rarity, living in a world of purpose. Join us for this week's sermon, The Hope Diamond by clicking HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Yardstick of DOOM

A lot of the "unchurched" come by the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and before long, they feel compelled to tell me why they have not associated themselves with a church. Usually, the reason is that churches are full of holier-than-thou hypocrites. This is rather like a drunk refusing to attend Alcoholics Anonymous because it's all full of alcoholics. Jesus cannot be your savior until you first admit to yourself that you need one. The church teaches that we are all sinners, and that we cannot better that condition by ourselves. Yet a lot of people feel they can "do it on their own", leading inevitably to calamities of one sort or another. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbucks and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, THE YARDSTICK OF DOOM by clicking HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Sheeple and the Snoopy Dance

It's been a big week at the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery. We had a visit from a missionary atheist, someone who is spreading the good news that there is no good news. His visit caused nearly everyone present to proclaim their faith, and it was remarkable how varied the responses were. Since St. Starbuck's welcomes people from outside the church as well as in, we had some responses from them as well, and it was shocking how hostile they were to the church. Of course, that gave us an excuse to talk about our beliefs and how we might relate to them. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for this week's sermon, "Sheeple and the Snoopy Dance" by clicking HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Heart and Head

Interest in the mainline churches has been on the wane for some time. Many people just don't see how the church is relevant to their way of life. Well, I'm not surprised. We've marketed the church as the wholesome place to drop your kids, and completely forgotten that the church is the place where we worship God for the music of our hearts. We've forgotten an awful lot, and we're the poorer for it.

This Sunday, the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte look at two words, "mystery" and "believe" for clues to the treasure we have left behind and forgotten. Join us for our sermon, Head and Heart, this week, by clicking HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.