Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte

The Specialist

2012-01-22T15:20:00.001-05:00

We often think of "call" as applying to ministers. A minister is "called" to this church or that ministry, but I think the term is more widely applicable. I think all of us are called to situations in which the individual called, and ONLY that individual, can successfully heal that particular wound in God's Creation. Such a guy was Jonah, called by God to preach a word of repentance to Nineveh, capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Jonah eventually did, and to everyone's surprise, the Ninevites listened. And they weren't even Jews! Join us for this week's sermon from Jonah 3 and Mark 1, entitled "The Specialist" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.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.

Bob, the Brick

2012-01-15T13:56:00.003-05:00

How do you view your place within God's creation, and your relationship to God? What do you think about suffering you have endured? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Bob, the Brick" from I Samuel 1:1-10 and John 1:43-51 by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.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 Baptism of Our Lord

2012-01-08T15:40:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. And as soon as we start celebrating, we start asking questions. Why did Jesus need to be baptized? It's year B, so we are reading from Mark in the Revised Common Lectionary, and Mark doesn't give an answer to this question, leaving us to dig for it ourselves. I turned to Bart Simpson of the Simpsons for an answer after speaking with a bunch of idiots. Come see what I mean with our sermon, "The Baptism of Our Lord", by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.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 Commonplace

2012-01-01T12:58:00.000-05:00

The two Gospels with infancy narratives, Matthew and Luke, go to great pains to demonstrate the awesomeness of the event. Stars move. Angels sing. Even Herod the Horrible is aware that something has rocked his world. We get caught up in the majesty and tend to forget how commonplace the event was -- the birth of a baby, to a young girl, far from home. This is where God acts -- in the commonplace -- because God's creation is the common place where the human and the divine meet. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon from Luke 2 titled "The Commonplace" by clicking HERE for text or HERE for audio.

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.

Graybeards

2011-12-25T20:22:00.002-05:00

We tend to re-write the Christmas story to better agree with the Creche on the mantle piece portraying Mary as a mature woman and the shepherds as graybeards of the church. That's just wrong. Mary and the shepherds would have been children, for only a child can receive such a message. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon, "Graybeards" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

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 Wheelhouse

2011-12-18T15:21:00.000-05:00

"We're all in the same boat together", we used to say, and we were wiser than we knew, for we all ARE in the same boat together. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon, "The Wheelhouse", by clicking HERE for audio, or HERE for text.

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.

Hot Shoes

2011-12-11T14:05:00.000-05:00

Suppose we were all on a cruise ship. We all have interior cabins, so we can't see outside. The ship is very luxurious, containing everything we could need.Everybody is having a high old time at the buffet, when some few get a glimpse outside. Immediately, they see that they are on a boat, supported by the great sea, and they also note that they, and everyone else on the boat, are on a journey directed by an unseen hand in the wheelhouse. Suppose that those few, who have been granted this glimpse of the reality behind their existence, try to explain what they have seen to the other passengers. The most likely response will be, "Oh...I don't think about those things. It's not important to me, anyway. Try the shrimp."

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from John 1:6-8, 19-28, "Hot Shoes" by clicking HERE for audio, or HERE for text.

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.

Satyagraha

2011-12-04T14:52:00.001-05:00

Mahatma Gandhi taught us that the truth has power to make itself manifest. He coined the word "Satyagraha", loosely translated as "force of truth" or "insistence of truth" to express this vital principle. So it is with those who believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We similarly believe that this truth has power to manifest itself though the forces of the world are arrayed against it. This year, Year B in the Revised Common Lectionary, we take up the Gospel of Mark. Mark has no Advent stories, no birth narratives, no Wise Men, Stars, or Santa Claus. Just the simple statement, "The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God". In its earliest form, Mark didn't even have an account of the resurrection. What are we to understand about a Gospel with no Christmas and no Easter, but only the simple statement, "The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God"? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from Mark 1:1-8, "Satyagraha" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.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.

To Be Announced

2011-11-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

We saw a lot of interest in predictions of the end of the world this year. Didn't happen, but there was a lot of interest. Speculation about the end of the world seems to be endlessly fascinating to some folks, but I think it's an unnecessary distraction. Jesus was quite clear that even he did not know, so I take those who think they are smarter than Jesus with a grain of salt. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon, To Be Announced by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for a printed version.

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.

Vitamin C

2011-11-21T13:49:00.003-05:00

If all babies are born children of God, and all the inmates of our prisons started out as babies, what goes wrong between bassinet and mug shot? Why do some of God's children turn out so bad? Is naming them children of Satan the best we can do? What the heck does that mean, anyway? Join us for this week's sermon, Vitamin C, by clicking HERE for audio, or HERE for text.

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.

Active Voice

2011-11-13T14:26:00.002-05:00

Whatever you may think about the Occupy Wall Street protests, they are confronting actively what they see as an economic system which has been twisted to benefit the rich at the expense of the poor. You may think they are right or wrong, but this sort of protest is exactly what Jesus was involved in at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple had blessed the powers that be, even when the powers that be were acting contrary to Torah. That's not uncommon. the church, rightly or wrongly, often is used to bless the status quo. Come join us on this last Sunday before Christ the King for our sermon from Matthew 25:14-30, "Active Voice" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

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 Great Buckeye

2011-11-06T14:14:00.003-05:00

Moses, the leader of the people, has died, denied entrance into the Promised Land, and his successor, Joshua, has lead the people in his place. Joshua brings all the people together and tells them, "This is the time, church. You got to choose whether to fish or cut bait. Who will you serve?"

Seems awfully intolerant of Joshua. Today, the people at the Chapel of St. Starbuck, when discussing their understanding of their relationship with God, often reach for the compromise "It's all basically the same". If it really was all basically the same, why couldn't we reach a compromise in which all the names of all the gods are just alternate names for the God of Scripture? Then everybody could be happy.

Or, is there something radically different about the God of Scripture? Join the congregations of Community Presbyterian and the Chapel of St. Starbuck as we decide whether to fish or cut bait in this week's sermon, "The Great Buckeye" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

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.

Folding the Pope's Vestments

2011-10-30T15:16:00.002-04:00

After successfully debating with the Pharisees, the Sadducees and a lawyer, Jesus turns to His disciples and the crowd and says something that shocks many contemporary Christians. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it;" I think many contemporary Protestants think about Jesus as abolishing Jewish law, and here He is saying the exact opposite. What He was addressing is the tendency we all have to involve ourselves with the busy-ness of church to avoid the hard work of a Christian. Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from Micah 3:5-12 and Matthew 23:1-2, "Folding the Pope's Vestments" by clicking HERE for audio, or HERE for a text version.

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.

Green Peas

2011-10-23T15:45:00.003-04:00

What do you think about God's Commandments? I don't mean the Ten Commandments. I mean all 613 of them. What? You didn't know? Are these orders from hq on what to do to earn God's love, or something else? And what DID Moses do that was so bad he couldn't enter the Promised Land? Our sermon this week is "Green Peas" from Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Matthew 22:34-46. Click HERE for the audio version, or HERE for the printed text.

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 Coin

2011-10-16T13:30:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, the question you hear is only masking the real question which is being asked. In today's passage from Matthew 22:15-22, Jesus is confronted in the Temple by some disciples of Pharisee teachers and some Herodians and asked a simple question, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?" The answer depends on what law you mean, and the actual makeup of the coin used to pay the tax. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "The Coin" by clicking HERE, or get a printed copy from 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.

A Negotiable God

2011-10-09T12:06:00.003-04:00

I hear a lot of talk at the Chapel of St. Starbuck about the "wrathful" Old Testament God and the "loving" New Testament God. When I point out that there is only one God, the point is readily conceded, but I'm then told that God tried being wrathful, and when that didn't work, He tried being loving.

I think what is going on here is an attempt to color Jesus as a more flexible, loving, forgiving, comfortable, open-to-negotiation version of God. Jesus is all of God we can perceive, but He is not in competition with His Father.

Join the congregations of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY and the Chapel of St. Starbuck while we follow a trail of mystery in the words of the people in Exodus 32:1-14. Why do they say "These are your gods" when there is only one calf? And why is Jesus so inflexible in His Parable in Matthew 22:1-14?

Click HERE for a text version. or HERE for the audio.

Sour Grapes

2011-10-02T14:35:00.002-04:00

Accepting God's gift of free grace is not nearly so satisfying to many of us as the idea that we won it from somebody else. Over the centuries, misguided people have used the Gospel passage for today, Matthew 21:33-46 and others like it to support horrible offenses against the Jewish people. If we would count ourselves among the people of God, we need to read Scripture for what it says, not what we would like it to say. That takes courage. Join us in a conversation I had with a young man in 1968 as we explore Matthew 21:33-46 and Isaiah 5:1-7 in this week's sermon, "Sour Grapes" by clicking HERE for the audio or HERE for a pdf.

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 Birds and the Bees

2011-09-25T15:10:00.003-04:00

The best laid plans of men and angels....This week's sermon, from Exodus 17:1-7 and Matthew 21:23-32 is titled "The Birds and the Bees". It was a hard sermon to prepare. I actually wrote the entire thing twice. Right up to church time, I was altering it. In fact, I ad libbed part, and changed the written sermon AFTER church. The one thing I didn't do was to push the "record" button.

When I saw what I had done, I comforted myself by noting that this is fourth Sunday, and on fourth Sunday, I have the service at King's Daughters' and Sons' Home. "I'll record it then", I comforted myself.

Nuff' said...I didn't do it then, either, so this week's sermon is only available (for now) in written form, HERE.

UPDATE: If you can put up with audio recorded in my man cave, with the A/C going in the background, It's now available 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.

Righty Tighty

2011-09-18T14:00:00.002-04:00

Some parts of the media have so successfully linked illegal immigration and the budget deficit that you could well come away from the debate believing that the one is the cause of the other. Among certain portions of our population, that impression reaches the level of certainty. In the same way most people will think "whale" when you say "Jonah", the mention of budget deficits brings up the immigration debate in the minds of many. It becomes "what everybody knows" and is accepted as uncritically as the notion that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. The text, however, makes no mention of a whale.

In the debate about our societal responsibility toward those in the dawn of life, the children; those in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life, the convicted, the sick, the hopeless, we're often encouraged to believe that "God helps those who help themselves". Thus, the down-and-outs of our society have no one to blame, and we have no responsibility toward them. That's also not in the Bible. It's one of Aesop's Fables, but it's become "what everybody knows".

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for our sermon from Jonah 33:10-4:11 and Matthew 20:1-16 titled Righty Tighty by clicking HERE or download a pdf from 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.

No Sermon today

2011-09-11T21:25:00.001-04:00

Sorry, but I had this day off to recover from my daughter's WEDDING!!!

Mah Nishtana

2011-09-04T14:53:00.000-04:00

Protestants tend to see church as something you "go to", and religion as something you "do", usually on Sunday. Sometime in the past century, we turned religious matters over to the professionals, and, as a result, biblical illiteracy is now a frightening reality. "Most Christians", George Gallup says, "don't know what they believe or why."

Jews, on the other hand, tend to see religion as a story one lives out, and religion as primarily a family affair. That's reflected in the text for today describing the first Passover and in Jewish Pesach practice down to today.

We might well, with the youngest child at the Seder, ask "Mah Nishtana?" "What's different?" Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY and the Chapel of St. Starbuck for this week's sermon from Exodus 12:1-14, "Mah Nishtana" by clicking HERE, or download a pdf copy 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.

Inevitable God

2011-08-28T14:15:00.002-04:00

We asked two weeks ago if we thought that we had the power to surprise God -- that is, does God move with us into an uncertain future in which we might do something surprising to him, or does God know how the story ends? In other words, are our lives a book that God is reading with us or a book which God has read?

My feeling is that God has the answers and knows how it will play out. We have a part to play in the creation of a loving God. All of it, from the oppression of Pharaoh to Jesus' prediction of his own death plays out as it must, as it always has, as it always will be. Knowing this, we can turn our attention from "What must I do to be saved" to "What must I do to faithfully play my part in God's great creation." To do so turns our attention from "what's in it for me?" to "What can I do for God and others?" That is the beginning of the kingdom.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from Exodus 3 and Matthew 16 titled "Inevitable God" by clicking HERE, or read the sermon online 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.

God Within

2011-08-21T13:55:00.002-04:00

Sixty years ago I was taught about the "Gotcha God" the God way up there in heaven who watched over everything I did so as to assure that I'd be punished for everything, including those things I got away with because my parents were distracted and didn't notice them. The Gotcha God is God Without -- an external force that just judges.

This week, the Chapel of St. Starbuck received a visit from the Hon. Jeremiah Bainworthy, a candidate for the US Congress, and a believer in dominion theology -- the understanding that Christians are called to a task of world domination. Join the congregation of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from Romans 12:1-8 and Matthew 16:13-20, "God Within" 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.

Boo!

2011-08-14T14:09:00.002-04:00

One of the congregants at the Chapel of St. Starbuck asked me last Tuesday if I thought of myself as a spiritual creature having a physical experience or a physical being seeking spiritual experiences. That's a heck of a question! If the real "me" is a spiritual being, a spark of God if you like, I would approach my time on earth differently than if I thought of myself as a hunk of meat trying to have a spiritual experience. What do you think? Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte while we examine if it is possible to slip up behind God and surprise him in our sermon, "Boo!" from Genesis 45:1-15 and Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 by clicking on the title above.

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.

Unlikely People

2011-08-07T13:18:00.002-04:00

You don't have to ride around the sun very many times to realize that the world is filled with an awful lot of unlikely people. Even our churches contain folks you wouldn't think of as fulfilling God's promise. It has ever been so...as far back as the Patriarchs, anyway. Those who think that God works only through the nice people really need to read this week's text, Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28. Join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for a celebration of the remodeling at the Chapel of St. Starbuck by some pretty unlikely people in our sermon from Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 and Matthew 14:22-33 titled "Unlikely People" by clicking on the title above.

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.

Popcorn

2011-07-24T16:17:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately, the recorder failed to record the first half of the service. Fortunately, I had a second service today. Unfortunately, it was at a nursing home with radically different acoustics. Fortunately, the recorder worked properly. Unfortunately, you'll be able to tell where the transition is. Fortunately, it won't make any difference because you love me anyway.

We talked today about how we constantly create messes that we can't clean up, so how is it that God's creation continues in so lovely a fashion, despite our constant bungling? We examine the question through Paul's (and Calvin's) notion of the elect of God. We played out the election of the children of the kingdom within our sanctuary, marking the elect with helium balloons. What kind of disruption would you experience if you went through life with a helium balloon? WOULD you do that, or would you turn from it? Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for this week's sermon from Romans 8:26-39 and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, titled "Popcorn" by clicking on the title above.

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.

Oh, Really?

2011-07-17T13:34:00.001-04:00

Have you ever thought that since we know so much about leptons, baryons and the large Magellanic Cloud, we might have confused what we know with the notion that we know everything? Yeah...me, too, even thought the Large Magellanic Cloud IS pretty neat. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY while we investigate the limits of what we know in this week's sermon from Genesis 28:10-19a and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, titled "Oh, Really?" by clicking the title above.

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.

Casey Anthony

2011-07-10T14:08:00.002-04:00

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have expressed some opinion of the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. Come join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Star Buck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY to see what Paul confesses in our Sermon from Romans 7:15-25a and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 by clicking on the title above.

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.

Pulling Over A Cop

2011-07-03T13:34:00.002-04:00

William Jennings Bryant announced proudly to Clarence Darrow that he was "captain of his own ship". Darrow responded that he doubted that Bryant was a deckhand on a life raft. Getting pulled over is one of life's experiences that teaches us that our fate is not always in our own hands.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky as we try to find out what the story of the birth of Jacob in Genesis 25:19-34 and the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 have in common with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department by clicking on the title, above, or 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.

Words

2011-06-19T14:07:00.003-04:00

The Companion to the Book of Common Worship reminds us that:

Unlike other festivals in the church’s liturgical calendar, Trinity Sunday centers on a doctrine of the church, rather than an event. It celebrates the unfathomable mystery of God’s being as Holy Trinity. It is a day of adoration and praise of the one, eternal, incomprehensible God.

Those words, "unfathomable" and "Trinity" and "one" and "eternal" and "incomprehensible" are big church words we sometimes throw around without much thought for their meaning. Such was the case this week when an earnest young man came to the Chapel of St. Starbuck to lecture the Archbishop on Creation. Strangely, the Sexton remained unimpressed.

Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck, and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for our sermon from Genesis 1 titled "Words", by clicking on the title.

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.

Something Peculiar

2011-06-12T13:27:00.002-04:00

There are two Sundays I fear: the ones when UK plays at noon, and the one when the A/C fails and it's 92 degrees in the sanctuary. Thankfully, UK didn't play today.

Pentecost, sometimes called the birthday of the church, is the Christian celebration of the Jewish festival of Shavout. Just as Shavout celebrates the giving of the Law to the children of Israel, Pentecost celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church. Along with the gift of the Holy Spirit came gifts of the Spirit. While I was thinking about the gifts of the Spirit, we had a visit at the Chapel of St. Starbuck from the missionary atheist, a man who goes about spreading the good news that there is no good news. Talking with him gave me a new insight into Acts 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's Pentecost sermon, "Something Peculiar" by clicking on the title above.

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.

Distant Christianity

2011-06-05T17:36:00.001-04:00

At Pentecost, the church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church. Jesus has ascended into heaven, but He promised not to leave us orphans. That promise was made good at Pentecost.

But how do we 21st Century people understand the gift of the Holy Spirit? Isn't Pentecost all about speaking in tongues? Well, no. What it IS about is a present experience of God in our lives here and now. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for our sermon from Acts 1:6-14 and 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 by clicking on the Title, "Distant Christianity" above.

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.

Counting the Omer

2011-05-29T13:29:00.002-04:00

The time between Resurrection Sunday and Pentecost is called "Eastertide". It is an important part of the story which we are to pass on to the new generation. Today's sermon looks at the roots of this time in church history in ancient Jewish practice. Come learn about an omer of barley, an omer of wheat, Eastertide and the tradition of Counting the Omer by clicking on the title above or 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.

My Father's House

2011-05-22T13:03:00.002-04:00

Jesus' words from John 14, "In my father's house are many mansions" appear in more funeral sermons than any other passage with the exception of the 23rd Psalm. They are words of great comfort, but do they also carry a meaning for here and now Christians, the church militant? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte KY for this week's sermon from Acts 7:55-60 and John 14:1-14, MY FATHER'S HOUSE, by clicking on any of the blue text.

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.

Extraordinary Claims

2011-05-15T14:07:00.002-04:00

In America, we've made a promise with ourselves not to beat up on each other over religion. That's a good decision, I think. All one has to do is to look to countries in which that promise hasn't been made to see the costs of religious intolerance. But our faith has a degree of exclusivity built into it because of the claims made about and by Jesus. Logic would lead you to the conclusion that Jesus either was who He said He was, or He was ... well ... nuts. We who believe He was who He said He was don't like that alternative. Those who don't believe He was who He said He was, don't like to hear us boast of it. What does it mean, then, to follow Jesus? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from John 10:1-10, "Extraordinary Claims", by clicking on the title above, or any of the blue text 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 Power of the Powder

2011-05-08T14:14:00.003-04:00

As a nation, we really believe in the power of gunpowder to resolve conflicts. From our entertainment choices to our private thoughts, we truly believe that since evil exists in the world, the only course is to oppose it violently. Then, somewhat hypocritically, after making the power of the powder our national mantra, we are surprised when some of our citizens reach the conclusion that violence is the answer to conflict in their own lives. We shouldn't be surprised.

But the deed is done. Osama bin Laden has been killed. Whether that was the right thing to do is for another time. I'm not smart enough to answer it in any event. The question we can approach on this Mother's Day is that of how is a Christian to relate to the use of violence to resolve conflict? Join the Congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for "The Power of the Powder", our sermon this week from Romans 12:17-21 and Luke 24:13-35.

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.

Riggin the Wheel

2011-05-01T15:24:00.002-04:00

It has been a long, dark trip through Lent as we contemplated the last week of Jesus' life, but now, He is Risen and we find ourselves in the season of Easter. So we should eat Brussels Sprouts and read Pascal! If you don't immediately see the connection between a 17th Century mathematician and Brussels Sprouts, join us for this weeks sermon, Riggin' The Wheel, from Acts 2:14a,22-32 and John 20:19-31 by clicking the title above, or any of the blue text.

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 Pastor's Dream

2011-04-24T15:31:00.002-04:00

Today's sermon brings to a close the walk we took with the Disciples of Jesus as they entered Jerusalem through the east gate to face the forces of Rome entering through the west gate. What is the significance of these two entries -- military might, force and violence on the west side of the city, some guy on a donkey on the east side? These are our two life courses laid out before us. When we are frightened or angry about crime, we turn to the west gate. "Hanging's too good for them", we cry. "Fill the prisons so that we can feel safe in our homes", we shout with those at the west gate. But at the east gate is some guy on a donkey, and he has a different message. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon from Acts 10:34-43 and Matthew 28:1-10, The Pastor's Dream, by clicking on any of the blue text.

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 Three Little Pigs

2011-04-17T14:54:00.004-04:00

What would you predict would happen to some rube from who-know-where in Galilee who came to Jerusalem in 30 A.D. and made a disturbance? Wouldn't you predict that he'd get beaten up by the Roman troops, or maybe disappear mysteriously and that would be the end of that?

That's not what happened at the East Gate of Jerusalem, sometime around 30 A.D. Just such a guy entered the East Gate just as Pontius Pilate entered the West Gate with the reinforcements for the Antonia Fort. The rube from Galilee somehow upset the chief priests, the scribes and the Romans, the three little pigs, so much that they hunkered down in their brick house and squealed "Not by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin". Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this Palm Sunday's sermon, "The Three Little Pigs" from Philippians 2:5-11 and Matthew 21:1-11 by clicking on any of the blue text.

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.

Thursday

2011-04-10T14:32:00.003-04:00

We've followed Jesus' steps in his last Week from Sunday to Thursday. On Maundy Thursday, there was a secret meal. Jesus went to enormous trouble to see to it that his entire community, even including Judas, was present to remember the Exodus. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from Exodus 12:1-14 and Mark 14:12-25, titled Thursday, by clicking on any of the blue text.

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.

Wednesday

2011-04-03T16:09:00.002-04:00

It is the fourth Sunday in Lent, and so we take up the fourth Day of Holy Week -- Wednesday. The story of Wednesday is the story of failed discipleship. Mark tells us of Jesus' attempts to prepare His disciples for their part in the events of Holy Week, and also documents the disciples' utter failure to grasp that we cannot say "Jesus did it all". We are, rather, challenged by Jesus to follow him and to participate with him in His death and resurrection. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's Lenten sermon, "Wednesday" from Mark 14:1-11 and Romans 12:1-3 by clicking on any of the blue text.

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.

Tuesday

2011-03-27T15:41:00.002-04:00

We continue with our walk with the disciples through the last week of Jesus' life with a look at the events of Tuesday. The Jerusalem Times is reporting some demonstrators causing disturbance in Jerusalem and the Temple authorities and perhaps the Romans have noticed. It is getting very scary to be a follower of Jesus in Jerusalem because the things He is doing are directly confronting the Domination System that runs the place. What's a poor Christian to do? Click on the blue text to hear Tuesday, our sermon from Deuteronomy 6:4-10 and Mark 12:28-34.

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.

Monday

2011-03-20T13:46:00.002-04:00

This Sunday we continue in the steps of the disciples during Mark's account of the last week of Jesus' life. On Monday, Jesus did two odd things: he threw a hissy fit at a fig tree, and he caused a disturbance in church. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church as we continue our examination of our sins for Lent in our sermon from Jeremiah 7:1-7,11 and Mark 11:12-19 called Monday by clicking on any of the blue text.

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.

Sunday

2011-03-13T15:24:00.002-04:00

This is the first Sunday in Lent, and Community Presbyterian has begun a walk with Jesus through His last week on earth, as recounted in the Gospel we know as Mark. The bulletin cover this Sunday was the photograph of a lone Chinese protester in 1989, his groceries in his hand, facing down a column of Chinese tanks. What has the one to do with the other? Find out in our Sermon from Zechariah 9:9-10 and Mark 11:1-11 as we join the disciples at the east gate of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, by clicking on any of the blue text.

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 Occult

2011-03-06T13:50:00.002-05:00

"The Occult" used to mean Ouija boards and scary stuff at night. Now it apparently means werewolves and vampires that glitter in the sunlight instead of falling to pieces as a proper vampire is supposed to do. We hear a lot of concern about kids getting wound up in "The Occult", and a lot of concern about the Harry Potter stories. I'm not much bothered by Harry Potter. I think the books have excellent messages.

There *is* an occult, though. God's actions in His Creation are often occult -- hidden and ambiguous. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian church of Bellefonte for this week's sermon from Exodus 24:12-18 and Matthew 17:1-9, The Occult, by clicking on any blue text.

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.

Dust, Water and Seed

2011-02-27T15:04:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard the term "Cafeteria Christian"? These are folks that take a bit of this and a bit of that and try to construct a relationship with God from their pickings. They are usually the ones who will assure you that all churches teach the same thing, so it doesn't matter which church you go to. The stopper for me was a remark by Huston Smith, "If you wish to produce water, better to dig one well 60 feet deep than ten wells 6 feet deep."

What if you chose your church with the same care as you chose your spouse? Or, to look at it from the other side, what if you chose your spouse by investigating whether he or she had a good youth program and a good sounding choir, and a devastatingly handsome preacher? Choosing a spouse means digging deeply into the relationship to determine if this person is "the one". Why should church membership be undertaken any more lightly? Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian church of Bellefonte, Ky for this week's sermon, "Dust, Water and Seed" by clicking on the blue text.

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.

Radical Apples

2011-02-20T14:22:00.002-05:00

The unrest in the Middle East has sent my mind back forty years to the protests of the 60's and 70's. I was there, as a policeman. Protests arise when the people sense that the world in which they live is being unfaithful to its own ideals, and they hope to change the direction of culture, hopefully toward something better. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Now, I'm pastor of a PROTESTant church, but the people I look out upon and love so dearly don't look like the young people I saw forty years ago. I can't picture them taking to the streets and waving flags. These are post-Enlightenment people -- people with an interest in a stable, predictable culture. How does the Word of God get heard in such a world?

Come join us for this week's sermon from Genesis 12:1-4a and Romans 4:1-5,13-17 I titled RADICAL APPLES by clicking on any of the blue text.

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 Trouble with God

2011-02-13T16:25:00.002-05:00

Douglas Adams, in one of his hilarious books, remarked, "Who is this God person, anyway". Good question, that. English forces us into using nouns to talk about anything, and thus obscures the essential wisdom that God is not a thing, so the use of a noun as God's "name" misleads. When Moses inquired, he was told that God was Who I Will Be, or Who I AM. God is the way things are, and we would do well to pay attention when this God person tells us how to live well within His Creation. He knows more about it than we do. Come join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, The Trouble With God by clicking on the blue text.

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.

Imagining a Convenient God

2011-02-06T14:00:00.002-05:00

If I try to imagine God, the image I most often come up with is a grandfatherly sort, wearing white robes, and seated on a throne. However agreeable such an image is, that is not God. That is how I imagine God to be. It's an idol, and can cause real problems as we carry on our lives as Christians. The one, true God isn't limited by my imagination. God's name is "I am who I will be". God is the force that supports us all, limits and directs our lives, and it is God who grants the gift of faith. Sometimes we forget that, and start to think that faith is a human accomplishment, or that God grants faith to us because we are superior people. Stuff and nonsense.

Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte as we look into Paul's letter to his church at Corinth for some guidance about these matters in our sermon, "Imagining a Convenient God".

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.

God's Eyeglasses

2011-01-30T13:44:00.002-05:00

Our assumptions about "the way things are" are called our "myth". That's unfortunate, because modern people hear the word "myth" and think "fairy tale". Our myth, though, is a highly useful set of assumptions that tell us things like the height of a stairstep, or where the doorknob is located, and even what God wishes from us. The problem with assumptions is that they are like eyeglasses -- we look through them without being aware that they are coloring our perceptions of the world.

I've always thought that God is less interested in "grading our behavior" than He is with assuring that we see His creation and His presence within it clearly. From that perspective, perhaps the Beatitudes are the world as seen through God's Eyeglasses. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon from Micah and Matthew, called "God's Eyeglasses" by clicking on the blue text.

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.

Disruption in the Cheap Seats

2011-01-23T14:54:00.002-05:00

When my dad wrote prayers for church, they were full of "thees" and "thous" and he stuck "st" and "th" at the end of vowels, as if he thought God only understood Elizabethan English. I think it was his way of keeping God at a respectful distance. I don't know that this is the message of Matthew 4 at all when Matthew tells us of the call of the first four disciples. It looks to me as if God seeks us out way back in the cheap seats, where we actually live. Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for this week's sermon, Disruption in the Cheap Seats by clicking any of the blue text.

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.

Come and See

2011-01-16T13:49:00.002-05:00

In John's Gospel we get a story of two of John the Baptist's disciples meeting Jesus. When they ask where he is staying, Jesus answers, cryptically, "Come and See". Whatever they saw energized them. Would they see the same thing in a contemporary church? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church by clicking on any blue text for this week's sermon from John 1, "Come and See".

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.

Meeting in the Water

2011-01-09T16:20:00.002-05:00

The story of the baptism of Jesus by John is recounted in all three Synoptic Gospels and referred to in the Gospel of John. That sounds as if it is an important story, but what does it mean to say that Jesus was baptised? We think of baptism as a way to "wash away sins" or as a symbolic act of obedience, but we also are taught that Jesus was without sin, and was God Incarnate. Do either of these explanations help us to understand what it means to say that Jesus was baptised? What important lesson is contained in this pericope such that it appears in all the Gospels? Come join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte Kentucky for our sermon this week from Matthew's Gospel, "Meeting in the Water" by clicking on any blue text.

Epiphany

2011-01-02T16:57:00.003-05:00

January 6 marks Epiphany in the church calendar. It's the date we celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings -- the time when the world at large became aware of the birth of Jesus. Contrary to the nativity set on top of your TV, this did not happen on Christmas Eve, but probably two years later. We've mushed the two celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany together and robbed Epiphany of its dignity. We need to get over that and reclaim it.

So..what does the word "Epiphany" mean? We'll talk about that in today's sermon, from Matthew's account of the visit of the Magi. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Epiphany, by clicking on any of the blue text 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.

Words and Mystery

2010-12-26T16:11:00.002-05:00

This week's service comes to you from King's Daughters and Sons Home in Ashland. We take a look at the inadequacy of words to describe the mysteries of faith, something post-Enlightenment people sometimes have a hard time grasping. I also included a bit of the final carol, Away in a Manger, to show off Paul Beasley's singing, and the playing of our volunteer pianist, now aged 93! Join the congregation at King's Daughters and Sons for Words and Mysteries from Paul's letter to his church at Galatia and the Gospel we know as "John" by clicking the blue text 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.

Christmas Signs

2010-12-19T14:43:00.002-05:00

What really says "Christmas" to you? Is the birth of our Lord a part of that, or something that you have to be reminded of? We love the signs of Christmas so much that we sometimes value them over the real "reason for the season", and that's not just us...Matthew had the same problem. Finding a way to preach Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1 and still keep my integrity drove me to another meeting with the Sexton of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's for some clarity in the matter of Christmas Signs. Along the way, I brought my Autoharp. Come join the cleaning staff of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's, Community Presbyterian's confused fat preacher and the congregation for our sermon, Christmas Signs, by clicking any of the blue text.

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.

Theotokas

2010-12-12T13:27:00.002-05:00

Protestants, it seems to me, have disconnected themselves from an important piece of their faith foundation by relegating Mary to a marginal role as a small blue statue on top of the TV, behind the Ox and a little to the right of the donkey. Surely her role in Advent is more than that, and so the early church viewed her, naming her "God-bearer", or theotokas in Greek, at the council at Calcedon in 451 AD. That same counsel proclaimed Jesus to be both fully human and fully divine. The congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte Kentucky explores the connections between these decisions, and the lesson of Mary for Advent in our sermon from the Magnificat titled Theotokas. Join us by clicking any of the blue text.

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.

What in the World Happened in Judea?

2010-12-05T14:24:00.002-05:00

I suppose it takes a certain kind of mean-spirited preacher to find a way to make Advent into a problem, and I suppose I'm just that kind of a mean-spirited preacher. Be that as it may be, what in the world happened in Judea 2,000 years ago? If you're looking for an answer, you won't find it here, but you may find something to chew on. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for our sermon from Matthew 3 titled What in the World Happened in Judea by clicking any of the blue text along 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.

No One Knows

2010-11-28T15:43:00.002-05:00

Ok...I'm going to get in trouble with at least one of my superiors with this one, but here it is anyway. How many times have you heard someone speak with great certainty about the Rapture, or the End Times? Did it set your teeth on edge, or is that just me? Why do people want to invest so much energy into creating scenarios about the end times when the truthful answer would be "No One Knows"? That was the answer Jesus gave in Matthew 24. Do these people who speak with such certainty think they are smarter than Jesus? Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, No One Knows, 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.

Christ the King

2010-11-21T14:16:00.002-05:00

Community Presbyterian lost its beloved Sexton this week. It was a shock to all of us. He had been part of the church since he was a youngster, and it seems so strange to see his pew seat empty. As we planned a memorial service for him, we extended an offer to the community to join with us in our grief. To our great surprise, the church was filled to the balcony.

How could one so quiet and unassuming have touched so many lives? Don't you need to have been a community leader, a doer of great things, to be mourned by masses of people? How could quiet John Bell have made such a stir in the community?

Since today is Christ the King Sunday, it gives us a chance to think of another humble servant -- Jesus of Nazareth -- and to meditate on the power of the servant life. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian and the friends and family of John Bell Judd for this week's sermon, Christ the King, 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.

Pie

2010-11-07T15:09:00.002-05:00

You don't have to hang around this old world very long before coming up against religious arguments. That's why people advise youngsters not to talk about religion or politics. And yet, what a shame that God's word becomes just a venue for tiresome argument. St. Soupy offered some good advice about this. Join the congregations of St. Starbuck's the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for this week's sermon from Luke 20 entitled "Pie" 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 Pharisee, The Tax Collector -- and a Bear

2010-10-24T15:24:00.003-04:00

A Pharisee and a Tax Collector walk into a bar and notice that the bartender is a bear...no, that's not right...there's something wrong with this. Check in with the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, The Pharisee, the Tax Collector, and -- a Bear? to hear about this story from Luke 18 by clicking on the title, or 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.

Trial and Error

2010-10-18T16:52:00.006-04:00

Bunch of cavemen sitting around the fire deciding what to eat. One had mushrooms. After they buried their dead, the tribe decided "Don't eat mushrooms. You'll die". Find out what happens next by joining the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for our sermon, Trial and Error, 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.

Exile

2010-10-10T16:21:00.002-04:00

This week, our part of the country was touched by a terrible fire. Five young people died in the flames. Another seven were injured. While trying to assist the victims to find clothes and other necessities, I read the letter to the exiles from Jeremiah. What had happened to the survivors of the flames was similar to the experience of the exiles to whom Jeremiah wrote -- they were exiled from their home, their clothing, everything that makes us feel secure. Where do you go to restart your life after that? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Belllefonte, Ky for this week's sermon from Jeremiah 29:1,4-7, "Exile" 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.

Rodney King

2010-10-03T13:23:00.004-04:00

Rodney King, after getting his brains beat in by the LAPD, famously said, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Good question, that. But the efforts directed toward peace seem to be met with cries of "Our salvation lies in superior fire power." When have the peace makers done enough, that they may hear "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Our passage from Luke 17:1-10 suggests, "Never". Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for Rodney King 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.

Chasms

2010-09-26T15:56:00.002-04:00

The Chapel of St. Starbuck's received another visit from the missionary atheist this week. He had read the story of Dives and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31 and was all a quiver over the inequity of setting a chasm between the blessed and the tormented. It got the whole congregation thinking about who created the chasm? Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbucks and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Chasms, 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.

Do This, Don't Do That

2010-09-19T18:16:00.002-04:00

One of the most baffling of Jesus' parables is that of the Dishonest Manager. The guy has messed up his job, and is going to get fired. So, to keep from having to dig ditches or bed, he cooks the books in favor of his master's debtors so that they will accept him after he gets fired. How is embezzlement something to be commended? Yet that's just what the master does -- he commends the manager for his dishonesty. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for our sermon this week from Luke 16:1-13, Do This, Don't Do That 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 Church Lady

2010-09-12T14:00:00.002-04:00

Anyone who watched Saturday Night Live should remember the Church Lady -- the tight little lady who wished everyone could be as righteous as she was. Luke often divides Jesus' audience into two groups: the sinners and tax collectors on the one hand, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law on the other. This later group was the church ladies of their time. Join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon from Luke 15, The Church Lady 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.

A Coat of Blue Paint

2010-09-05T13:14:00.002-04:00

Luke 14:25-33 contains some of the most discouraging words in the Gospel. "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." Who among us today will give up his big screen TV, the tickets to the UK game, the comfy couch? And don't even get me started about hating wife and child. What is Jesus talking about here? Come join the congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky as we try to puzzle out Jesus' words in our sermon this Sunday, "A Coat of Blue Paint", 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.

Which Table?

2010-08-29T13:51:00.002-04:00

"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

2010-08-22T13:16:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-15T12:51:00.002-04:00

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

2010-08-08T13:46:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-01T13:24:00.003-04:00

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.

Missio Dei

2010-07-25T13:07:00.002-04:00

Today's sermon is from Luke 11:1-13, one of the versions of the Lord's Prayer. The thing that struck me as I was reading it is that it started with a disciple asking Jesus to teach him how to pray. I've prayed for a lot of things in my life, but I never thought to pray to be taught how to pray.

Since I'm just back from retreat at the Archabbey of St. Meinrad, I was thinking in Latin, and the phrase Missio Dei, the Mission of God, came to my mind while thinking about this. Ordinarily, I pray for God to do something. Praying how to pray is a prayer to be included in God's mission -- a prayer that I might do something for God. Of course, that made me think of China. Join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian of Bellefonte, Kentucky and find out how I made THAT leap of logic in this week's sermon, Missio Dei 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.

Can You See Me Now

2010-07-11T14:01:00.003-04:00

The Congregation of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery became polarised over the salary of Walmart's CEO this week. A Chicago alderman calculated that he makes more in an hour than the workers make in a year. Many thought this was a bad situation. Others thought it was free enterprise. Today, the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian examine the question of wealth from the perspective of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Join us 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 Devil Made Me Do It

2010-07-04T21:15:00.001-04:00

Every Sunday, we confess the reality of sin in personal and common life. What does sin in common life look like? If the devil made you do it, is it possible that "the devil" refers not to a character in a red union suit who we imagine to be God's opponent, but rather to the society and culture in which we live which is broken in the same way we are individually broken? And what of the devil as God's chief opponent? Is that the teaching of the Presbyterian Church? Join the joint congregations of St. Starbuck's the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon from Genesis 3, The Devil Made Me Do It 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.

Blowing the Siren

2010-06-27T16:03:00.002-04:00

Nearly half a century ago, I spent two years as a policeman. Being a policeman is the oddest thing in the world, and, oddly enough, it gave me an opportunity, while blowing the siren, to understand the words of Paul in his Epistle to the church at Galacia, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Come blow the siren with the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Blowing the Siren, 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.

Wise Guy

2010-06-20T13:31:00.004-04:00

While thinking on the recent disasters in the West Virginia coal mine and the BP well in the Gulf, Rev. Dr. Lon Oliver said:

“We rightfully celebrate being made in the image of God, but the Biblical witness also reminds us that God is the Creator and that we are not. While I am thankful for our technology, I fear that we are forgetting that there are mysteries that are not within our reach."

I don't speak that elegantly, but I did remind the congregation of the first corollary to Murphy's Law, which is "Murphy was an optimist". Being aware of the difference between what we think we know and what Murphy's Law predicts will happen is the measure of wisdom. Join the congregations of St. Starbuck's the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church for our sermon this week exploring wisdom 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.

Skating the Gospel

2010-06-13T18:51:00.004-04:00

The Incident at Antioch was a dispute between Peter and Paul about a mysterious concept called "justification". How do we become justified in the eyes of God? By what we do? By what we believe? Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for our sermon, Skating the Gospel, 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.

Clouds

2010-06-06T17:57:00.002-04:00

MAN! It's noisy in our world. There is so much going on that sometimes you can't hear yourself think, and we're so good at blocking it out, we can't hear God sometimes. Today's sermon is more of a homily than a sermon; more of a reflection than a teaching. Come join the joint congregations of St. Starbuck's the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky by clicking HERE for our sermon, Clouds.

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.

Schadenfreude

2010-05-30T17:28:00.002-04:00

"I'll tell you what the problem is. We have all these criminals because the judges are soft on crime. Throw them UNDER the jail and see what happens."

That little thrill you feel as you say this to your friends at McDonald’s, or wherever you hang out, is called schadenfreude. You are justifying yourself by wishing evil upon another, and you are deriving pleasure from imagining that outcome.

Paul reminds us in Romans that we are justified by faith, not by schadenfreude. We are justified by our faith in God, and we then have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace. If we look to the misery of others for our justification, we have turned our back upon God's offer of grace.

Click here to join the congregations of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte Kentucky and the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery for this week's sermon on how we turn from God's grace in our sermon called Schadenfreude.

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.

Cheap Grace, Lazy Faith

2010-05-16T13:19:00.002-04:00

What do the words "saved" and "salvation" mean to you? What do you suppose these words meant to a mentally challenged slave girl or a minimum wage jailer in Europe during the first century? Today the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck the Jittery and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky talk about these words and others within the context of the three-fold relationship described by Jesus in John 17 and the stories of the slave girl and the jailer from Acts 16. Click here to join us for this week's sermon, Cheap Grace, Lazy Faith.

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.

Leading Ladies

2010-05-09T13:31:00.003-04:00

The Second Testament was written by men about the men's activities in the new church. The activities of the women didn't get nearly enough attention. Mother's Day is a good time to balance the scales a bit by talking about Lydia, the first convert to Christianity in Europe. Lydia was an important person in her community -- a dealer in purple. Her influence in spreading the Gospel isn't documented, but it's unthinkable that someone of her standing would not influence the course of her community, and the church at Philippi which became one of Paul's proudest accomplishments.

Today's service is special in another regard -- a gentleman who rejoices in the name Terwilliger Jones came by and offered to play the Offertory on his Zither.

Click here to join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, Leading Ladies.

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.

Getting Above Your Raisin's

2010-05-02T14:12:00.003-04:00

I heard once of a child abuse case in which the child was beaten severely. The defense was that the grandmother was trying to "flop the child's liver" as she had been raised to do. The Lord only knows where this family got the idea that an infant's liver needed to be "flopped" or what that meant, but in practice it injured the child. Here in the hills, we have a saying, "Don't get above your raisin's" meaning not to act above your station in life or deviate from the way you were raised. I'd suggest that there's a better meaning: sometimes the way we were raised gets in the way of our hearing the voice of God. If we are to hear God's sometimes radical message, we must get above our raisin's.

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.

Knock Knock

2010-04-25T13:30:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it seems that the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes out into the world, and all you get back are the sounds of crickets. The world is such a consuming, dangerous, interesting, distracting place that it's hard to devote the time necessary to actually hear and react to the Gospel. Yet, in any time and place, there seem always to be a group of people, a remnant, whose involvement with the world gets interrupted by the Gospel -- who do really crazy things because they can conceive of no alternative. They're sort of the remnant. This week, we read from Revelation and John about the "flock" of Jesus. Spend some time with the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Knock Knock.

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.

Rear View Mirror

2010-04-18T13:45:00.003-04:00

Several things converged this week to create a vortex of "things to think about" so compelling that before I knew it, a sermon appeared of its own volition. The Pope spoke to the child abuse scandals and said that the church needed to repent. The Christian Science Monitor wrote a piece on a resurgence of interest in Calvinist theology. Most importantly, I was annoyed by a tailgater and complained to the Sexton at the Chapel of St. Starbuck's, (since the Archbishop is a silly sort of man no one pays any attention to), and received some good advice about where to put your eyes when you're driving. Come and join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon on John 21, "Rear View Mirror".

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

Mind Over Matter

2010-04-11T15:20:00.002-04:00

Ah...the best-laid plans of mice and men. I forgot to turn on the mic this morning, so the sermon wasn't recorded. I had a graveside service right after church, but went back after we left the cemetery and re-recorded the sermon to an empty church. You'll have to provide your own laugh track.

The question is: what is the difference between faith, doubt and belief? How badly are we Christians supposed to beat ourselves up if we find doubt creeping into our minds as we read of the Resurrection? Is it necessary to rub salt into the wounds after we beat ourselves up, or is it enough to just let the blood dry?

Come and join the joint congregations of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte and the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery as we talk about the story of "Doubting Thomas" in this week's sermon, "Mind Over Matter".

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.

Confronting A Grave

2010-04-04T14:48:00.002-04:00

The Resurrection isn't a rational event. Isn't that an odd thing for a preacher to say? But it's true. No amount of scientific study will ever explain the Resurrection. The Resurrection isn't a historical event. Historical events have witnesses. There are no witnesses to the Resurrection -- only the people who encountered the results of the Resurrection. Today, we have the evidence before us -- two pieces of cloth, two men who saw, one woman who encountered both grave and the risen Lord. This is the place where only faith will carry us, for logic, science, and rational thinking isn't up to the task. But where faith carries us is to the only place from which the Resurrection can be viewed -- the empty tomb.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for our Easter sermon, Confronting a Grave.

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.

Confronting Your Faith

2010-03-28T19:50:00.002-04:00

Jesus entered Jerusalem with issues. What played out so long ago, was an assault on the political compromises that had allowed Judea what little peace it had known over the last 100 years. As we begin Holy Week, the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to confront the decisions which had made Roman occupation tolerable at the cost of the relationship between God and His people challenges us to confront the compromises we have made over the last year. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, Confronting your Faith.

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.

Lizard Brains

2010-03-21T13:33:00.002-04:00

When we're hurt by someone else's malice, we tend to think we are empowered to "Get Even" by doing whatever it takes to hurt them back. That's the limbic system of our brains -- the so-called 'lizard brain' speaking. Our role as Christians is to show the world that it is possible to put the lizard brain to sleep and to show to the world our true colors as the holders of God's Divine breath, for Genesis tells us we are composed only of dirt and the breath of God. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte as we talk about a recent kerfuffle at the Chapel of St. Starbuck's over America's use of civilians to pilot unmanned drones in Afghanistan in our sermon this week, Lizard Brains.

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.

Let's Put on a Play

2010-03-14T13:28:00.002-04:00

One of Jesus' most famous parables is the parable of the Prodigal Son, or, as Jesus actually named it, "The parable of a man with two sons". If we were to put on a play based on that parable, which roles would your life experience and character best fit you to play? Join us for this Sunday's sermon, Let's Put on a Play.

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.

Wilderness Vision

2010-03-07T16:41:00.002-05:00

How long would you have to watch a burning bush to notice that it is not being consumed? Would you invest that much time in it?

These are the two questions posed by the text from Exodus that describes Moses' encounter with the burning bush, and they are the questions posed to each of us during Lent, for Lent is the time in the church calendar when we are encouraged to leave the ordinary behind and to walk with Jesus through the extraordinary place called the wilderness. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Wilderness Vision.

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.

Cutting a Covenant

2010-02-28T15:20:00.002-05:00

In 1995 the Hubble Space Telescope took a picture called "the Hubble Deep Field". What it photographed was an apparently empty portion of space the size of a tennis ball held at a length of a football field. Hubble found 3,000 GALAXIES, each composed of hundreds of billions of individual stars. God is God of all creation. It seems He would have His hands full just dealing with the stars, but somehow, He loves us. Dust. Insignificant dust, on the scale of the universe, but special to God. How special? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, Cutting a Covenant.

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 Wilderness Trail

2010-02-21T14:30:00.002-05:00

We begin Lent by walking with Jesus into the Wilderness to define what His ministry will be. Along the way, we hear of three temptations -- alternate forms of Jesus' time on earth, if you like. Jesus rejects all three. In the course of it, we learn a bit about two "ministers" from the western United States who have recently begun praying that the President's wife should be made a widow and his children fatherless. Evil comes in many forms. This is one of them. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for "The Wilderness Trail".

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.

Santa Claus Glasses

2010-02-14T16:46:00.002-05:00

Today is the last Sunday after Epiphany -- the Sunday we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord. This event, reported in all three synoptic Gospels, is one of the BIG stories of the Gospels. Like the Resurrection which it foreshadows, the Transfiguration is an event outside common experience. In day-to-day experience, dead Jews don't materialize and clouds don't speak to us. How does a 21st Century congregation receive these BIG stories of the Gospel? Could it be that our commitment to an objective understanding of the world about us has robbed us of the humility we need to confess that there is transcendent truth which is always beyond our understanding? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for this week's sermon, Santa Claus Glasses.

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.

Chasing Shiny Things

2010-02-07T14:51:00.003-05:00

It was Boy Scout Sunday at Community Presbyterian and we had a great turnout. The text was from I Corinthians and we talked about a dispute that arose at the Chapel of St. Starbuck's the Jittery the preceding week. The Chapel is very ecumenical, so there are bound to be doctrinal differences from time to time. It's unsettling to realize that even different Protestant churches teach different doctrines, but it points up how important it is which church you associate yourself with. There's a lot more to choosing a church beyond asking if they have a youth program. Each church brings with it centuries of understanding and a unique teaching. Join us for our sermon, Chasing Shiny Things.

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 Archbishop's Coffee

2010-01-31T14:39:00.002-05:00

Capitalism is based on the sanctity of property ownership. And the more you own, the better you are seen to be doing. Sometimes, however, our emotional relationship to our property leads us into irrational actions. Just this week, for instance, there was a right kerfuffle between the Sexton and the Archbishop at the Chapel of St. Starbuck's over a trivial misunderstanding about the Archbishop's coffee. Join us to continue our study of Jesus' first haftarah at the Synagogue in Nazareth in this week's sermon, The Archbishop's Coffee

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.

A Job of Work

2010-01-24T17:46:00.003-05:00

Don McLean recorded a song titled "The More You Pay, the More It's Worth". Or maybe that was just the chorus. I'm old -- I can't remember anything anymore. The idea behind the song was that we value things by what they cost, rather than what they are worth. God's grace is free, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't call for a response from us. If we don't respond to God's grace, we are in jeopardy of devaluing God's grace in our minds! Christians have a job of work to do, and this week's sermon, A Job of Work, looks at Jesus' first sermon in his home town for clues about how Christians must go about gaining credibility.

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.

Thumping Jimmy

2010-01-17T14:07:00.002-05:00

Reading Scripture may be a lost art. More often than not, when the Bible is actually cracked open in the modern world, it's read in a scholarly fashion, or by someone looking to proof-text something they want to add authority to, or read with Enlightenment Eyes -- Eyes looking for explanations of physical events. Unless the Bible is read prayerfully, though, some very peculiar conclusions get reached. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for the story of the Gospel of John in our sermon, Thumping Jimmy.

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.