Image: Amanda Pot planted this on Easter Sunday as part of our gathered worship.
Note: The sermon this week is split into two parts.
Here is a short video of pastor Steve planting his seeds as a visual guide to follow.
Overview
Planting Seed of Hope begins a new series which grew out of our Resurrection Sunday service.
The big idea for this series comes from Cesar Garcia, Mennonite World Conference General Secretary,
"Today, let us remember with hope that Christ has conquered death and therefore the darkest circumstances we face do not have the last word in our lives." In this first message we look at the incredible potential of seeds, and how planting seeds of hope is a way of participating in the ongoing work of renewal in the Kingdom of God." ~Cesar Garcia
One of my hopes for this season is that many of us would begin to recognize new seeds of potential at work in us. These unique and harsh circumstances have been forming us in helpful ways that will help us stretch out into what we are being called to be.
Scripture
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
~ Matthew 17:14-20
Invitation to Participate in Planting Seeds of Hope
(1) Write on the package what you seeds you are planting in hope.
(2) Pray for this act of participation.
That you want to participate in the good work that God is up to in the world.
That you want to be open to dreaming, open to the suggestions of the Spirit, willing to be led and prompted and encouraged to reach and stretch in this difficult season.
Pray for the imagination to envision the fruit of that seed.
(3) Plant your seeds
(4) Pray
Into the earth we plant seeds of hope.
We entrust the growth to you Father.
We desire to be active participants in your ongoing work of redemption.
We believe that you are the maker of all things, and that you hold all things together by your great Love and mercy.
We ask for your gifts of growth and hope in this time.
