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Progressive theology and engaging Sermons & podcasts from an inclusive church in Richardson, Texas. We are intentional about our faith development: we ask questions, develop deep and lasting friendships, and work together to make a positive difference in our community. Nobody is perfect here, but being a part of this place brings out the best of us.
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After the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, many of the disciples got back to their old lives, which for some meant fishing. The disciples in John are shown fishing and pulling up empty nets, until they encounter a “stranger” and… well, the story changes. Let’s talk about what it feels like to “fish with empty nets,” and how resurrection can invite …
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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The word for “bless” in Hebrew is closely related to the word for “kneel.” The idea is that to praise someone and to receive a blessing is the same body posture… kneeling. We will look at the passage from Psalm 103 that underscores this linguistic lesson, as well as the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet as a practical example of how kneelin…
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The “man with the withered hand” is one of the stories in the Gospels used to illustrate Jesus’ conflict with strict religious adherence (and adherents). He uses his hands not only to heal the hurting around him, he also uses his hands to wrestle with and overcome the leaders who would treat faith as a punishing list of rules. As we reflect on the …
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Our ability to communicate is one of the gifts of humanity, and we find ourselves with a greater capacity and platform for communication than ever before. I can pick up my phone and communicate with people (strangers even) around the world instantly, sometimes with very little responsibility for the outcomes of my communication. As people of faith,…
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Whether we hear with our ears, eyes, or heart, in the Bible, the concept of “hearing” is attached to our being attuned to the movement of God in our midst. Samuel was given “ears to hear” by the older Eli, who could be pulled out of sleep by the whisper of the Spirit. Paul reflects on the power of the “word of Christ” in the promise it offers to th…
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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Listening with your whole self.由Aaron Manes
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Christmas is an invitation to courageous love.由Aaron Manes
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The holidays can be a season of intense joy, and also intense grief. A prophet named Isaiah connected the grief we feel to the passion God has for justice, in our personal lives and throughout the world. This week, let’s talk about why grief is something we can choose to embrace as a holy part of the human experience, and how it could lead us into …
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The holidays can be a season of intense joy, and also intense grief. A prophet named Isaiah connected the grief we feel to the passion God has for justice, in our personal lives and throughout the world. This week, let’s talk about why grief is something we can choose to embrace as a holy part of the human experience, and how it could lead us into …
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This week, let's talk about the gift of staying attentive to what God is doing in the midst of our lives.由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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All Saints Sunday is a day in the life of the Church when we remember those we have lost in the last year. It’s also a natural time of reflection for our own lives, and how we hope to live with purpose and to find meaning in our day-to-day. This week, we’ll take a look at a passage in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus tells his people “not to worry.” W…
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Let’s talk about work. I know, I know… work is the last thing you want to think about. But when the culture defines our personal value based upon what we do, the spiritual question to ask might be: is that all that I am? Whether it’s an office job, a family calendar, or the chaos of life itself, let’s all pause for a moment and consider why rest mi…
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"Sister Act: The Musical" is the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a lively and aspiring nightclub singer who, after witnessing a murder committed by her mobster boyfriend, finds herself in danger. To ensure her safety, the police place her in the last place anyone would expect - a convent. Deloris, now disguised as Sister Mary Clarence, struggles to a…
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In "Fiddler On The Roof" Tevye considers traditions and new ways proposed by his daughters, as they are supported by his wife, he consults with one constant in his life: God. These conversations are the basis of his decision making, the outlet for his angry tantrums, and a balm for his suffering. Through these conversations, Tevye the milkman share…
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由Aaron Manes
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World Communion Sunday is a Sunday set aside for Christians throughout the world to celebrate the gift of communion in spiritual unity. And yet, what does it mean to live into the truly global nature of our faith? Are we called to spread a message that only we control? Are we called to simply sing Kumbaya? Or is it something else entirely? Let’s ga…
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From pastoring migrants in rural Georgia to teaching practical theology at SMU, Rev. Dr. Hugo Magallanes is not someone you could call “ivory tower.” In fact, his experience leads him to bring the seminarian into the harvest field to feel the heat of the sun and pain of the poor. This Sunday, we invite Dr. Magallanes to the AUMC pulpit as guest pre…
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As United Methodists, we are proudly people of an “open table,” meaning that all people are welcome to the sacrament of communion. At AUMC, we have extended the table to specifically include our LGBTQ siblings as an “open and affirming” congregation, but is that the finish line? (Hint: not exactly.) This week, Pastor Scott is joined by Pastor Britt…
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“Deconstruction” is a buzz word for some, a dirty word for others, and simply a reality for many people here at AUMC. The word speaks to the season of “taking apart” one’s faith, and at AUMC, we include the word “reconstruction” as the natural next step. This is not a one-size-fits-all process; in fact, as we will learn this week, every journey is …
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It’s one thing to believe in God’s love for all people. But when we see God through the eyes of those whom we are not like, especially people beyond the scope of social norms, we begin to see God with more complexity and clarity at the same time. This Fall, journey with us as we uplift diverse voices and perspectives in an effort to better know God…
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With the Fall season around the corner, that can mean gatherings with family and loved ones who… we don’t always see eye to eye with. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus actually shares some pretty provocative teaching about what his message could mean for those who follow him, and how it could redefine our relationships. Are we doomed to fight with ou…
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The 12 Steps invite us to take an actual honest look at how we perform our own lives. By organizing our steps to face actual addictions, we come to understand that our lives as we operate them become unmanageable. In step 2-3 we are invited to release our source so that God can be a resource. This is vulnerable. This is a challenge. The challenge i…
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Jacob is on his way to a face-to-face conflict that has been building his entire life, but before he arrives, he encounters a divine presence and wrestles his way through the night. Have you ever found yourself wrestling with God or with your faith in the midst of a uniquely challenging situation? You’re not alone. This Sunday, let’s talk about how…
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He was hailed as the Prince of Peace, but Jesus understood the realities of conflict in everyday life. As he brought people into relationship with one another, and sought to bring reconciliation to all of God’s people, Jesus offered guidance on how we should handle the unavoidable conflict we would encounter in the life of faith. This week, let’s t…
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由Aaron Manes
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What happens when a theology of grace actually becomes harmful? That’s precisely the concern that Jude was trying to address when he wrote his little letter, calling out the Christian leaders who used “grace” as an excuse for bad behavior. This week, let’s take a look at a small-yet-punchy note from Jude, a leader who is committed not only to God’s…
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It can be hard when people compare you to an older sibling. But imagine if that older sibling was… Jesus. His younger brother, James, was a key leader in the Christian movement in Jerusalem, and as he came to the end of his life, he wrote a letter where he tried to sum up his theology through a series of pithy vignettes. This week, let’s take a loo…
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The island of Crete was renowned in the first century as a place of liars, jerks, and the very worst that the world had to offer… it was also home to a growing number of Christian house churches. The Apostle Paul hears about the struggles that early Christians faced there, specifically in how they related to the surrounding culture. This week, let’…
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The short letters of John (the elder) were written at a time when the early church, probably in Ephesus, was splintering. A movement was departing from the community’s traditional beliefs about Jesus. Early Christians didn’t know how to address these disagreements, but John, author of the letters, knew the most important thing: love. When our world…
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This week we trade rainbow technicolor dreamcoats for someone we normally only talk about near Christmas. That’s right, it’s time for the other Joseph (of nativity fame) to shine! God visits him in a series of dreams, and while it is ultimately really big, really GOOD news, it’s also fear-inducing, life-changing, and pushes Joseph to places he neve…
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Whether or not you’ve read the story, you’re likely familiar with it. A favorite son. A “many-colored” robe. Jealous brothers. Donny Osmond. (Okay, Donny isn’t in the Scripture.) The story of Joseph and his “technicolor” coat famous, to be sure, but when we dig deeper into the story of this dreamer, we find a complicated tale of hubris, humility, a…
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He’s on the run from a brother he believes is keen to kill him. In a dream, Jacob is visited by God with a simple message: go home. That simple message would lead Jacob to unexpected places and people, and it would change life for generations to come. As we step into June, we center ourselves on Dreamers, and wonder how God might be leading us to d…
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由Aaron Manes
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In some circles of Christianity, it can sound like God hates the world or creation itself, but is that the story Scripture really tells? This week, we take a look at the creation stories in Genesis and consider how they inform our understanding of who God is, and who we are called to be. The way we understand the beginning of it all can definitivel…
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由Aaron Manes
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“Why am I here?” It’s a question we can ask ourselves at an especially boring meeting, and its also a question we can ask ourselves in those existential moments of life. Maybe your story is going exactly as you had hoped, or maybe you are wondering when your story will really start. This week, let’s talk about how God calls, equips, and ordains us …
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由Aaron Manes
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由Aaron Manes
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Easter Sunday Worship Service 2023 at Arapaho UMC in Richardson, Texas.由Aaron Manes
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We’ve all been guilty of overzealousness from time to time, but have you ever sliced a man’s ear off in the heat of the moment? Peter does in Luke 22, and how Jesus responds will give us pause when we take it seriously. Where might the Prince of Peace lead us, if we are open to living differently?由Aaron Manes
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