Today we conclude our Wandering Heart series, having wandered with Peter through the ups and downs of his faith development as he journeyed alongside Jesus. In many ways, our scripture passage for this Sunday brings us full circle… back to fishermen by the seashore, doing what they do best:  fishing. In this passage from John, the disciples encounter the risen Christ who prepares breakfast for them over an open fire. And after feeding them, Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my sheep.” Jesus leaves “his heart” with the disciples and, in turn, asks them to give their hearts to the world. Scrip ..read more

Today we welcome Certified Lay Minister Dakota Koenig from UMC Vista to bring us the message on living in gratitude. In her first career, Dakota served as a Teacher, Principal and District Administrator. She was selected as Prized Principal of the Year in San Diego County. Scripture: Luke 17:11-19 To skip directly to the sermon, click on the Listen button above. The post Living Life Through a Lens of Gratitude appeared first on Pacific Beach United Methodist Church - PB UMC - PBUMC ..read more

Today, Easter Sunday, we come together to rejoice in the power of God’s love and the message of the empty tomb.  We’ve been “wandering” with the disciple Peter all throughout Lent.  Today we contemplate HOPE… what that meant and how it came for Peter and what it means for us in the context of our lives and world. Scripture passage: Luke 24:1-12 To skip directly to the sermon, click on the Listen button above. The post Wandering Heart… And I Hope appeared first on Pacific Beach United Methodist Church - PB UMC - PBUMC ..read more

Today, Palm Sunday, we continue in our Lenten series following along with the disciple Peter as he companions Jesus throughout his ministry.  As Holy Week begins this Sunday, we’ll stand with Peter and the other disciples as they watch Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by crowds waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna,” which means “Save now!”  After everything they’d been through, after everything he knew (and still didn’t know) about Jesus, what must Peter have felt as he watched Jesus and heard the hopeful songs of the crowd?  What would he remember about those “Pa ..read more

Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. We are quickly approaching the events of Holy Week but make one last stop with Peter and Jesus as Peter asks a sincere question of his teacher… how many times do I forgive? Perhaps there is no other question that is more timeless. How does our faith teach us about life in a complex world? What does it look like for us to practice forgiveness? Scripture passages: Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 16:21-23 To skip directly to the sermon, click on the Listen button above. The post Wandering Heart…Teach Me ap ..read more

Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Last week Peter hit a high note. When Jesus asked who Peter believed Jesus to be, Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Today’s scripture passage opens our eyes to the fact that Peter, while he had the right words, didn’t entirely have the right understanding. He was “fixed” on the notion of a Messiah who would free them from Roman rule. When Jesus began to talk about how things would get tough–really tough–Peter rebuked him, unable to accept Jesus’ talk of suffering and ..read more

Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Each week we hear about an encounter between Peter and Jesus, allowing us to come alongside Peter in his growing faith. In today’s text, Jesus asks the disciples who others say he is and the disciples reveal what Jesus already knows…that there’s much confusion about who he is! But when Jesus asks who they say Jesus is, Peter (who is still Simon) doesn’t miss a beat. He says, “You are the Son of the living God.” It’s then that Jesus gives him his new name, Peter. Peter sees Jesus clearly in that ..read more

Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Last week we focused on the calling of Peter. This week we’ll spend time with the account of Jesus walking across the water toward the wind-battered boat to reach the disciples. Peter attempts to walk on water in order to meet Jesus and finds himself sinking. He cries out for Jesus to save him. What does it mean to be “rescued” or “saved” by Christ? How do we trust in God’s saving power while bearing witness to so much suffering in the world? How does this part of Peter’s story illumine our own ..read more

Today is the beginning of our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Peter had a faith journey that was full of ups and downs, making him relatable for most of us. Today’s scripture passage focuses on Jesus’ calling of Peter:  how he sought him, a fisherman, in the midst of his daily work. As we explore Peter’s calling, we’ll also reflect on the beginning of our faith stories. When and how did Jesus seek us? How are we responding to God’s call? Each week in Lent, our scripture reading about Jesus and Peter will be paired with a line from the hymn “Come ..read more

What goes up, must come down…that’s how the old saying goes. And that holds true in the Gospel of Mark. The first part of the Gospel leads up to this mountaintop moment, what we’ve come to know as the transfiguration of Jesus. It’s a dazzling moment, full of light, awe, wonder and glory. But as Jesus and the disciples descend from the mountain, everything seems to literally and figuratively go downhill. How did that mountaintop moment change or equip Jesus and the disciples for what was ahead as Jesus’ path takes a decisive turn toward Jerusalem and the cross? How do moments of light, awe, won ..read more