Who Am I?
Ephesians 1 & 3
Through the lens of Ephesians, we see that there are unexpected aspects in our relationship with God that have more and farther reaching impact than we imagine. The countercultural impact of the gospel rocks the world in Paul's time and in ours, and transforms our daily Christian walk.
Sanctification not Segregation: Growing Together in the Light of the Bible
John 17:1-26
Walter Edwards leads the congregation in a meditation on Black History and the impact of African Americans on the church. Along with Larry Mudd, Carl Garrison, Mary Joseph, Adolf Everett, and Alva Burton. A vital message of hope, repentance, and racial consciousness.
Borrowed Touchstones Part 1 & 2
In part 1, Larry proposes an informal embrace of liturgical seasons and feasts, this session explores practices focused on the incarnation: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
In part 2, Larry explores the deep meaning and beauty to be found in keeping an annual cadence centered on major themes and events in the life of Christ. In this session we explore opportunities linked to the cross, the empty grave, and the Holy Spirit through Lent, Holy Week, and Pentecost.
The Cadence of Remembering
Exodus 12:1-17
God establishes a cycle of festivals with the nation of Israel as annual touchstones to remind them of foundational moments in His relationship with them. These moments serve to establish and nurture His children's identity in Him and His love. Similarly, there are foundational moments in the New Testament and in the working out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that form and nurture our identity as Christians. As Jesus is born, lives, ministers, preaches, teaches, and ultimately gives his life within a Hebrew context, the working out of the roles of culture and Gospel as the great news is shared with other nations results in a freedom of observance and expression. Returning annually to salient points in Jesus' ministry, most notably in His incarnation and death/resurrection, establishes a cadence of remembering that works deeper into our hearts and spirits our identity as children of the King.
The Dark Light of the Cross
Matthew 27:41-54
Into the Darkness
Everything in Mt come together to this point. The scripture anticipation, the teaching, ministry, healing, temple confrontation. It come to this moment, this event. Mt puts it before us with brevity and mystery, challenging us to look deeply. Here is the heart of God.
Jesus has moved from celebrated prophet, king to one abandoned by all, disciples, leaders, crowds. We watch it happen: betrayal, denial, mocking. But we know who Jesus is. We’ve seen his birth, baptism, transfiguration, authority, power. He’s the very embodiment of God.
Communion Meditation - "Around the Table"
Larry Mudd Communion Meditation focused around the family table, and the table of the LORD.
Thanks Giving and Remembrance Service
Our Remembrance and Thanksgiving service has been posted. Below are the tributes for this year along with the time code where the tribute for each person begins.
01:45 - Gloria Barreto by Tom Barreto
04:50 - Eddie Moloney by June Chang
06:14 - Dee Andrews by Erin Holland
08:12 - William “Bill” Milford Minor by Leighton Minor
18:22 - Arturo “Arthur” James by Yanela Stephenson
19:22 - Carmen “Pam” Wisdom by Melanie Rivers
20:09 - Malcom X. Bell by Diamond McDonald
21:56 - Ilene Levin Shulman by Betsy Shulman
25:13 - Allena Ann Robinson Kendall by Tom Robinson
29:53 - Joe Moriarty by Matt Henegar
33:29 - Jean Davidson by Erin Holland
36:22 - Norman Samuel by Mary Joseph
38:40 - John Boyles by Evan Eley
41:34 - Frank Peoples and Brother Joe by Carl Garrison
By Faith, Abraham
Hebrews 11:8-19
Faced with certain evidence to the contrary, Abraham believes God when he is called out of his home and family to established a new nation through his offspring, even though he is already past 70 years old. God reveals more and more of Himself to Abraham along the way, as His promises increase in scale and Abraham's faith grows. We walk beside Abraham as our faith is tested as his, and we share with Abraham the wonder of growing trust in God because of the trials we walk through with Him. Abraham's refrain is, "What do you do when the Creator of the universe tells you to do something? You do it!"
Big God, Small Groups
Acts 2:36-47
Larry Mudd delivers a sermon on the important role that small groups can play in spiritual formation.
Remembrance and Thanksgiving Service
Each year we take time to remember and give thanks for those people in our lives who have passed away. As a community who is made up with people mainly from 'somewhere else' we don't often get a chance to sharing in the mourning with those who lose people back home. Each year during this service we stop, remember, give thanks, and praise God for the people in our lives who have gone before us.
Worship or Wither
John 15:1-11
Larry Mudd preaches on the importance and vitality of worship within the body of Christ.
Alleluia Canon
Under the direction of Larry Mudd
The 3rd - 7th graders sing the “Alleluia Canon” under the direction of Larry Mudd for Father’s Day. Accompanied by Richard Danly on the piano and Emily Cahnmann on the flute, arrangement by Donald Moore.
Mountains High to Valleys Low
2 Samuel 7:1-17
King David is brought to life
in this dramatic narrative sermon preached February 15, 2015 by Larry Mudd at the Manhattan Church of Christ. Many themes from David's journey are explored from the Books of Samuel, from Yahweh's calling David as a young shepherd boy through to Yahweh's extension of forgiveness to David after the king's infidelity with Bathsheba. The importance of faith, of reliance upon God and of seeking His presence is a theme throughout David's life, as well as his recognition that Yahweh is the source of all victory and goodness in the life of Israel and of her king, David. David reflects on the covenant Yahweh makes with him, as well as on the practical matters of how to deal with boredom.
Key Ingredients
Matthew 12:43-45 and John 7:37-39
This sermon explores the implications of Jesus' brief parable in Matthew 12:43-45 in which a soul that is left empty after an evil spirit's departure is subject to an even worse state when the spirit returns with 7 others. Following God is not simply about abstaining from evil, but also replacing that evil with all the good that Jesus has promised us, and with the promised Holy Spirit in particular. The sermon includes an illustrative demonstration of jars (representing souls) being filled with dried beans of different colors to represent the forces of darkness, the world, and the Holy Spirit.
Startled by Hope
Psalm 13
To begin our journey together through the season of Advent, we view hope through the eyes of one man who has waited long for an answer. After hundreds of years of silence, God speaks to this grumpy, nearly-retired priest who has given up on getting a response to his prayers.