First United Methodist Church - Fort Collins, CO

Sunday, August 12th

The Reverend Pam Everhart will preach. Her sermon title is “Mapquesting Our Faith”.

Her email address is pameverhart@fcfumc.net.

 This is her first opportunity to preach at our church. I’m guessing she would love to hear from you. If you have ideas about her sermon or about the church write her. If you would like others to see your response click on the “comments” box below.

What kind of church do you think we have here?

What should she know before delivering her first sermon at our church?

The first sermon any place is always difficult. Any thoughts you might have would be a big help to her.

“Let’s Hear It From the Snake”

I think Christians have accepted an arbitrary division and it’s time we took a look at it.

Many traditional Christians are convinced we are born in “original sin” and because of our status as human beings we are condemned to sin unless we find some faith conviction in Christ who “died for our sins”.

Some have a different view. Some believe in “original good” and interpret the Adam/Eve and the snake story as a call to leave the paradise, challenge authority, and follow the word of Jesus ”who lived that we might live”.

Communion pulls together both of these perspectives and when we receive the bread and the cup we are participating in the fallenness of our broken souls and in the magnificience of our human potential being part of the “new covenant” with God.

In Communion it all comes together. Otherwise when we read about the serpent in the garden we think the snake speaks with a forked tongue.

Do you have some thoughts about this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share you thoughts with others click on the ‘comments’ box below.

See you in church.

Charles Schuster

The story in Genesis 3 is one of the most discussed in the whole Bible. What is Original Sin? Who was responsible for the act defiance? Was it the woman (who ate the apple in the first place)? Was it the man (who blamed the woman and then blamed God)?

I am beginning to look at two interesting aspects of that story. There is a traditional interpretation that we have accepted for years. The snake caused the man and woman to defy God and that was the Original Sin and that created a break in the relationship between God and humankind. The break can be repaired because “Jesus died for our sins”. If we believe in Jesus, then the chasm between ourselves and God has been healed. The snake/serpent plays a major role for many people who are aware of the fact that they have sinned and fallen short. There is a “do-over” possible for all of us.

There is another way to look at the Adam and Eve story. It can also be seen as an example of a necessary rebellion. Eden was a false paradise and the difiance was necessary in order for human beings to reach their full potential. The snake was working for God,not against God, but encouraging the man and woman to take the leap to leave the Garden and to become fully human.

Is the snake a villain or a hero?

What do you think?

Is the snake both hero and villain?

If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your responses click on the ‘comments’ box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles Schuster