Getting on Board with Grace – We are in a series of scriptures and sermons under the theme, “Who is calling you?,” that will take us to Lent.  Today’s scripture reading is a continuation of last weeks’ story in Luke of Jesus in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth having been handed the Isaiah scroll, reading from it the passage that tells of God’s mission for Isaiah, and then declaring that today that scripture has been fulfilled today in him.  But the people react by taking him out to throw him off a cliff.  Carol says their rage may well have been because Jesus was telling them that God’s love and mercy extend to all people, including those they considered enemies.  If and when we hear often that God loves all of “those people,” we, too, can find ourselves asking, “But what about me?”  It is in those times that we need to spend time in prayer, going to God’s fountain of love.  In practicing gratitude we can hear the invitation to join Jesus in proclaiming and living the “good news.”  Our invitation is to get on board with God’s grace.   

(NOTE:  Reflecting the importance of the Word, the video begins with the scripture, but once it starts you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want.  The entire service is videoed.)