Act-An Evolving Faith in A Changing World--Grace and the Birth of the Early Church

Reach Out and Touch Someone--the healing of the hemorrhaging woman and the raising of Jairus daughter and a God who raises us up.

This week Pastor Paula preaches on the story from Mark 6 about an unclean woman who had been bleeding for 10 years who secretly reached out to touch Jesus robe and was healed. After the healing, Jesus goes to the house of Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, who's daughter was sick. By the time Jesus arrives, the girl has died but Jesus holds her hand and resuscitates her. Both story emphasize the role that human touch and connection is and on a God who sees us and who reaches out a hand to us to raise us up no matter how overwhelmed, or broken, or full of despair we are. and who invites us to live in hope. Opening; Scriptures-1:52;   Message-5:24; Hymn-"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"-20:58; Community Connection-23:30;  Closing-25:57 Scripture Text is  from Mark 5:21-43 from the New Revised Standard Version Many thanks to Pastor Dan McKnight, the opening announcer, Elizabeth Kieschnik who reads,   and Ruth Skinner who sings both the hymn and  the closing song. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is in the public domain. https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast [https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast]

Jesus is not a jerk, he's in the boat with you.

Pastor Paula makes a shift in Relentless Grace with this episode.  Rather than continue with her series on Acts or do other series, she will be preaching on the text that she preached on in her latest worship service.  After much prayer and reflection, she determined this was the best way to continue the podcast, which began before she was serving a congregation and preaching each week. This week the text is Mark 4:35-41, which tells the story of the time Jesus was asleep in the boat with the disciples and they yelled at him, asking if he even cared.  In her message, Pastor Paula focuses on what it means that Jesus in the boat with us, even when we feel like we are being swamped. Opening; Scriptures-3:52;   Message-5:15; Hymn-"It is Well With My Soul"-21:00; Community Connection-23:20;  Closing-24:51 Scripture Text is  from Mark 4:35-41 from the New Revised Standard Version Many thanks to Pastor Dan McKnight, the opening announcer, Elizabeth Kieschnik who reads,  Camy Wenberg who sings "It is Well With My Soul"  and Ruth Skinner who sings both the hymn and  the closing song. "It is Well with My Soul" is in the public domain. Here is a link to information on Sankofa.  https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/sankofa/ [https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/sankofa/] If you wish to support this podcast and the ministry of Relentless Grace you may do so using the Patreon link below, or contact Pastor Paula at relentlessgracepodcast.com https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast [https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast]

Acts-An Evolving Faith in a Changing World--Peter Sees and Heals the Beggar at the Gate

Pastor Paula continues her series on the  Book of Acts of the Apostles with the story of Peter and John healing a beggar at the gate of the Temple. Peter tells the beggar to look at them and Peter sees the beggar, offering not money, but the healing power of Jesus.  As we deal with people we encounter who lurk in the shadows, our ability to see them and engage with them, acknowledging our shared humanity, can provide transformation.  Rather than saying "there but by the grace of God go I" we can see and experience the grace of God that is present in every person.  Knowing that helps us be agents of healing, too. Opening; Scriptures-2:02;   Message-3:41; Hymn-"Stand Up and Walk"-20:22; Community Connection-21:10;  Closing-23:08 Scripture Text is  from Acts 3:1-10 the New Revised Standard Version Many thanks to Pastor Dan McKnight, the opening announcer, Elizabeth Kieschnik who reads,  and Ruth Skinner who sings both the hymn and  the closing song. "Stand Up and Walk" is in the public domain. If you wish to support this podcast and the ministry of Relentless Grace you may do so using the Patreon link below, or contact Pastor Paula at relentlessgracepodcast.com https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast [https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast]

Act-An Evolving Faith in A Changing World--Grace and the Birth of the Early Church

Pastor Paula continues her series on the  Book of Acts of the Apostles as she explores the birth of the church, as people respond to Peter's sermon on Pentecost.  Rather than condemning the crowd in Jerusalem for their role in shouting out "Crucify him" when Jesus was on trial, Peter invites them to repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness.  This same kind of grace is extended to us again and again when we fall short in our own lives.  The church began with as an invitation to a life centered in love and forgiveness and our walk with God continues with that same invitation every day. Opening; Scriptures-12:08;   Message-4:00; Hymn-"Just a Closer Walk With Thee"-15:57; Community Connection-19:18 Closing-22:28 Scripture Text is  from Acts 2:36-47, the New Revised Standard Version Many thanks to Pastor Dan McKnight, the opening announcer, Elizabeth Kieschnik who reads,  Camy Wenberg who sings "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"  and Ruth Skinner who sings the closing song. Just A Closer Walk With Thee is an anonymous hymn and  is in the public domain. If you wish to support this podcast and the ministry of Relentless Grace you may do so using the Patreon link below, or contact Pastor Paula at relentlessgracepodcast.com https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast [https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast]

Acts: An Evolving Faith for a Changing World-Pentecost and the Power of the Spirit

Pastor Paula continues her series on the  Book of Acts of the Apostles with the second part of the story of Pentecost, where Peter gets up and makes a powerful sermon in the center of Jerusalem after having denied Jesus only 50 days earlier.  She addresses the question as to whether people can change, arguing that the Holy Spirit can take the parts of who we are and transform them as we follow and serve our Lord. Opening; Scriptures-1:41;   Message-3:24; Hymn-"13:48; Change My Heart O God" -; Community Connection-15:28; Closing-18:42 Scripture Text is  from Acts 2:1-13, the New Revised Standard Version Many thanks to Pastor Dan McKnight, the opening announcer, Elizabeth Kieschnik who reads,  Camy Wenberg who sings "Spirit of the Living God"  and Ruth Skinner who sings the closing song. https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast [https://www.patreon.com/RelentlessGracePodcast]