Bluegrass United Church of Christ

We often try, but we know it is impossible to compare God's love to anything we can know or feel. God's love is not based on any conditions - there is nothing that can suppress it or keep it from being shown. So the question becomes, will we allow ourselves to be rooted in that perfect love? MESSAGE: “Rooted and Grounded in God Love" by Pam Lee-Miller

Let's be honest; all of us, preachers and pastors included, sometimes have doubts and times when we struggle with our faith. None of us are immune from wondering if God really is there for us. Today, we read the story of the father who brought his son to Jesus to be healed. In a moment of honesty, the father acknowledges that his faith isn't beyond at least a measure of doubt. Even so, his son is healed. Today Kenny expands on how to deal with our questions and doubts when it comes to faith, the bible, and who God is. MESSAGE: “It's My Unbelief" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Mark 9: 14-24

All of us have questions and curiosities about some of the bible's lessons, stories, and characters. This Sunday we're going to spend some time addressing some of your questions. MESSAGE: “Ask the Pastors" with Pam Lee-Miller & Kenny Bishop

Sometimes we have trouble reconciling the rejection we find in many churches with the radical inclusion we find in the bible's Easter story. Three days had passed. The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, according to custom. No doubt the journey to the tomb was heavy. Perhaps they approached with heads lowered in defeat and grief. But then they looked up and it changed their lives. The barrier that they thought would be there was gone and what they discovered instead was life. That same promise is ours - even if we've been told it is not for us - we believe God's promise of life is for everyone. MESSAGE: “Look Up" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Mark 16: 1-7

Make no mistake, the powers-that-be in Jerusalem sat up and took notice at the actions of Jesus and his motley crew of palm-waving followers on that morning. It was a show of the "power" of love and injustice for the "least of these," in stark juxtaposition to the military might of the Roman rulers. It was a non-violent action featuring a man sitting on a donkey - an action that has offered hope throughout the ages. Will we sit up and take notice of the injustice of this world and work to eradicate it in ways that honor that first Palm Sunday parade? We're excited to continue our Lent series, What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: “Sit Up and Ride On!: A fictional sermon straight from the donkey’s mouth" by Pam Lee-Miller

“When nothing else would help, love lifted me!” says the old Gospel song. To be lifted up is to be drawn into the love of God. Jesus drew all kinds of people to him during his short tenure on earth, drawing no boundaries for who was invited into that love. As his hour to die drew nearer, he spread the message that all things would be enveloped in his love even after he was gone. What uplifting message will we pass on to others? We're excited to continue our Lent series, What R U Up 2? MESSAGE: "Lifting Up" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: John 12: 20-33

The story of Jesus' response to the temple being made into a marketplace was profound and may have been another step toward his ultimate demise on the cross. He refers to raising up a new temple in three days - something his disciples later remembered as a foretelling of his resurrection. How might we raise up as the Body of Christ and be a holy temple - a holy dwelling place of God - in the world? We're excited to continue this new Lent series called What R U Up 2?

MESSAGE: "Raising Up" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: John 2: 13-22

Jesus was very clear that following him might not be a smooth ride. He was bound to choose the just way, not the easy way, through life. To take up the cross was to lose one's life - to let go of certain expectations of safety and acceptance in order to stand for the Gospel message of love. How are we to take up the causes of Jesus - justice, righteousness, and mercy in our day?

MESSAGE: "Taking Up" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Mark 8: 31-38

The first Sunday of our new Lent series brings us to the moment at which Jesus comes up out of the water of baptism to hear, "You are my beloved." We are called to come up out of the depths of whatever seeks to keep us under and know that we are beloved of God. Come up, for now is the time to be fully who you are created to be for the sake of the world.

MESSAGE: "Coming Up" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1: 9-13

Many of us grew up with an apocalyptic view of the future. The fear and dread that resulted were both motivation and intimidation. But was that the message that Jesus was trying to convey? Is our relationship with God supposed to be based on fear?

MESSAGE: "Coming Soon" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 41: 10, Psalm 23: 4, 2 Timothy 1:7, Matthew 14: 27

Most of us have never experienced a world as divided as it is today. Things that usually bring us together are pulling us apart. Issues that have historically not been political suddenly are. As a nation and as a people, we are being forced to choose sides, even when there shouldn't be any. How do we navigate the anger and divisive rhetoric without compromising our core understandings of what we believe faith and justice looks like.

MESSAGE: "Them Too" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13a

Have you ever felt like you were all by yourself and have had to accomplish every task alone? This Sunday we examine Hebrews 10: 24-25 and Ecclesiastes 4:4-10 to explore the reasons why God has called us to community and why living together enhances our life, our church, and the world. MESSAGE: "Together" by Pam Lee-Miller

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King gave what would become one of the great speeches of the twentieth century. Even though it seems our nation has taken steps backward in recent years, we still dare to march toward Dr. King's vision of America as a place that truly believes that all are created equal, is a place where former slaves and slave owners will sit together, where oppression will become freedom and justice, where everyone is judged by the content of their character, where while and Black children will join hands as brothers and sisters, where valleys will be exalted, mountains will be made low, rough places will be made plain, and crooked places will be made straight. Join us as we hear and receive Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

MESSAGE: "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5: 43-48

For many, Christmas is over when the sun goes down on December 25th. But there is still more of the Christmas story to tell. Today we look at the experience that the magi had when they traveled from a faraway place in search of the rumored Christ child. We learn they were not looking for salvation or repentance, but only to honor the one who would bring the good news so many needed to hear.

MESSAGE: "We Need an Epiphany" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2: 1-5, 7-12

Today, instead of a sermon, Pam and Kenny take questions from the congregation about the bible, certain passages, the church's role in society, and several other topics on the minds of BUCCers.

Questions & Answers with Pam Lee-Miller and Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

This Advent season we have been celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We believe that we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people - those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. In our final Advent service, which happens to also be Christmas Eve, Pam shares with us about the journey Mary and Joseph took to the place where the child was born, and the Love that started there and made its way around the world, changing and making better all of us who listed to and follow its example.

MESSAGE: “When Love Was Born" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Luke Luke 2: 1-14

In our Advent series, we are celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We believe that we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people - those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. Mary's Magnificat is prophetic as well. She claimed the overturning of injustices even before it has come to pass. In the difficulty of her situation, she "sings" with joy about the very real presence of God growing in her. This week we focus on what it means to be a gift of joy. MESSAGE: “Joy" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1: 41-55

In our Advent series, we are celebrating the gift of being truly present - to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We can be the gift of presence with those who are experiencing life as less-than-peaceful. But this might also be true of how we are personally feeling in this moment. Our lives can feel a bit chaotic or in need of a makeover. The Good News is that God is continually making a way for do-overs. In this we can find our peace, even when life doesn't feel so peaceful. This week we focus on what it means to be a gift of non-anxious presence for those who need it most.

MESSAGE: “Peaceful Presence" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1: 1-8

Advent can be filled with worry about finding the perfect Christmas gifts. Deep down we want people in our lives to know they are special and that we love them. But sometimes we overlook the greatest gift of all… our very presence. This season, we are invited to be the gift of presence for our loved ones, for our communities, for those who need it most. Today is about being the presence of Hope in someone's life. Hope can make all the difference if we let it. MESSAGE: “Hope” by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Mark 13: 24-37

This Sunday we will explore the biblical story of ten outcasts who encounter Jesus and in turn, find their healing. In Luke 17, while Jesus is on his journey, he comes across ten lepers who are forced to live their lives on the margins of society because of their disease. When they see Jesus, they cry out for mercy. How might this ancient story invite us to embrace every experience as a possibility to become our greater self? Can we too come to appreciate our journey to becoming and be filled with a worshipful attitude? Join us this Sunday at 10 AM as we do a bit of theological wrestling. MESSAGE: “Thankful Gratitude” by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Luke 17: 11-19

Pastor, author and thought leader Josh Scott joins us to talk about the premise of his latest book Bible Stories for Grown-Ups. He encourages us to think about the bible in a larger, more holistic way and view its stories with a more mature lens. He reminds us that it's okay to have questions, and even okay to hold onto some doubts about what we've been told we must believe to be in a relationship with God.

MESSAGE: “The Bible Through Grown-Up Lenses" by Josh Scott

Many of us who grew up around fundamentalist theology are familiar with what it means to be lost. We heard people talk about being lost and undone, lost without Christ, lost as in unsaved. Jesus told three stories in a row that were all about being lost - the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost boy. All three stories end with a party, a sheep party, a coin party, and a prodigal party.

MESSAGE: “A Prodigal Party” by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Luke 15: 11-13, 25-28, 31-32

There's an interesting story in the bible about a young man named Eutychus who happened to fall asleep while Paul the apostle waxed on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The young man was sitting on a window ledge and fell three stories to his death. Even though Eutychus was considered to be on the margins, Paul stopped his talk to rush to the young man's aid. He fell on him, held him, and prayed for God's healing because that's what a person of God does when someone has fallen. Today, United Church of Christ Conference Minister Chad Abbott shares this story with us and how we can see it as an example and opportunity to mirror that extravagant love for those who have fallen around us.

MESSAGE: “When They Fall” by Rev. Chad Abbott

SCRIPTURE: Acts 20: 1-12

Rachel Cohn said, "The important People in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart." This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day. We will light candles and remember those who have been a part of our faith formation. As a special treat, members of our BUCC Writers Group will share personal reflections as they remember those whose imprint made a difference in their own faith formation.

MESSAGE: “Faith Forming Folk” by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12: 1-2a

This week we begin our new fall series, Think Again. Based on Josh Scott's book Bible Stories for Grown-Ups, and leading up to having Josh with us on November 19th, we'll spend the next few weeks looking at some of the ways our faith has grown and our theology has evolved. We'll give ourselves permission to ask questions and seek deeper meaning in the stories of the Bible.

MESSAGE: “Think Again” by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: John 3: 8

The news this week has been big and hard. The fighting, the screaming, the power struggles, and the subterfuge have left lots of helpless victims in the wake. And that's just Washington, DC. There's also the tragedy in Israel and Gaza that's playing out in our news feeds and on our TVs while the war between Ukraine and Russia rages on. We expect October to be scary, but not like this.

MESSAGE: “Us” by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Luke 6: 27-31

This Sunday we will take another look at the Israelites and Moses on their desert journey. Things are not going the way they expected and they get "fed up with life" along the way. In the least likely place, God hears, God sees, and God provides life-giving hope. But what about us? Does God still see us and hear us in the desert? Is God still life-giving in the year 2023? See you Sunday as we wrestle with this tough question.

MESSAGE: “It Isn’t Supposed to be Like This!” by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 17: 1-6

There's always room for one more. Join us this World Communion Sunday as Pam shares Romans 12:8 with the fictional character Grace Ellen. We'll follow along as Grace Ellen drives Fatmama to Cousin Betty's for a family reunion. Along the way, Grace Ellen reflects on the table talk she overheard and asks if there really is room for one more.

MESSAGE: "Room for One More: A Fictional Sermon Told by Grace Ellen" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12: 8

Have you ever had one of those "no good, very bad, horrific kind of days" that makes you want to just throw your hands up, go back to bed, and pull the covers over your head? Today we explore how the Hebrew people who were led out of bondage and toward the promised land dealt with those kinds of days in their own journey. We'll discover that God never abandoned them, but continued to support them with compassion, love, and hope. We'll talk about life in relationship with God-love that offers hope even on our horrible days.

MESSAGE: "Everything's Gonna Be Okay" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 16: 9-18

We've probably all said it at some point; "If I knew then what I know now..." One of the great advantages of living a while is the number of opportunities we have to learn and adjust what we believe about our faith and religion, and our understanding of who Jesus is. That means sometimes rethinking some of the ideas, maybe even some of the "truths" that we thought we knew. Changing our minds is not a bad thing when we are attempting to adapt to better ways of understanding.

MESSAGE: "What We Know" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: John 3: 1-10

It's hard to believe that it's been 22 years since 9/11. Many of us remember the events of that day but had the comfort of viewing it all from safe a distance from the actual destruction. But many didn't, including a man who grew up in Central Kentucky but experienced the horror of the day from his apartment just across the river from the doomed Twin Towers. Listen as we recount his story.

MESSAGE: "What a Day" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: John 11: 35-37

Sometimes it seems like God asks a whole lot from us. Sometimes when we feel that divine nudge, we may feel more confident in God's calling than our own ability to accomplish the end goal. This Sunday our lead elder Deb Core is going to bring us some encouragement for those moments when we desire to live into God's calling, but may not feel wholly equipped. We may even feel it is a Mission Impossible.

MESSAGE: "Mission Impossible" by Elder Deb Core

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3: 1-15

Many of us spend time wondering how our ordinary life makes a difference or if it really does. We often aren't sure where the Spirit is calling us because we are just trying to make it through the day. Simon was an ordinary person in an ancient land trying to catch a few fish when he was changed by the love of Christ and his life was never ever the same. If it happened for Simon, perhaps, just perhaps, it might happen for us as well. Join us Sunday for "The Epic Adventures of a Man Called Peter the Rock." It is sure to be a tale you don't want to miss!

MESSAGE: "The Epic Adventures of a Man Called Peter the Rock" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16: 15-18

It can be a bit of a challenge these days to know what is authentic and what is not. We hear cries of fake news and seeds of doubt are sown into every bit of information we hear. Then there are the Christians who claim to be deeply in love with Jesus but seem to ignore pretty much every command he gave to love and serve those who are on society's margins. How do we discern what is real and what isn't? Jesus gives us a clue and a little bit of help.

MESSAGE: “For Real” by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Luke 6: 43-45

All of us have times of unrest and chaos in our lives. Sometimes it seems those moments will never end. But it's reassuring to know that when we are in the middle of our personal storms, we are in the company of a God that loves us and would never leave us to survive alone. it's reassuring to know that when we are enduring the wind and rain, we are doing it as one of God's beloved. The story of the disciples on a stormy sea is made more reassuring when we see that Jesus himself was in the boat with them.

MESSAGE: "Jesus - A Great Calm on our Story Sea” by Rev. Diane Vego

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8: 23-27

There is great disparity in our world, just as there was in the world that Jesus lived in centuries ago. There are several stories in the bible that speak to God's provision, but as believers, we count on God's ability to see us through difficult and needy times. Faith in God's radical, extravagant abundance is central to our relationship with God. But God also relies on us to do what we can for ourselves, but especially for others. That is how God's extravagant abundance is expressed - when we are available to and willing to express it. MESSAGE: “Extravagant Abundance” by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14: 13-21

Have you ever just wanted to hear quiet? With all of the talking and yelling and beeps and honks and commercials and other noises that seem to occupy all of our space, it would feel good to be able to turn it all down and make room for something else. With all the opinions and conflicting voices, we are expected to sort through it all and try to find something that assures us that things will be okay. Sometimes we just have to remember that in truth, it's just noise. MESSAGE: "It's Just Noise" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Luke 19: 37-39

Some of us are kinda spooked at the thought of God knowing everything about us. But it's probably because we've been warned of a god that gets some kind of strange delight out of taunting us with judgment, then punishing us for whatever kind of "sin" we've been secretly living in. But that's not the God we ever find in the bible. We can take comfort in knowing that God does in fact know us and takes great delight in loving us just the same.

MESSAGE: "God Knows" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: John 4: 4-7, 9-16

Life is not and will never be problem free. We will know challenges and sometimes struggle to make sense of things. Things that should be simple can become complicated, and relationships that should be full of love can suddenly be in danger of ending. Our very special guest Pam Stevenson reminds us that even as he was about to be crucified, Jesus continued to extend the invitation to eat, to drink, and to join him in fellowship - even knowingly extending that invitation to the one who would ultimately betray him. Jesus loved all the way till the end.

MESSAGE: "Loving Till the End" by Pam Stevenson

SCRIPTURE: John 13: 34-35

Many of us carry our pain and our burdens in silence. Even as our internal spirit is being crushed, we make ourselves smile through the heaviness. We try to do it all alone and hold our pain as a secret. What happens when we decide to ask God and others for help? Jesus teaches us that sharing our pain holds the potential for healing. This week Pam helps us discover how we are able to lighten our load.

MESSAGE: "Lighten the Load " by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 11: 28-30

Every day is an opportunity to make an impression and make a difference. If our goal is to show love and care and patience and concern, how we present ourselves will make the difference in whether or not we succeed. Sometimes we get in our own way without even realizing it. Pam helps us understand how we can be better examples and better neighbors. Because we know people are watching.

MESSAGE: "Who do they see?" by Pam Lee-Miller

June is Pride Month, and this is Pride weekend in Lexington. Since our founding, BUCC is a welcoming church that proudly affirms those who identify as LGBTQ+, and we feel especially called to speak to the discrimination and mistreatment they often face as individuals and as a community. Pride is about celebrating who they are, their history, and their worth. We invite everyone to see them as God does. Btw, we think God is pretty proud of them.

MESSAGE: "Proud of My Pride" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16: 18

Most of us white Americans have only recently become educated on the significance of June 19th. As Black communities have celebrated Juneteenth, a day that could rightly be seen as America's true Independence Day, too many of us who never learned about the final pronouncements of freedom to the enslaved people of Texas simply lived without the knowledge and the inspiration it brings. Most Americans are also unfamiliar with Homer Plessy and John Marshall Harlan and their contributions to eliminating some of our nation's most racist laws. So let's learn together.

MESSAGE: "Harlan & Plessy" by Kenny Bishop

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 4: 7

We read in the bible that there is a season for everything. That means that at one point or another, it's okay to do the thing you may not be comfortable with - as long as it does nothing to harm others or yourself. But knowing when it is right to do that thing depends on whether you are listening and learning to wait on the holy prompter. For everything there is a season, and waiting for that season to arrive is one of the most important things a believer can do.

MESSAGE: "Holy Listening & Wisdom" by Rev. Diane Vego

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

There seems to be a lot of anger in our world these days. And too much of it is what the more conservative religious leaders like to call "righteous anger." But just how righteous can it be to devalue and discriminate against a population of people who are already struggling to survive in a secular culture, much less a holy one? Today, Pam talks to us about learning to do better, then doing better for the trans community and others. It's time to wake up to their needs and our part in helping them deal with them. MESSAGE: "Wake Up!" by Pam Lee-Miller

SCRIPTURE: Acts 20: 7-12

Today is Pentecost Sunday. The celebrations that have developed in the church over time have sometimes distracted from the original moment and God's first intention of bringing together the different cultures and voices and languages that were in that place 50 days after Jesus' resurrection. As we wrap up our spring series, "Be the Church," we remember the moment of empowerment that arrived on that first Pentecost and we remind ourselves that loving God is expressed in that power. MESSAGE: "May the Force Be With You" by Pam Lee-Miller

It means something to "be the church." We can say we are the church, but actually being the church is something else altogether. It means we must do more than claim our position as followers of Christ, it means we must mimic his ways of compassion and embracing humanity. As we continue our spring series on being the church, today's focus is on enjoying this life, its blessings, its joys, and its laughter. Some clips of comedian Mark Lowry are featured here. You can learn more about Mark at www.marklowry.com. MESSAGE: "LOL!" by Kenny Bishop