Sermon Transcripts

April 13, 2025 ~ Palm Sunday Drink from the Fountain of Grace ~ Rev. Beckie Sweet   The concert impresario, Sol Hurok, liked to say that Marian Anderson hadn’t simply grown great, she had grown great simply.  He says: “A few years ago a reporter interviewed Marian and asked her to name the greatest moment in her life.  I was in her dressing room at the time and was curious to hear the answer.  I knew she had many big moments to...

April 6, 2025 ~ Fifth Sunday in Lent Rev. Beckie Sweet ~ Drink from the Fountain of Grace   During this season of Lent, our worship services have centered around the theme “Drink from the Fountain of Grace” with each service focusing on the image of a CUP from which we would draw that drink.  We started on Ash Wednesday with the Cup of Fasting, and then proceeded with the Broken Cup, the Cup of Living Water, the Cup You Choose,...

March 30, 2025 ~ Fourth Sunday in Lent Rev. Beckie Sweet ~ Drink from the Fountain of Grace   IDENTITY.  Our identities are sometimes complicated to define.  As Jami mentioned a couple of months ago, when folks at any of our U.M. Conferences go to the microphone to speak, we are first supposed to identify ourselves.  According to the prescribed procedures, I would say, “I am Rebekah Sweet, clergy, female, white, and no longer a...

March 23, 2025 ~ Third Sunday in Lent Drink From the Fountain of Grace Rev. Beckie Sweet   When my son, Paul, was a toddler, I had a concern because he was yet to begin talking.  There was a little girl in my congregation who was only three months older than Paul, who could sing two verses to the song “Deep and Wide” without missing a word.  But Paul didn’t say much more than “Mom” and “Cookie.”  Then, when he was a little over...

March 16, 2025 ~ Second Sunday in Lent “Drink from the Fountain of Grace” Rev. Beckie Sweet   In the summer of 1986, I moved to San Jose, CA to serve on the staff of the Willow Glen UMC.  I had served three years as a student local pastor while in seminary.  Then, that appointment went to full time for the following year.  The appointment in San Jose was arranged between my bishop, Felton May, and the bishop of the...

March 9, 2025 ~ First Sunday in Lent “Drink from the Fountain of Grace” Rev. Beckie Sweet   On May 24, 2000 (almost 25 years ago), Jean Caffey Lyles’ article on the UMC General Conference was featured in the Christian Century.  The title of her article was “Watershed in Cleveland.”   The opening paragraph of the article states,”             Seizing the blessings of a rising stock market and unexpectedly plentiful...