Author Archives: Steve LaMotte
Hope Keeps Us Awake
[Sermon preached on November 29th, 2020 at Avenue United Methodist Church. First sermon in our series, “A Thrill of Hope.”] Our family stayed home on Thanksgiving and while we missed seeing our extended family, we had a lot fun together … Continue reading
Advent and The Clone Wars
Sunday is the beginning of Advent. Advent is the beginning of the year of the Christian calendar. Where the world sees Advent as a countdown to Christmas the Church sees Advent, as Fleming Rutledge writes as “a seas of the … Continue reading
Trading Our Birthright
Do you remember the story of Esau and Jacob in the book of Exodus? They were twin brothers and could not be more different. Isaac became a skilled hunter and Jacob stayed at home with his mother. Isaac, as a … Continue reading
The Separation of Church and Hate | Neighborly Engagement
We all know the type. The know-it-all, the “I know-more-than-you-do,” the “I Stayed-at-a-Holiday-Inn-Express Last night” Expert. Whether the topic is politics, COVID, or even theology, they think they know more than anyone else. They may have some knowledge but they … Continue reading
The Separation of Church and Hate | Winsome Love
One of the most remarkable persons during the last century was Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was an Indian Lawyer, Anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who utilized non-violent forms of protest to campaign for India’s independence from Britain. Gandhi was a practicing … Continue reading
The Separation of Church and Hate | Patterns
[This is the sermon text from my 10/25/2020 message from Avenue United Methodist Church. You can listen to the sermon here or watch the worship service here.] My childhood best friend had a wood shop on his property. It had … Continue reading
The Separation of Church and Hate | The Danger of Tribalism
[This is the text from the 10/18/20 sermon preached at Avenue United Methodist Church. You can listen to the audio here or watch video here. Last week, we talked about the effects of advertising to impact our lives by selling … Continue reading
Slow Faith | Sabbath
This is from the sermon preached on Sunday, October 3, 2020 at Avenue United Methodist Church. You can listen to the sermon here. I remember when Sundays were the slowest day of the week. My family attended the 8:30 am … Continue reading
Slow Faith | Silence and Solitude
From my sermon preached September 27, 2020 at Avenue United Methodist Church. You can listen to the sermon here If you came to the church this week, you likely know that I had an extra assistant with me. Caleb’s pre-school … Continue reading
Slow Faith | An Easy Yoke
[This is a sermon I preach on September 20, 2020 at Avenue United Methodist Church. You can listen to the sermon by clicking here. You can watch the entire worship service by clicking here.] A photographer was snapping pictures of … Continue reading
Exiled Community 