The author of Psalm 23 had a gift for painting a picture with words--green pastures, still waters, dark valleys, and more. Seeing that our life is stretched before us like a blank canvas, we can become co-creators with God. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Job asked "why?" and God responded with "who!" Pastor Beth offers a personal testimony about how the UMC General Conference of 2019 left her asking "why" and how God answered her prayers in a powerful way. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Esther shows us what can happen when just one person has courage. When we look at our world today, we know we can't fix every problem, but that's no excuse to not fix what we can. We pray "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," and God answers that prayer one courageous person at a time. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more…

Nehemiah 8:1-12 Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

King Josiah instituted renewal during his time as one of the few good kings of Judah. (Pastor Beth explains why he was the king of Judah and not the king of Israel.) Like Josiah, John Wesley understood the importance of covenant renewal. We use his covenant prayer to help us understand what covenant promises are all about. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme…

In 1 Chronicles 29, King David models a robust theology of giving. It is based in the idea that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. If you think about it, it's the opposite of what we learn in the game of Monopoly, but in this sermon Pastor Beth shares that it's exactly what was originally intended by the game's inventor, L…

The idea that God would become human and experience death so that humanity would know nothing separates us from God--not even death, is so wonderful it can seem too good to be true. But it really is true. Pastor Beth uses the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5 to help us see that God works in ways that can seem too good to be true, but we can trust God…

Palm Sunday, our annual celebration of the day Jesus entered Jerusalem to the cries of "Hosanna! Hosanna!" The people were sending out an SOS, asking God to save them. That was exactly was God was doing. It was the very reason Jesus had come to Jerusalem. But it didn't turn out the way anyone expected. What do we mean when we send out our SOS? Do w…

In 1 Samuel 25 we meet a fool named Nabal and a peacemaker named Nabal. Abigail teaches us about how God wants the world to work and God wants us to work in the world. We may live in a world full of Nabals, but we can choose to be Abigails. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

Ruth is from Moab, a place where the people have loops in their family trees. In other words, Ruth is no one from nowhere. And yet, God brings her from loss to legacy. Her decision to be faithful and loyal is a decision that changes the world. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

Judges 4 tells us that God empowered and called Deborah, Barak, and Jael to end the oppressive ways of Sisera and his king, Jabin. God empowers and call us to end oppression in our own time and place. How can you be a torch-bearer for the light of the world? Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

The book of Joshua is filled with conquest and victory ... and genocide. Pastor Beth explores how we can temper the message of Joshua (be strong and courageous because God is with you) with the words of Jesus and make it even stronger. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

In Numbers, Moses asks, rhetorically, "What does the Lord require?" We need to treat people the way God treats us--with mercy, compassion, loving kindness, and humility. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

The Israelites faced a roadblock in Numbers 13 when the scouts came back and reported that the Promised Land was filled with dangerous giants. Only two scouts had enough faith to believe that God would make a way for them--as God had done day in and day out for more than a year. We all face roadblocks in life. How can we build our faith so that we …

We continue our one-year journey through the Bible. This is the start of a 4-week sermon series called "Road Rules." We're looking at the rules of the road the Israelites learned as they moved through the wilderness in Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. Today's road rule is: Give God Your Best. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more informati…

Exodus 20:1-21 Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme. God gives us principles for living in community with each other and God. We make a mistake if we replace God with the rules or use the rules as excuse for indifference. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Exodus 14:13-31 Sometimes we want to stand still when God is actually telling us to keep moving. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Genesis 32:22-32 In this message, Rev. Beth Demme looks at the story of Jacob wrestling with God and becoming Israel and how it teaches us that even when life is hard, God's blessing is present. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Pastor Beth Demme begins our year-long journey through the Bible using The Bible Year by Magrey DeVega. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

They say it is better to give than to receive, but on Christmas we recognize ourselves as the ultimate recipients. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Advent 4 (RCL Year B) Why did God choose Mary? What if God chose Mary because she was Ordinary Mary? How does God work through ordinary people like us? What is God inviting us to birth this Advent? When God works through us, how does that show in our lives? Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

Advent 3 (RCL Year B) John the Baptist is also John the Witness. He testifies to who, and what, he knows. He is a voice in the wilderness. We also have a story to tell. We, too, can testify. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Advent 1 (RCL Year B) Advent is a reminder that we live in the already-but-not-yet. Jesus has come but the kingdom of God is not yet fully realized. How can we have HOPE in the meanwhile? Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

The conclusion of our DIsciples' Path series. United Methodists commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church with their . Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Week 6 of 7 in our Disciples' Path series. United Methodists commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church with their witness. God is still writing God's story of loving salvation in you and through you. You have a story to tell! Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.org…

Week 5 of 7 in our Disciples' Path series. United Methodists commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church with their service. God achieves God's purposes through ordinary people. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray

Week 4 of 7 in our Disciples Path series. Your gifts are important! United Methodists commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church with their gifts. Because everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God, we want to use the money God gives us for the mission God gives us. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more informati…

Week 3 of 7 in our Disciples' Path series. United Methodists commit to faithfully participate in the ministries of their church with their presence. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray

Week 2 of 7 in our Disciples' Path series. A disciples prays and spends time reading the Bible. This is our fuel for the journey and helps us stay on the right path, the disciples' path. Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.graymumc.orgGray Memorial United Methodist Church

Inspired by the book and workbook by Rev. James Harnish and Rev. Justin LaRosa, we look at what it means to be a disciple. What do we mean when we say our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? What does it mean to be a Wesleyan follower of Christ? Sermon by Rev. Beth Demme For more information, visit www.…