Christians United Church

PASTOR JAMES A. AND KAY MCKINNEY

Soldiers' Memorial Chapel is the successor to all the Chapels of Fort Benjamin Harrison for the past 100 years as well as the only Soldiers' Memorial structure ever erected within Historic Fort Benjamin Harrison.

Here, Pastor McKinney has found his perfect niche. He served in the Marine Corps, World War II. He is an ordained minister in the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and has been an active pastor for over 50 years.

When the Fort closed, the members went many directions, but a faithful and hearty nucleus persevered. Pastor McKinney came on the scene in 1999 and joined forces with the people and today we have a dynamic and joyous fellowship.

We are multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-ethnic.

As a Marine and because of 9-11, Afghanistan and Iraq, Jim is committed to see that this Memorial Chapel become established as an everlasting place of comfort and solace.

Jim and Kay truly love this chapel, its mission and its wonderful people.

Sermon Notes For Sunday,

April 11, 2010

Second Sunday of Easter

"O, the Glory"

Gospel: John 20:19-31

It is the first day of the week. The doors are locked for fear of the enemy. Jesus has been crucified and they are incredulous. Their leaders, their hope, their dreams are shattered. Lives are in disarray and dismay. Suddenly Jesus showed up and said, "Peace be with you." No words have ever meant so much to anyone. So we use these words with a depth of meaning like none other.

"Peace be with you!"

Have you ever tried to express "peace" non-verbally? How do you do it?

"Peace -- Shalom"

To express his gift of Presence he showed them his hands and his side.

Then

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the living God. And Jesus said again

"Peace be with you!"

Then

"He breathed on them and said to them,

‘Receive the Holy Spirit!’"

How does one receive the Holy Spirit?

"He breathed on them."

Twenty years ago I walked into a new patient’s room at Methodist Hospital. My assignment was to visit each new patient in the hospital that day. I walked into the room and the most radiant, beautiful, black lady with a halo of white hair sat up in bed. She literally beamed at me and reached for me saying with such joy, "And you are the chaplain and you have come to pray with me." I joyfully responded, "Yes, I am the chaplain and I have come to pray with you."

All my years of study, training, devotion bore fruit that moment with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Two weeks ago I met with a couple to plan a marriage. The Holy Spirit fell upon us and God’s love filled our lives and our eyes were filled with tears. When you welcome the Holy Spirit, you become radiant and so very much alive.

"Al-le-lu-ia!"

Just now in this moment welcome the Holy Spirit to take up residence in your life. Rejoice, let him breathe upon you.

Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." "When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’" And then he said a wondrous thing. He said, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." So forgive! There is power in your forgiving.

It was a week later -- do you ever wonder what happened during that first week between these two experiences after the resurrection? Think about it and you tell me. So we continue: "A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was there. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’" -- these words of power again and again and again.

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand in my side. Do not doubt, but believe."

Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!"

That’s you -- that’s me!

"Now Jesus did many other signs (wonders, miracles) in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through believing you may have life in his name!"

Come, Holy Spirit!

Oh, the Glory of Your Presence

Oh the glory of Your presence

"We Your temple

Give You reverence

Come and rise for Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence

Now fills this place.

Come and rise from your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence

Now fills this place.

Oh the glory"

Sermon Notes for Sunday, April 25, 2010

"I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked"

(Elie Wiesel -- "Jerusalem")

"I walked today where Jesus walked,

in days of long ago.

I wandered down each path he knew,

with reverent step and slow.

Those little lanes they have not changed,

a sweet peace fills the air.

I walked today where Jesus walked,

and felt him close to me."

We're talking about the miracles and works of Jesus today and we begin with an excerpt from Acts 9. Tabitha was devoted to God and to his good works. She became ill and died. Because Peter was a man of great faith and was nearby, they called him and told him what had happened. He came, knelt beside her body and cried out, "Tabitha! Get up!" She opened her eyes and sat up and many believed. What does "belief" mean to us?

Jesus' works/ miracles were the teaching tool that God used to get the message of love across. Receive your miracle now!

John 10:22-30 is the key gospel scripture. Jesus is walking in the temple, and the Jews gathered around him and wanted him to witness as to whether or not he was the Messiah. Jesus plainly told them, "I have told you and you don't believe me. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me. You do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. They follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." Then he clearly said, "The Father and I are one."

His works, his miracles, were evidence as to who he was and is.

Let us look at the remarkable number of miracles evidenced in the four gospels.

A brief note on the Gospel miracles

1. Turned water into wine.

2. Exorcism in Capernaum

3. Caught large number of fish and converted fishermen to fishers of men.

4. Cured a leper

5. Healing the mother of Peter's wife

6. Drove seven demons out of Mary Magdalene.

7. Calming the storm.

8. Cured a paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda.

9. Raised the son of a widow at Nain.

10. Healed two blind men, a mute and every disease and ailment.

11. Fed 5,000.

12. Walked on water.

13. All who touched his garments were cured.

14. Healed large number of crippled, blind and mute.

15. Transfiguration.

16. Coin in the fish's mouth.

17. Raised Lazarus and the power of laughter.

18. Healed high priest's servant's ear.

The third scripture is Revelation 7:9-17. The scene is heaven. The angels sing in mighty chorus worshiping God, singing. Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and honor and power and might to our God forever and ever! Amen!

Bring your prayer requests that we might pray for God's miracle in each of our lives.

Amen, Amen