Bethel Ontario

Dreams and Storms - Sermon from August 9, 2020

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann for August 9, 2020.

This week , in our continued focus on compassion, connection and discipleship,  we take on the story of Jacob and his brothers - and consider Dreams and Dreamers - along with a slightly different take on the story of Peter walking on the water. Join us to check it all out!. Sermon "snippet": "...Dreamers sound naive at best and crazy at worst. Dreamers proclaim that the meek are blessed. Dreamers demand that the outcasts be welcomed. Dreamers beat plowshares into pruning hooks. The world is in need of dreamers. What are we willing to risk our lives in proclaiming the truth? What are we willing to risk to embrace the dreams of God?
Are we willing to encounter STORMS – as the disciples did? As Jesus did, walking across the water in this ever so frequently encountered Gospel story? As Peter did – are we willing to try, even fail, and reach out for help?"

Feeding the 5000 - Sermon August 2, 2020

Pastor Sylvia brings us the sermon for August 2, 2020 at Bethel Congregational Church UCC.

This week , our focus is on compassion and discipleship. Sermon "snippet": "...maybe Jesus was trying to get them (the disciples) to see that their resources - allied with the power of God - were more than they thought, more than enough. Maybe Jesus was trying to change the attitude that says, “We have nothing but five loaves and two fish.” We tend to look at what we don’t have rather than at what we do. We tend to feel overwhelmed by the problems we face rather than being willing to start with what might seem like inadequate resources and see what God can do with what we bring. “Send the crowds away” so that they can solve their own problems is a common response to the needs around us. Can we hear Jesus saying to us, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat."

Seeds and Treasure - Connections

This week , in our focus on connections - Pastor Sylvia helps us learn to connect the assurance we receive that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39); with the power of the Mustard Seed, and the Treasure of God's love (Matthew 13), and the blessings of God's promises (Psalm 119). 

God's Dream and Ladders - Sermon

Our sermon at Bethel Congregational Church UCC in Ontario California with Rev. Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann.

This week the theme is "God's Dreams and Ladders". It's part of our "Connections - Nothing Can Separate Us" series - a lesson from Jacob as he realizes that God was with him all the time - even when he didn't know it! And - at God's dream for us - and how the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares teaches us to look at how connected we all are through God, the Spirit and Each other - and at the seeds of faith, hope, and love that God plants within us - and which connect us all.

Set Your Mind - Nothing Can Separate Us

Sermon from July 12, 2020, part of our "Connections" Series at Bethel Congregational Church, UCC. Rev. Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, Pastor.

"Set Your Mind - Nothing Can Separate Us". We explore lessons and meaning in the Parable of the Sower, and in Romans 8. Learning how we are all experiencing the connections to God, Spirit, and each other. Even though we are in separate homes and places, we worship together, and are the living Body of Christ. The Church is NOT Closed! We are the Church deployed - doing God's Work in the World!

On Fire

Sermon for Bethel Ontario Online worship service for May 31, 2020 - Pentecost Sunday. visit www.betheluccontario.org to donate to Bethel.

Open Our Ears - Hear All the People

Sermon for Bethel Ontario Online worship for June 21, 2020. To donate to Bethel, visit www.betheluccontario.org

Open Our Eyes - See All The People

Sermon from Bethel Ontario Online worship service for June 14, 2020.

What Does God Require of Us?

Scripture Readings and Sermon from Bethel Ontario's online worship for June 7, 2020.

Oh, Freedom

This is the sermon from Bethel's online worship service for July 5, 2020. The theme is "Oh, Freedom".

On Sunday, July 5, we re-committed ourselves to living the lives of freedom given to us by God, and to understanding and living the interdependence of community and discipleship. Sermon primary Scripture focus is Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30  and Galatians 5.