Lay Speaking

The Methodist church was largely started in the United States, not by clergy, but by laypersons who spoke and led and visited and taught in their local areas. We believe in this ministry of the laity and are developing our leadership of Lay Speaking. Our Lay Speakers will preach and lead regularly in the service and will be guided and taught by the congregation, its pastor, and the Annual Conference of the United Methodist church.

Sermons

God's Word comes alive in us by regular and worshipful reflection. At Morgan Hill United Methodist Church we believe that this is a process. One learns over the course of a lifetime to hear God's word spoken in community. One also learns by participation. The sermons at the church often include and always encourage participation by everyone present. The word does not just come alive in speaking, but in hearing and doing.

We understand that many people in our congregation are relatively untaught Christians. We come with a tremendous need for spiritual growth but also not knowing the basic information of the Faith and of the Bible. Therefore, teaching, as well as inspiration, is a high priority in the preaching ministry of the church. We try to make everything easy to understand and accessible to those who do not know the language or images of the Christian faith.

The first priority in the preaching ministry is Story. We are constantly telling and retelling the stories in the Bible, first to learn them, and second to see their relevance to our spiritual growth.

Articles

Articles are excerpted from the Good News Letter of the Morgan Hill United Methodist Church.

Personal Challenges & Growth

• Transformation and the 12 Steps
• Maturing And A Life Curriculum
• Spiritual Growth & the Enneagram
• Listening
• Aging
• War and Rumors of War
• Peace
• Change
• Conflict
• Death
• Letting Go

Church Community

• Why go to Church?
• A Welcoming Community
• A Church's DNA
• Our History and Future

Christmas and Advent

• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a Retelling of the Poem and the Story of Jesus' Birth new!
• Advent Meditations
• Listening
• How Do We Do Christmas?

Favorite Sermons from Ted

There Was An Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly

A modern parable, based on children's songs and the wisdom hidden in this marvelous parable. (9/6/98)

King David

A series of Biblical stories from 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.  See also the Online Study of David. (summer 1997)