Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

preached on September 28, by Winton Boyd

Exodus 20:1-17

In my own Christian Education the 10 Commandments stand out for a couple of strange reasons.
As 6th graders in Sunday School, we received a plaque of the 10 Commandments when we memorized them. What I remember most, however, is that in the King James Version of the Bible we used, the last commandment allowed us to say the word “ass.” I had no idea what it meant to “covet” something, but knew I wasn’t to covet my neighbor’s ass. In a home where swearing wasn’t allowed, it was amazing to “swear” in Sunday School.

The second thing I remember is attending a Lutheran seminary and having a discussion about the 10 commandments and realizing I was confused. They weren’t the same commandments. Continue Reading »

Preached by Winton Boyd on September 14, 2008

We continue today on the journey through the “essential” biblical stories. We start with two psalms from what could be called the Bible’s book of prayer – the Psalms. Douglas John Hall begins his book Why Christian? with these words, “This is a book for people on the edges – the edges of faith, edges of the Judeo Christian tradition, in some cases the edges of the church.” I think the same could be said for the book of Psalms – an ancient book of prayers for people on the edge of faith, at their wits end, overwhelmed with both the joy and sorrow of life. Continue Reading »

Preached on September 7, 2008 by Winton Boyd

Psalm 119: 97-105

97 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long….I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your teachings I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Take home sermon response form – What is the Bible?

My parents’ bedroom in the house I grew up in was at the end of an L shaped hallway that began right off the backdoor (and thus the most used door) of the house. That hallway became, over time, the “picture hallway” – containing pictures of our constantly growing and evolving family – including all eight of our baby and graduation pictures, pictures of deceased grandparents in front of historic houses, exchange students, and various family vacations and award ceremonies. Continue Reading »

September 7 – February 22:   The Essentials – Packing our Biblical Backpack

Every hiker knows you don’t go out into the wilderness, even for a day, without the “essentials” – map, compass, first-aid kit, fire-starter, etc. In the same way, we can ask, “What are the essential biblical stories or passages that today’s Christian travelers need to know, or carry in their “biblical backpack?” Through the course of the fall and winter, we will look at 18 passages that cover the basic biblical story line of the Christian faith. These are stories we should know by heart– not by rote, but by heart. While we probably won’t memorize these stories, it is possible for us to know them so well that we carry them with us through the day or week of our lives. Continue Reading »

The Welcome and Homily offered  by Winton Boyd at the funeral of Daniel Myers on Monday, September 1.

WELCOME
Not a single person here could have anticipated nor expected this service so soon in Daniel’s life. It is not a service any of us would have chosen. Nothing shakes our universe as much as the death of a young person, the death of one’s child. Nothing prepares those of you who are teenagers or twenty somethings for this reality. Nothing about this seems right or fair. Continue Reading »