“Moving Moments – It’s Time to Make a Move!”: video and audio sermons, and sermon series guides, for this series from Trinity Methodist Church, Linden

‘Moving Moments – It’s Time To Make A Move!’

Lent and Easter Sermon Series: 5 March to 20 April 2025

Sometimes we may not realize that we are stuck. We are defined by our current circumstances and our responses to them. We may ask ourselves, “Do I really want to be where I am now forever? Must I always be defined by my present state, or is there room for growth?” This Lent, we invite you to reflect deeply on these questions: Am I growing? Am I determined to grow? Am I satisfied with the status quo? In answering these, we embark on a journey of making a move—a journey that challenges us to step beyond our comfort zones and cross boundaries we may have never dared to cross before, especially the boundaries between one another.

This year, our congregation embraces a journey of integration, celebrating and appreciating the differences in our diverse community. We are One Heart with Many Voices. Are you ready to join us? Let this Lent be the time when you intentionally choose to move—when you let go of being defined solely by where you are now and instead, open yourself to new directions and possibilities.

Part of what drew me to this theme is noticing that the readings for Lent offer a rich tapestry of movement and transformation. On the first Sunday, we encounter Jesus in the wilderness, led by the Spirit into uncharted territory—a profound example of stepping into the unknown. In the second week, Jesus declares in Luke 13:33, “Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way,” a call that reminds us of the importance of continually moving forward, embracing the present, and looking to the future. The third week challenges us with the command to “repent”—a call to make that crucial move of turning away from what holds us back, much like a tree urged to bear fruit in due season. The narrative of the prodigal son on the fourth Sunday illustrates the complexities of movement—sometimes erring in the wrong direction, yet always leaving room for return and renewal. On the fifth Sunday, we witness the tender moment when Mary of Bethany moves to Jesus, an act of devotion and humility as she anoints him and kneels at his feet. Finally, on Palm Sunday, we follow Jesus as he goes ahead to Jerusalem, a deliberate move toward the culmination of his self-sacrificial love.

We then enter into the intense culmination of Holy Week where on Monday, Mary’s lavish anointing of Jesus’ feet becomes a farewell mingled with the hope of resurrection. On Tuesday, Jesus challenges us with the image of a grain of wheat that must fall and die to bear abundant fruit. Wednesday reminds us of the pressures that tempt us to stray from faithfulness. On Thursday, Jesus’ humble act of service inspires us to embrace communal love and selfless care. Friday’s journey toward the cross becomes a profound catalyst for rebirth, while Saturday’s stillness in the tomb beckons us to trust in the hidden seed of new life. Finally, Easter proclaims an unextinguished flame of hope, compelling us to step boldly into a mission of transformative, inclusive love.

Each of these moments is an invitation for us to examine our own lives and the ways we move—whether we remain static or dare to embrace change. As you journey through Lent with us, may you find inspiration in these moving moments and choose to make a move that transforms both your inner life and the life of our community.

We will also explore some of our Methodist heritage and the unique perspective this gives to ‘social holiness’ and ‘Christian perfection’.