Dare we say that spring might be here? Sunshine, temps approaching (even surpassing) 70 degrees, all kinds of people outside working and walking, grilling and chilling. Then there’s all the garden talk: What are you planting? Is it time to fertilize? Do we need new mulch this year? People love their gardens! And why not? They are beautiful and bountiful — and maybe even provide a way to supplement the grocery shopping. 

Well, all that works out if you choose the right seeds to plant. And the ratio of sunlight and rain are just right. And the animals, wild and domestic, don’t eat them first. And if you don’t mind running into a snake every so often. Wait, why are gardens so popular again?? 

Our trek through the Garden of Eden continues this week in Genesis 3, with more shenanigans from the serpent, more excuse-making from the humans, and, it seems, a curse for anybody and everybody from God. Add to that a severely dire warning out of the mouth of Jesus in the gospel of Mark and the dizzying pivot to the promise from Romans 8 that we somehow also are completely victorious. It is all way more than enough to make us stop in our tracks and cry out, “What’s going on here?!” 

Perhaps these texts are trying to shock us into noticing something…but what? And why? How could these very old, very odd stories help us more faithfully live in the love of God today? 

Pastor Dave will struggle with those questions and more this Sunday, March 20th, in his sermon, “Curses Here, Curses There, Curses Everywhere!” 

All are welcome as we worship together Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in person and online via our Woodridge UMC YouTube channel.