Messages presented by Senior Pastor Carol Cavin-Dillon and other speakers during worship at West End UMC in Nashville, TN
Reading the feed…
Scripture Reflections – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with today’s reading from Timothy 4. Today is Children’s Sabbath, which has become an annual tradition at West End UMC. There are children who are the liturgists and deliver the commentary on the scripture (i.e., the sermon), and children’s choirs participate, and Bibles are given to three-year-olds and third graders. In their reflections on the Timothy passage Henry Anderson and Virginia McMillan both say that Paul is telling Timothy that just because he is young do
Lead Courageously – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with today’s reading from Colossians 1. The United Methodist Council of Bishops’ created a new vision statement in May of 2025 (appearing on today’s bulletin cover), and in three Sundays we have been exploring the three features of the United Methodist Church’s Vision Statement, today focusing on “Lead Courageously.” Carol begins by recalling memories of Davis Kidd Bookstore in Nashville where one could explore books for sale that were on shelves by topic, one of which w
Serve Joyfully – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from Philippians 2. Last week Carol reported on the United Methodist Council of Bishops’ creation of a new vision statement in May of 2025 (appearing on today’s bulletin cover), and in three Sundays we are exploring the three features of the United Methodist Church’s Vision Statement, today taking on “Serve Joyfully,” and the Rev. Will McLeane, our Pastor of Spiritual Formation, is preaching. He begins by telling about a recent family vacation with many young
Love Boldly – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from Ephesians 4. Carol reported on the United Methodist Council of Bishops’ creation of a new vision statement in May of 2025 (appearing on today’s bulletin cover), and in the next three Sundays we are going to explore the three features of the United Methodist Church’s Vision Statement. Jesus certainly exemplified “Love boldly,” and pretty much everything he said or did demonstrated that. Paul, too, loved boldly, as we saw in his words to the Galatians we read
The Fruit of the Spirit – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from Galatians 5. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about table gatherings. Carol first shares a story about her parents early in their relationship, highlighting what people did and did not do in those days to show that they were Christians. Those kinds of things have changed through the generations, but there are always boxes to check and rules to follow to
One to All the World – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 2 Corinthians 5. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about table gatherings. Carol recounts her week with her family reunion and camp meeting, where she baptized 15 kids. It’s an annual event that has taken place for 200 years. She said that among those hundreds of people there have been arguments and conflicts. Such disagreement and conflict can also happen
One in Ministry – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 13. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about this. The Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye, our Pastor of Mercy and Justice Ministries, is delivering the Communion Meditation today and she cited some writings and actions by Clara Ester, who was with Rev. Martin Luther King when he was assassinated. She also cites an action by a couple in our church who acted ou
One with Each Other – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 11. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about this. In this section of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he is quite critical of the gatherings of the believers in that they are not really treating each other equally, and here Paul is describing God’s economy to this diverse group. In the churches, all should be equal. Carol describes what may wel
One With Christ – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 12. Today is also Communion Sunday. Much of Paul’s letter has to do with gathering around the table, and we will be gathering around the table through this month in reflection of that. Today’s section of 1 Corinthians is the familiar description of the parts of the body and how important each one is. As we read this, we’re listening in on a conversation that is directed toward the new Christians in Corinth. Paul spent about 18 months pulli
A Life Shaped by Grace – This past week was our annual Vacation Bible School, and much of today’s service reflects that, including the Children’s Moment, led by Maggie Jarrell, our Minister with Children and Families. We continue our journey through the writings of Paul with a further look at his Letter to the Romans. Although this is the first of Paul’s letters in the Bible, it was the last one he wrote, and, perhaps it is first because it’s the longest. But it reflects the maturity of Paul’s ministry. The overarching theme is the grace of God, who loves us unconditionally, and in this chapte
Paul to Rome: Know Your Why – We continue our journey through the writings of Paul with a look at the first part of his Letter to Rome. Carol tells us about an experience of a family that always has a cup of spoons on the dinner table, but nobody in the family knew why that was, even though they had done so for several generations. Then she cites the book, Start with Why by Simon Stinek, in which the author says when we are about to start something, we need to state why we’re doing that, and Carol indicates that the first part of the Letter to the Romans underscores Paul’s “why,” and he gives
Radiance – This is communion Sunday. In recent weeks we have followed some of the stories of the early Christian movement through the Book of Acts, and today we begin a series of looking at the writings of that most famous apostle, Paul. We also read a translation of Psalm 34. Our guest minister is the Rev. Jeff Chu, a journalist, author, speaker, and preacher visiting from Michigan. Peace, glory, and pride are foremost in this section of Paul’s writing, and this is audacious, especially considering the people to whom Paul was writing, Christians who were undergoing Roman oppression. Jeff talk
Turning the World Upside-Down – Today we continue our readings in the Book of Acts with a story of Paul’s early ministry that will lead us to our summer look at Paul’s letters. It was said about the early Christians that “These people are turning the world upside-down!” Carol tells us a bit about the arrival of Paul and Silas in Philippi that was prior to our reading in Acts today, things they did that were turning that world upside-down and resulted in their being beaten and imprisoned. Carol thinks they might actually have wanted to go to prison to be with those who had also been imprisoned
Upon Each of Them – Today is Pentecost Sunday, so, appropriately, the scripture reading is the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, when, in a gathering of Jews from many nations on Pentecost, flames and a wind came, and the Holy Spirit filled them all, and they were heard by a variety of people in their own languages. Peter cited a prophecy from Joel to show that this was a predicted end-time for their salvation with the Spirit poured out by God on their souls. In Carol’s years of ministry at our church, she says there have been six different people who have come forward to say they’ve been
Conversion Continues – We continue reading in the Book of Acts as the early beginnings of Christianity begin spreading. The story we’re reading today is a long one, and we’re only reading part of it. As background, Simon Peter has been preaching, teaching, and healing. Our reading begins with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, praying to God. He is part of Rome’s occupying army, keeping the Jews in line. But an angel appears to Cornelius and tells him to send soldiers to Joppa to find Peter. Peter is having visions of his own, and at some point he answers a knock on his door and encounters soldiers
On the Outward Road – Today is communion Sunday, and our senior pastor, Carol Cavin-Dillon, expresses how our communion is an open invitation to everyone, not just to members of our church or our denomination, but to everyone. Today we start working with the book of Acts and its account of the effect of the invitation of Jesus to everyone, not just to Jews and people of Judah and Galilee, as belief and faith spread. Today’s scripture is a story in Acts 8 that concerns Philip, who is not one of the original disciples but who is a Greek speaking convert. In this story, Philip encounters an Ethio
Loving Jesus with Our Lives – Today is Confirmation Sunday, when youth who have been participating in the Confirmation Class are confirmed as members of the church. As we have been doing for a few weeks, we are following the Fourth Gospel, and our scripture passage for today is the story from John 21 wherein three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. The sermon today is given by the Rev. Maggie Jarrell, our Pastor of Children and Families. This encounter of Peter with Jesus wipes away the three denials of Peter in that earlier scene. This underscores the foundation of love as Jesus. Maggie
No Condemnation – As we have been doing for a few weeks, we are following the Fourth Gospel, and our scripture passage for today is the story of the encounter of Jesus with the scribes and Pharisees who have caught a woman in adultery. Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon is preaching, and reminds us that in John this is the second visit of Jesus to Jerusalem, and in his first trip he turned over the tables in the temple, so when he arrives this time, the religious leaders want to trap him, and to do so they bring a woman who had been caught in adultery and ask him about stoning her be
Divine Economy of Abundance – As we have been doing for a few weeks, we are following the Fourth Gospel, and our scripture passage for today is the story of the wedding feast where Mary prompts her son, Jesus, to change water into wine when the wine supply has run out. The Rev. Seulbin Lee, our pastoral intern, delivers the sermon today. She is a native of Korea and begins by sharing a memory from her childhood of the people who lived in the neighborhood of her grandmother. Their frequent greeting to people was, “Have you eaten your meal?” This method of checking in with people reflects a shar
Grace upon Grace – Today’s scripture is the first eighteen verses of the Fourth Gospel, familiar as, “In the beginning was the word, . . .” This week was the return to earth of Artemis 2 with the four astronauts who circled the moon, and our bulletin cover has an image of the earth taken from that flight. It is a cosmic perspective of humankind, much as the perspective of the first image in John wherein love was there in the beginning. From that universal perspective of love, the gospel zooms to humanity in the form of Jesus. Nobody has actually seen God except through Jesus, and the gospel re
Resurrection Re-membered – Today is Easter Sunday. Through Lent we have been reading the stories in the Gospel of Luke leading up to Holy Week and now Easter. In those stories we have noted a number of times when people, even those close to Jesus, had become discouraged and failed him, as, for example, Peter and Judas, but others as well. In her sermon Carol recounts a time when she was on a walk and some people coming toward her told her as she walked farther to look up and see an owl in a tree. She did and saw a beautiful owl and may not have seen it if she hadn’t been told. Today’s story fr
Jesus, the Love at the Heart of Everything – Today is Good Friday when we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and his hours on the cross. The Good Friday Meditation is given by the Rev. Will McLean, our Pastor of Spiritual Formation, and the scripture is the account of the crucifixion and hours on the cross as recorded in Luke 23. Will begins by noting how unsettling it is to be in this service with the story of the crucifixion, no flowers, no paraments on the table, altar or pulpit or lectern. He also points out that we as individuals have unsettling experiences. In addition, Jesus is suffering
Take a moment today on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week to ground yourself in scripture and prayer as we navigate the last week of Jesus' life here on earth to prepare for Easter Sunday.
Sobremesa – This is the Maundy Thursday service in remembrance of the Last Supper. The scripture is the account of that event in the Fourth Gospel where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples gathered for supper. The Communion Meditation is given by the Rev. Aimee Baxter, our Pastor of Young Adults. She explains that from her experiences traveling to Brazil and Guatemala, there is much to enjoy, including flowers, food, and people. But she focuses on “sobremesa,” which is a custom of people at meals lingering and bonding rather than simply eating, and that is a very calming experience. So in t
A Disappointing Response – Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent, and through these 40 days we move toward the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and Easter. The scripture from Luke for today is a scene where Jesus is brought before Pilate, then before Herod. In each case, Jesus does not really respond to their questions. Our Pastor of Spiritual Formation, the Rev. Will McLeane, delivers the sermon and gives examples of Biblical figures, such as Moses and Daniel, who stand up to authority, but here is Jesus who does not. Will also likens this non-responsive Jesus to the scenes and training of t
