For the second Sunday after Epiphany, Rev. Cari preached on the story of the call of Samuel. In fact, she read the part of the story at 1 Samuel 3:1-10, and then carried the story on a little further in the sermon.

The story is set in a time (says the narrator) when prophecy was rare, and when the voice of God was not often heard. So Rev. Cari’s first turn is to notice how we are living in that kind of time as well. This sermon series is full of congregational participation, so you’ll hear some spontaneous moments when members of the congregation are “adding” to Rev. Cari’s script.

Suffice it to say, the moments between the young Samuel, and the elder Eli (whose era is ending, but who offers gracious and essential wisdom and coaching to Samuel) comprise the “meat” of the sermon as we reflect on the “receive” part of God’s call to Crossroads now.