Preaching from any of the minor prophets can feel depressing to the speaker and the congregation. Why do it? Because prophets bring a clearly spoken word of the Lord and the word they bring, can resonate with our own situation and time. For the next two months, our congregation will look closely at Hosea.

Human nature being what it is, we can fall prey to the same type of sins: cursing, lying, murdering, adultery, and idolatry that Hosea spoke about to the northern kingdom in Israel, just before it was over run by the regional super-power, Assyria.

The title for the series, "As well as" refers to our tendency to make compromises. As we worship God, as well as, our nation or favorite sports team. As we seek to be as well off as our neighbor. As we create alliances and treaties with one nation as well as the next, one business or another, we begin to enter an arena of conflicting loyalties and goals that demand compromises to accommodate all of the persons or views in the room.

Hosea's word to the people was enacted through language of prostitution...selling oneself to available buyers. The prostitute must take one as well as another. In the end, hope is offered to the people that God will redeem and restore, but there is a penalty for their idolatry. There is a penalty for breaking the covenant. The metaphors and imagery are both brutal and comical as God speaks through the prophet in an effort to call out a faithful response. Forgetting what true faithfulness looks like, brings devastation upon the people. Even creation is affected by our failure to live according to God's instructions.

We keep a current bulletin at this location. Click one of the two links to read the latest pdf editions of our church bulletin.

We now post our service recordings. You can access our growing library through the player below. You will hear the beginning hymns, readings, a sermon and closing. Click this link to give it a try. There are options for listening right away, volume adjustments or downloading to your computer for later use.

We welcome all persons to attend our worship services. Scottdale Mennonite is a vibrant mix of people from various traditions and places. Visitors enjoy our friendliness, good singing, and meaningful worship services. We believe that Jesus taught believers what it means to live as God's people and we believe that the Holy Spirit is God's messenger, actively at work in the world today. We believe that Christ taught us to love one another, even those whom we might think of as enemies. This belief shapes our response to our neighbors and to one another in our church and community.

Pastor: Conrad Mast

Phone: 724-887-7470, 801 Market St. Scottdale, Pa 15683