The Seventh Sunday of Easter - May 17, 2026
The M3 (Monday Morning Mail)
You are on the Team!
Acts 1:12-26
One of you commented after the service on Sunday, “Pastor, I wasn’t sure where you were going with all that at the beginning of the sermon.” Part of the reason for this is that the real story of the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team is itself convoluted. I read the article three time to make sure I got it straight!
The sermon began with an amazing photo by Heinz Kluetmeier, snap-shotting Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal to win the gold medal against Canada on the exact same day 46-years later in 2026 that the United States beat then Soviet Union in 1980—February 22.
The next slide played the actual clip of Hughes making a defensive play, passing the puck forward, and then positioning himself to receive a pass from Zach Werenski for the game winning shot. Kenny Albert, the announcer, exclaims, “GOAL!” Euphoria!
The next slide showed the 1980 coach Herb Brooks and the first Jack Hughes, whom Coach Brooks made the last cut for the 1980 Olympic Team. Brooks was doing to the first Jack Hughes what happened to him in 1960, being the last cut for that hockey team.
The author of the Sports Illustrated article noted there was something redemptive in the second Jack Hughes scoring the goal, taking back the history that never existed for the first Jack Hughes.
I related this great U.S. Hockey story to our text by asking, “Which Jack Hughes are you? Are you the first Jack Hughes, cut from Team Jesus? Or, are you the second Jack Hughes from 2026, scoring the game winning goal to claim gold?”
Most of us are both, sometimes on Team Jesus and sometimes not. Our faith in Him ebbs and flows. To be sure Jesus only cuts those who do not want to be on the team—people who refuse to believe in Him. Jesus invites and includes everyone on His team. It is his team! Being on Team Jesus means that each of us gets the gold medal: each of us gets the glory of shooting the game-winning goal. That’s how his grace works!