Sermons

Psalm 5; Romans 12:14-21 "For us, justice is retributive, making people pay for their wrongs. If you commit the crime then you must do the time. But God’s idea of justice is restorative or redemptive. The goal is to make broken people whole. So, God works with grace to heal and transform both the evil doer and the victim." Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0YaBf3o6Vc

Judges 6:11-16, 25-27, 36-40; Mark 9:14-24 "There is no more faithful prayer than 'I believe, help my unbelief,' because whenever we reach out to God in this way, we are affirming both our trust in and our need for the Holy Spirit." Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkv6nrPWHHI

1 John 2:18-27; Rev. 13:1-10 "There are also still people who deliberately deceive and blaspheme using the name of God to justify their behavior. Therefore, it is essential that we do the work necessary to know who the real Jesus was and is, and what he values, so that we are not deceived." Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mvIrJi_CY

"God in three persons exists in relationship for mutual love and purpose. We are called to do the same, doing that dance of relationship and community to further God’s intentions for the world." Trinity Sunday Psalm 8; Matthew 28:16-20 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzS5LWIvSE4

"Pentecost’s celebration of diversity over uniformity shaped the early Church. Instead of insisting that only some people could lead in the Church, Paul celebrated the equality of male, female, Gentile, Jew, slave and free. Instead of insisting only some people were qualified to hear the good news, Paul proclaimed himself a polyglot for Christ." Pentecost Sunday Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O6co78FIe4

"To share meaningful, healing encouragement, to stand with someone as the Paraclete does with us, we must speak with kindness, forgiveness, tenderheartedness, and compassion, keeping in mind that Jesus died for everyone because God loves all of humanity." John 14:15-21, 25-27; Ephesians 4:29-32 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zvYjDTTzK0

God does not take sides on matters of sex or gender because there are no sides for God. We are all children of our divine parent, and all gifted equally by God for service. If we take sides on matters of sex and gender, therefore, regardless of what was or was not allowed by human institutions throughout history, we are not being faithful to God. Genesis 1:26-27; Acts 1:12-26 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOzzoNsnccQ

Jesus was saying. “You know my way, Thomas. Be loving. Work for justice. Pray. Serve. Work for reconciliation and peace.” Acts 19:1-10; John 14:1-7 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjw8udPNOjQ

But the truth is that apart from people and God, trees are the most frequently mentioned living thing in the Bible, so they are, and have always been, unequivocally part of the story of God’s relationship with humankind as well as part of our world. -Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 20:19-28 -Earth Day Sunday Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6CWs182pc

If Easter is etched into your heart, it is hard to watch millions suffer so that others can prosper, and hard to watch humanity abusing Creation. If your heart is full of the risen Christ, if the open tomb has opened your eyes to see the world as it really is, then it is all but impossible not to feel like an alien in a strange land. -Jeremiah 29: 4-7: 1 Peter 1: 17-23 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIX4SklIT48