Sermons

"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

“You seem to be under the impression,” Thomas would say, “that the test of whether the good news is true is the absence of suffering. But the test is just the opposite. I have seen how Jesus’ wounds testify to his unwillingness to let you suffer alone." -Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 20:19-28 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLbjN79qpvg

God is in charge and God’s script promises love, forgiveness, healing, hope, liberation, transformation, and the possibility of a whole new creation out of the old. Hear, believe, and remember the good news! Christ is raised! -Resurrection of the Lord Sunday -2 Peter 1:3-8, 12-16; Luke 24:1-12 Link: https://www.youtube.com/@rogershull

Giving Up for Lent: Week 7 - Maundy Thursday We all have moments of feeling entitled because we are all human and all sinners. God understands this and by the grace of God forgives us for this. But God through Christ also calls us to a higher spiritual standard of living through the adoption of a lower social standing or less selfish way of living. John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJFdd0fwi9I

Giving Up for Lent: Week 6 - Palm Sunday The whole procession must have felt like a dream come true. God’s redemption and restoration of Israel was just around the corner. What was around the corner for Jesus, however, was not a coronation, but a cross. In only a few days, crowd of people would chant in unison once more, but instead of crying out “Hosanna!” the crowd cried out “Crucify him!” Psalm 118:1-9, 19-24, 26; Matthew 21:1-11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kb7