Sermons
January 5, 2019 (2nd Sunday of Christmas) + Overcoming the Darkness
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Reading: From the Gospel of John -- "What has come into being in [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
"So if we’re reading the Gospel of John as a book that tells us how to make it through when the world seems so dark and confusing, the first and greatest thing it teaches is: God is with us. We are not alone in the darkness and the confusion – and God will send us light."
December 29, 2019 (1st Sunday of Christmas) + The Hard Part of the Christmas Story
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: Toddler Jesus and his family flee to Egypt after they hear that King Herod is trying to kill him.
"The world was a rough place when Jesus was born. It still is. We need to build on the vision scripture gives us, proclaiming God’s love for the world – for everyone and everything in it."
December 22, 2019 (4th Sunday of Advent) + Real Bible Miracles?
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Reading: An angel visits Joseph in a dream and tells him that his fiancee is miraculously pregnant.
"Even when our lives are hard, even when we can’t see a way forward, even when the world seems broken beyond repair – we always have reason to hope."
December 8, 2019 (2nd Sunday of Advent) + God Transforms Us
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: John the Baptist calls people to repent.
"[John] looked forward to a new baptism which would be transformative, separating the chaff from the grain of the wheat. This new baptism would go right to the heart. It would strip away the chaff to get to the underlying kernel, transforming the self. Through this baptism, God would work through Jesus Christ to create humanity anew."
December 4, 2019 (Advent Midweek) + Do Less
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Readings: Jesus tells Martha to sit still at his feet like her sister, Mary; from the Psalms: "Be still, and know that I am God."
"God commands you to do less. How does hearing those words make you feel?"
December 1, 2019 (1st Sunday of Advent) + Good News: The World's Not Right
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Readings: Jesus tells his disciples about the end of the world as we know it; Paul encourages the Romans to "put on the armor of light."
"The apocalyptic words we heard from Jesus today are another way of saying the world’s not right – and God is coming to change things. That’s a message of compassion and hope we can offer to those who long for it. Even to ourselves."
November 24, 2019 (Christ the King) + But That's Not Fair!
Pastor Delmer Chilton (guest preacher)
Reading: While they're both hanging on crosses, Jesus tells a criminal "Today you will be with me in paradise."
"...in the face of the fierce love shown by Christ upon the cross, what's fair and unfair doesn't really matter anymore."
November 19, 2019 (24th Sunday after Pentecost) + For the Good of the Whole Community
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: Jesus tells his disciples about terrible things that are about to happen; Paul tells a group of early Christians to work hard for the good of the whole community.
"So in the midst of general hand wringing and despair about the state of present day affairs, the people of God do not lose heart; instead, we take heart. Whatever our challenges, as disciples of Jesus, we trust in the goodness of Christ and his ongoing love and care for us. That makes us free to give of ourselves, sharing our time, our talents, and our treasure."
November 10, 2019 (23th Sunday after Pentecost) + But What Happens in the Afterlife?
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: Jesus answers a question about how marriage works in the afterlife.
"The way things work in this life is not a blueprint for how things work in the life to come. Then, we will be children of the resurrection in all its fullness and joy. Jesus suggests it will be beyond our wildest dreams, and more wonderful than we can imagine."
November 3, 2019 (All Saints Sunday) + The Light in the Darkness
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Readings: Jesus proclaims surprising blessings and woes and challenges us to live differently; in Ephesians, we are reminded of God's power in our lives.
"It’s like Jesus is telling us that even in those times when we feel there is no goodness to be seen, no kindness to be felt, no peace to be had in this world, God is still there. Even then."
October 27, 2019 (Reformation Sunday) + The Truth will Set Us Free
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: Jesus teaches others that the truth he brings will set them free.
"So how do we square this doubt and confusion in our post-truth world with the simple clarity of Jesus’ words to his disciples today? 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
October 20, 2019 (19th Sunday after Pentecost) + Embodying Our Prayers
Pastor Karen Boda, Assistant to the Bishop (guest preacher)
Readings: Jacob wrestles with a mysterious man; Jesus tells a parable about a widow who won over a corrupt judge with her persistence.
"...our constant prayers are our participation in the coming kingdom of God. By praying continually, by wrestling, by demonstrating, we are trusting in God, not in ourselves. We are embodying the confidence that God has not abandoned this world. That God is with us."