Sermons
March 22, 2020 (4th Sunday in Lent) + Living as Light While Living in Quarantine
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Click here to watch the worship service. Click here to read the sermon.
Readings: Paul reminds us that we are children of the light; Jesus heals a blind man.
"Our call and gift as followers of Jesus is to live as children of the light -- even in these times, when we're having to stay inside, when we are getting bored and restless, when we're anxious about what's coming next, when we are trying to make sense of it all. So what does that look like in these days?"
March 15, 2020 (3rd Sunday in Lent) + Pastor H. Julian Gordy
Reading: Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well; he asks her for a drink, and then he offers her living water.
"In God’s reign, Jesus taught us, everyone is invited to share the water that gives life - male and female, good and bad, the respected and the rejected."
March 8, 2020 (2nd Sunday in Lent) + Where is God in the Storm?
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Reading: Jesus tells a pharisee that he must be reborn in the Spirit and tells him of God's love for the world.
"This is what it means to trust God: to have our eyes open to see God’s compassionate power of healing and resurrection even amid chaos and suffering."
March 1, 2020 (1st Sunday in Lent) + Living as Children of God
Pastor H. Julian Gordy
Reading: Jesus is tempted by the devil.
"Our human household has become unruly and unpleasant to live in because, fact is, we are not capable of being God. But we keep on trying to be in charge rather than being content to be the much loved creation of God that we are, living as God has taught us to live."
February 26, 2020 (Ash Wednesday) + Remember, Remember, Keep God at the Center
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Reading: Jesus teaches us to pray and do good works for God, not for an audience.
"Jesus tells us to hit our own reset buttons: to take stock of the ways we give in to more self-centered motivations, and then to try to re-center ourselves on God."
February 23, 2020 (The Transfiguration of Our Lord) + What Attracted People to Jesus?
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Reading: Jesus takes three of his disciples up onto a mountain, and suddenly his appearance becomes glorious.
"It wasn’t the glamour or the glory or even the promise of an afterlife [that attracted people to Jesus]. It was the real love in action right there, breaking into the struggles and heartaches that consumed their lives. That the what the Transfiguration was meant to really show us: Love incarnate walked the earth in Jesus Christ."
February 16, 2020 (6th Sunday after Epiphany) + Loving God in How We Love Each Other
Pastor Michael Lippard
Readings: St. Paul reminds a congregation that they are dedicated to Jesus, not Paul or other leaders; Jesus teaches about murder, anger, lust, and divorce.
"Living the life of faith is not about keeping ourselves pure, as if we ever could do that. Our faith is about living in a vital relationship with God and with one another. It is about forgiving each other, hearing that others forgive us, and having confidence in the forgiveness of God."
February 9, 2020 (5th Sunday after Epiphany) + Real Worship Changes Our Lives
Pastor Katherine Museus Dabay
Readings: Isaiah calls out the Israelites for hypocritical worship; Jesus tell his followers they are the salt of the earth.
"Today’s readings aren’t threats so much as they are stating the obvious: Salt is salty. If you want to be in relationship with God, then be in relationship with God. If you want to follow Jesus, then follow Jesus. If you’re worshiping God, then worship God. Put your money where your mouth is. Put your heart where you say it is."
February 2, 2020 (Presentation of Our Lord) + How is this day like Groundhog's Day?
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: Mary and Joseph bring baby Jesus to the Temple.
"Like the groundhog on a sunny day seeing its shadow and returning underground to let go of its old soul, we need to return again and again to the shadow of the cross. That's where we go underground, so to speak, to confront our own shadow. That's where we continue to be transformed in the image of Christ – beneath the cross of Jesus."
January 19, 2020 (2nd Sunday after Epiphany) + What are You Looking for?
Pastor Michael Lippard
Reading: A few people start to see that Jesus is the messiah.
"Isn't it fascinating that this question, “What are you looking for?” is the first sentence uttered by Jesus in John's Gospel? It's a question he asks not only Andrew and his friend, but also each of us here today. So how would you answer it: what are you looking for?"
January 5, 2020 (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."