Harrowing Of Hell

Category: God’s Nature & Mercy

The Great Vigil

Sermon | April 19, 2014

April 19, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

Prayers, fire, thanksgiving, stories, birth, water, a small meal, death, they all come together on this most holy night and are given meaning by the Resurrection. It is the next step in the process, in the evolution. Resurrection is the new thing. It is not resuscitation; it is transformation into an eternal form. The Great Vigil of Easter gathers up all that is old; all that is foundational and fundamental and rolls it together and marks it as God’s own forever. Tonight we celebrate the new fire, the new light, the new insight that Jesus gives us. We are drawn into Resurrection. It makes everything else make sense.

Good Friday 2014

Sermon | April 18, 2014

April 18, 2014, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

When we chase away the darkness, we miss out on opportunities to experience God and God’s creation in a myriad of ways. Our streetlights rob us of seeing the stars. Our screens keep us from engaging one another. Our constant stream of lights trailing before and behind us, inhibit us from even noticing God in the dark places of our lives. Tonight is a night for darkness. In these hours between now and Easter, I invite you to step into the darkness. Let it surround and envelop you. And while you are there, pray; listen and pray.

Maundy Thursday 2014

Sermon | April 17, 2014

April 17, 2014, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

How do you know a Christian when you see one? When you meet someone at your child’s school, at a new job, or in your book group, how do they know you are a Christian before you even tell them? Upon meeting someone new in Seattle, you probably don’t lead with a testimonial or invite them to church….that comes later, if at all. It is likely that you don’t even reveal that you are a church goer until you know them quite well. So, how do they know?

Audience of One

Sermon | March 9, 2014

March 9, 2014, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

From now until Easter, we are invited into the holy season of Lent. That means turning inward and intentionally working on being the person God wants you to be.

Trusting the Facts of God

Sermon | December 15, 2013

December 15, 2013, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

I invite you to consider the facts of God: that God loves you; that God forgives you; that God empowers you; and that God will never leave you. Meditate upon these things. Consider what life might be like if they were true. Trust in God. What other choice do we have if we really want to live large?

It is Finished

Sermon | March 29, 2013

March 29, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching

It is finished. He is dead. Any way you look at it; Jesus has gone forth to another space. You can check to see if he’s still breathing, feel for a pulse, see if the warmth has gone out of his body, or even stick a spear in his side. He is dead. The struggle is over, and the last words he said were, “It is finished.”

Claim Your Life

Sermon | January 6, 2013

January 6, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

We had a “name it and claim it” Christmas this year. I wanted a watch. I named it and low in behold, Christmas morning I claimed it. Kristin wanted a stethoscope. She named it and claimed it Christmas day. Margaret wanted an iPhone. She was more careful and circumspect, but she named it and claimed it. And Desmond was less circumspect. He wanted an iTouch, and he named it, and he named it again. And you guessed it, he claimed it Christmas morning.