May 1, 2016, The Rev. Doyt L. Conn, Jr., preaching
Feel the power of the living water in you. See it moving, moving out, beyond yourself, finding confluence with other rivers, merging into a mighty river and seeking the sea. The ocean after all accepts every river.
April 17, 2016 The Rev. Doyt L. Conn, Jr. preaching
April 3, 2016, Diana Bender preaching
Change usually causes some pain. Sometimes it’s straightforward loss when a beloved dies or a grand plan is completely dashed, or a more bittersweet transition like sending a beloved child to college. But, Peace be with you! The breath of God is with us in these times of pain. If we can be present to the pain and open ourselves to the comfort of Jesus’ peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit we can get to the next step on the path.
March 22, 2016, Jim McLean preaching
March 9, 2016, Tamara Lamb preaching
Each year, I ponder this ultimate love and sacrifice, and it touches me in deep and profound ways. I could not only see, but felt, the ripple effect surround me, like when a drop hits still water. In that moment I felt so connected, and so loved.
March 2, 2016, Diana Bender preaching
Whenever I start to think I know better, practicing the spiritual disciplines pulls me back, whether it’s praying Hour by Hour, worshipping every Sunday or going on pilgrimage. Together the spiritual disciplines reorient me to a deeper reality. They open me up to grace and to the action of the Holy Spirit in a way that is often powerful and helpful, and sometimes (like with the pilgrimage) even transformational.
February 28, 2016, The Rev. Doyt L. Conn, Jr. preaching
Jesus came to give us the kingdom of God, and in the kingdom of God, love and judgment are partners. As the Psalmist writes: “I will sing of your love and judgment, O Lord” (Psalm 101:1). In a world organized by squishy love without judgment people turn into spoiled brats. Love alone is not enough. God’s love is unlimited. Ours is limited. God’s judgment is equitable. Ours is mostly uninformed.
November 22, 2015, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching
Today’s gospel reading is out of context from what we have been hearing in recent weeks and from what we will be hearing as Advent begins next Sunday. It is from the end of John and is a conversation between Jesus and Pilate. The reason we are hearing this today is because this Sunday marks the Feast of Christ as King, even though the text clearly shows that Jesus is not any kind of earthly king.
November 18, 2015, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching about Hilda of Whitby.