Harrowing Of Hell

Ash Wednesday Sermon

March 5, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

Has it ever happened that someone has had the wrong impression about you? Have you ever been misinterpreted, misunderstood or seen by someone as a person you believe yourself not to be? The prophet Joel whom we hear today portrays a people who feel misunderstood.

Words and the Transfiguration

March 2, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

How do I know when God is speaking to me? How do I know when I am hearing the voice of God? I bring it up, because I am asked that question a lot. I also bring it up because we hear God speak in the Gospel this morning. “This is my son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Light Behind the Light

February 9, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

It doesn’t matter who you are standing next to, the backlight is the backlight is the backlight. And here is the take away: when we focus on the backlight as the thing itself judgment falls away and joy wins the day. It’s worth pondering if you feel like you have more judgment in your life than joy.

How Can I Help You?

December 22, 2013, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

Jesus does this in two ways, by teaching us to ask the question “What can I do for you?” and by answering this question for us when we are stuck. Jesus teaches and Jesus saves, and this and this alone, allows us to live large. Here is a quick review of Jesus’s interactions in scripture. What is revealed to us is that over and over again he asks: “What can I do for you?” It is the question he asks the 10 Lepers, and Mary and Martha. It is the question he asks the father of the epileptic, and the blind man, and the bleeding woman, and the crippled man by the pool of Bethsaida. “What can I do for you?” It is a particular, unique question, asked to particular unique persons.

God Creates Humanity

October 6, 2013, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

This morning, we got to hear the second version of the creation story from Genesis. Over the past two weeks, we heard the first version, “In the beginning, God created…and it was good — on the second day, God created….and it was good.” These two accounts come from different sources and different times, but for some reason, they ended up side by side in this narrative.

Faith – “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.

August 11, 2013, Ben Linder preaching

Faith is an interesting word. According to the reading in Hebrews today, it is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”. I immediately thought of Indiana Jones taking a deep breath and stepping out into nothingness in his search for the Holy Grail. And for a lot of folks, faith can be just that scary. When I was a child I had faith that my parents would provide me food, shelter, clothing, and love. Later in life, I had faith in my friends to be loyal and honest with me, and for the most part, I was not let down.

Reconciled with God

March 10, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

The Prodigal son is a story about balance and the deep desire to have balance in one’s life. I know what that feels like. Sometimes things seem a little out of balance. I don’t sleep enough, or eat right, or play enough with the dog. All of which may be true, but none of which Paul is taking about when he talks about reconciliation with God.

Getting Out of the Pit

February 10, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

And here is the revelation. It is what Paul is so excited about; it is what he now knows for certain– that we can never fall out of relationship with Christ. It is a lesson that he and we may have to learn over and over again throughout life. It is true, we never fall out with Christ.