Harrowing Of Hell

Category: Spiritual Formation

The First Evangelist

Sermon | March 23, 2014

March 23, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

She runs to the village, calling: “come and see!” Come and see Jesus – not a temple in Jerusalem, not doctrines of Judaism, not a cult, a practice or a mountaintop – but a person, Jesus, from whom the living water flows. She does this by telling her story: that Jesus knew her as she really was, and loved her anyway, and gave her living water to drink. Come and see. Come and see.

Endings: what will we do with our fear?

Sermon | July 7, 2013

July 7, 2013, Diana Bender preaching

Today, we just heard the end of the book of Matthew. Within 3 weeks, I studied carefully the end of Luke, the end of John, the end of Matthew. At the same time, I experienced the end of my job and a major life work, and the end of a big phase of my parenting career. I think God is trying to get my attention. Something about endings maybe?

A Paralyzed Man

Sermon | May 7, 2013

May 5, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching

Today, there are 22 pilgrims from Epiphany celebrating orthodox Easter in the city of Jerusalem. They are gathered in that most holy place with millions of others marking the day of Jesus’ resurrection in the very place where it all happened so many years ago.

Our Beloved Rabbi Holds the String of Our Faith

Sermon | January 13, 2013

January 13, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

And the voice of the Lord breaks forth from the heaven and comes down in the form of a dove and lands on Jesus in the river Jordan. And these words are heard from the voice of God, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” As the voice of the Lord alights on Jesus as he comes up out of the water and enters into prayer, it makes me wonder about the baptism of our Lord, how he got there and what it means to us.

Stewardship Witness

Sermon | December 9, 2012

December 9, 2012, Davis Walker preaching

It’s that I can relate to the shock those poor fellas must have felt when pledge cards showed up to ruin their dinner. Because who wants to think about pledging? To be perfectly honest, pledging has never really made sense to me. Now I don’t mean that I believe that giving to the church is a bad idea – that would make me an odd choice to be up here today. I mean that every year I struggle to create a mental framework that lets me come up with a pledge that I believe to be thoughtful and appropriate.