Sermons from October 2026
“To Put the Protest Back in Protestantism”
“To Put the Protest Back in Protestantism” is inspired from church historian Diana Butler Bass’s provocative essay on the radical origins of the Reformation where she reminds us that Martin Luther and the early reformers were not necessarily polite; they were protesters who stood up against religious conventions in thrall to power, challenging systems of oppression and economic cruelty to embody God’s tangible bounty for all. Grounded in Matthew 22:34–46, our worship wrestles with the Great Commandment: to love God…
Honest Doubt, Real Faith
When questions arise, faith does not have to disappear. Faith doesn’t require us to have every answer. Join Minister Lea Gilmore for “Honest Doubt, Real Faith.” This message explores how God meets us in our uncertainty and invites us to bring God our honest struggles, just as the father prayed in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”
Not the Way Things Have to Be
Many of us grew up with the sentiment, “Well, that’s just the way things are.” Without realizing it, that phrase trained our unconscious minds to numb out, accept cruelty and injustice as normal, and stay silent. It forced us into hiding and fractured our sense of self. In the end, it resigned our society to the fatalistic lie that nothing can ever truly change. Through the parable in Matthew 22:1-14, Rev. Dries Coetzee invites us to pause, breathe together, and…
Bearing Abundant Fruit
Rev. Dries Coetzee discusses themes of integrity, sacrifice, courage, and community as essential elements for spiritual growth and social justice within the church and the wider global context. He reflects on how historical injustices, especially rooted in colonialism, slavery, and white supremacy, intersect with current American social and political realities and highlights the importance of acknowledging marginalized communities and living out authentic faith that combines worship with everyday ethics.