Sermons are listed below with the most recent sermons first. See the Sermons menu above browse by date, books of the Bible, speaker, and more. Check back often for updates.
Irresistible Resistance
We read today of how Pharaoh represents the Kingdom/s of Men or Kingdom/s of the World with his hoarding, violent, oppressive, and extractive practices. Pastor Tom will lift up the women in the story who all engaged in different kinds of resistance against this oppression. The Church today is called to follow the example of these women as we seek to be the Beloved Community or Kin-dom of God. We are called to resist the Kingdoms of this world with…
We Never Stop Growing in our Faith
The story of Jacob wrestling with God is a classic initiation story. Jacob seperates, faces challenges, gains a new identity, and reintegrates. We go through initiations all the time including puberty, moving out, finding a partner, becoming a parent, and many more. Through it all God is with us and through it all our understanding of God and our faith can grow along with us. We are always invited into deeper understandings and a deeper relationship with God. -Pastor Tom’s…
Reading the Bible to Deepen Our Relationship with God
How can the Bible help us deepen our relationship with God? First, it is helpful to remember that the Word of God is theological concept much bigger than the Bible. We will also hear in this sermon what Presbyterian theology says the Bible is and what it is not. The answers may surprise you.
You Are “Wonderfully Made” by God
Min. Lea Gilmore explores what it really means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made”, as well as living encouraging us to live an authentic life.
Listen…Can You Hear It?
Guest preacher, Chaplain Annie Owens sermon from August 20, 2023 about the importance of silence and listening.
Carpe Diem in the Name of Jesus!
There are multiple divergent voices in the Bible that describe what will happen at the second coming of Jesus (aka the end of time, aka the Day of Lord). The voices diverge on the how, but they agree on the when. Or at least agree that we have no idea when and it will probably be unexpected. This teaching reminds us that life is impermanent and finite. Not only will we all die one day (and we don’t know when)…
Grieve with Hope by Knowing the Author of Our Story
There is no wrong way to grieve. We can prepare for times of grief by nurturing our relationship with the author of our story; the story of our life and of our common human existence. The second coming of Christ and the rapture are details in one understanding of the story but not critical to our faith. Nurturing a relationship with God as the author of life, can help us to grieve with hope and ease our suffering.
Embracing Joy and Living a Persistent Faith
Minister Lea Gilmore discusses I Thessalonians 3:6-13 as a call to live a persistent faith, embrace joy in living, and dedicate ourselves to doing good in the world. You (Yes, you!) are a beautiful child of God whose good works impact us all. Let’s receive it and believe it.
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around
The Apostle Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians will lose faith by being tempted to believe that we can be Christian without experiencing persecution. Pastor Tom makes the connection between our calling to always stand with the marginalized and our being destined to experience persecution with them. We will never by able to fix injustice. But, if we believe that some people will always seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others, we are called to stand with the…
AND
The Bible can be dangerous when passages are read plainly and/or taken out of context. We’ve seen that happen for millennia to support war, the subjugation of women, antisemitism, and today’s anti-trans efforts at state and federal levels. Listen to a bit of David’s own journey away from such pious bigotry to a more responsible way of dealing with scripture. -Rev. David Willerup’s sermon from June 25, 2023.
Live a Courageous Christianity
Minister Lea Gilmore speaks on being courageously Christian (not Christian nationalist) no matter where you find yourself. Hint: we should strive to choose love.
“Revealing Yourself as a Child of God”
Who are you as a lover of the world? How do you express that love most authentically? And how do you and the world conspire to obscure and shroud your expression of love. Pastor Tom invites us to see our lives as an episode of the hit TV show, “The Masked Singer” and think about how we can show our love for the world even from behind our masks. Our audience is all of creation. Paul says “All creation waits…