Sermons To view the most up-to-date sermons, view our YouTube channel in the videos section. Check out our livestream on YouTube every Sunday at 10:30am. Filter by Year 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Filter by Preacher All Preachers 25 28 29 David Reed Guest Min. Brian Muir Rev. Alice Horner Nelson (she/her) Rev. Anne Jernberg Scalfaro (she/her) Rev. Brenda J. R. Goodman Rev. Daniel SchweissingDaniel Rev. Doug Avilesbernal Rev. Dr. Ben Sanders Rev. Ian Cummins Rev. Morgan C. Fletcher The Good News Is...Inspiring Us to Act Mar 29, Palm Sunday In this Palm Sunday sermon, Pastor Alice reminds us that Jesus' parade into Jerusalem with crowds shouting Hosanna (meaning save us) was a protest. She encourages listeners to examine their attitudes towards protest. Why is protest important- and why was it important to the Christ we follow? The Good News Is...Rooted in Justice, Mercy, and Faith Mar 22, Fifth Sunday of Lent In this sermon, Pastor Ian points out lies of silent assertion - within this scripture, within U.S. history - that exist in society to uphold injustice or immoral behavior. It reminds us that following Jesus means examining our own hypocrisy honestly, and being brave enough to raise our voice against society's hypocrisy. We should always be cautious when a lie of silent assertion benefits us - who are we harming? Are we hiding behind sins that are disguised as virtue? The Good News is…Protection and Care for the Vulnerable Mar 15, Fourth Sunday of Lent "Today’s verses are just 9 of the 2,000+ verses in scripture that speak to caring and protecting the vulnerable, particularly the poor and under-served, under resourced. Themes of poverty and justice are deeply woven into Biblical teachings and into the life and ministry of Jesus. Consistently and repeatedly, across the Old and New Testaments, our faith calls for compassion, for fairness, and for a collective responsibility to care for the vulnerable and oppressed. Not to have pity on them saying “that’s too bad.” Not to shun or judge them and say, “if they would only work harder.” Not to ignore them or pretend we don’t see them because if we don’t see them that means they don’t exist. Not to lament them in prayer, asking God to meet their needs. Not any of those passive things. Our faith calls us to act: to care and protect the Vulnerable." The Good News Is...Together the Impossible is Possible Mar 8, Third Sunday of Lent Community often plays a role in keeping God's dream alive. Pastor Anne offers a formula of sorts for dreaming about the impossible: we take stock, we bless, we break, we give. We have to understand that we are all givers and we are all receivers. We are here because God has something to show us, through us. The Good News Is...Great Love for God and Neighbor Mar 1, Second Sunday of Lent This sermon reminds us of the power of our thoughts - how it can shape quietly our perspectives about other people and ourselves. And when our minds are full of judgment and criticism, there is no room for God. The Good News Is So Good...It Catches Us By Surprise Feb 22, First Sunday of Lent Following up on the Good News that we heard on Ash Wednesday that All are Invited, this week we turn to two familiar texts: Jesus turning water to wine during the Wedding at Cana (John 2) and the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13). John’s Gospel doesn’t begin with a temptation story but instead opens Jesus’ ministry with a wedding miracle. It may feel a bit lavish to start the season of Lent with a wedding banquet, but the good news begins with joy. This week we focus on the subversive and playful nature of the good news. The kin-dom of heaven is so good it should catch us by surprise! Like a mustard seed, the good news can grow from the smallest seed into the tallest tree. Like an unruly weed, or fine wine saved for last, the good news is abundant and cannot be contained. As we sink into Jesus’ teachings throughout the season, we may not always be comfortable, but we can trust that these teachings are good, rooted in love, and worthy of celebration. Savoring Self-Control: The Fruit that Frees Us to Find God Feb 15, Sixth Sunday After Epiphany This sermon examines the theological foundations of Self-Control. Self-control begins with a mindset that orients us to our truest identity which is connected to the very nature of God and mind of Christ. This framework is cyclical, not linear—providing many (and oft-repeated) entry points for us on our journey of growth and transformation. The sermon includes key reminders about the nature of God, encouragement and confidence from our life experience, a “challenge" to work towards, and concrete steps on how to tackle that challenge. The journey even includes a reward—God’s in-dwelling peace—which brings us right back to the theological truth that the texts begin with that God is God and we are not! Whew! Self-control does take intention and initiative, discipline and devotion...but not for the sake of proving anything…but rather for the sake of savoring the gift of life itself. Check YourSELF Feb 8, Fifth Sunday After Epiphany This sermon preaches that the most detrimental lack of self control is not the inability to refrain from harmful behaviors. The most damaging lack of self control is the inability to get ourselves to act and care for the suffering in our society. We can be so focused on ourselves that we can’t feel the Spirit stirred within us to get our SELF to take action. It’s not just about how we’re able to resist things that don’t serve us, it’s also about motivating ourselves to live as God calls us to. There are certainly poisonous behaviors and addictions we can possess, but our culture and society is focused too much on what we’re NOT supposed to do. Jesus and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Feb 1, Fourth Sunday After Epiphany This sermon addresses the infamous Scripture passage between Jesus and the Syro-phoenician woman. Is it possible that Jesus had bad days too? How can this teach us about how to treat ourselves on our bad days? More Self Control: Less Self, Less Control Jan 18, Second Sunday After Epiphany Communal laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy lay out a clear imperative for landowners and harvesters to care for the widow, orphan, and foreigner by leaving part of their harvest in the field for them. It is a practice of restraint that creates an ethic of communal generosity. In the story of Ruth and Boaz, we see this practice in action. The laws are not just words; they are lived experience—a snapshot of what greater equity and generosity looks like in practice. Pruning as a Spiritual Practice: Fruitful & Freeing Jan 11, Baptism of Our Lord Sunday Sometimes the “list of vices” in passages like Galatians 5 or the dichotomy of “flesh” versus “spirit” can turn us off from religion and keep us from the very freedom of spiritual living that Paul proclaims, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There is always more to the story, and sometimes it means pruning our viewpoints on scripture to get to a freer and fuller understanding—an understanding that will help us cultivate the growth of the Fruit of the Spirit, rather than hinder it. Dreams Stars and Happenstance Jan 4, Epiphany Sunday This sermon examines the intriguing call of these Zoroastrian priests from Persia to notice a heavenly messenger in the sky announcing the birth of a new King, and to travel far to meet him. Pastor Alice examines the relationship between Christianity and magic. How does this scripture speak to how things outside our tradition may speak to us and point us to God?