SERMONS

What is calling you?
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

What is calling you?

What is calling you? What is your purpose on this earth? How will you grow into your authentic self while finding joy in service to the needs of others?

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Weather the storm together
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

Weather the storm together

Jesus said, “let’s go across to the other side” and the followers of Jesus took him in the boat “just as he was”. No preparations. He was teaching the crowds and then he just got into a boat and sailed off. Imagine if right now I said “I want to go to Michigan.” and I just left church, went straight to the lake and got into a boat? Where would I go when I get there? I don’t even know how to sail! What if something happens along the way? I don’t know the tide patterns or what the weather will be like… What a dangerous thing to decide to do on a whim!

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The reign of God is like . . .
Sermons Michelle Sevig Sermons Michelle Sevig

The reign of God is like . . .

We’re invited to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary, to be open to the mystery of God’s work in this garden, and to see the unexpected gifts in our midst that are signs of God’s presence among us now. We are encouraged to reimagine what is beautiful and ask, where do we see the sacred? Where do we see God’s presence in our daily, ordinary, sometimes boring, maybe even complicated lives?

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A Language of Love
Sermons Michelle Sevig Sermons Michelle Sevig

A Language of Love

Do you speak more than one language? I wish I did, but I don’t. Not that I haven’t tried. In 7th-8th grade, I took German as my required language course. I still have the construction paper and photo-heavy report I did on Miene Familie, but sadly, I do not recall how to speak any of it.  I’ve taken Intro to Spanish classes 5 different times, but, “Hola mi amiga” is about as far as I get in a conversation.

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150th Anniversary of the Congregation - Bishop Yehiel Curry
Sermons Bishop Yehiel Curry Sermons Bishop Yehiel Curry

150th Anniversary of the Congregation - Bishop Yehiel Curry

The view from the enclosed balcony was breathtaking. Boats quietly traversed through the green waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the sea of Cortez. It was about 80 degrees, the sun was shining, and there were no clouds visible. On this day, I was about to do something I had never done before.

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The Life Laid Down
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

The Life Laid Down

I’m moved by the faith and determination of our Holy Trinity ancestors. Many people today have lost faith in the church as an institution. Churches are closing and many are on life support. Yet our forebears laid down their lives—gave their all—for the generations who would follow, including us.

The main point of First John is a line in today’s reading. “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” You may have all the goods the world offers, but God abides in those who lay down their lives for another, especially those in need. Especially those most vulnerable. Especially those marginalized.

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Healing in Hope
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

Healing in Hope

Maybe Thomas needed to touch Jesus’ wounds to know that those wounds can be healed — or to know that new life can still grow even in a body scarred by trauma.

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What can you believe anymore?
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

What can you believe anymore?

What would Easter mean if it wasn’t just something you believe in your mind? It would be encountering God as mystery. It would be opening your hearts to something beyond yourselves. It would be letting the blossoming buds and flowers be your spiritual guides.

If you are bewildered by trying to make sense of these times and what is has to do with God. If you struggle with your faith and what you believe, there is a place for you here in this community. Together, we explore the questions of faith. We experience the resurrection through community, through acts of justice, through music and art and beauty.

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Is there a cure-all?
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

Is there a cure-all?

Call them ailments, diseases, addictions. Hurts, grief, fears, worries. We all are carrying some kind of brokenness, it seems. That is what it means to be human. Whether by genetics. Or choice. Or chance. Whether chronic or lifelong. Or something that seems to come and go.

But what about the miraculous healings in the scriptures? Wouldn’t you like one from time to time? Our gospel says that Jesus cures people. Was this only for biblical times? Is there a difference between curing and healing? Wouldn’t you like a cure-all, a remedy to cure whatever your ailment?

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The Fears and Joys of Liberation
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

The Fears and Joys of Liberation

Anna’s hope, the hope that permeates Black History, the hope we see in global calls for liberation - including that of Palestine - is not swayed by the knowledge that there will be hard things to face. We hear from the whole Gospel, from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that God’s work doesn’t stop at revealing what’s wrong. God’s work doesn’t stop at creating a new law. Simeon’s paraklésis, Simeon’s call for aid has been answered. God is here to do the work with us, to change our hearts, and to change our world. So let us do the work together with Joy.

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WWJD
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

WWJD

In our world today we still hear scripture quoted to promote silence for the sake of peace and unity. We may even hear scripture quoted in direct support of genocide. If we fail to speak against this twisting of scripture, we become complicit yet again. Complicit in a new atrocity. 

As Christians when we ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” Let's not forget the image of Jesus we see in this scripture. A Jesus who addressed uncomfortable topics and difficult situations with confidence. A Jesus who called out injustice boldly, both inside and outside of the synagogue.

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Drop Your Nets
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

Drop Your Nets

What if Jesus doesn’t expect us to change who we are to fit this call? What if Jesus has already shaped and molded the call to suit you?

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It's About Time
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

It's About Time

Every day you’re presented with hundreds of choices about what to do with that day. You can give it to family. Friends. Bosses. Causes. You can succumb to the distractions of the pings and pops on your wrist. In your pocket. And because time is what you’re made of, and all you really have is time…it’s prudent to pay attention to where and how you spend it.

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Come and See
Sermons Michelle Sevig Sermons Michelle Sevig

Come and See

You are called to a lifelong relationship with God. In the waters of baptism, you were called to see that the Holy One is with you and loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are called in all the places you work,  study, and play to stand up for justice. To stand up for truth. To trust that the Holy One is with you. 

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Little Epiphanies Everywhere
Sermons Sharai Jacob Sermons Sharai Jacob

Little Epiphanies Everywhere

What made the perils of my adventure bearable was knowing that I was not alone. I was journeying alongside my family and friends, many of whom were also immigrants and people of color. We affirmed each other and stood together even when we were told that our experiences of racism in the US were not real. We named our experiences and found healing in community. I learned that journeying together is always better than journeying alone.

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Hodie. Today.
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

Hodie. Today.

We were in Bethlehem about a month before the attacks of October 7. Tucked away in a large church, we joined other pilgrims in entering a small space in which it is believed to be the cave where Jesus was born. Kneeling and kissing or touching the birthplace. We went to other holy sites where Jesus was born, walked, lived, and died. On each site a church was built.

What moved me wasn’t necessarily that “Jesus was here” two thousand years ago. Rather, it was observing the present-day pilgrims that moved me. Many of them were with groups, often Roman Catholic or Orthodox, and at each site they celebrated a eucharist in a small chapel designated for this purpose.

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O' Little Town of Bethlehem
Sermons Michelle Sevig Sermons Michelle Sevig

O' Little Town of Bethlehem

O’ little town of Bethelem, how still we see thee lie above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the ever-lasting light, the hopes and fear of all the years are met in thee tonight.

 For many of us, this beloved carol has framed our image of Jesus' birth—a quiet, still night. The sky filled with holy darkness, but a beam of everlasting light shines a spotlight on the scene with Mary cradling Jesus at her breast and Joseph standing lovingly by her side. In the little town of Bethlehem, all hopes and fears come together and are met in the Christ Child.

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Out of the blue
Sermons Craig Mueller Sermons Craig Mueller

Out of the blue

The angel appeared out of the blue. And it changed everything. Natural disasters, violent attacks, accidents. Unplanned pregnancies or pregnancy complications. Resignations or terminations. Announcements of divorces or closings or moves. These can occur out of the blue.

Think of your life. What kinds of big changes came out of the blue for you? Something you could have never planned or expected? Something that changed everything?

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The Darkness is Holy Too
Sermons Michelle Sevig Sermons Michelle Sevig

The Darkness is Holy Too

So in this season of Advent when there is so much focus on the light of Christ and the love of God breaking into our darkened world, I wonder how we can honor both, light and dark,  as gifts of the Holy One. Light and dark are both good, valuable, and holy even though we often speak of light, Christ’s light, banishing our darkness.

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