Sermons

Since our Pastor is half time, he preaches two or more sermons a month. The rest of the Sunday sermons are provided by members of our own congregation. The sermons are timely, helpful, and always interesting. Plus, we send them out to those on our e-list, so everyone gets to enjoy them, whether they were able to attend or not.
Here are some links to recent sermons in PDF format.
Sermons (examples)
October 2020
"Loss, Remembrance, and Healing"
"The Way it Is, Isn't How it Should Be" (10-25-2020)
"The Poor Can Wear Down the Powerful!" (10-18-2020)
"Just Who is this Lord of the Flies?" (10-11-2020)
September 2020
"Change Your Heart or We’re Doomed! Where’s God in All of This - Part Two" (9-20-2020)
"Where is God in All of This?"(9-13-2020)
June 2020 (Virtual Services)
"God's Good Creation: Randomness within Order" (6-28-2020)
Are you Sitting Uncomfortably?" (6-14-2020)
"A Service of Laments" (6-7-2020)
May 2020 (Virtual Services)
"Crash Helmets and Comforters" (5-31-2020)
"Breath of Fresh Air" (5-24-2020)
"Beauty, Beauty in Intention, Beauty Materialized, and Beauty in the Human Being!"
"Do the Healthy Need a Doctor?” (5-10-2020)
"Tipping Points and Tsunamis" (5-3-2020)
March and April 2020 (Virtual Services)
“I Curse the Very Day that I was Born! A Man Named Job and the Dilemma of Why Bad Things Happen” (4-19-2020)
EASTER: “Be Foolish, not Frightened . . . and Our Lady of Hopeless Causes!” (4-12-2020)
“Hiding in Hope, Embracing our Fears, and Experiencing Perfect Love!” (4-5-2020)
“According to Jesus, Most of Our Fretting is for the Birds!” (3-29-2020
February 2020
"Prison Bars Can’t Stop Those Who Believe in Jesus!” (2-16-2020)
"Religion that Goes Above and Beyond!" (February 9, 2020)
"Congratulations to Those Who Suffer!" (February 2, 2020)
January 2020
“George the Blue Coat and the First Anabaptist Baptism” (January 26, 2020)
“Born a Servant and Not a King! (January 12, 2020)
"What are we Seeking?" (January 5, 2019)
2019 Sermons (examples)
December 2019
"God's Answer is Emmanuel!" (December 22, 2019)
October 2019
“Adultery, Divorce, Remarriage and Just Relationships Between Men and Women!" (October 27, 2019)
"Don't be Childlike; Take Care of the Children!" (October 20, 2019)
September 2019
"Christ Is NOT Jesus' Last Name"(September 28, 2019)
"Mite We Be Wrong About the Poor Widow's Gift?"(September 15, 2019)
“When Religion Becomes a Curse!” (September 8, 2019)
August 2019
"Don't Wash Your Hands, Cleanse Your Heart (August 25, 2019)
“Hope in a Time of Mass Murder?” (August 18, 2019)
June 2019
"Freedom in Christ: Christ meets us at the crossroads of our core contradictions" (June 23, 2019)
May 2019
"Being Offended by God" (May 12, 2019) - audio file (play with Windows Media Player)
April 2019
"Eyes that Cannot See, Make the Whole World Blind" (April 14, 2019)
March 2019
"Broken Pottery and Raising Figs" (March 24, 2019)
"The Darkness Can Never Stop the Light!" (March 17, 2019)
February 2019
“Tested, Tried, Tempted, and Ready for Action!” (Feb. 17, 2019)
“Rage, Madness, and Attempted Murder in Nazareth!” (Feb. 10, 2019)
“What You See, Might Be All You Get!” (Feb. 3, 2019)
January 2019
“World Fellowship Sunday: Migration and the Anabaptist- Mennonite Story” (Jan. 27, 2019)
2018 Sermons (examples)
December 2018
"Happy New Year" (December 2, 2018)
November 2018
"Finding Sabbath in the Midst of Christmas" (November 25, 2018)
September 2018
"Listen, the Outsider is NOT a Threat (Sept. 16, 2018)
"Not Again! Another Boat Trip to the Other Side" (September 9, 2018)
August 2018
"It May be Hard, but we can Make it to the Other Side" (August 26, 2018)
"Lifting Heavy Loads" (August 19, 2018)
July 2018
"Hospitality to the Stranger" (July 8, 2018)
June 2018
"Romans 13: No, no, no! Paul did NOT say that!" (June 24, 2018)
"The Day of Pentecost: Subversive Diversity!" (June 10, 2018)
May 2018
This Ain’t Science Fiction Folks – We’re All Aliens! (May 27, 2018)
Tower of Babel: God’s Diversifying Insurrection! (May 13, 2018)
April 2018
Love that Does Not Condemn (April 29, 2018)
We're In Hot Water Folks ... and Lot's of It! (April 22, 2018)
March 2018
Excerpts from MLK Jr.'s Final Public Address: "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (March 11, 2018)
February 2018
Excerpts from MLK Jr.'s Final Sermon: "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" (Feb 26, 2018)
January 2018
Who's Your Neighbor? (1-21-2018)
Excerpts from MLK Jr.’s Sermon: “Drum Major Instinct” (1-14-2018)
2017 Sermons (examples)
December 2017
"Here Comes the Light" (12-17-2017, third Sunday in Advent)
"Finally, Some Good News!" (12-3-2017, first Sunday in Advent)
November 2017
"Gratitude and Generosity" (11-19-2018)
October 2017
"The Importance of Eating in Church: (10-29-2017)
"Shake it Up Baby, Twist 'N Shout!" (10-22-2017)
March 2017
"Dishonest Brokers in the Business of Normal!" (3-21-2017)
I Wondered (03-19-2017)
Stay Thirsty My Friends! (03-12-2017)
February 2017
How 'Bout Them Other Commandments?"(Feb. 26, 2017)
A Little Talk on Healing (Feb. 12, 2017)
January 2017
Keep Up the Hope! (Jan. 22, 2017)
The Light has Come -- Time to kick at the darkness! (Jan. 8, 2017)
2016 Sermons (examples)
December 2016
The difference between Sheep and Goats ain't all that much sometimes (Dec. 18, 2016)
The Aroma of Christ (Dec.
November 2016
Advent Theme: Locating Our Lives in the Abandoned Places of the Empire (11-27-2016)
Treasures in a Clay Jar (11-20-2016)
October 2016
We've been exploring new formats: dramatic readings, plays, interactive stories. That's why no sermons have been posted recently.
July 2016 through September 2016 (Steve is on Sabbatical)
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
2014 Sermons (examples)
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September
August 2014
Note: Enneagram Parts 1-3 were all informal "Worship 'Round the Table" events, so there were no sermons. However, this is the informational worksheet used: Enneagram Worksheet.
July 2014
June 2014
October 2020
"Loss, Remembrance, and Healing"
- YouTube video
- Worship Service bulletin
- Music: "The Greatest" (this wonderful piece was not included in the YouTube video)
"The Way it Is, Isn't How it Should Be" (10-25-2020)
"The Poor Can Wear Down the Powerful!" (10-18-2020)
- YouTube video
- Worship Service bulletin
- Sermon
"Just Who is this Lord of the Flies?" (10-11-2020)
September 2020
"Change Your Heart or We’re Doomed! Where’s God in All of This - Part Two" (9-20-2020)
"Where is God in All of This?"(9-13-2020)
June 2020 (Virtual Services)
"God's Good Creation: Randomness within Order" (6-28-2020)
Are you Sitting Uncomfortably?" (6-14-2020)
"A Service of Laments" (6-7-2020)
May 2020 (Virtual Services)
"Crash Helmets and Comforters" (5-31-2020)
"Breath of Fresh Air" (5-24-2020)
"Beauty, Beauty in Intention, Beauty Materialized, and Beauty in the Human Being!"
"Do the Healthy Need a Doctor?” (5-10-2020)
"Tipping Points and Tsunamis" (5-3-2020)
March and April 2020 (Virtual Services)
“I Curse the Very Day that I was Born! A Man Named Job and the Dilemma of Why Bad Things Happen” (4-19-2020)
EASTER: “Be Foolish, not Frightened . . . and Our Lady of Hopeless Causes!” (4-12-2020)
“Hiding in Hope, Embracing our Fears, and Experiencing Perfect Love!” (4-5-2020)
“According to Jesus, Most of Our Fretting is for the Birds!” (3-29-2020
February 2020
"Prison Bars Can’t Stop Those Who Believe in Jesus!” (2-16-2020)
"Religion that Goes Above and Beyond!" (February 9, 2020)
"Congratulations to Those Who Suffer!" (February 2, 2020)
January 2020
“George the Blue Coat and the First Anabaptist Baptism” (January 26, 2020)
“Born a Servant and Not a King! (January 12, 2020)
"What are we Seeking?" (January 5, 2019)
2019 Sermons (examples)
December 2019
"God's Answer is Emmanuel!" (December 22, 2019)
October 2019
“Adultery, Divorce, Remarriage and Just Relationships Between Men and Women!" (October 27, 2019)
"Don't be Childlike; Take Care of the Children!" (October 20, 2019)
September 2019
"Christ Is NOT Jesus' Last Name"(September 28, 2019)
"Mite We Be Wrong About the Poor Widow's Gift?"(September 15, 2019)
“When Religion Becomes a Curse!” (September 8, 2019)
August 2019
"Don't Wash Your Hands, Cleanse Your Heart (August 25, 2019)
“Hope in a Time of Mass Murder?” (August 18, 2019)
June 2019
"Freedom in Christ: Christ meets us at the crossroads of our core contradictions" (June 23, 2019)
May 2019
"Being Offended by God" (May 12, 2019) - audio file (play with Windows Media Player)
April 2019
"Eyes that Cannot See, Make the Whole World Blind" (April 14, 2019)
March 2019
"Broken Pottery and Raising Figs" (March 24, 2019)
"The Darkness Can Never Stop the Light!" (March 17, 2019)
February 2019
“Tested, Tried, Tempted, and Ready for Action!” (Feb. 17, 2019)
“Rage, Madness, and Attempted Murder in Nazareth!” (Feb. 10, 2019)
“What You See, Might Be All You Get!” (Feb. 3, 2019)
January 2019
“World Fellowship Sunday: Migration and the Anabaptist- Mennonite Story” (Jan. 27, 2019)
2018 Sermons (examples)
December 2018
"Happy New Year" (December 2, 2018)
November 2018
"Finding Sabbath in the Midst of Christmas" (November 25, 2018)
September 2018
"Listen, the Outsider is NOT a Threat (Sept. 16, 2018)
"Not Again! Another Boat Trip to the Other Side" (September 9, 2018)
August 2018
"It May be Hard, but we can Make it to the Other Side" (August 26, 2018)
"Lifting Heavy Loads" (August 19, 2018)
July 2018
"Hospitality to the Stranger" (July 8, 2018)
June 2018
"Romans 13: No, no, no! Paul did NOT say that!" (June 24, 2018)
"The Day of Pentecost: Subversive Diversity!" (June 10, 2018)
May 2018
This Ain’t Science Fiction Folks – We’re All Aliens! (May 27, 2018)
Tower of Babel: God’s Diversifying Insurrection! (May 13, 2018)
April 2018
Love that Does Not Condemn (April 29, 2018)
We're In Hot Water Folks ... and Lot's of It! (April 22, 2018)
March 2018
Excerpts from MLK Jr.'s Final Public Address: "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (March 11, 2018)
February 2018
Excerpts from MLK Jr.'s Final Sermon: "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" (Feb 26, 2018)
January 2018
Who's Your Neighbor? (1-21-2018)
Excerpts from MLK Jr.’s Sermon: “Drum Major Instinct” (1-14-2018)
2017 Sermons (examples)
December 2017
"Here Comes the Light" (12-17-2017, third Sunday in Advent)
"Finally, Some Good News!" (12-3-2017, first Sunday in Advent)
November 2017
"Gratitude and Generosity" (11-19-2018)
October 2017
"The Importance of Eating in Church: (10-29-2017)
"Shake it Up Baby, Twist 'N Shout!" (10-22-2017)
March 2017
"Dishonest Brokers in the Business of Normal!" (3-21-2017)
I Wondered (03-19-2017)
Stay Thirsty My Friends! (03-12-2017)
February 2017
How 'Bout Them Other Commandments?"(Feb. 26, 2017)
A Little Talk on Healing (Feb. 12, 2017)
January 2017
Keep Up the Hope! (Jan. 22, 2017)
The Light has Come -- Time to kick at the darkness! (Jan. 8, 2017)
2016 Sermons (examples)
December 2016
The difference between Sheep and Goats ain't all that much sometimes (Dec. 18, 2016)
The Aroma of Christ (Dec.
November 2016
Advent Theme: Locating Our Lives in the Abandoned Places of the Empire (11-27-2016)
Treasures in a Clay Jar (11-20-2016)
October 2016
We've been exploring new formats: dramatic readings, plays, interactive stories. That's why no sermons have been posted recently.
July 2016 through September 2016 (Steve is on Sabbatical)
June 2016
- Georgi's Bench Dedication (6-26-2016)
- Peace Pole Dedication (6-17-2016)
- What Happened to You? The Power of Transformation! (6-12-2016)
- Crash Helmets and Comforters (6-5-2016)
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
- Isaiah's Ode to Joy (12-20-2015)
- Charity of Night (12-13-12015)
- Only Those Who Weep Need Comfort (12-06-2015)
- Thankful Giving Comes from Thankful Receiving (11-30-2015)
October
- Like Always, God Will Pour Out The Spirit ... Just be Sure You Get Soaked (10-25-2015)
- So, Did Jesus Ever Use Violence? (10-18-2015)
- Oct. 11: Annual Retreat - No sermon
September
- Los Banditos of the Domination System or God's Cosmic Rule is a Just Community (9-27-2015)
- Congratulate the Poor and Damn the Rich (9-20-2015)
- Why Do We Care About the Poor? (9-13-2015)
- Sept. 6: Worship at Lory State - No sermon
August
- We had guest speakers during August, so no sermons.
July
- No sermons during Worship 'Round the Table series (7-12 to 8-9-2015). Informal conversations on speaker topics are discussed.
June
- Sunflower Support System (6-21-2015)
- The New Covenant According to Jesus: Not a Last Supper, but a Meal that will Last (6-7-2015)
May
- Winning Hearts and Minds: God's New Covenant with Jeremiah (5-17-2015)
- Fire on the Mountain: God's Covenant with Moses (5-10-2015)
- Abraham and Sarah's Threshold: The Dangers of Star Gazing (5-3-2015)
April
- Hildegard Bingen and the Healing Power of God (4-26-2015)
- Wicked: A Tale of Shame -- an interpretive dance (4-12-2015)
March 2015
- High Drama or Low Brow Mockery (3-29-2015)
- A Formula for Change (3-22-2015)
- Noah's Threshold and the Real Meaning of Rainbows (3-1-2015)
February 2015
January 2015
2014 Sermons (examples)
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September
August 2014
Note: Enneagram Parts 1-3 were all informal "Worship 'Round the Table" events, so there were no sermons. However, this is the informational worksheet used: Enneagram Worksheet.
- Enneagram Part 1: Introduction (8-3-3014)
- Enneagram Part 2: Path to Transformation (8-10-2014)
- Enneagram Part 3: Fostering Community (8-17-2014)
July 2014
June 2014