Sermon Archives

February 21, 2021

Chosen

When it comes to our pets, let’s be honest: we chose them — they didn’t choose us. No, we chose them, and when we did so, we didn’t know whether they’d be affectionate or hostile, loyal or rebellious, intelligent or . . .  thick-headed. We didn’t know whether they’d respect our property or be a […]

February 14, 2021

Nourishing Witness

Around the world, every day, women are walking for water. They go to the well, to the river, to the lake, with one hand by their side, with one hand holding the pot above. they walk, slowly, carefully, gracefully, swans stepping through tall green grass. Around the world, every day, women are walking for water. […]

January 24, 2021

Being Compassionate . . . to Ourselves

When it comes to acting with compassion, we Mennonites are outstanding. Imitating the example of Jesus’ own compassion, we founded Mennonite Central Committee in the 1920s in order to alleviate the suffering of others. It was compassion that motivated us to go overseas in the PAX program of the mid-20th century, that caused us to […]

January 17, 2021

Do you hear what I hear?

You know, stopping here, stopping at verses 10, we’re pretty sure that we know the three golden nuggets of truth to take away from it. This is a story about how God speaks to us and how we often fail to recognize it.

January 10, 2021

Inauguration Day

Many times, before I read the scripture that provides the focus for my sermon, I try to provide its context — what has happened or what is being addressed just before the verses that I’m about to read. Today, though, I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to work backwards. I will still read […]

January 3, 2021

A Revelation or a Revolution?

Our memory verse for this month is Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” I invite you to take this verse and make it formative. Put it where you can see it and remember it, say it daily, and keep reminding yourself that in […]

December 27, 2020

The Source of Joy

This morning I want to speak with you about the source of our joy. To do that, allow me to introduce Harry, who is almost never joyful. Harry is slightly imaginary, a figure pulled together with bits and pieces from the lives of many people, woven into one slightly fictional person. Harry is one of […]

December 20, 2020

Christ in the Womb

She’s not who they think she is. And so she stands tall, back straight, arms crossed, defiantly testifying to a different world while facing the armor, weapons, and soldiers of the same state power that killed another black body before her. She has a six-year-old son. She was told to move off the street. She’s […]

December 13, 2020

Joy before the World

On the road to restoration. That’s the theme for this third Sunday of Advent. Almost three years ago, I was driving east on Wilden Avenue. My car:  A 2000 Honda Civic LX. It’s color:  Vintage Plum. According to the owner’s manual, the 2000 Honda Civic LX belonged to the sixth-generation of Civics. It included a […]

December 6, 2020

A Faith That’s Faithful

To start off here, I want to share our memory verse for this month, which is also the focal point of this sermon. It’s Isaiah 40, verse 8.      The grass withers and the flowers fall,      but the word of our God endures forever.” I encourage you to “write this verse on your heart,” […]

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