Most weeks, our worship leader offers a 15–20 minute sermon based on the Scripture texts for the day.
Our regular preacher is pretty versatile. She’ll tell stories, pull together different ideas, lead a meditation, give the congregation an “assignment” to talk about in twos or threes, show a slide show or video, or sometimes even sing to the congregation. The sermon functions to deepen our reflection on the Scripture themes of the day, and often leaves us with a challenge or a question.
Scripture texts are outlined in the Revised Common Lectionary.
The Mysterious Seed
Lydia preaches on Mark 4:26-34, focusing on the Parable of the Growing Seed. What could this seemingly unexciting parable tell us about the Reign of God? What is the importance of this mysterious little seed? And, how can parables help us to see our world in new and beautiful ways?
Identifying God, Identifying Ourselves
Lydia takes a look at Mark 3:20-35, exploring how the authors of Mark intertwine two stories, “The True Kindred of Jesus” and “Jesus and Beelzebul,” into one story, highlighting the theme of identity. What is the identity of Jesus? And what does Jesus’ identity say about us? Who is our mother? Who are our brothers…
Ordinary Times
Lydia explores the meaning of the “Season of Ordinary Times,” considering 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. Paul’s language of “life” and “death” as well as his use of “servant” can help us to make sense of the cycles in our own lives and our own calls to Christian discipleship and servanthood.
Defining God?
Gabrielle explores the Trinity by considering the ways we define and approach God in our daily lives.
A Letter from Betty
Mother’s Day at Crossroads is always an opportunity for us to celebrate our relationship with the Mama Orphans Children’s Home (MOCH) in Busia, Kenya. This morning, since our text was the “greeting” from the letter to the Ephesians, we also heard a letter from Betty Emmenica (the daughter of Mama who is now the administrator…
Promotion to Joy
Following on last week’s sermon (on addiction) Rev. Cari preaches today on John 15:9-17, part of Jesus’ extended words to his disciples before his death, when he commands them to love one another. In this text, he also “promotes” his disciples from followers (or subordinates) to friends, and declares that “there is no greater love…
Beloved
The sermon for the 5th Sunday of the Easter season was on I John 4:7-21. In it, Rev. Cari responds to the opioid overdose crisis, and addiction in general. She also explores the Johannine community’s encouragement to “love one another” as a major task for the church as one of society’s remaining “communities of meaning…
You Restore My Soul
Today’s sermon was part “Earth Day” and part “Shepherding Sunday” and concluded with an unexpected invitation to the whole congregation. Many thanks to Dennis and Sheila Linn for the story of “Holy Saturday in Hell” with which Rev. Cari opened the sermon. It’s from their book, Simple Ways to Pray for Healing.
Witnesses of These Things
Preaching on Luke 24:36b-48, Rev. Cari weaves together stories from her own life, from a recent visit with our Syrian Refugee family, and this “heart and gut” story about the Risen Christ. She notices in the story that the disciples begin in anxiety, move through the acknowledgment of the wounds of Jesus, and then are…
Living with Doubt
Gabrielle focussed on the story found in John’s resurrection narrative, when the Risen Christ appears to the disciples in a locked room, and Thomas is not present. Later, he wants “proof” in order to believe, which gives him the name “Doubting Thomas.” Listen for Gabrielle’s perspective on this account of our great mystery.