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.
Holy Shift: Shifting Expectations
Rev. Cari preached on the resurrection story as found in Luke 24:1-12. Luke’s unique contribution to the proclamation of Easter is the question in the mouths of the angelic dazzlers: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Rev. Cari opens with references to both the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in…
Walk This Way: Worship (Extravagantly!)
For the 5th Sunday in Lent, Rev. Cari preaches on John 12:1-8, the story of Jesus being lavishly anointed by Mary of Bethany, and Judas’ shaming response. The puzzling words of Jesus, ‘The poor you will always have with you’ are part of what Cari is wrestling with in the sermon. She acknowledges in our…
Walk this Way: Forgive
Rev. Cari not only preached on – but invited the congregation to experience – the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. This was the fourth sermon in a series of explorations of postures and practices as we walk Jesus’ way during the season of Lent. Retelling (and enacting) the parable with the…
Walk This Way: Repent
Drawing from Luke 13:1-9, specifically the parable of the fig tree, Lydia explores what repentance is — a process of changing our minds and being transformed by God so that we may walk in the world in a way that gives life rather than taking it (from both ourselves and others). But, this act of…
Walk This Way: Tell the Truth
Luke 13:31-35 consists of a warning and a lament. In the first part of the passage, Jesus is warned that Herod is after him, but he does not allow this threat to waiver his call to preach and heal people. Jesus will continue to follow God’s will for his life, doing what “is necessary” and…
Walk This Way: Resist
Preaching on Luke 4:1-13, the Temptation of Jesus, Rev. Cari introduced the season of Lent. Traditionally a season of introspection and penitence, she framed Lent as a season of intentional spiritual practice in order to “resist the right things” and cooperate with love and justice. She unpacked all three temptations with the help of Henri…
Deep Presence
“Deep Presence” is the third sermon in our 4-week sermon series “Go Deep.” This week, we explore Luke 9:18-27, which includes the famous phrase “you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” What does it mean to deny ourselves? What does it mean to take up our crosses? What does it…
Deep Purpose
Carrying on from where we left off last week, after the “call” of the disciples, in today’s text (Luke 9:1-6) Jesus “sends” them into ministry. Rev. Cari unpacks Jesus’ very countercultural packing list and instructions to them, and tries to glean some ways this text can speak to our purpose now, in a very different…
Deep Call
Preaching on Luke 5:1-11, the story of Jesus’ call to Simon and his fisher-peasant friends, Rev. Cari explores the grace that is in this exchange. Despite Simon’s very natural first response to the abundant catch which accompanies Jesus’ word to him, Jesus issues the life-changing call, and Simon’s life is never the same. With this…
What in the World Does Happy Look Like?
Relying on Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Mary Jo Leddy (author of Radical Gratitude) and the Apostle Paul from the letter to the Philippians 4:10-14, Rev. Cari wrapped up the “Happy” series today. If our world (culturally and economically) is structured toward dissatisfaction, rather than contentment, what should we do? And what is the “secret” of happiness that…