In Advent, we participate in a season of waiting. We are waiting for Christmas, and in this way we bear witness to Israel’s story of waiting for the birth of the Messiah. We are also longingly waiting on all things to be set right at…
Raised to Life Together
In the sermon this past Sunday, we reflected on the story of Lazarus’ resurrection in John 11 and we heard the good news proclaimed that: “Christ, the beginning and the end… the God who weeps and also wipes away every tear… the God who dies also swallows…
Rescued From Calling Evil ‘Good’
Church, This past Sunday we heard it proclaimed that Jesus is rescuing us from participating in systems that call evil ‘good.’ We looked specifically at the logic of Mammon in the story of the Rich Young Ruler. That Christ is rescuing us from these systems means that…
God’s Spirit is On You
When preparing a sermon I often find myself conflicted about how much attention to give each passage. Preaching from the lectionary, we read four passages each week: Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament, and Gospel. Oftentimes, one passage will come front and center during preparation and…
Abiding in Christ Through Prayer
Brothers & Sisters, This past Sunday, we heard the good news that amidst exhaustion and desolation Jesus is calling out to you and his command is to abide and eat – in your surrender he is sustaining you and drawing you into the very life of…
David’s Ungodly Habits of Power
Church, Mallory spent time in her sermon this past Sunday illuminating a reading of the story of Bathsheba and David that, in my experience at least, has been largely overlooked. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet you can check it…
Upending Our Assumptions About Power
As a church, we have been in a season of learning about power: how it works, how to see it, and what to do with it. Mostly, we have been learning to reckon with our own power and privilege as a predominantly white, middle-class church.…
Belonging Before Believing
Church, This past Sunday we had the joy of celebrating Emmy Jo Crawford’s baptism together. It was so lovely to celebrate an in-person baptism together for the first time in over a year! I was not raised in a church that celebrated infant baptism, so…
Midwives For New Creation
Brothers and Sisters, On Pentecost Sunday we heard the good news proclaimed that the Holy Spirit has empowered us to groan along with all of creation – God is calling us to participate as midwives in the new creation He is birthing! In preparation for preaching this…
Making a Living of Loving
Church, Have you ever had a day when you felt like everyone around you is being beaten down by life? Monday was one of those days for me. First, I learned that a friend-of-a-friend of mine had passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. I hadn’t…
