Sermons from 2017
Falling and Rising
Worship on this first Sunday in the season of Christmas is rooted in Luke 2.22-40. Matt & Linda invite reflection on the blessing of the infant Jesus by Simeon & Anna. How might God be calling us into a life of falling and rising?
Entangled
Pastor Matt’s 11pm Candlelight Christmas Eve message is rooted in John 1. 1-14.
Give Us Back Baby Jesus!
Pastor Linda’s 5pm Candlelight Christmas Eve message is rooted in Luke 2. 1-14.
Yes
Pastor Chris’s message is rooted in Luke 1.26-38. What is the “yes” God is inviting you into as we move ever closer to the birth of hope in Bethlehem?
I Am Not
The hopes & fears of all the years will be met in a vulnerable child in a little town that is both far away and right here. John was clear he was not the long awaited Messiah and embraced his calling to be a witness. Matt’s Advent message weaves reflections on the story of our church community with readings from Isaiah 61.1-11 and John 1.6-8,19-28. How might grace inspire and shape our call to be witnesses to a new redemption…
Don’t Freak Out
Pastor Chris’s Advent message is rooted in Isaiah 40.1-11. The people of God have moved through troubling times throughout the generations. How might this Advent season invite us to work the quality of our waiting?
Things Are Not Okay
In the midst of our hopes & fears, we welcome God’s coming again this Advent season. Linda’s message invites reflection on Isaiah 64 & Mark 13.24-37.
Hey You!
Matt’s message invites reflection on Ruth 4. Mieke Bal writes, “The point of Ruth is not hesed, the typical female virtue, but hutzpah — willingness to challenge, or better, stretch inadequate social/legal norms in the direction of greater justice and more voice to the deprived. The highest virtue is high-minded transgressive action designed to further growth not to undermine the system.” How might the hutzpah of Naomi & Ruth, and the subversive masculine strength of Boaz inspire & challenge us today?
PG-13?
Biblical scholar Phyllis Trible writes, “One female has chosen another female in a world where life depends upon men. There is no more radical decision in all the memories of Israel.” Linda’s message on Chapter 3 of Ruth invites reflection on the layers of meaning and the sexual innuendos deployed by the authors of this often neglected chapter from the Hebrew bible. How might God be calling us to risk in our daily lives?
Naomi My Homie
Joey Torres, a member of our community of faith and doctoral student at UC Davis, shares a message on identity & boundaries in relationship to his own life and Ruth. The focus of this message is on Ruth 2.
Push. Pull.
This is the first week in a four-week worship series on the book of IOur Co-Pastors were abel to study with Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy last winter and this worship series is rooted in his critical reflection on Ruth. Matt’s message on Ruth 1 invites us into the story of Ruth and challenges us to consider who we might be seeing as a stranger, or enemy. Who are we making other, when God sees them as beloved? Worship this morning includes original…
Baptism
We gathered in worship this morning to celebrate the baptism of 19 children & adults at The Table, to renew our baptismal vows, and to share our Deep Commitments. Worship was rooted in Matthew 22.34-40 and Linda’s message invites reflection on Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor.