"advent" Tagged Sermons
The Road Isn’t Straight
Too often, we’ve been told that a successful life is a linear one. But in reality, our lives unfold with many unexpected twists and turns. The Magi follow a star, embarking on a long journey in a foreign land in order to honor the newborn Christ. Instead of returning to Herod as commanded, they trust their dreams and go home by another way. Their road isn’t straight, but God “makes a way in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19) as they follow…
Don’t Forget To Laugh
We welcome Rev. Jorge Domingues back for a very special post Christmas Message. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Love Knows Your Name – 11pm
Christ’s birth makes the vastness of God personal. The God who made the seas and the stars is also the God who made your beautiful hair and your striking eyes. The God of creation takes on flesh, which means you are fully known. When the angels visit the shepherds in the fields, their message is global but also personal: “To you . . . a savior is born.” This birth is good news for everyone, especially those who are ignored…
Love Knows Your Name – 5pm
Christ’s birth makes the vastness of God personal. The God who made the seas and the stars is also the God who made your beautiful hair and your striking eyes. The God of creation takes on flesh, which means you are fully known. When the angels visit the shepherds in the fields, their message is global but also personal: “To you . . . a savior is born.” This birth is good news for everyone, especially those who are ignored…
Hope is Worth the Risk
Hope is vulnerable and can feel like a tremendous risk, especially if you’ve experienced loss or trauma. But Mary shows us a resilient hope that takes risks—she risks her body to bear a son who will become the hope of her people. Similarly, Joseph makes a risky choice to stay with Mary; dismissing her quietly would have kept him safe. But instead, he chooses hope. He chooses to trust the angel, and it makes all the difference. It can feel…
Do the good that is yours to do
The Gospel of Luke introduces John the Baptist as not just a primary character in Jesus’ birth story, but also a key player in his ministry. He is not the Messiah, but he paves the way for the One who will baptize with water and spirit. He does the good that is his to do. John harshly denounces the perpetrators of economic disparities, but he also provides them paths for redemption—for even they have good that is theirs to do.…
We Can’t Go Alone
One of life’s most essential lessons is that we are never meant to go alone. And yet, modern culture pushes us more and more into lonely silos. If Ruth had followed her culture’s norms, she would have gone home to her family of origin after her husband died, but instead, she commits herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Together they form a new family and covenant. Ruth and Naomi travel together to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, foreshadowing…
Piecing Advent Blessings
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.…
We allow ourselves to be amazed
After Elizabeth gives birth, her neighbors and family celebrate with her. When it comes time to name the child, Zechariah affirms the name given by the angel and by Elizabeth. In that moment of affirming the promise, Zechariah’s speech is restored. Everyone is filled with awe. How often do you allow yourself to be amazed? Wonder is all around us—can we recognize it? As we learn how to rejoice in a weary world, can we live in a way that…
We acknowledge our weariness
As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Joy is designed to live in a full house of other emotions. We start the season with Zechariah and Elizabeth; they have battled infertility and have lived many years steadfast in their faith. Perhaps they feel the weight of hopes and dreams unattained. The angel comes to Zechariah with a promise of good news, but Zechariah…
We Tell The Story (11pm Candlelight Christmas Eve)
Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804 Opportunities to Reach in Love for Christmas Our Christmas Offering during this worship series called From Generation to Generation will support two important ministries: Half of our Christmas Offering will go directly to the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership’s Food Closet. The other half of our Christmas Offering will help Table Bread purchase a commercial stand mixer. Here is a link to give online. Give online here to support our Christmas Offering.…
We Tell The Story (5pm Candlelight Christmas Eve)
Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804 Opportunities to Reach in Love for Christmas Our Christmas Offering during this worship series called From Generation to Generation will support two important ministries: Half of our Christmas Offering will go directly to the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership’s Food Closet. The other half of our Christmas Offering will help Table Bread purchase a commercial stand mixer. Here is a link to give online. Give online here to support our Christmas Offering.…