Death Swallowed up: Easter

Preacher: Pastor Nathan Hosler, PhD Date: March 31, 2024 Scripture: John 20:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 25:6-9 February 14th, the beginning of Lent, feels like a long time ago. Lent is the time often designated for preparation for this past week. If, however, you were like me, you probably lost sight of this at times over…

Hosanna – Save Us!

Preacher: Rev. Jennifer Hosler, PhD Date: March 17, 2024 It was desolate and lonely. A few chirping birds. Some wild mustard growing along the edge of a fence. Numerous CCTV security cameras peering down at me. Just three weeks ago, I hiked up and then walked down the Mount of Olives and made my way to…

COME TO THE LIGHT

Numbers 21:4-9   Ephesians 2:1-10   John 3:14-21 Jeff Davidson The comedian Norm MacDonald has a shaggy dog story that he sometimes tells. I’m going to do a very, very shortened version of it here. A moth visits a podiatrist’s office. The podiatrist says, “What can I do for you today?” The moth says, “Doc, my life…

NO CROSS, NO CROWN

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25,  Mark 8:31-38 Micah Bales   When I first read through the scripture readings for this Sunday, it wasn’t immediately clear to me how our gospel reading relates to the passage from Genesis. The story of Abraham and Sarah seems to be all about God bestowing unconditional blessing and abundance on…

EVERYONE, COME TO THE FASTING PARTY!

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Mark 1:9-15, Luke 18:9-14 Jennifer Hosler A Plant Geek Last week, I was talking with someone about the plants I have in my garden. I mentioned the different herbs that I grow and how my bay leaf tree has survived several years, even though it is not technically zoned for our city….

JESUS, MEAT, AND VEGGIES

Deut. 18:15-20; Mark 1:21-28; 1 Cor. 8:1-13 Jennifer Hosler How do we show love? Sometimes, it’s by holding back on the meat. Across the US, traditionally, meat and potatoes or meat and some other starch, are ubiquitous on the table. Many of our folks in this congregation come from places like Missouri or central Pennsylvania—traditionally…

REPENT, AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; and Mark 1:14-20 Micah Bales I don’t need to tell you that we’re living in a particularly dark, chaotic time. We can all feel it. Our national government is off the rails in a very visible way with the present federal shutdown. But our dysfunction as a society goes…

KEEP NO SILENCE

1 Samuel 3:1-20 & John 1:43-51 Jeff Davidson   Sometimes God leads us into remarkable moments of serendipity, moments of happy coincidence. Early Wednesday morning I sent Care my sermon title and the two scripture texts we just read. On Thursday, President Trump made his infamous racist and vulgar remarks about not accepting immigrants from…

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD

Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 & John 1:1-18 Micah Bales In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. The Spirit of God hovered over the waters. The voice of God spoke light into the darkness. By his Word, God divided the day from the night. He created the…

JUSTICE IS COMING (IT IS JESUS)

Human Rights Sunday 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11  Nate Hosler The second Sunday in Advent Anticipation. Waiting. Agonizing? Uncertain. Advent—waiting for the promised One. On Thursday we rose early for our 3-4 hour drive and hit the road. Rutted. Through dry, mostly flat land with low trees except for the palms. Security checkpoints with men with…