THE 15TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST or THE WEASEL, THE MOUSE, THE GREAT LIZARD ACCORDING TO ITS KIND

The audio version may differ from the transcript of this sermon, but can be found on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/washingtoncitycob/15th-sunday-since-pentecost-september-17-2017   Exodus 14:19-31, 15:20-21, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 Nate Hosler As many of you know we went camping last week. My family has gone camping most every year for more than 20 years. My mother has…

VENGEANCE IS MINE

Exodus 3:1-15 & Romans 12:9-21 & Matthew 16:21-28 Micah Bales They say that to achieve mastery in something, you need to put in about 10,000 hours of practice. You’d think that after spending more than a decade learning about God, going to seminary, doing ministry out in the world, and trying really hard to follow…

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

1 Kings 19:9-18, Matthew 14:22-33 Jeff Davidson My original plan was to talk about this passage in light of our discernment process with the Brethren Nutrition Program. I’ve moved away from that specific focus over the course of the last couple of weeks, but my conclusion still applies to that process and to the discussion…

THERE WILL BE NO TOMAHAWK MISSILES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Philippians 2:5-11 & Matthew 21:1-11 Micah Bales Our gospel reading this morning is about Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, just days before he would be arrested and executed. Jesus is riding on a donkey, and the people are all around him. There were massive crowds in town for Passover, and Jesus’ arrival in the city…

What Defines Us?

Matt 5:1-20; Psalm 1; 1 Cor 1:18-31 Jennifer Hosler             On Friday (1/20), we had about 100 people in our fellowship hall as I co-led a training on being an active bystander. You may have heard that incidents of harassment have increased over the past two months: more people are being targeted because of their…

THE HOLY IN YOU

Colossians 1:15-28 Jeff Davidson Yet another week, yet another massacre of one kind or another. France suffers their third mass-casualty incident in the last year and a half, with more than 80 people killed. Hundreds are killed and thousands arrested in a coup in Turkey that has religious undertones, although it was conducted by the…

O BETHLEHEM

Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 Nathan Hosler Advent is a time of light and darkness, hope and exile and welcome. A baby will be welcomed that brings hope but under the occupation of the Roman Empire and soon the holy family will flee into exile. There is much talk about refugees these…

REFLECTIONS ON PARIS

Matthew 23:23-36 Jesse Winter When I was asked to preach today, Nate wanted me to talk about mass incarceration. Criminal justice reform is a major focus of my work in the Office of Public Witness, and over the past few months I have learned how complex that issue is. It involves everything from politics, money,…

1st BEST COMMANDMENT

Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Mark 12:28-34 Nathan Hosler 28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the…

Learning from Francis

Learning from Francis (Mark 9:30-37; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8) – Jennifer Hosler Who is the Greatest? First Reading: Skit on Mark 9:30-37 (paraphrase) [narrated, with 4 actors] Jesus is walking along a road with his disciples, traveling through the region of Galilee. Jesus has been doing ministry for a while and he knows what is going…