Preacher: Julia Baker Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 When I saw that the gospel lectionary passage for this 3rd day of Christmas was The Holy Innocents — I wanted to pass. The story of King Herod and his plan to get rid of the infant Jesus before he can grow up to be a threat. Jesus is…
Tag: sermon
Glittering Leaf- Love a Child
Preacher: Nathan Hosler Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Luke 2:1-20 A Mystery As I thought of love and the coming Christ child, the red leaf glittered. How and why? I wondered. There is almost a metallic character as the morning sunlight passed through. What is it that makes this growing energy-producing panel, which I mundanely…
New Life from a Stump (Holy Hope)
Preacher: Jennifer Hosler Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 This week, I was catching up with a parent at my kid’s school, knowing that they had visited their older adult parents over Thanksgiving and that they were tasked with hosting an extended-family-Thanksgiving. I asked how it went and he said, “I don’t know why we always put it…
A Highway in the Wilderness
Preacher: Dana Cassell Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11 Last weekend, I got to go with my friend Emily to an AMAZING local quilting shop here in Virginia. Emily needed some supplies for several projects she’s working on for Christmas gifts, and I tagged along. I am not a quilter or a crafter at all, so I did…
Wholeness in Dark and Light
Preacher: Christie Dahlin Scripture: Luke 1:68-79 Blessed are you, the Most High God of Israel–for you have visited and redeemed your people.You have raised up a mighty savior for us of the house of David,as you promised through the mouths of your holy ones,the prophets of ancient times: salvation from our enemies and from the…
The Silver is Mine and the Gold is Mine
Preacher: Nate Hosler Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 When you read the tasting notes of high-quality (or perhaps pretentious) coffee or cheese, the taster will make observations that are often hard for the untrained person (like myself) to fully appreciate. Hints of this chocolate. Smokey. Fruity-forward. I grew up in a Bible-forward family. In…
Y’all’s Endurance
Preacher: Dana Cassell Scripture: Luke 21:5-19 This month, I have the privilege of working with a congregation here in Roanoke as they try to discern what’s next for their church. Like so many other congregations, they are getting smaller in number, even if not in resources or spiritual well-being. They have a really beautiful, big…
On Love Feast and Mutual Aid
Preacher: Rev. Nathan Hosler Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4 & 2:1-4, Luke 17:5-10 Habakkuk was a musician-prophet in Temple. The brief book and our passage start with a complaint. The prophet complains and laments the violence that surrounds him. This is violence from within and violence from others. The violence is direct—“from the Chaldeans”—and the systemic abuse…
Inward Transformation for the Resistance
Preacher: Jenn Hosler Scripture: Luke 18:9-14 Our tagline as a congregation is “Seeking justice, wholeness, and community through the gospel of Jesus.” We can unpack that a little. Justice – we want to work for social justice in our city, our country, and our world. Wholeness – this comes from the biblical word for peace,…
Persistence and Mystery
Preacher: Christie Dahlin Scripture: Luke 18:1-8 A couple years ago I was the pastor of a church in Boise, Idaho, just a mile away from the Idaho state capitol building. Local politics in Idaho are on the very conservative end of things. During the state legislative session I would gather with a multi-faith group every…
Washington City Church of the Brethren 