Sunday Morning Worship (10 am, Sundays) 
at this link: https://zoom.us/j/97010988439

You are more than welcome to join the Sunday Morning Worship Zoom "meeting" as early as 9:45 am.  Some folks sign in early to visit with each other and/or to just make sure their Zoom is set up correctly.  
Note:  Because of the threat of "Zoom Bombing,"  Sunday Morning Worship is now password protected.   If you would like to join us and do not yet have the password please email our very warm and friendly choir director Tom Ludwig at tludwig.rn@gmail.com.  We very much want you to be with us, but we also want to do our best to honor the integrity and safety of our worship experience together.  ​

The Meaning of the The Cross--Intro:  "The Problem With Substitutionary Atonement"
February 26, 2023

This message begins a new sermon series on "The Meaning of the Cross." I, along with many theologians and preachers at this point in history, no longer believe that the traditional doctrine of "Penal Substitutionary Atonement" is the best or most accurate and meaningful way to understand why Jesus died on the cross. This message is the introduction to the series, and don't worry, it's not too complicated or nerdy from a theological perspective. I just try to explain why this really matters! The series will explore some of the beautiful meanings of the cross that don't involve God demanding bloodshed in order to forgive us and accept us.

Eve, Adam & The Snake, Part 7:  "Some Conclusions and the Big Picture Pattern"
February 12th, 2023

This is the final of 7 sermons preached on this text. I begin with some comments on how Scripture contains both eternal truths AND some things that are culturally limited and no longer true for us today. I talk about the challenge it is to sort these things out, and I share a quote from Richard Rohr's book about the Bible being a "text in travail" as it takes "3 steps forward and 2 steps back." I end by sharing the pattern that is revealed in the first few chapters of the Bible and that gets repeated throughout the Bible and in our own spiritual journeys.

Eve, Adam & The Snake, Part 6: "The Problem Of Blaming The Woman"
February 5th, 2023

The first 5 messages in this sermon series were preached in the Fall of 2022. We're finally back into it now. This message gets into the more disturbing responses of God to the snake and Eve and Adam. I draw from some of the previous week's principles for interpreting Scripture, and discuss why I do not believe that this text should ever be used as a biblical rational for instituting Patriarchy or male domination of women. It's a difficult text for us all to deal with, and this is a first crack at sharing some of the methods we can use as we try to read the Bible well regarding Scriptures such as this one.

"How Do We Hear God's Word Through The Bible?"
January 29th, 2023

The main focus of this message is on how to "hear" the Word of God in and through the Bible. As I often say, "the Bible is an easy book to misinterpret, a difficult book to read well, but very much worth the trouble." I share some of the basic principles that we need to use to read the Bible well, and also share some insights about how to read the Bible from a "progressive" perspective. I love the Bible, and learning how to read it deeply and responsibly can open up the Scriptures in a way that can be life-changing, healing, and beautiful.

"Why We Have An Offering When We Don't Pass A Plate"
January 22nd, 2023 (Annual Meeting Sunday)

This sermon was a response to a wonderful question posed by a person at last Sunday's Bible Study after worship. She asked what we're supposed to do in worship when the offertory music is played now that we no longer pass an offering plate during that time. The message focuses on what an offering really is, and the simple fact that the offering God longs for most is for us to give our entire lives back to God.

"A Church For Everyone And A God Who Doesn't Mind Not Being Known"

I begin this message by sharing a story about a person who had been pretty much kicked out of the church he grew up in because he got divorced. I talk about what the UCC stands for and why we worship and proclaim a God who meets us "wherever we are on life's journey." And then I respond to the question, "Who or what is God?" a bit, and suggest that in many ways it can sometimes be a good thing "not to know." 

"A Deeper Epiphany"
January 8th, 2023

We focused on the Epiphany story in this message--the story of the "wise ones from the East" following the star to find the savior. I spent the first part of the message drawing from a book by Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg called "The First Christmas" in which they underscored how the Christmas stories were put together in response to the "Gospel of Caesar" and its Roman Imperial Theology. Then I talked about the meaning of the wise ones from a foreign religion and nation coming to honor the Light of Christ and how Epiphany is a celebration of the Universal Light and Love that is known and recognized by all people within the framework of their own religion and spiritual traditions.

"Mutual Adoration" (Christmas Eve Message)
December 24th, 2022

This was our Christmas Eve message. We listened to MUCC member Martha Olsen share a beautiful message sent to her as a Christmas card from a friend. The message touched on adoring the baby Jesus, adoring babies in general, and on the reality that God adores us. I shared that the heart of the whole biblical message in many ways is mutual adoration--God adoring us and all of Creation, and us awakening to the joy of adoring God in response.

"Advent Joy" (sermon and music of Ken Medema)
December 11th, 2022

This third Sunday of Advent was made even more special by having Pastor Bryan's good friend Ken Medema in worship with us. Ken has the amazing ability to musically respond to messages, keynotes, and stories by immediately creating a song that sings back the themes of the message. So this is Bryan's 14 minute message on Advent Joy, followed by Ken's 7 minute musical response. Ken also responded to two brief stories from people in our congregation. Enjoy!

"Peace Comes From Putting Our Weight Down On It"
December 4th, 2022

It's the second Sunday of Advent and the theme is Peace. I talk about the social peace and liberation from oppression that the people of Israel were longing for as they awaited the Messiah, and how Jesus shows us the Way OF Peace and the Way TO Peace, but that he did not come to bring about peace in the world FOR us. He came to show us how God makes Peace THROUGH us. Then I talk about personal peace and "inner peace," and how that comes from getting clear what we really do believe and then choosing to truly live and trust that, or "put all our weight down on it."

"Advent Hope"
November 27th, 2022

We're back into the season of Advent once again, and our tradition is to focus on the theme of Hope during the first Sunday of Advent. I shared how hope and faith go together--faith being the life of working to draw close to God and bring about the justice and love that we hope for in our own lives and in the world. I talk about our Hope being grounded to our knowing how the Story of our faith journey and our lives actually ends in Scripture--with the Love and Justice and renewed earth of God having the Final Word. Why does that matter? Well give the sermon a listen. :)

"Being Seen & Being Tenaciously Faithful"
"November 13, 2022"

This sermon focuses on the story of the woman who had a "flow of blood" for 12 years and who had spent all her money and extreme effort trying to get well. When she heard about Jesus and his power to heal, she risked everything to simply touch the hem of his garment, believing that she would be healed if she did. I talked a bit about her amazing tenacity and her refusal to give up. We honored our church's support of people and programs in Haiti during this worship service. I chose this story because of the amazing faith of this woman and of the people of Haiti who refuse to give up hope despite their exhausting experiences of being exploited and in the vice-grips of grinding poverty, sickness, and injustice.

"Fire, Cloud, & The Frequency of Grace"
November 6, 2022

This sermon focuses on the concept of "prevenient grace"--the ways in which God "goes before us" and works on our behalf long before we are aware of it. This is especially true in times of transition. Times when we leave something old in order to be more free, but are not sure exactly where we're headed or how we'll get there. This sermon was also preached during a service of infant baptism, which is a celebration of Grace and of all the ways God reaches out to us, guides us, and creates us to respond to Love.

"Costly Grace & A Reason For A Party"
October 30, 2022 (Halloween Sunday, which is why Pastor Bryan is wearing his Captain Luke Picard costume!)

We celebrated the baptism of a 4 year old girl this Sunday, and so we took a break from our sermon series and the message focused on the "amazing Grace" that is so beautifully at the heart of baptisms of infants and young children especially. This sermon makes the point that God's unconditional love is also meant to call forth a response within and from us, and that the "free gift of God's Grace" also cost "everything."

"Eve, Adam & the Snake--Part 5: Blame and Projection"
October 23, 2022

When God came to Adam and Eve after they'd eaten the forbidden fruit, the first thing they each did was blame their decision on someone or something else. This message focuses on the tendency we all have to blame, and also to project our "stuff" onto others. I suggest that dealing with the dangers of projection is one of Jesus' primary teachings, and that a failure to deal with projection leads to great suffering and robs us of the opportunity to learn from honest exploration of our mistakes.

"Eve, Adam & the Snake--Part 4: The Serpent, Hiding, Fear, and Being Found"
October 16, 2022

This time we focus on the identity of the serpent, and I explore the meaning of the Hebrew word translated as "crafty" to describe the snake. I suggest the serpent might actually be part of the inner conversation that goes on within all of us when we're thinking things through. The capacity to question is God given, but must be used in service to God and not the ego. We then take a quick look at the fear of being "exposed," and how God always comes looking for us when we start to hide.

"Eve, Adam & the Snake--Part 3: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil"
October 9, 2022

This is the 3rd message in the sermon series about the Garden of Eden. This one focuses on the meaning of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It gets into the dangers of dualistic thinking and reducing the world to toxic binaries. You know--us/them, good people/bad people--the categories that breed smug and self-righteous church people... Note: The audio on the live sermon cut out about 12 minutes in. I repeated the rest of the message from my desk at home. Sorry for the interruption and less that live feel of that, but hopefully the message is there.

"This Church Will Not Burn You"
October 2, 2022

This message was given as part of the celebration of our 45th anniversary as a congregation. I open the message sharing that many people have told me they have been "burned by churches" and that they have a hard time trusting "organized religion." I then get into John 15:1-5 in which Jesus says, "I am the True Vine, God is the Vinegrower, and you are the branches." Jesus says God "prunes" the branches on this vine in order to promote greater health, growth, and fruitfulness. I talk about how this applies to our individual lives and to the life of our congregation.

"Eve, Adam, and the Snake, Part 2:  The Lie About God"
September 25, 2022

This is the second in the sermon series about the story in Genesis 2 and 3 of how both Adam and Eve were lied to by the serpent. In this message I get into how the lie was about God, and how the serpent caused Eve to doubt that who she was and what God had given to her and Adam was truly "enough." I draw from author and preacher Stan Mitchell's work in which he contends that the the serpent's lie about God led to the shame which preceded the "sin" of making a destructive choice. The message ends with a story about how this lie is a part of all of our lives, and how the Garden of Eden story is the story of us all.

"Eve, Adam, and the Snake, Part 1:  Shame, Not Sin, Is The Deeper Issue"
September 18, 2022

I'm introducing a new sermon series here on the story of "The Fall" in Genesis 2 and 3. I share the insights of theologians and pastors like Matthew Fox and Stan Mitchell who are contending that the Church has tragically misinterpreted these texts, and that that Bible actually teaches "Original Blessing" rather than "Original Sin." I spend time in this first message in the series explaining that shame is the real "original problem," and that the text never in any way suggested that the eating of the forbidden fruit meant that humans were tragically flawed and deserving of eternal punishment.

Note:  The signal to the zoom recording was obviously a bit too hot and so the "P's" and other harder consonants peak out a bit.  You'll hear a popping sound.  It's a bit annoying at times but the message still comes through.  Sorry about that!

"Words Matter"
September 11, 2022

This message was given from zoom because I was isolating with COVID. The sermon focuses on the power of our words to do harm or to communicate the love of Christ. I take a look at the meanings of the "bitterness, anger, wrath, wrangling, and malice" listed in Ephesians 4, and suggest that an honest look at how we express ourselves, even when we don't like what we see, can be the opening to greater awakening and growth.

"God's Perfect Love Is Always Stronger Than Fear"
August 21, 2022

This sermon is based on the well known Scripture from 1 Jn. 4 that says, "Perfect love casts out fear." I talk about the importance of moving beyond fear based religion, and get into what it means to trust God in the specifics of real life, and what that might look like in different areas of life.

"What One Thing Do You Lack?"
​August 14, 2022
 
This message begins focusing on Romans 12:1-2, which tells us "not to let this world cram us into its mold." I suggest that the most radical thing we can do in response to what's going on in the world is to truly get more deeply into God. The the message shifts to the story of the "Rich Young Ruler" to whom Jesus says, "You lack one thing." I pose that question--if Jesus were to put a finger on "one thing" in our life that might be in our way spiritually, what would it be?




"All For Good" (With song by Emma Ceurvels)
​August 7, 2022




This message focuses on the story of Joseph and on Paul's statement in Romans 8:28 that "All things work together for good..." The message explores how this can be true, and also how difficult and even offensive it can be to suggest this is true at times. The message ends with some thoughtful reflections by my daughter Emma and she then sings a song based on this text that she and I composed together.

"What Does It Mean to 'Do Well' in Life?"
July 31, 2022

The lectionary Gospel text for this day was the story in Luke 12 about the landowner who has a great crop and builds larger barns, stores it all for himself, and thinks he's got it made. Little did he know his life was going to end immediately. I get into what "doing well" really means, and why Jesus challenges those who "treasure up riches for themselves but are not rich toward God."

"Does It Have To Be Complex Or Sophisticated?"
​July 10, 2022

The Scripture for this message tells the story of Naaman being healed of a skin disease by simply washing 7 times as directed by the prophet. At first he was put off that the prophet would tell him to do something so "simple," and almost missed the healing by thinking it needed to be more "complicated." Ah, how our ego's love to make it more complex than it often needs to be...

"Keep Church & State Separate, But Bring Our Core Values Into Everything"
​July 3, 2022

​On the Sunday closest to July 4th I always try to reflect a bit on how our faith can and should impact our civic and public engagement, especially regarding issues of social justice. I've often reflected on the very "tricky" relationship between biblical faith and patriotism or nationalism. In this message I suggest that a powerful way to bring who we are as followers of Jesus into the social realm is to focus on our core values based on biblical teachings.

"An Attempt To Respond Soulfully To The Supreme Court Decision"
June 26, 2022

This message was given on the Sunday following the Supreme court decision in which Roe v. Wade was overturned. I reflect on some of the sadness, fear, and outrage that many people are feeling, and to how we can respond faithfully. I suggest that love is ultimately what needs to fuel our commitment to what is most life-giving for all and how we attempt to live our faith in the public realm. I also share a portion of a sermon preached by Bill Moyers at the 50th anniversary of the UCC, which he based on the text of Jesus overturning the tables in the temple.

"Exploring Why Jesus Called God 'Abba'"
June 19, 2022 (Fathers' Day)

This sermon was given on Father's Day, and gets into some of the reasons why Jesus called God "Abba" or "Daddy" in Aramaic. I also note WHEN Jesus cried out to the Divine using that name, and some of what that means for us all.

"Pentecost Part 2: Spiritual Fire And The Power Of Truth"
June 12, 2022

This sermon continues the Pentecost theme of Holy Spirit Fire coming up the early disciples. I talk about what spiritual fire is, and then move into the power of love and truth. The message ends with a bit of a focus on the role of being truthful and authentic in the process of dealing with issues of sexual orientation and being one's "true self."

"Pentecost Part 1:  "Bringing Us Back Together And The Power Of Community"
June 5, 2022

I talk a bit about what the original Pentecost experience was about, and about the importance of the early church becoming a community rather than a bunch of individuals. The message ends with a story from the life of Martin Luther King Jr. about his experience of the Spirit giving him power to face the dangers of his ministry.

"The Right Person At The Right Time"
​May 22, 2022
This message is based on how Paul was called by the Spirit through a vision in the night to go to Macedonia. I talk about how God often speaks to us and causes us to meet up with other specific people in order to bring something into being. Paul met Lydia, and the message ends with who she was and why that meeting was so significant.

"Honoring The Connection Instead of Helping"
​May 15, 2022

Our worship this day celebrated our connection to a ministry among the poorest of the poor in the country of Haiti. The message focused on the "Great Compassion" of Matthew 25 and on honoring our connection with people and understanding that when we help others we are helping ourselves--as well as loving God.

"Coming Home Again and Again"
March 20, 2022

The Prodigal Son story is one of Jesus's most powerful and central teachings, because it gives us a deep insight into the character of God and also into who we are. I make the point that we all "lose ourselves" and that we can all "come to ourselves" and return to Unconditional Love again and again. And then of course there's that "older brother" in all of us...

"Waging Peace and Love"
​March 13, 2022

This sermon was preached as the war in Ukraine was taking hold in all of its horror. Our service this morning was given largely to prayers for peace and trying to come to terms with what's going on. My message focused among other things on standing FOR love and justice and not just against war. I talked about what it means to be vessels of Divine Light at this point.

"The Inner Work of Facing Doubts and Demons"
​January 30, 2022

This message explores why Jesus went into the wilderness to be "tempted by Satan." I suggest that after hearing the voice of God at his baptism, Jesus needed to go into the wilderness to come to terms with what it meant to be the Beloved, and how a time of questions and doubts often follows a transforming spiritual experience.

"Faith In and Through The Storm"
January 23, 2022

This message was based on the story of Jesus calming the storm. This text was used to take a look at our congregation's life together during the year 2021, and to explore what faith means even when a storm continues to rage.

 "Why It All Starts With Knowing We Are Beloved
​(Jesus' Baptism)"
January 16, 2022

This message explores the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptism, and how it is really a message to us all that God delights in us. I get into how knowing this is the foundation of a conscious spiritual journey and how it solidifies knowing who we are at the core of our being. I end by making the connection between knowing ourselves as loved and being free to stand for the dignity and value of all persons, regardless of the price--as Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr. did.

"Epiphany-Home By Another Way"
January 9, 2022

Our 1-9-22 worship focused on Epiphany--the story of the "wise ones" from the East following the Light to Bethlehem. This message includes a new song from Christopher Grundy based on the Epiphany story and how the wise ones refused to listen to Herod and the Roman Empire and chose Christ over capitulation with the "domination system."

"The Magnificat of Mary"
January 2, 2022

The Church calendar year doesn't stay with the events around the birth of Jesus for very long, and we often miss some very important texts and messages as a result. So this year I wanted to make sure we took a look at some of the content of the "Magnificat of Mary"--Mary's words in response to her cousin Elizabeth telling her that her own baby John "lept for joy" when pregnant Mary walked into the room.

"More About Christmas"
​December 26, 2021

Since Sunday morning came the day after Christmas I decided to stay with the Christmas story a bit more and to share some more about some of the meaning of Christmas and the coming of Christ to earth in Jesus and in all of us.

"Close Enough"
​Christmas Eve - December 24, 2021

This is a brief message touching on the meaning of God coming to earth at Christmas. The talk hinges on an anecdote told by the amazing spiritual director and author James Finley and on Mary "pondering these things in her heart."

"Advent Joy"
​December 12, 2021

This sermon on the Advent Theme of joy focuses on "being in the Flow" of God and also on the notion that we all tend to "see what we're looking for." We can't "make joy happen"--it's more the "by-product of an authentically lived life." The sermon ends with the lyrics of a brand new song by well-known author Brian McLaren called, "This Beautiful Mess."

"Advent Peace"
December 5, 2021

We're in the second week of Advent, and the theme is Peace. I talk about how Jesus fills the Messianic prophecies even though the world is obviously not at peace. I talk about our own willingness or unwillingness to do what we know we need to do to be agents of God's peace, and to be at peace within ourselves. I end with some words about the disciple John, "resting his head on the heart of Jesus," and how we all are invited to do the same.

"Advent Hope"
​November 28, 2021

This sermon focuses on Hope, which is the theme of the first week of Advent. I talk about the difference between false hope and Advent hope, and share quotes from 3 powerful authors and speakers (Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rachel Held Evans, and Valerie Kaur). You'll find their wisdom and insights meaningful both on a personal level and in terms of hope for the world at large. Much needed at this point in history!

"First Fruits"
​November 14, 2021

This sermon was a "stewardship" message and includes a quick overview of our congregation's current financial realities. There is just a bit about the biblical notion of tithing, and then the focus is on the term "first fruits." The message quickly becomes more about giving and generosity as a way of life and not just about money. It concludes with a heartwarming story about a woman who practiced generosity in a very special and simple way.

​"Patriarchal Problems and the Faithfulness of Ruth"
​November 7, 2021
This message gets into some of the reasons why Patriarchy is dangerous and problematic, and why our way of being Christian involves a commitment to dismantling and challenging male/masculine domination. It also gets into the story of Ruth and her faith and commitment and prominence in the overall biblical story.

"Is Jesus Really The Only Way?
​A Different Take On John 14:6"
​October 31, 2021

John 14:6 has often been used by Christians who claim that Jesus is the "only way" to know God and that all other spiritual frameworks and religious traditions are wrong. This sermon is a beginning exploration of another way to approach what Jesus was saying in this text.

 

"Who Is God, How Do We Know, and What Does It Mean To Believe?"
​October 17, 2021

This is the 3rd sermon based on Jesus's response to the question, "What commandment is the greatest?" The previous two focused on what it means to LOVE God, and what it means to "Love God with all our minds." This one backs up a bit and acknowledges that it's hard for many of us to love God because we're not really sure we believe that God exists at all.

"Loving God With All Our MInds"
October 10, 2021

This message focuses on Jesus' teaching in Mark 12 to "Love God with all our minds..."

Sorry, but there is no decent video for this message. The screen will be dark throughout the audio. That was due to a tech glitch on our part!  The audio comes through clearly however.

Last week's message was about loving God in general, but there was so much more to say about what it means to love God with our minds that this sermon focuses completely on that.

 "One Love" Service With Shamanic Teachers Jessica Riphenburg and Lori Frison
​September 19, 2021

Periodically we invited leaders from other religious traditions to join us for a "One Love Interfaith Worship" service. The purpose is to find and celebrate common ground and Divine Truth in other religious traditions. On 9-19-21 we enjoyed the leadership of shamanic practitioners Jessica Riphenburg and Lori Frison. Instead of a sermon, we were led in a brief shamanic journey to listen to the "Tree Spirit." Jessica led us in the brief journey, and Lori shared a personal experience of being the Divine communicating through a tree.

"Complaints & Satisfaction"
August 1, 2021

This sermon starts off with the "back to Egypt" motif--how the people of Israel complained once they got to the wilderness and did not have enough food. I talk a bit about the toxic and addictive spiritual energy behind complaining. Then we pivot to the Gospel in which Jesus refers to himself as the "Bread of Life," and we talk about what we are all longing for the most.

"A Miracle And So Much More"
July 25, 2021

This sermon explores the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and fish, and then gets into the meaning of there being bread "left over." I talk about how God so often blesses us with way more than we could hope for, and share a story from my life in which this was very much the case.

"Hearing And Doing The Word"
July 18, 2021

This sermon is based on the text from the book of James in which we are told to not just be "hearers of the Word," but "doers of it." So this message, predictably enough, is about putting our spiritual insights into action and not making the mistake of assuming we've acted on something simply because we've talked about it.

"Why Combining Nationalism And Biblical Faith Is At Best A Tricky Thing"
July 4, 2021

​Given on the 4th of July, this sermon reminds us that God loves all people and all nations, and that God never wanted Israel to have a single authoritarian human leader. It is wonderful to love our own nation and to make it as loving and just as possible, but we need to remember that God loves all nations and peoples equally and that centralized governmental power without accountability (Kings) was never God's intention.

"Flowing With Living Water"
​May 16, 2021

The lectionary Psalm talks about those who are committed to God being like trees planted by a stream... got me thinking about the element of water, and Jesus saying, "all who are thirsty, come to me and drink..." I shared how my own experience of tasting "Living Water" for the first time happened as I looked out over the water, and how the Spirit is what we're all thirsty for, whether we realize it or not.

"Midwives & Mothers--In All of Us"
May 9, 2021 (Mother's Day) 

Since God is love and no human relationship teaches us any more (for better or sometimes for worse) about the experience of being loved than the mother/child relationship, it's crucial for us to explore this again and again. This time we take our cues from the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah and from Pharaoh's daughter Hepshepsut and Moses's biological mother.

"Loving Earth and All Creation"
April 25, 2021

This was my message for our Earth Day Sunday worship. I focused on the importance of loving the earth instead of just "managing it well." Only love will lead to the changes needed at this point in history. I also talked about the need to make our love for the earth both personal and public, and on the love for each other that is required to have the complex conversations we need to have.

"A Gifted Body"
​April 11, 2021

It was a joy to receive a bunch of new members into our church on this Sunday, and these texts in which Paul uses the metaphor of the Body with different members and gifts seemed like a natural fit for the morning. I talk about how we can get things that matter done when we bring our different gifts together, and I quote Brene Brown on the importance of using the gifts we've been given if we want to connect with and experience the Divine Flow.

Easter Sunday "Unstoppable Love"
​April 4, 2021

This Easter message focuses on the truth that God's Love is the most powerful force/energy in the universe--stronger than all this world's brokenness, hate, and injustice.

(Palm Sunday) "Provocation Sunday"
​March 28, 2021

As the title suggests, this sermon explores how Jesus "provoked" a confrontation with the religious establishment and with the injustice of the Roman empire on Palm Sunday. Rather than this day being a pep rally of praise for Jesus, it marked the beginning of his showdown with the authorities.
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"Who Is Jesus?" Part 8 (The Shepherd's Abundance)
​March 21, 2021

This is the final message in this 8 part series, and explores the metaphor of Shepherd that is found in both Psalm 23 and John 10. The notion of an "overflowing cup" and "abundant life" is also a focus in both of these texts. This message is a simple exploration of what that really means for us.

"Who Is Jesus?" Part 7 (God's Welcome Home)
​March 14, 2021

This sermon starts with rethinking the traditional notion of "Original Sin" and suggests that the deeper Truth is found in our "Original Blessing." And then we take a look at the parable of the Prodigal Son in order to be reminded that no matter what, we're always welcome Home.

"Who Is Jesus?  Part 6 (Kenosis:  The Way of Self-Emptying" )  March 7, 2021

This sermon explores the well known "hymn" from Phil. 2 that talks about Jesus willingly "emptying himself." We then look at Mary in John 12 anointing Jesus with expensive ointment as an expression of the love that to some may seem like a "waste," but which is actually a powerful expression of God's Love for us all and a key aspect of the Way of Jesus.

"Who Is Jesus?"  Part 5 (A New Way of Seeing Everything"  February 28, 2021

This sermon explores the meaning of Jesus's core message, "repent for the Kingdom (consciousness) of God is at hand." We explore the root meaning of the word repentance--"larger mind"--and how Jesus called us to a new way of seeing ourselves, life, and everything.

"Who Is Jesus?" Part 4 (The Path To Freedom)
​February, 21 2021

This sermon explores what I'm calling the "4-Fold Path To Freedom" that is at the heart of the Way of Jesus, and how this applies to us as individuals and also to our engagement as a community with the world. If you're stuck with an issue, an addiction, a change you want/need to make but just can't seem to, this message is for you.

"Who Is Jesus?" Part 3 (Prophetic Compassion)
​February, 14 2021

This message was given on Transfiguration Sunday, when Jesus was met on the mountain top by Elijah and Moses. The sermon explores how Jesus tells us to "be compassionate as God is compassionate," and how any spiritual path that loses love and compassion will wind up being abusive.

"Who Is Jesus?" Part 2:
(Spirit Person and Wisdom Teacher)
​February 7, 2021

We're taking a look at who Jesus was to the disciples who "dropped their nets and followed" him before the cross and Easter. This message is based on Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.

"Who Is Jesus?" Part 1:
(Foundations: A Teacher Worth Following)
January 31, 2021

Beginning a sermon series on the identity of Jesus. This one lays some foundations and then begins an exploration of what it was about Jesus that was so compelling that people would follow him and trust him completely.

"The Prophet And The King"
​January 10, 2021

Using the lectionary text that focuses on the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, this message in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection reflects on the prophetic tradition as represented by John the Baptist.

"Light And Love To The Bottom & For All"
January 3, 2021

This sermon focuses on some of the basic Truths communicated through the Christ being born among the poor and marginalized and the astrologers from the East being led by the Light to the Source of Light and Love for all.

"Joy--Especially Now"
​December 13, 2020

The theme for the 3rd Sunday of Advent is Joy. This sermon explores how Joy is deeper than "happiness," and how and why Divine Joy is in many ways most important when we're up against difficult challenges.

​"Peace In, Peace Out"
December 6, 2020

Peace is the theme of the second Sunday in Advent. This sermon touches on the truth that the Peace of Christ is a matter of being alive spiritually and having the Divine Life Force flowing from within. When that happens, we become powerful agents of Peace simply by being who are ARE.

"Thanksgiving 2020"
November 22, 2020

The text for this sermon is the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers with only one--a Samaritan leper--coming back to give thanks. The message explores the deeper and wider healing Jesus was calling forth, and also a bit about the importance of giving thanks especially when circumstances (such as a pandemic!) are difficult.

"Living In The Divine Flow" or
​"Why We Often Don't Like Stewardship"
November 15, 2020

This sermon begins with why "stewardship campaigns" often turn people off, and then moves into an inspiring update of our church's current reality financially and an exploration of what it means to receive the flow of God's abundance and then be vessels through which that abundance can flow to others.

"A Time For Humility"
​November 8, 2020

This sermon explores the meaning and importance of humility, and why it is so needed at this moment in our nation's history. I also reflect on how easily our best attempts to share Divine Truth can be condescending and judgmental if humility--a by product of God's Love within us--is not present.

"Foundations, Storms, & Doing It Anyway"
​November 1, 2020

This message was given just prior to the Presidential election on Nov. 3rd, anticipating a good deal of "stormy weather" ahead. I talk about building our lives and our church and our service to the world on a foundation solid enough to weather adversity and stand the tests of time.

"The Knock At The Door"
​October 25, 2020

This sermon focuses on Rev. 3:20 in which Jesus says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock..." I get into what that means and how God might be knocking on the door of our lives, churches, and world... and what it means to let Jesus in.

"Render To Caesar?" or "For God's Sake Vote
October 18, 2020

The text is the famous verse from Matthew's Gospel where Jesus says, "Render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's." I get into how I think this verse has been misinterpreted to say that God has nothing to do with politics, and I offer some suggestions about how to vote based on our faith.

"Wrestling With God" or
​"Kneeling & Standing At The Same Time"
October 11, 2020

This one explores the story of Jacob wrestling with God until he is blessed, and how we all need to wrestle with our own issues as we also engage in the struggle to stand firmly for justice.

"Fixed on God & Sharing One Cup"
​October 4, 2020

Romans 12 tells us to "fix our attention on God." This sermon explores a bit about what that means, why it's so important, and how to do it--especially when it's difficult to know how to connect with God in the first place. The message includes the song, "Gently Leading Me," by Christopher Grundy.

"The Platinum Rule" or "Avoiding Hell On Earth"
​September 27, 2020

An exploration of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 on the danger of festering anger and disrespect and the importance of trying to understand the perspective of others--especially those who "have something against us."

"Deliver Us From Evil" or "Own Your Stuff & Stop Lying"
​September 13, 2020

Almost every Sunday, in almost every church, we pray the Lord's Prayer, or "The Prayer of Jesus" as I prefer to call it. In it, we pray, "...deliver us from evil." But what is evil? This message offers a response to that question and explores Jesus' most basic teaching about how to resist evil in our own lives and in the world.

"When You're Facing Something Overwhelming"
​August 16, 2020

This is week 2 in a sermon series on prayer. In this sermon I explore the well known prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and offer some insights on how to pray for courage and strength in the face of something overwhelming.

What Are We Doing When We Pray (week 1)
"Honesty, Alignment, & What Prayer Is Not"
August 9, 2020

Beginning a new a series of sermons on prayer.

"Bread, Fish, & Rome"
​August 2, 2020

The text is Jesus feeding the 5000 (plus) in John 6:6-15. The message explores overcoming obstacles, the power of sharing, and how this "miracle" was also a defiance of Roman occupation and injustice.

"The Power of A Heart That Is Not Confused"
​July, 19 2020 

Among other things this sermon explores the spiritual power of having clarity when it comes to the purpose of life and the will of God. This came in the immediate aftermath of the death of Representative John Lewis, and pays tribute to his life and witness for justice and grace.

"Pentecost 2020 and the Virus of White Supremacy"
​May 31, 2020

This sermon on Pentecost Sunday came during the explosive response throughout the world to the murder of George Floyd (and so many people of color before him).

Mother's Day
​May 10, 2020

Reflections on what Mothers Day has to say to us in the time of the pandemic. Focused on the story of the two mothers claiming the same child before King Solomon. Must admit I was tempted to call it "Torn Between Two Mothers," but that was just a bit too...well, enough said if you know the story.

​"Emmaus Moments"
​May 3, 2020

Reflections on those moments when God appears in a way that is unexpected, unrecognizable at first, beyond adequate description, unforgettable, and life-changing.

Easter Sunday!
​April 12, 2020

An exploration of Easter themes using Bryan's children's song, "What Does It Mean For Us Today?" as a framework.

"God Is With Us--But What Does That Mean?"
March 15, 2020

We attempted to livestream worship for the first time March 15, 2020 using Facebook, but evidently Facebook was overloaded by too many groups trying to do the same thing all at the same time. Here is a recorded version of the sermon Pastor Bryan would have given during the livestream. We hope it is meaningful and helpful as we all lean into this time of great uncertainly with the COVID-19 virus.