Pastor Jeffrey examines a critical episode from the church’s founding: the encounter between Peter and the Roman centurion Cornelius. This was when God made clear to Peter that all people are equally welcome in His church . .. a message that the church has, sadly, spent much of the last 2000 years trying to ignore.
Pastor Jeffrey reviews Mark’s familiar story of the start of Jesus’ ministry to ask what a call like that to the fishermen could look like in today’s world. Even today, some people do drop everything and change their life dramatically, but an invisible, internal change – – a decision to be more intentional about what…
On the eve of the day celebrating the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Pastor Jeffrey examines the nature of callings – – from the grand, like Dr. King’s, that change history, to the intimate, which may elevate only our own life. As a special treat, we visit New York’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church…
The flight of Joseph, Mary and the baby into Egypt to escape Herod is central to the foundation of Christianity, and the obligation to extend care to such refugees is a commandment of all major religions. On this first Sunday after Epiphany, Pastor Jeffrey explores this idea and its enormous importance still today. We also pray for our nation after this week’s…
For our first service in the new year, Pastor Jeffrey examines the story of the three wise men. The important part of the story is that they were people who acted on a sign of hope they received in a troubled time. What signs or directions from God might be out there for our own…
For the Sunday after Christmas, our service was led by an old friend, Rev Julianne Stokstad, who was our settled pastor from 2004 through 2008. In her sermon, “Looking for the Light,” she suggests that praise – – thoughtful, intentional praise – – helps us see the Christ-light in ourselves and others, and that this…
This service of carols and lessons features many members of the congregation, with special emphasis on our youth. We urge everyone to view it at the same time – 7 PM, Thursday December 24 – as a “virtual congregation.” (For best viewing, click the little box in the lower right of the picture to watch…
As we light the fourth Advent candle and head into the last few days before Christmas, Pastor Jeffrey explores the role of this season as a time when our “real” world and the spiritual realm beyond are especially close. From the many biblical visitations around the first Christmas to our personal experience of feeling the…
The third Advent candle is the candle of Love. In today’s sermon, Pastor Jeffrey focuses on the least visible of the central Advent players: Joseph. His simple acceptance of Mary’s unique blessing was a supreme act of love, with or without the angel’s help. And, perhaps more meaningful for us today, Joseph models the fact…
Advent is about hope and preparation. In this sermon, Pastor Jeffrey suggests that the stress of our crazy, sad year of Covid may have conditioned us to understand better than ever before how the Israelites felt when John the Baptist told them to prepare for Earth-shattering change. This service also includes our monthly do-it-yourself Communion.