This was the first of Pastor Jeffrey’s online sermons during the weeks our Sanctuary has been closed for the COVID-19 virus crisis. It was part of our first online “virtual service.” In the weeks that followed, we added rough video of the sermon and then a complete video service recorded in the FCCSR sanctuary. Living…
As part of our celebration of Black History Month, Jeffrey introduced us to Prof. Howard Thurman, one of the architects of liberation theology and an important influence on Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr’s education and thinking. Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited was widely read and quoted during the Montgomery bus boycott. Some historians credit…
(Scripture: Psalm 119:105-112 and Matthew 5:13-16 ) “Salt of the Earth.” “Light of the World.” Pastor Jeffrey asks us what these lovely, familiar metaphors really mean as a guide for living today. What, in practical terms, is a life filled with “salt” and “light?” The answer should be familiar to any parent or teacher coaching…
Scripture: Psalm 15, and Matthew 5: 1-12 (The Beatitudes) – Being “Blessed” is not just a synonym for happiness. It represents a deeper form of happiness based on positive change and a fuller understanding of life. That’s why this short set of precepts from the Sermon on the Mount retains the power to move us.…
Pastor Jeffrey and his wife recently survived an extended cross-country move that required a LOT of tough decisions about what to bring with them and what to leave behind. Scripture offers much advice on the subject, from the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis to Jesus recruiting his first band of followers. That advice is…
“Faith sees best in the dark” Kierkegaard On his first Sunday as our new settled Pastor, Jeffrey explored the ancient dread that was attached to the growing darkness of December and how, even today, that darkness can lead us to examine our fears. Thus, the return of the light can magnify the hopeful message of…
On October 27, Rev. Cochran-Carney preached this sermon as the candidate to be our next settled pastor. As an extra challenge, the church was without electricity that day due a PG&E blackout*, which he refers to in his opening. Following the service, the congregation voted unanimously to confirm the call. Pastor Jeffrey will start leading…
In this sermon, Pastor Sally explores the challenge of self-acceptance. This has never been an issue for old-time religion, with its focus on sin, punishment and guilt. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) But real life is full of ambiguities, and a religion for our times has to recognize and deal with all the aspects of our selves. Rather…
“Home” is one of the most powerful ideas in human culture – – both as a physical reality and as a metaphor for spiritual peace. It appears again and again as a critical concept in scripture (Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16, Luke 12:32-34.) In this sermon Pastor Sally takes a deep look at the central irony of a…
When we celebrated Pride month in May of 2019, every time we tried to fly our Rainbow flag over the church sign, some troubled soul came by in the dead of night and tore it down. After this had happened for several weeks, we decided to extend Pride month into August and (after taking some…