Sermons (Page 3)

Change-Maker Part 4: Empowerment

Pastor Elisabeth explores the ways Jesus used empowerment to be a change maker, and ways we can,too. He often called out the person in the back, asked about them, and in blessing them empowered their healing. Likewise, he empowered the disciples to go among the crpwd to seek food, and they found it to feed…

Change-making Part 3: Creativity

Using the lectio divino method, we consider again the feeding of the 5000 as showing Jesus as a creative Change-maker. Pastor Elisabeth also tells the story of the Japanese woodcarver who sees the sculpture in the tree before he can begin as an example of the creative imagination. Likewise, Jesus saw the person in each…

Change-makers Part 2: Collaboration

Pastor Elisabeth explores being Change-makers by being collaborative as part following Jesus in this 4 part series. He taught the disciples to go out together, and showed them how to collaborate with the people in the feeding of the 5000.

Joy as Resistance

Pastor Elisabeth discusses ways joy can be an antidote to the pain and suffering causedby oppressive systems. She tells have Jesus recognized joy, and describes the Estonian “Singing Revolution” that defied the Soviet system. Joy often comes from serving in surprising ways, and energizes service and resistance.

Healing as Resistance

Pastor Elisabeth continues to explore the everyday ways we resist the injustices of the world. She recalls the story of Jesus healing the women on the Sabbath as a political act against an oppressive system, and she emphasizes that we too are part of the healing of the world in collaboration and communion with others.

Music as a form of Resistance

Guest preacher Rev Ann Jefferson of the City of Refuge church in Oakland presents. ways music has been used as a form of resistance. She decdes several gospel hymns that help reisist slavery and inspired freedom movements.

Pride Sunday Service–Dancing on Holy Ground

We share the entire service in this post. Church member Julie Dowling tells her story of living with AIDS, including her years living in an AIDS hospice. We celebrate God’s extravagant welcome to all people. This year we again have a section of the AID’s Quilt remembering those who have died from AIDs.

“Our Father” Guest Preacher Rev. Wally Bryen

Rev. Bryen is a chaplain at Stanford’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. He, explores the Lord’s Prayer found in different versions in Matthew and Luke and describes some of the wyas this has been a powerful prayer in the hospital.  Members of the congregation also reflect on having or being a father. This week we share the entire service.