We get closer to Holy Week and the great paradox of death and resurrection, apparent defeat which becomes triumph.  (Scripture: John 11:1-45)            

Hear the Bible taken seriously, but not literally. Consider the compassionate Christ, not toxic Christianity. In today’s story, Jesus shocks the overly “righteous” once again. But what does this have to do with wild rice? (Scripture: John 4:5-42) Show less

(Scripture John 3: 1-17) This day we celebrated 130 years since the founding of our little church by a group of fiercely independent women in San Rafael. (You can read more about it on our history page.)

For the first Sunday in Lent, Pastor Barbara revisited one of her favorite themes: That the Church is at its best when it speaks from the margins. She remembers her favorite neighbor, a man named Mohamed. His goodness leads to reflection about why goodness, which we know is essential to humanity’s survival, sometimes seems very…

Talk about the ultimate peak experience! On the mountain top, Jesus ask his disciples who he is, and then surprises them. Pastor Barbara explores this question for us, and includes many things Jesus is not. This week we include a lovely anthem by the choir after the sermon. (Scripture Matthew 17: 1-9)  

Following a particularly awful week of mass shootings, Pastor Barbara dropped her planned topic to preach from the heart about the sickness infecting our society.  She took as her text the words of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,”  written in 1969, a similar time of national dismay.

Pastor Barbara retells Matthew’s story of Jesus calling the fishermen to follow him. Why did they do so, immediately? What else was happening at the time? Jesus calls for a metamorphosis in their lives, and ours. How could that be? (Scripture: Matthew 4:12-13a; 17-23)

The second Sunday after Epiphany celebrates the Baptism of Christ, and Paster Barbara used the occasion to explore the meaning of Baptism today, as both a rite of membership in the church and as a damply personal expression of God’s love for each one of us.

Scripture Matthew 2:1-12.  If you, like most of us, think you know the story of the three wise men, take a listen.  Pastor Barbara digs into the actual story, as told in Matthew, and its context in Jewish history.  You’ll be surprised.

For the second Sunday of advent, Pastor Barbara delves into the roots of her personal theology