August 30, 2020 Online Worship. Sermon: The Impossible Is Just Another Day

The story of Moses meeting God in the burning bush in the desert is the foundational story of our faith, because it shows us how God wants us to live. God doesn't choose powerful politicians like Pharaoh and his advisors to change the world. God chose a shepherd from the people that Pharaoh was oppressing. God is calling to us to change the world, too; to follow Moses and other prophets in sharing this good news of God's radical love and justice.

Copyright notification permissions “We Are Marching” Tune and Text: South African traditional. ©1984, Utryck, Walton Music Corporation, agent. Published by OCP Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONELICENSE with license #A-730247. All Rights Reserved.

“Exodus 3:1-15” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

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Music inspires our preachers and worship leaders in the creation of their messages and worship time. Check out some of these songs that helped give shape to our time together!

August 23, 2020, Online Worship. Sermon: Guided by Love part 2 (Exodus 1:8-21)

If you’re looking for biblical heroes, look no further than Shiphrah and Puah, the two midwives in the story of Exodus who defied a ruler to save the lives of the children in their community. When we are guided by God’s love, we know that doing the right thing means getting into what the late U.S. Rep. and civil rights champion John Lewis called “good trouble.”

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Copyright permissions notifications “Bread for the World” Tune and Text: Bernadette Farrell ©1990, Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONELICENSE with license #A-730247. All Rights Reserved.

“Exodus 1:8-21” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

August 16, 2020 Online Worship. Sermon: Love Is Our Guide. (Text: Matthew 15:22-28)

It's a good thing that we don't have to take the Bible "literally," or that we have to follow Jesus in everything he does. Sometimes, we disagree with the things that Jesus does! Being a Christian doesn't mean following Jesus even when we think he's wrong, but about following God's commandment of love and justice to and with one another.

August 9, 2020 Online Worship. Sermon: Amazing Possibilities (Text: Matthew 14:22-33)

The story of Jesus walking on the water isn't about giving up control of our lives to God, but about how God helps us take control of our lives as people with the power to change the world.

July 19, 2020 Online Worship. Sermon: Every Sacred Place

The story of Jacob's dream, where God grants him the land of Israel, isn't a story about a good person being rewarded with material wealth and prosperity. It's a story of how God blesses everyone to have a meaningful existence, one that we live out through our actions every day. And anywhere that we embody and act out God's love and justice, that's sacred space.

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“Song at the Center.” Tune and text: Marty Haugen, ©1993 GIA Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONELICENSE with license #A-730247. All Rights Reserved.

“Genesis 28:10-19a” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

July 12, 2020, Online Worship. Sermon: Good Soil

When Jesus talks about scattering seeds on good earth, he's talking to a community of people who living on the land who know that getting a good harvest in your garden takes more than just scattering seed onto the ground. They knew that the soil also has to be made ready for the seeds, through the collective work of the people. In the same way, Progressive Christians know that our faith is about more than sharing our message so that people will come to "our" church. Our mission is to change the world so that all people can know God's love and justice, even if they never come through our doors. That's the good news of the gospel.

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“Canticle of the Sun.” Tune and text: Marty Haugen, ©1980 GIA Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONELICENSE with license #A-730247. All Rights Reserved.

“Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23 are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

June 28, 2020 Online Worship. Sermon: A Better God.

In a world that demands the sacrifices of lives -- poor lives, Black lives, Brown lives, queer lives, unsheltered lives, refugee lives -- we worship a God who calls us to live and love in solidarity with one another and break the cycles of destructive sacrifices. By saying no to the toxic status quo based on the logics of redemptive violence, and yes to the power of love and justice, we transform the world in peace and love together. That's what our Progressive Christian life of faith is about.

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“I Will Not Die.” Tune and text: Tom Conry © 1984, 1990 TEAM Publications, published by OCP Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONELICENSE with license #A-730247. All Rights Reserved.

“Genesis 22:1-14” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020) Online Worship. Sermon: Resurrection People Have the Power

Easter Sunday is the most important date on the Christian calendar, and the reason why is it is a reminder that God is always making the world new, and does so using our hands, feet, hearts, and heads. The gospels stories of Jesus's resurrection reminds us that our faith is one of opposing the injustices that go against God's commandment for community and life, and teaches us that we don't have to be afraid because we have the power as resurrection people. We choose courage, hope, and justice. Easter isn't about whether we believe a specific set of dogma, but whether we believe that life and love have the last word, and that choice is the choice of this Easter Day. How we make that choice determines whether we become a people of good news.

Copyright license notifications “All Things New”: Words and music: Rory Cooney ©1993 GIA Publications Inc.; Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved

“Matthew 28:1-10” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

March 29, 2020 Online Worship: Sermon: "Sacrificing So That ALL May Live"

The story of Ezekiel and the dry bones begins with the feeling of hopelessness and desolation. It's the experience of exile and domination that so many people around the world have faced and are facing right now. It's not just the current pandemic that leaves people in deserts of dry bones, but people living under colonialism, racism, homelessness, and environmental degradation are all fighting to make the dry bones in their communities live. Ezekiel's message calls attention to the different ways of living together that don't rely on taking advantage of those who are already vulnerable and at risk, but are centered on justice -- on taking care of each other. We do not sacrifice to secure profits, but sacrifice for the lives and the well-being of one another.

"Let Justice Roll Like a River": Words & Music: Marty Haugen ©1991 GIA Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-730247. All Rights Reserved

“Ezekiel 37:1-14” are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

During our prayers, Rita shared a prayer she has written for this moment in our world:

Sunday Prayer

 In the time before us,
In the time within us,
In the time among us,

 we hold our lives
in new ways
with our God
ever-present
ever-longing
to lean with us
into unavoidable unknowns. 

God, you are still speaking
as we question everything.

 You are minding us
in the tedium,
embracing us
in the weariness and waiting,
shadowing the shadows
of our doubt and judgment
with your tender acceptance. 

In this time of distance
shepherd us from illusions
of being apart from one another. 

In this great pause
let the song of your morning bird
do what it wants to do
for our souls.

 Moisten our hearts to extend and receive compassion.
Freshen our resolve to stand with the stranger.
Nudge us from apathy and indifference.

 Steady us in our deepest fears.
Ready us to love in the moment.

 As you are, so we must be.

 We belong to you, you belong to us
now and forever.   

Amen.

To close our worship, we sang along with Emma’s Revolution and their song “Better Days,” which you can find here. After worship we also celebrated March birthdays!

March 22, 2020: Online Worship, Sermon: "Choosing the Path of Justice"

Choosing to follow God often can mean having to make a decision about what way of life you will follow. Christian tradition often frames this choice in terms of turning our backs on the world in order to align with heaven. But a Progressive Christian -- and prophetic Christian -- understanding of this choice doesn't pit the world and heaven as against one another, but making a choice for peace, justice, and hope with and for the world, and opposing the systems of greed, exploitation, and violence.

Scripture: James 4:1-8

Music inspires our preachers and worship leaders in the creation of their messages and worship time. Check out some of these songs that helped give shape to our time together!