Worship. Serve. Grow.

Sermons (Page 32)

Practicing Sabbath

The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on Jesus’s message about how the sabbath guides our relationship with God and the work we do (Luke 13:10-17): “The sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for sabbath. The root of the command is to create the space for relationship with God and our neighbors; the nature of God’s work among us is to free us for meaningful rest and for meaningful work.”

Facing Fears

The Rev. Melanie Mudge reflects on fear and faith (Genesis 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40): “Don’t be afraid to discover the difference we each can make in God’s world.”

Avoiding Greed

Luke 12:13-21
Have you ever bought new stuff to organize and hold your old stuff in order to make room for more stuff? Do you sometimes find and bring home good boxes knowing that someday you’ll probably have some stuff to put in those boxes? Have you ever been so envious of or wishful for another’s life that you were unable or unwilling to celebrate his or her successes, abilities, or good fortune? You look at them and say to yourself, “What about me?” ….

Ask, Seek, Knock

Luke 11:1-13
For years, I’ve been hooked on a TV show called “So You Think You Can Dance.” I’ve been watching that because what those dancers can do is absolutely mesmerizing. They have great choreography, and most years it’s young people who have spent years and years in discipline and training….

Love God, Love Your Neighbor

Luke 10:38-42
My mother had a curious habit when I first went off to college. My brother and sister lived at home during their first years of college and commuted to a nearby university, as is common practice in my country of origin, El Salvador. Far as I was—a 3-hour car ride, from Portland to Seattle; an impossible distance, from my mother’s point of view!—she was reasonably concerned for my well-being. And every time we spoke on the phone, I always knew that my mother’s first question would always be the same: “What did you have to eat today?” ….