Bethel Community Sermons

Pastor Michael continues our Lenten series by preaching on the Sabbath as creation's expression of universal dignity- for all people as well as the land and all creatures. How might returning to the Sabbath allow us to resist exploitation as we remember the restless among us?

Guest preacher Jonathan Walton continues our Lenten series on Sabbath, by reflecting on the ways that the Sabbath frees us from anxiety and invites us into the presence and proximity of God.

Pastor Erina kicks off a new Lenten series titled "Sabbath as Resistance" by exploring God's vision for rest in Genesis 2:1-3. How might the divine actions of completing, resting, and sanctifying time guide our commitment to rhythms of rest? How might we reclaim the radical nature of Sabbath in this Lenten season?

Pastor Michael concludes our sermon series by reflecting on God’s vision of jubilee as a form of communal, sacred power cycling. He explores how jubilee is tied to return to ancestral homelands, forgiveness of debt, the release of indentured labor, and the resting of the land. How might this radical and subversive vision teach us how about the power of starting anew, in the face of failing empires?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series by reflecting on both the mystery and the abundance of community n the realm of God. How might we reclaim the revolutionary nature of friendship and "queer" our understanding of kinship, even in the face of empires that want to keep us divided and dominated?

Jazzy Johnson continues our sermon series by reflecting on the Eucharist. She explores the difference between communion and cannibalism, the mothering nature of Jesus's words- "Take and eat," and the call to continually return to the table. How might the communion table continue to nourish us to live fueled by life and not death, even in the face of Empire?

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series by reflecting on Jesus's invitation to abide with him from John 15. How might we learn to "stay for a while" in Christ's presence, even in the face of the pressures and anxieties of the world around us?

Pastor Erina kicks off a new sermon series by reflecting on the relationship between sacred texts and Empire, inviting us to consider the narratives we inhabit that either lead to oppression or liberation. How might we shift away from a posture of memorization to a posture of improvisation when it comes to Scripture, holding the "Yes-And" reality of God's revelation?

Pastor Erina preaches for Epiphanytide on Matthew 2:1-15, exploring the ways that Christ's birth reveals God's presence amidst a world of brutal tyrants and oppressive Empires. How might the Epiphany story invite us to worship a God of revelation, who is still speaking in our midst- even now? How might we continue to pay attention to that revelation, even when it comes in unexpected ways?

Pastor Michael preaches on the journey of the Magi and two questions they invite us to reflect on: "What in your life, or what in creation, is leading you into Creator’s presence? What is a lie of the Empire from which you would like to walk away?"

Pastor Erina introduces the Advent season and gives background on the book of Isaiah while facilitating a collective experience of "praying in color" using the words of Isaiah 2:1-5.NOTE: Due to the contemplative and interactive nature of our "praying in color" segment, there are long silences in the recording. Sermon recording listeners are invited and welcomed to participate on their own time.

Pastor Michael concludes our Revelation sermon series the way we started it- by returning to the call to worship as central to our life of faith and collective resistance.  How might we continue to find hope in Jesus, even in these challenging days?

Pastor Erina reflects on the letter to Laodicea and the trappings of wealth and power in our life with Jesus. How might material prosperity lead us to forsake our own spiritual poverty? How might Jesus want to free us from self-deception in order to pursue faithful and uncompromised witness?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on Revelation by preaching on the letter to the church in Philadelphia and reflecting on the encouragement they receive for their faithfulness, even in the face of human exclusion. How might Jesus' words encourage those who have been shut out of community due to their obedience?

Guest preacher Nichola Torbett shares reflections from the letter to the church in Sardis, reminding us that where we focus our attention dictates what we move toward. How might we be called to adjust our gaze - away from the enactors of imperial violence and toward those who are being crucified by it?-----Nichola Torbett (they/she) is a white, queer, raised-working-class organizer, survivor, recovering addict, direct action trainer, teacher, abolitionist, and preacher in the radical Christian tradition. Politicized predominantly by Black- and Brown-led movement struggles of Oakland, California, they are a student of transformative justice, disability justice, and ancestral lineage healing (specializing in working with Euro-descended folks with ancestors who committed harm). Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of the Street, a training academy for love warriors, in 2009; Second Acts, a liturgical direct action affinity group, in 2014; and the Alternatives to Policing Project, organizing faith communities into abolitionist visions of community safety, in 2018. She is co-editor with Vahisha Hasan of Resipiscence: a Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy and was, for many years, a regular contributor to The Word Is Resistance, a podcast from SURJ-Faith and SURJ-Action. She has contributed to GEEZ Magazine, Liturgy That Matters from enfleshed, The Yoke, and the recent book Building Up a New World. They currently serve as associate director of Kirkridge Retreat & Study Center.

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series by looking at the letter to the church in Thyatira and both problematizing the imagery of Jezebel and also calling us to reject the shaming and labeling practices of Empire. How might we continue to hold on to the promise of Jesus, who will make things right, even in the midst of our violent and divided world?

Pastor Erina returns to our sermon series on Revelation, reflecting on the letter to the church in Pergamum and the warning it provides to us about compromised faith. How might we resist the pull towards accommodating ourselves to popular cultural practices for social and economic gain? How might we follow in Jesus' footsteps and remain steadfast in our faith?

Pastor Erina takes a break from our Revelation sermon series and concludes our All-Church Retreat by reflecting on what it means to live as a church that is planted in our purpose by living as our true selves. How might we bring glory to God and participate in God's mission by being fully who we were created to be?

In his sermon, Pastor Michael acknowledges the church in Smyrna as a model of faithful resistance to empire through loyalty to Jesus. We're invited to trust the risen Jesus who understands oppression firsthand and continues to be present in all seasons, bringing comfort and courage. How can our community say no to systems of oppression and yes to Jesus' vision of abundance? How can our holy non-compliance become acts of worship?

Pastor Erina emphasizes that even in pursuing justice and good works, the church must not abandon love as its highest calling. Love requires seeing the image of God in every person and expressing itself through simple, intentional acts and practicing generosity, vulnerability, and communion. These acts of love serve as our guide and compass, pointing us back to our humanity and reminding us of our loving Creator. Love demands intentionality, requires sacrifice, and invites vulnerability. How can we answer the call to return to love together as a community?