In his last Sunday at Holy Communion, the Rev. Mike Angell preached a sermon he didn't expect to preach: The parable of the sower is not about faith or performance. Jesus' story is about God's abundant, reckless, love.
After 8 years as rector, and hosting theology on Tap, the Rev. Mike Angell is departing to be rector of a congregation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hannah Shanks interviews him, and the gathering asks questions as we prepare to say goodbye.
In our rector's second to last sermon he invites us: "keep seeking to follow Jesus. Don't let the anxieties of the world or the church weigh you down. Keep inviting all the wrong people to the table. Keep gathering in a spirit of gentleness, of humility, keep sharing joy and love."
In her last sermon at Holy Communion, the Rev. Loretta Go talks about her time with us. We wish her every blessing in her future ministry. (Apologies for issues with the audio. A lightning strike near the church overnight temporarily disabled some of our equipment).
Join us for a conversation with Rabbi Daniel Bogard. Daniel has been co-teaching a class at Eden Seminary this semester on theology and Star Trek. How does science fiction reflect and affect our faith today? Trekkies and non-trekkies are welcome
After notifying the congregation that he has taken a new call, the Rev. Mike Angell preaches: "Life comes with complicated emotions. It is okay, when a pastor leaves to feel excited for them, and a bit sad, and a bit angry. It's okay if your emotions are complicated, and it has nothing to do with church too."
The Rev. Chester Hines preaches on Jesus' sending out of the 12 apostles in mission to the world.
Is your faith a system of belief, or is your faith a journey? How we frame what we mean by faith can determine the kind of Christians we become.
On Pentecost, what do we miss because of our self-protective cynicism? Can we make room for mystery? Can we make room for God's Spirit? Can we learn to trust?
In order to understand the Ascension, you have to see the pattern. Every time the people want to take Jesus and install him in a throne of power, he escapes. Every time they ask Jesus when he will give them power, he says "you're missing the point." Jesus ascends to heaven itself to frustrate all our human desires for control and certainty.
On Mothers' Day: what happens if we imagine God as a mother? What happens if we imagine the Spirit as a beloved auntie? How does shifting our sense of the divine feminine change our spirituality?
(The almost Rev.) David Luckes comes back to Holy Communion to preach about the stoning of Stephen, the challenge of Jesus, and joy as he prepares to be ordained a deacon on June 3.
We live in the days of constant distraction, with technologies and ideologies competing for our attention. Today it is hard to tune out the angry noise. But if you listen, you can still hear the Good Shepherd's song.
Jesus calls his disciples, on the road to Emmaus "slow of heart." After this week in Missouri, it is easy to see Christians who are too slow to love. LGBTQ+ people, trans people, are being attacked in our state. Our faith isn't about wishing away diversity. At this church we practice knowing in our hearts that all our differences somehow fit within the love of God, which gathers us in one body.
Welcome to Easter part 2. The Rev. Julie Graham preaches on the story of Doubting Thomas
On Easter morning, we find Mary at the tomb, weeping. "Why are you crying?" she is asked. I suspect many of us know, know in our bones this pain, this grief. Easter is the story not just of Jesus rising up, but of Mary too. Mary goes to tell good news from the graveyard. Mary is sent so the world may know, hope is never finally dead.
On Good Friday, the Rev. Julie Graham wonders what it means that Jesus died on the cross. She invites us to see the day not in a transactional way, but in a way that opens us to those who suffer.
The Rev. Mike Angell preaches on Sunday. Holy Week teaches us, for Christians, there is no escaping pain and loss. The only way out is through, and the only way through is together.
Pilgrimage this Spring is taking a look at Spiritual Practices. Each Sunday we’ll take a look at Spiritual Practices that make up the life of faith, organized by time. This week, we look at annual practices, the cycle of the church year, and rules of life. You can find the slides, and the video Mike mentions on the page for this class here: https://www.holycommunion.net/pilgrimage-spiritual-practices/across-life-wpb4t
The Rev. Julie Graham invites us into the space to say, "Jesus, if you had been here." What does it mean to trust God with our grief and our lament?