Sermons
Sermon: How My Mind Has Changed: About How God Changes God’s Mind
Rev. Riley Jensen
Riley Jensen, our senior pastor from 1998-2007, returns for a three week series titled: How My Mind Has Changed. Preaching from Jonah and 1 John, this week's sermon is "How My Mind Has Changed: About How God Changes God's Mind." Join us for worship as we celebrate the sacrament of baptism.
Sermon: Big Enough Questions
Sherrill Vore
January 6th is Epiphany Sunday. It marks the close of our season of Advent/ Christmas by inviting us to think once more about light and gifts, surprises and mystery. We'll read the story of the visit of the three wise men to the little family in Bethlehem and wonder together about how amazing it was that those visitors recognized the light of God there, before them. Indeed, that is the nature of an epiphany--to see God revealed in a moment of time, in a concrete experience and know what it is that you have seen.
Sermon: Hope In The Dirt
Kyle Kooyers
Christmastide, or the "twelve days of Christmas," is a period of time in the church calendar celebrating the gift of God brought to us in a the dirt of manger in Bethlehem. To us, perhaps, it's better known as the season of gift returns, last minute impulse buys, and the countdown to a New Year's resolution. With the days still dark and the distractions and obligation of the season looming large, how do we live into the hope of Christmas in the very places we find ourselves today? Jeremiah offers us an image of life in light of resolute hope as he purchases something completely unexpected... Spoiler: it's not a partridge in a pear tree!
Sermon: Turning Toward Love
Rev. Jeremy Bork
Rev. Jeremy Bork is preaching this Sunday, and in place of a typical sermon, he'll offer a first-person, creative retelling of Matthew 1:18-25 from the perspective of Joseph. Jeremy will wonder his way into the story as this soon-to-be husband who learns he's a soon-to-be father. And just maybe, by leaning into our own imagination, perhaps each of us will find ourselves somewhere in the story, too.
Sermon: Turning Toward Joy
Rev. David Baak
The message of John the Baptist is a hard word in Advent but it is also clear about the one who is to come: “he will baptize you with the Holy Spirt"…So, John “...proclaimed the good news to the people.” But, the people’s question still was (and is): “What then shall we do?” The answer (from the prophet): “Rejoice and exult with all your heart.” As Walter Brueggemann says, “...especially exultant is that joy which is completely unexpected, or which breaks suddenly into the midst of our gloom.” Join us Sunday at 8:30 or 11:00 for music from harp and choir and a word about...turning toward Joy.
Sermon: Turning Toward Peace
Kyle Nolan
“There is no way to peace along the way of safety,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe.” The great theologian, pastor, and prophet who died in a German concentration camp toward the end of the Second World War longed for peace in his own time. He didn’t live to see it. Had he outlived the war, it’s possible that he wouldn’t have called what followed “peace.” “Peace,” he said, “is the opposite of security.” Along with second Sunday of Advent comes another prophet, John the Baptist, who might seem an unlikely herald of peace. But if we are to take the words of his father seriously, that’s precisely what he was preparing us for: the One who would "give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Join us.
Sermon: Turning Toward Hope
Rev. Jen Porter
This first week of advent we turn toward hope. In the midst of a world that appeared to be falling apart, Jeremiah brings a declaration of comfort and hope. We can see differently. What is coming is of God. God brings new things to life. In advent we begin again. Join us for worship, Rev. Jen preaching on Jeremiah 33.
Sermon: God Is Always Home: Part 3
Rev. Dr. Chuck DeGroat
Rev. Chuck DeGroat leads us this Sunday for one final week. As we have considered the story of the prodigal son, we have reflected on what might have been going on in both the younger son and the older son. There are many things that keep us from knowing that we are always home in God. Join us as we find our way home again.
Sermon: God Is Always Home: Part 2
Rev. Dr. Chuck DeGroat
This Sunday we welcome back Rev. Chuck DeGroat as we continue with the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. We are invited to remember that "God Is Always Home" and to consider our own being home in ourselves and with God. We never have far to look or far to go. Join us, for worship. All are welcome.
Sermon: Take the First Step…
Rev. Jeremy Bork
At the climax of this week's passage, the gospel writer records, "Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus." For the last two months, our 13 confirmands have been considering the boat in which they've been coasting along and the ways Jesus is calling them to leave their place of comfort and join him in the wind and waves of the world. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate these 13 confirmands and listen together for the voice of the one who calls each of us by name to take the first step.
Sermon: God Is Always Home
Rev. Dr. Chuck DeGroat
Dr. Chuck DeGroat is a professor of pastoral care and counseling at Western Theological Seminary, and he is “committed to spiritual and emotional formation for the sake of mission.” He has spent the last 20 years in seminary training and pastoral ministry, including several church plants and two church-based clinical counseling centers. Chuck participated in our 2016 Westminster Camp, so he may be familiar to many of you! Most recently, he was a teaching pastor at City Church San Francisco, where he co-founded Newbigin House of Studies, an urban and missional training center. His academic specialization is in the intersection of psychology and the Bible, and he has published three books. Chuck and his wife, Sara, have two daughters.
Sermon: The Value of Your Soul
Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
This is our Stewardship Dedication Sunday and the Rev. John Buchanan will conclude our stewardship series "A Matter of Value." Based on Mark 8.27-37, this week's sermon will be "The Value of Your Soul.” Rev. Dr. John Buchanan served as pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago for 26 years. He has held various leadership positions in the PC(USA) and was editor/publisher of The Christian Century magazine for 15 years. He served as moderator of the 208th General Assembly in 1996-1997 and has represented the Presbyterian Church as a member of the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches. He has received numerous doctorates and honors and has written three books. John and his wife, Sue, have five children.
Sermon: The Value of Your Church
Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
This is the second of the three weeks that the Rev. John Buchanan will be preaching our stewardship series "A Matter of Value." Based on Mark 7.1-8, this week's sermon will be "The Value of Your Church.” At our 11:00a service we will also celebrate the sacrament of baptism.
Sermon: The Value of Your Possessions
Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
Rev. Dr. John Buchanan served as pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago for 26 years. He has held various leadership positions in the PC(USA) and was editor/publisher of The Christian Century magazine for 15 years. He served as moderator of the 208th General Assembly in 1996-1997 and has represented the Presbyterian Church as a member of the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches. He has received numerous doctorates and honors and has written three books. John and his wife, Sue, have five children.
Sermon: Gift and Calling
Kyle Nolan
As we ready ourselves to gather around the table for World Communion Sunday, we’ll wrestle with Jesus' hard and perplexing words in Mark 10:2-16 about divorce, marriage, power, and what it takes for someone to receive the Kingdom of God. Kyle Nolan preaching.