Sermons
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.
Sermon: The 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Sue Rozeboom
This Sunday, on Rev. Sue Rozeboom's final week of this series, we commission the members of our pastor nominating committee, otherwise known as PNC. Gathering around them in prayer, we commit to continuing to hold them in prayer as they discern on our behalf. Join us as we worship the God who leads us forward. May we step together in peace and in unity and in love.
Sermon: Wise or Otherwise
Rev. Sue Rozeboom
Rev. Dr. Sue Rozeboom will join us again this Sunday. She is an associate professor of liturgical theology at Western Theological Seminary, where she and students “together delve deeply into topics such as the Trinity and Christian Worship, the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments, historical Christian practices, and what we can learn from them for the church today.” She holds a PhD in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She will also be preaching at Westminster on September 30.
Sermon: Mistakes into Masterpieces
Rev. Sue Rozeboom
For the next three weeks, Rev. Dr. Sue Rozeboom will be preaching "The Good Life: Both Gift and Calling." She will lead us in considering God's gift in creation in Psalm 19:7-14 and our call to discipleship in James 3. Join us Sunday for this first sermon: Mistakes into Masterpieces.
Sermon: Right Here…
Rev. Jen Porter
We live in particular places and with particular people. Right here is the particular place and the particular people with whom we live God's love in the world. As we step into this fall readying ourselves to hear new voices speaking into our community, we examine our commitment to follow God's call and to live well in community together. Right here, we have the amazing opportunity to reflect Christ. Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 with Rev. Jen preaching.
Sermon: Religion That Is Pure
Brendan Omicioli
We begin the lectionary's reading of James on Sept. 2nd focusing on James 1:17-27. These verses open us up to James' imperative that faith and action cannot be separated. Together we will explore what James might imagine "pure religion" looks like in our fragmented world today.
Sermon: Abide
Kyle Nolan
One of the most famous sayings of the Desert Fathers of the early church goes like this: “A certain brother went to Abba Moses in Scete, and asked him for a good word. And the elder said to him: Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” As our “Responses of Faith” sermon series comes to an end, and as our “yes, no, maybe…” is rounded off by a concluding “so,” we’ll explore what Jesus’ invitation to abide — to stay still – might have to say to teach us. Scripture: John 6:56-69.
Sermon: From the Crossroads of Maybe
Rev. Jen Porter
As we discern the yes or the no, we find ourselves living in between seeking our faithful response and action. We seek clarity and which direction to go. A maybe dwells in the middle and we find ourselves in no way aimless. While we wait and while we discern, we are formed. We find the way. We hear the Word of the Lord.