The Bible is full of stories that depict the world in all of its complex colors. We are told to love our neighbor; give of ourselves beyond what we might think is possible; live in truth, honesty and humility; but what does the Bible say of justice? Today we will look at an example from the modern day: The story of Tarmar Biggins.The God illustrated in the Bible is a protector of the poor and oppressed. Mistreating those who are downtrodden, taking advantage of an individual's misfortune, and further oppressing those who are in pain is not only discouraged, but condemned. We are supposed to share in the struggles of our brothers and sisters. We are supposed to always extend a hand to those in need. Part of love is solidarity and share our burdens with God and with each other. We hope you enjoy this beautiful sermon. Thank you for joining us.
Divorce and the Law of Moses - October 3, 2021 (Sermon)
Marriage and the responsibility that accompanies the commitments we make to each other are complex and deeply fulfilling. The Bible comments on the nature of these commitments in such a way as to highlight their sacred nature and how important it is that we are true not only to ourselves, but to those that put their trust in us. Today we are going to look at why it is that in both the Old Testament and New, we are encouraged to hold these vows with the highest degree of care, and how compassion for each other in our modern era allows us to live more fully in Christ's injunction to love each other. Thank you for joining us!!
Embracing the Struggle: Grief - September 19th, 2021 (Sermon)
This is part three of our four part series "Embracing the Struggle: Keeping Faith When Life Isn't Simple or Easy." We live in a world that is constantly changing. Walking through life, we want to embrace beauty, love and connection; but what do we do when we must confront loss. This last year has made us all confront loss in a profound way: loss of community, loss of familiarity, loss of comfort, etc. We are mortal and have to confront both our own mortality and the mortality of others. Bringing our grief to God can be cathartic, and his gracious love is with us even if we need to scream it at the top of our lungs with tear filled eyes. Healing will come after we allow ourselves to confront the pain, and God will be by our sides, supporting us with grace and love. Thank you for joining us.
Embracing the Struggle: Doubt - September 5th, 2021 (Sermon)
This is part one of our four part series "Embracing the Struggle: Keeping Faith When Life Isn't Simple or Easy." In this sermon, we will explore the experience of faith, how God's presence is powerful enough to withstand tough questions, and how "The Dark Night of the Soul" can help us embrace the beautiful mystery of God. Thank you for joining us!