Urban Village Church: Recent Episodes
Urban Village Church
Join Rev. Dr. Danie Buhuro for The Power of a Rolling Stone — a powerful sermon on John 11:32-44, resurrection, liberation, and queer hope that rolls away what holds us back. Rev. Lightsey will talk about true liberation, resurrection, and the queer power to roll away what tries to bury us.
QueerlyBeloved #QueerTheology #UrbanVillageChurch #PridePreaching #FaithfullyQueer #ComeOutComeOut #PrideMonth #QueerFaith #RollingStonesAndResurrection #FaithInAction
🔥 “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues…” — Acts 2:4
On Pentecost, the Spirit moved through a diverse crowd—people of different languages, cultures, and experiences—bringing them into holy understanding. The birth of the Church was never about sameness. It was, and still is, about radical inclusion, divine disruption, and sacred queerness.
The Church isn’t meant to fit inside the boxes of empire—it breaks them open. The body of Christ is bold, multilingual, boundary-breaking, and beautifully queer.
Come be part of a church that hears across difference, honors every tongue, and makes space for God’s upside-down kind of love.
PentecostSunday #QueerChurch #Acts2 #UVCBelovedCommunity #SpiritLed #RadicalWelcome #HolyDisruption
What does it mean to live with wisdom from above? This week, we're reflecting on James 3:13–18, where scripture calls us to lives marked by humility, gentleness, and peace. 📖 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits...” — James 3:17
📖 Acts 1:1–14 Recap — The Promise & Power Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, giving final instructions before ascending to heaven. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. They asked about restoring Israel, but He redirected them: “You’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, and you’ll be my witnesses everywhere.” As they watched, Jesus ascended into the clouds. Two angels appeared and said, “He’ll return the same way you saw Him go.” The disciples returned to Jerusalem and gathered in unity—devoted in prayer with one heart and one purpose. #BookOfActs #JesusAscension #HolySpiritPower #BibleStudy #FaithInAction #Acts1 #ChurchOnline #ChristianCommunity #StreamyardLive #PrayerAndUnity #WitnessesForChrist #GospelMessage #KingdomMission
This week, we’ll explore Luke 24:13–35, the powerful story of the Road to Emmaus. Two disciples, heartbroken after Jesus’ crucifixion, walk with a stranger who opens the Scriptures to them—and in the breaking of bread, they realize it’s the risen Christ.
It’s a beautiful reminder that Jesus walks with us, even when we don’t recognize Him. Join for a message of hope, revelation, and renewed faith.
This week we dive into the story of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, focusing on the disciples' initial disbelief and the powerful encounter with Thomas. We explore faith, doubt, and the nature of Jesus' resurrection, emphasizing the importance of believing in Jesus even when the evidence as circumstantial.
resurrection #focusonGod #beliefisfaith #believinginJesus #umc
Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a joyful heart brings healing, while a crushed spirit withers us to the core. Join us as we explore how joy can renew our strength and faith. Discover practical ways to let God’s joy be your true medicine! Rev. Pamela Lightsey will end with a thought-provoking theological study afterward.
This Sunday we shared Peter's declaration with the powerful truth:* God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. * Jesus went around doing good and healing those oppressed. * Though He was put to death on a cross. * God raised Him on the third day—and He appeared to those chosen as witnesses.
Peter says: We ate with Him. We walked with Him after the resurrection. And now, we’ve been commanded to share this Good News.
GoodNews #JesusIsLord #Acts10 #HopeForAll #NoPartiality #ForgivenessThroughChrist #GospelTruth
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
This week, we reflect on Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem—a moment of joy, praise, and deep compassion. In Luke 19:29–42, we see Jesus celebrated as King, yet moved to tears over a city that missed its moment with God. Experience the hope, power, and peace of Holy Week and Palm Sunday.
PalmSunday #Luke1942 #HolyWeek #JesusIsKing
Six days before Passover, Mary does something extraordinary—she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, wiping them with her hair. While some criticize her, Jesus affirms her act of love and devotion.This moment reminds us to pour out our hearts in worship, holding nothing back. True love for Christ isn’t about cost—it’s about surrender. How can we show extravagant love for Jesus in our daily lives?Join us as we experience God’s presence together! Whether you’re new or a longtime member, we can’t wait to welcome you with open arms. Let’s gather in faith, lift our voices in worship, and grow together in His Word.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son – A Story of Redemption and Welcome!
In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus shares a powerful story of love, grace, and restoration. A son demands his inheritance early, squanders it all in reckless living, and finds himself lost and broken. In desperation, he returns home, expecting rejection—but instead, his father runs to embrace him, celebrating his return with open arms.
This story is a reminder that no matter how far we wander, God’s love is always ready to welcome us home. Whether you are returning, searching, or visiting for the first time—our church is a place of grace, joy, and belonging. You are welcome here!
In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. For three years, he came looking for fruit, but found none. Frustrated, he told the gardener to cut it down, questioning why it was taking up space without producing anything. But the gardener responded, asking for one more year. He would tend to the tree by digging around it and adding manure, hoping it would bear fruit. If it did, great; if not, then it could be removed.
This story invites us to reflect on patience and second chances. The gardener’s plea for more time symbolizes God’s patience with us, even when we don’t live up to expectations. It’s a reminder that growth and transformation are processes, and we are given opportunities to change and bear fruit in our lives. It challenges us to consider how we might need nurturing or a fresh start, and to trust that, with care, we can become what we are meant to be.
In this passage from John 4:7-30, Jesus has an unexpected conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. He asks her for a drink, which surprises her, as Jews and Samaritans typically didn’t interact. Jesus responds by offering her "living water," a spiritual gift that leads to eternal life. The woman initially thinks He’s talking about physical water, but Jesus explains that the water He offers will quench a deeper thirst — one for meaning, connection, and spiritual fulfillment.
He then reveals that He knows about her life — that she’s had five husbands and is currently with someone who isn’t her husband. This leads her to recognize that Jesus must be a prophet. She asks Him about the right place to worship, and Jesus tells her that true worship isn't about a specific location but about connecting with God in spirit and truth. He further reveals that He is the Messiah, the one who has come to bring healing and hope to all.
In awe, the woman leaves her water jar behind and goes to tell others in her community about Jesus, asking, “Could this be the Messiah?” Her story draws many others from the town to come and meet Jesus, reminding us that God’s message is for everyone, no matter their background or circumstances.
Romans emphasizes salvation through faith, not works, and reminds us that believing in Jesus and the resurrection leads to salvation. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Join us Sunday as we deep dive into Romans and are reminded of the importance of salvation for us.
We are reminded to focus our attention on heavenly things rather than earthly. Join us this week as we share about spiritual life and the future we will share with Christ.
Jesus comforts and encourages his disciples as he prepares to leave. As he leaves, he promises that the Holy Spirit will help the disciples continue their ministry after his ascension to heaven. In this verse, Jesus teaches the disciples to lead with truth, not emotion. The Holy Spirit helps the disciples understand the Word, grow in serving others, and stop sin. The Word gives disciples peace, comfort, and protection. Finally, Jesus shows us the importance of obedience and faith in the commandments.
This week we focus on the commands given to the church at Ephesus as they remember and repent, and do the works they did at first. It is important to remember the works we were doing when we first became believers, repent and turn away from where we are now and turn away and bad and return to the work we were doing when we first became believers, and prioritize things of great value, such as loving one another and serving others.
God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys God and God intervenes to stop the sacrifice.
God will meet all your needs to the riches of glory in Christ. We declare provision from God.
Have you ever wondered where God is present in the scarcity of your life? What is God doing when times are tough and hope is in short supply? Have ever wondered how and where God is leading you?
As we continue our sermon series on abundance and scarcity, we focus on how marginalized voices and experiences illuminate pathways toward abundant living and transformation. Who is God inviting you to listen to as we seek the abundance that God offers in the midst of scarcity.
God used the brook to sustain Elijah, and now the means God had used to provide for His servant dried up.
Listen to our recent sermon series from Wicker Park, preached by Rev. Jonathan Grace, Lead Pastor.
This Sunday marked the fourth Sunday of Advent. We prepare our hearts to receive Christ as we focus on God's love. In our Scripture, Mary sings about a God of liberation who pulls the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. Mary sings a story of hope, one in which justice and joy are interwoven. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, may we also sing stories of hope, justice, and joy.
In the moment of affirming the promise, God restores us. How often do you allow yourself to be amazed? Wonder is all around us—can we recognize it? As we learn how to rejoice in a weary world, can we live in a way that allows amazement and wonder to surprise us often? In Psalm 126, those who expect to reap tears are granted a surprise: shouts of joy. Amazement is a balm for the weary.
In community, our joy expands. When we can’t rejoice, we can carry each other’s joy. This week we continue our Advent worship by lighting the Hope and Peace candles, finding connection with each other, and by learning how God brings peace and joy in the midst of our weariness.
As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. We’ve had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. This is how we show up to Advent. We see how God brings joy in the midst of our weariness.
The prophet Micah contrasts our expectations of sacrifice with the sacrifices that God actually calls for. Instead of vanity and punishment, God desires justice, kindness, and a relationship. This sermon explores why we think of sacrifice and giving to God as a painful experience, and contrast that with the joy that comes with giving.
In this story, Jesus redefines how we think about giving and what God looks for in our tithing. We explore the understanding of abundance to God, and what it means to give out of poverty rather than wealth.
The parable considers how fear and a scarcity mindset keep us from using our resources for God. This week we explored how to shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and how to actually engage with the world in faith that our resources will grow.
We can never outgive God. It often feels like giving is a tough requirement, especially when we have limited resources. However, when we give we find that God takes our giving and creates abundance.
This Sunday we begin our Stewardship sermon, What We Give to the Church. We dive into Leviticus 27:30 as our Scripture reminds us that all things belong to God. Giving back to God is an acknowledgement of the righteousness, goodness, and the lordship of God over all creation. The need to give back also creates a just society in which serving God and keeping God’s commandments create a mindset of giving rather than greed.
This week we join Dr Pamela Lightsey. Our sermon series on Rest dives into Creation as not a one-time act. It is ongoing, though God rested on the seventh day. Similarly, our ability to produce this or that should not be an end goal by which we gauge when we can/should rest. Rest should be our vision for our everyday lives; part of our dreams for the best possible future. Rest is not an end goal but an ongoing reality.
You are made in the image of a God who rested. And maybe when God rested on the 7th day of creation, God dreamed—of you, me, and the best reality for all.
What would it look like for all of us to rest and dream like God? Join us Sunday as we share from Hebrews 4:1-10.
Rest is a form of liberation that should be integrated in our personal and societal lives. We also celebrate World Communion Sunday and celebrate liberation in God's community. Join us as we dive into Deuteronomy 5:12-15.
This Sunday we are continuing our sermon series on rest. We have discussed God's intentions for our rest, but how do we find rest when our lives are not in line with God's hopes for us? Let's discuss how God provides rest when we are restless. See you on Sunday!
This week's scripture will be Exodus 33: 12-14.
Psalm 132 shares that Rest is anything that grounds us in God and keeps us focused on the divine task.
On Sunday we explored the story of the Samaritan Woman whom Jesus encounters at a well. We also considered the people God invites us to meet along our journeys, and how each encounter is a chance to grow closer to God and to grow in understanding of our neighbors. Our scripture: John 4: 5-26
Allies have the liberty (and have often exercised this liberty) to come and go as they please in the work of liberation. It’s easy enough to put up signs or wear clothing stating, Black Lives Matter. But what sacrifices are we willing to make to learn about these Black lives and to ensure their true liberation? Historically, those who claimed to be freedom fighters stayed the course, even to the point of personal harm. Liberation is a dangerous endeavor. We're excited for this sermon as we dive into scripture from Esther 4: 9-17.
This week's sermon, Our Lives Matter: Reintroducing Ourselves to Ourselves, shared Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey's book Our Lives Matter. In writing the book, Dr. Lightsey had to address the fact that her understanding of herself had shifted, and she had to come to terms with who she had become. We need to take the time to reintroduce ourselves to ourselves so that we can understand who God has led us to become, and to know how this new self can answer God's call on our lives. We explored scripture from 1st Kings 19: 9b-18.
This week our sermon series on Emergent Strategy, Kin-dom Come: Love and Humility, included scripture from John 13: 1-17
Brown identifies love and humility as essential tools for transformation. These virtues can help us navigate the complexities of social change and build stronger, more resilient communities. This sermon will focus on the transformative power of love and humility. We will discuss practical ways to cultivate these virtues in our daily lives and ministry, emphasizing that true social change begins with the transformation of our own hearts.
This week's scripture is Galatians 6:1-5 This sermon shares that we must open up to relationships and urge to be deeper rather than just conversational. We should spend time with one another, share spiritual conversations, and grow together.
Effective strategy for social change means making tough decisions, being disciplined, and staying focused on our goals. In this sermon, we will explore how Jesus and the early church employed strategic thinking to spread the Gospel and bring about transformative change, and how we can apply these principles to our context.
brown encourages us to practice visioning, to see and create what does not yet exist. This means imagining and believing in the possibilities beyond our current reality. As people of faith, we are called to dream big, envisioning a world where justice, peace, and love prevail. It is safe to say many of us are worried about the future. Genuine concern is not bad, but it could lead us to despair.
This week we will explore Romans 7:14-25 and Romans 8:1-5. We talk about the love and relationship between the law of Moses and humans. We also share the freeing of human sin through love given to us.
Romans 5:8 shares that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Our responsibility is to shine in this light.
After watching over Israel for 40 years, Moses dies on Mount Nebo, not before seeing the promised land of Canaan from a distance. Moses also lays his hands on Joshua which symbolizes the transfer of authority (and spirit of wisdom and divine gifting) for leading Israel. In Deuteronomy 34:5-9, we explore rites of passage and love.
This week's scripture reading is from John 9:13-34. In this text, we read about the miracles given to us. Pharisees react to Jesus' healing of a blind man, they seek explanations rather than accepting the faith of a miracle. Join us this week as we share our stories, our truth, and our miracles.
Jacob is blessed and named Israel, as he having struggled with God and with humans and has overcome. The scripture reading is from Genesis 32:22-31
In 2 Kings 2:1-12, the Elijah is taken up to Heaven as Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. We explore Elijah's interaction with the prophets and trip with Elisha to Jericho.
This week we read the passages in Matthew 8:18-22. Join us as we talk about the assurances of life.
Join us this Pentecost Sunday as we celebrate and honor 50 days (seven weeks) after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension. We worship as we explore Matthew 16:13-18. Our sermon this week is "Who Will We Say That We Are?"
This week we explored Revelation 21:1-5 and Revelation 22:1-5 and discussed the "new world" we are given.
This week we continue our sermon series, Our Watershed Moment: A Call to Creation, we also explore Genesis 1:24-31. God loved the world into being, calling it all “good” and entrusted it to our care (Gen. 1:26). We have taken the concept of “dominion” as an excuse to destroy our natural surroundings.
This week we read scripture from John 10:11-18 and Psalm 23. We also explore the story of the shepherd and creation stewardship.
This week we celebrated 14 years of Urban Village Church and Co-Founder and Lead Pastor Christian Coon's ministry of over 26 years, Ministry Sunday!
John 20:19-29 teaches us that Jesus came and stood among them sharing peace. Jesus said "receive the Holy Spirit." Join with us as we hear the story and experiences through talk back and sermon.
Easter is a reminder of Jesus' resurrection (aka Resurrection Sunday), for on the third day, Jesus was resurrected.
As we continue our sermon series, Letting Go, we dive into Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34. We speak about evangelism as the responsibility of everyone and not just the pastor. We also explore what the covenant for our time really means.
This week we discuss John 3:14-21 - Letting Go of Condemnation (vs. Affirmation). Evangelism is not about making people fear God or hell. It’s about helping people fall in love with God, who loves us all.
This week we explore Matthew 10:40-42 and the topic of Letting Go of Indifference. Evangelism requires a welcoming mindset and concern about others, especially the stranger.
We explore God's promise as it is kept through Abraham's offspring as we read Romans 4: 13 - 25.
Jesus does great miracles among the family of those male disciples whom he knew. These were females - a sign that Jesus sought to reach out beyond the familiarity of patriarchy. After praying, he realized he needed to go outside his neighborhood.
This week we explored wizards and those we hold in our image. We place ourselves in Mark 2:1-12 and explore the relationship between Jesus and the paralyzed man.
This week we explored how Art/Creating Changes Us and it’s inspiration, it’s emotional outlet; and the ripple effect of art/it’s expression and its impact! We shared Luke 9:28-36 and Transfiguration.
This week we explore Art as Resistance – Lifting up Justice Movements, we dive into Exodus 2:1-10
Art as Resistance – Lifting up Justice Movements | Exodus 1 | Micah 6:8 | Philippians 4:13 | John 14
This week our scripture is text is to Praise God with harp & lyre, timbrel & dancing, Psalm 150; gifts for building the Temple, 1 Chronicles 29; and I am the vine & you are the branches, John 15:1-4.
The questions we discover explore honoring this divine connection/what this connection means and theological framework: God with us/within us (vs. Divine as outside of us).
This week we explore fruit of the spirit; Galatians 5:22-23.
We what we do is sacred “work,” what mark do we leave in our communities, what impact are we called to have, what’s our purpose as the body of Christ in the world, theological framework – the power of chosen family (fictive kin) and community.
This week we explore Genesis and creation texts; Psalm 139.
The questions we discover will discuss what you do / wherever you do it is sacred “work”/how do we live into our story?/we have agency. We will also share what’s our purpose / meaning making as those created in the image of God theological framework – you are created good/original blessing vs. original sin.
This week we explored John 1:1-5, Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 2:1-10, Luke 2:8-20. We celebrate love and Christ. On Christmas Eve we remember the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Eve invites us to connect with Christ. Join us as we invite Christ and Christ's birth in our lives.
The third Sunday of Advent is Joy. We pray for joy that comes with Jesus’ arrival, and the salvation he has gifted us.
The second Sunday of Advent is Peace. We pray for peace and share the time of coming together, community building a community of faith. We pray for peace amongst relationships.
Jesus asks a very practical but important question for all of us: How many loaves have you? That is, what have you got at hand/within you? Relevance deals with what we already have, how we can offer it to Jesus and how it can be multiplied.
This sermon is a part of our sermon series "What Does it Mean to be Human? Exploring Humanity in the Age of AI."
In this week's sermon, Briona Jones (she/her), Director of Family Ministries, preaches her debut UVC sermon from Jeremiah 28:5-9.
In this sermon, Pastor Christian Coon (he/him) explores the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. While often times we value things that are big and impressive, he reminds us of how Jesus highlights small and seemingly insignificant things that point us to the kingdom of heaven.
In this sermon, Pastor Christian Coon (he/him) explores the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin, explaining how Jesus emphasized failure in his ministry. This sermon is a part of our sermon series "What Do You See? Parables through a Kaleidoscope Lens."
On this Sunday our pastors did a site rotation, so Pastor Kari (she/her), pastor at our Edgewater site, preached at our West location. Tune in as she preaches a sermon on the Parable of the Wedding Banquet in continuation of our sermon series, "What Do You See? Parables through a Kaleidoscope Lens."
In this sermon, Pastor Christian Coon (he/him) introduces our latest sermon series, "What Do You See? Parables Through a Kaleidoscope Lens."
Instead of a sermon this week, we get to hear a special interview featuring Dr. Steed Davidson (he/him), executive director of the Society of Biblical Literature. Pastor Christian (he/him) interviews Dr. Davidson on how he relates the scholarly work of Biblical studies with a life of faith.
In this sermon, Pastor Christian Coon preaches from Micah 6:1-8 in continuation of our sermon series "Both/And: Living Our Faith as United Methodists."
In this sermon, guest preacher Dr. John Sianghio (he/him) preaches a message from Luke 9:10-18, launching our newest sermon series "Both/And: Living Our Faith as United Methodists." Dr. Sianghio is a religious ethicist whose research and teaching interests lie at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics.
In this sermon, Pastor Christian kicks off our latest sermon series "Both/And: Living Our Faith as United Methodists." We begin the series with an examination of the long-debated relationship between faith and works--how do we understand the need for both faith and works through the lens of Methodism? Tune in to learn more!
In continuation of our sermon series, "God is Trans," guest preacher Sylvia Johnston (she/her) preaches from Galatians 3:27-29.
To kick off our newest sermon series, "God is Trans," Pastor Juan Pablo leads a round table conversation with three trans members of the congregation: Terese, Taylinn, and T.
One of our Wicker Park members, Nik Norris, preaches on the story of Deborah and Jael from the book of Judges as we wrap up our sermon series "FIERCE: Bold Women of the Bible."
In this sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo kicks off our new sermon series, "FIERCE: Bold Women of the Bible," by examining the story of the Hebrew midwives in the book of Exodus.
In this sermon, Interim Director of Communications and Discipleship, Wing Yun Schreiber (they/he), delivers a sermon that challenges a common interpretation of Matthew 9:35-38.
In this sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo preaches on the parable of the sower and offers encouragement to share our faith as fellow "sowers." This sermon is a part of our series
"You're On Mute: Why It's Hard to Share Our Faith."
In this sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo encourages us to consider our closer circles of friends and acquaintances as sites of engagement and witness for the gospel. Join us as we continue our sermon series "You're On Mute: Why It's Hard to Share Our Faith."
In this sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo kicks off our new sermon series, "You're On Mute: Why It's Hard to Share Our Faith." He frames the task of evangelism as an organic form of witness that flows from our gratitude.
In this Easter sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo speaks about how looking to the past and remembering God's faithfulness can help us have hope for the future.
In this sermon, Pastor Juan Pablo continues our sermon series "Jesus Said What!?" with a message about Jesus' betrayal by his disciples.
In this sermon, Pastor Chan invites us to consider the story of the Canaanite woman's faith in response to Jesus' hard sayings.
Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey, site pastor at our Hyde Park - Woodlawn site, preaches in continuation of our sermon series "Jesus Said What!?" In this sermon, she testifies to the need we all have for God's grace.
In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey continues our sermon series "Jesus Said What!?" with a message on one of the hard sayings of Jesus from Matthew 10:34-39.
In this sermon, Pastor Pamela addresses the congregation from 2 Kings 7:3-9, using the story of the lepers as a reminder of the ways God can show up in unexpected ways. This sermon is a part of our series "Liberating Our Bodies: A Call to Reproductive Justice."
On February 12, we were blessed at our UVC-West site by a special sermon conversation on reproductive justice between Rabbi Max Weiss of Oak Park Temple and our own Pastor Christian Coon. This discussion was held as a part of our sermon series "Liberating Our Bodies: A Call to Reproductive Justice."
In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey preaches from Mark 5:21-34 in continuation of our sermon series "Liberating Our Bodies: A Call to Reproductive Justice."
This morning Dr. Lightsey continued our sermon series "Liberating Our Bodies" with a call to consider the gift of free will as it relates to reproductive choice.
This morning we launched a new sermon series on reproductive justice called "Liberating Our Bodies: A Call to Reproductive Justice." We had the special honor this morning of being addressed by Dr. Toni Bond, one of the original group of Black women who coined the term "reproductive justice" in 1994. Tune in as Dr. Bond speaks about the free will exercised by Mary in scripture and necessary for all pregnant-capable people in the fight for reproductive justice.
Join us as we conclude our sermon series, "Me Time: Exploring What Makes Us Tick" with a message from Pastor Chan Choi, our Edgewater site pastor. Pastor Chan encourages us to remember the many similarities with share with the rest of humanity, even when our differences threaten to divide us. Tune in to hear more!
In continuation of our sermon series "Me Time," Pastor Pamela preaches from 1 Corinthians 13.
Rev. Dr. Lightsey gives a rousing message on leaving behind what is old in 2022 and ringing in the new of 2023!
Tune in for the continuation of our "Displaced" Advent sermon series! In this sermon, Pastor Christian preaches from Matthew 2:13-23 on "Looking for Refuge."
Pastor Christian continues our "Displaced" sermon series with a sermon from Luke 2:1-7.
Pastor Christian launches our "Displaced" Advent sermon series with a sermon on Jesus' "immigration" into our world.
In this message, Pastor Chan preaches from the story of the healed lepers with a reminder to consistently give thanks to God for all we have been given.
Pastor Christian continues our "Limitless Thanks" series on stewardship with an encouragement to remember that all we have is not ours, but ours to give.
Pastor Christian preaches a message from Luke 19:1-10 about how inward transformation is often necessary before one can become a generous person.
We're concluding our Divinia sermon series, where we're learning about how spiritual practices of "divina" can help us connect to the Divine. This Sunday Pastor Christian leads us in an examination of the practice of Odoratio Divina with a sermon from John 11:32-44. This practice is based on the word divine which means to turn towards God. It is the Latin word for smelling and breathing in. Just as we take time to smell the roses, we can take time to breathe in the presence of God. This can be done anywhere, anytime, and with anything that has a scent.
Pastor Christian preaches from Acts 16 on Musica Divina, offering opportunities for us to connect to the Divine through music.
At our special Blessing of the Animals service, Pastor Christian gives a message reminding us to attend to the ways the divine shows up in nature as a comfort to our anxieties. This message also launches our Divinia sermon series, which encourages us to reflect and meditate on the things around us as witnesses to the divine.
Tune in with us as Pastor Chan wraps up our sermon series "Written in the Stars" with a message from Hebrews 12:1.
Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey continues our "Written in the Stars" sermon series with a message from Matthew 2 on reading the stars.
Pastor Chan launches our new sermon series, "Written in the Stars," with a message from John 9.
In a special outdoor beach service, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey makes her UVC preaching debut by preaching from Romans 5:3-8.
Tune in as Pastor Juan Pablo concludes our "Vital Signs" sermon series with a message from Luke 4 on igniting the city.
Tune in as Pastor Chan continues our "Vital Signs" sermon series with a sermon from Acts 2 on "community."
Wing Yun, our Communications Director, gives a message from Galatians 3 as we continue our sermon series "Vital Signs." They ask the question, how do we measure our adherence to the value of inclusivity as a community?
Pastor Chan continues our "Vital Signs" sermon series with a message on how our community can reflect the value of being "Jesus-loving."
Community member Drew Jones shares a word from 2 Kings about soul friendships.
Join us for online worship Sundays at 10:30am CST!
Worship streamed live from our Wicker Park location on June 12, 2022. On this Sunday we began a new sermon series, "Making Soul Friends." Join us to hear Pastor D'Angelo preach about deep connectivity in relationship.
“When the day of Pentecost had come…” is today! This past Sunday we concluded our sermon series ‘Share the Love' with some dramatic meaning-making from Pastors Juan Pablo, Christian, D’Angelo, and for the final time with UVC, Pastor Hannah Kardon. We celebrated together while being honest about the times we find ourselves in. In our fear, awe, skepticism, and also hope, we are reminded God’s Spirit has, will and continues to move through this world and church, and She is not done.
And we give God thanks for Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon’s amazingly faithful, prophetic, inclusive, and holy ministry with Urban Village Church, who reminded us throughout her entire time with UVC that we have been given the greatest mission in the world: to be in community with one another. Amen.
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On Sunday we continued our sermon series 'Share the Love' with Student Pastor Alexa inviting us to consider how spreading a good word can actually be good. Many times when we think about sharing our faith we imagine a history, themes and moments that don't feel liberating. But sharing and inviting should be liberating for all involved! Pastor Alexa encourages us to consider how sharing about our faith can embody good news as a way of enacting social change.
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We all need love... Love for ourselves, love for one another, and the love that comes for us & through us in God. But sometimes, it’s hard to find. It’s also hard to share! All this month we'll be exploring the love, joy, silliness & celebration that Jesus invites us to and ask how we can share it with the world.
In worship, Pastor Emily explored how the Samaritan Woman who speaks with Jesus shares a liberating word with her community after hearing a new truth - and invites us to do the same.
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Candace Coleman is a black disabled woman from the South Side of Chicago. She works closely with disabled people affected by the justice system to organize around racial justice and disability. This includes anti-bullying, the school-to-prison pipeline, restorative justice, police brutality, and deinstitutionalization. She is dedicated to teaching disabled people of color to take pride in all aspects of their identities so they can become leaders themselves.
Full bio: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/teammember/candace-coleman/
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We hope you enjoy guest speakers, like Candace, who’ve committed to sharing throughout our sermon series ‘Disabled Jesus, Disabled Love.’ Disabled leaders, thinkers, and advocates have always been at the heart of Christian communities. In the US, one in four people live with a disability. Yet our faith has a long history of teaching about our bodies & needs in ways that hurt, limit and erase. Join us as we learn from and consider the experiences of disabled leaders in our communities to better understand how we might begin to create access for one another, build community, and live into the belovedness of our bodies
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We hope you enjoy guest preachers, like Edgwater member Sara, who’ve committed to sharing throughout our sermon series ‘Disabled Jesus, Disabled Love.’ Disabled leaders, thinkers, and advocates have always been at the heart of Christian communities. In the US, one in four people live with a disability. Yet our faith has a long history of teaching about our bodies & needs in ways that hurt, limit and erase. Join us as we learn from and consider the experiences of disabled leaders in our communities to better understand how we might begin to create access for one another, build community, and live into the belovedness of our bodies
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CONTENT WARNING: mature language is used. A script of Sara’s testimony is below.
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Water into Wine, by Sara Miller
It’s buried deep in my DNA, so deep no one knows where,
Less like sunken treasure and more like the loch ness monster
Every morning I wake to learn I’ve lost in an altercation with my sheets
The pain is excruciating
As my joints slide and creek
A body that's held together by dollar store white glue
Every thought trudges through jello
Only for words to get lost in the fog
My heart murmurs a daily marathon
Running from a bear that’s not there
A wave pool in my stomach
And a strong aversion to gravity.
All that’s left is fatigue, a fancy name for the tired that lives in my bones
My body is trying to kill me and keep me alive
It’s killing me to stay alive
But that’s just on the inside
Invisible
Hidden behind a river of smiles
And an overflowing well of “fine”
And a deluge of “normal”
In the waiting room
An elderly man looks up at me to say
You’re too young to be here
And all the eyes in the room on me seem to agree
I am invisible
More offices, ERs, and lab draws
But doctors don’t learn about me in medical school
So it must be all in my head
Or this magic catch-all cup they call anxiety
Except the real anxiety comes when they don’t know how to help
And send me away
Unseen
You don’t look disabled
I’m going to need proof
So I fill out all the forms
And send all the files
To make sure my medical history is listed with the court cases
As an easy to access public record
Defending my existence
Drowning consent just to simply show up as me
Cue visibility
I’m rolling down the hallway in my wheelchair, all eyes are on me
They move out of my way, a parting of the Red Sea
Not like I’m a celebrity but as if to flee a plague of disease
They stare ready to investigate
What part of me is broken
Sometimes they speak,
I hate it when they speak
What happened to your legs?
What’s wrong with you?
You’re such an inspiration
Here let me “help” you
But then, I stand up, and I’ve walked on water
It’s a miracle the self-appointed saviors say
And suddenly, I’m invisible again
Except nothing really changed from that moment to the last
Or from this moment to the next
When the pandemic hits and they decide that I’m expendable
I thought a minute ago I was a miracle
I guess I’m not the miracle they wanted
People always talk about coming out like its a one-time thing
As if it’s not a revolving door of ocean waves in a storm
Knocking you down again and again and again before you can catch your breath
Swallowing gulps of saltwater and everyone’s opinions
About how I should be both seen and unseen
Some days I want to be invisible
No matter how much it might cost
Not having to field all the questions
Or to stare down the barrel of pity
Or answer to the face of confusion
Yet, the trickle of doubt about my own existence
Has become a roaring river of reminders
That my body doesn’t belong here
I don’t want to be that miracle, attaching God’s name
Only when I’m socially acceptable
To imagine my body with inspirational value
Only because you can’t imagine living in it
But,
I am a miracle
A miracle
Of water into wine
Gallons of drunken and delicious
Fermented, prohibited, liberated
Full-bodied, embodied
Filled to the brim of vessel of being
Obscene oceans coursing through me
Where the last shall be first and the first shall be last
Raise a toast
What a miracle my body is
For showing up just the way it is
What a miracle my body is
To fight through the bullshit and win
What a miracle my body is
Without producing something to call worth it
I belong in my body
In the moments I love it
And the moments I don’t
And in all the moments in between
I belong in my body
In the moments it looks the part
And in the moments it says screw the fucking part
I belong in my body
In the moments it keeps me alive
And in the moments it tries to kill me
I belong in places that I am seen and unseen
Because I, am a miracle
Zoie is a fourth-year medical student, staff member for UVC’s partner young adult ministry, the Inclusive Collective, and a disability activist and consultant. They work with various organizations across the city — particularly in healthcare and faith spaces — to increase accessibility and support communities in unlearning harmful beliefs about disability. Zoie is a member of UVC Wicker Park.
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We hope you enjoy guest preachers, like Zoie, who’ve committed to sharing throughout our sermon series ‘Disabled Jesus, Disabled Love.’ Disabled leaders, thinkers, and advocates have always been at the heart of Christian communities. In the US, one in four people live with a disability. Yet our faith has a long history of teaching about our bodies & needs in ways that hurt, limit and erase. Join us as we learn from and consider the experiences of disabled leaders in our communities to better understand how we might begin to create access for one another, build community, and live into the belovedness of our bodies
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This Sunday closes out our sermon series ‘Disabled Jesus, Disabled Love’ with guest preacher Vincent Tufano. Vincent has been an active UVC member at our Wicker Park site since the summer of 2019 and is currently finishing their teaching degree at Northeastern Illinois University while remaining engaged in their community and family. In our passage from John, post-resurrection Jesus shows up wounded - and celebrates his body before the disciples, but there is still doubt. Vincent explores this doubt while offering new lenses to label and support disability.
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UVC openly celebrates how we are “perfectly imperfect.” Still, disability is often framed as something in need of healing. In our panel discussion facilitated by Pastor D'Angelo, we discuss how disability is not only a journey of acceptance, but a journey of deeply recognizing all of our emotions. The panelists discuss how faith expands our human capacity, not restricts it, and still, we have much work to do to dismantle all the ways access is restricted.
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Panelist Bios:
Ailsa Lipscombe, PhD, is a queer, disabled, and chronically ill academic working at the intersections of disability and music. Her work explores how who we are as individuals shapes how we listen to and within diverse environments. She is from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and lives in Chicago with her wife, Emily, and her service dog, Connie.
Emma Trevor (she/her) has been a member of UVC for 7 years, since spring of 2015. She worshiped at the Wicker Park location until 2020. Emma has now made her "home site" the online worship space since the pandemic, and continues to worship from home as she prioritizes her health. Emma holds degrees in women's and gender studies, as well as interfaith dialogue and religious studies. She loves musicals, podcasts, her cat Twixie, and sending mail when the mood strikes. She identifies as both chronically ill and disabled. She uses a bright blue cane to support her mobility. Emma lives with a trio of inte-rrelated diagnoses called "the trifecta": consisting of POTS, hEDS, and MCAS. She will speak more about these in the panel today.
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Due to recording difficulties, parts of conversation are difficult to hear. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to address the issue.
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Disabled leaders, thinkers, and advocates have always been at the heart of Christian communities. In the US, one in four people live with a disability. Yet our faith has a long history of teaching about our bodies & needs in ways that hurt, limit and erase.
In worship, Pastor Hannah - in conversation with disabled leaders and advocates - encourages us to consider the experiences of every person in our communities and better understand how we can create access for one another, build community together, and live into the belovedness of our bodies in such a time as this
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Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! On Sunday Pastor D’Angelo reminded us that we are resurrection people. Our faith calls us to remember and tell the resurrection stories in our own lives. Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others who arrive at the the tomb and became the first to know Jesus the Christ was alive again, what happens when our faith reveals to us a truth that is hard to accept? Let’s explore this question together and celebrate that resurrection is possible.
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On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday looking at Luke's version of this occasion. One verse that particularly grabbed Pastor Christian was when the Pharisees ask Jesus to order the disciples to stop celebrating (Lk 19:39). The religious authorities weren't thrilled with all of the rejoicing and proclaiming -but Jesus responds that even if he told them to stop, the stones would cry out! In those times when we've been told to stop doing something God is calling us to do, what compels us to continue? As we explore this passage and question together, we listen to a testimony from chelseascharity.com
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Due to technical streaming difficulties, there are some pauses and skips during the recording. We apologize for the inconvenience
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On our final Sunday before Holy Week - we consider the Mount of Olives. It’s a good reminder that we all need sacred spaces and places in our lives. We need places of solitude where we remember how God has fulfilled God’s promises to us; special places where we go regularly to pray and meet with God; places of hope where we are reminded to trust God; and places of redemption where we remember how God has transformed even our hard experiences
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On Sunday, we continued our sermon series on spiritual practices focusing on song and dance. Because of the scripture passage of the day, Pastor Christian asked Cantor Julie Green to add insight on common Jewish practices during the Passover celebration. Before Julie offered commentary to the scripture in Mark, she blessed the community with this testimony. We hope you enjoy.
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You can listen to Julie's full commentary on Mark 14:22-26 in Pastor Christian's sermon in our latest podcast episode titled "Practicing Song & Dance"
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This Sunday, we continued our sermon series on spiritual practices focusing on song and dance. With the help of Cantor Julie Green, we’ll explore how scripture reminds us that singing and dancing are important expressions of our faith, and how both can help shape our faith lives
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What is worship? Who is it for? And, why should we even bother? These are questions that came up for a lot of folks over the course of the last couple of years.
Jesus spent a lot of time in worship – teaching, preaching, praying, and being in community with some folks he agreed with and a lot of folks he didn’t. But, it was less about whether or not he agreed than it was about the people: People who struggled to discover and embody a life worth living in a world determined to make that as difficult as possible. People who he knew were fearfully and wonderfully made.
Why do you worship? Maybe it’s the opportunity, if only for a moment, to confront the ways that we are broken and fearful and anxious and self-obsessed… to exchange all of these pennies of human frailty for the currency of God’s love and grace and transformative restoration.
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Any dream worth dreaming involves risk of some kind. And, if it were only up to us to see our dreams through, it might feel impossible. Our passage today reminds us that when it is God who has given us the dream, it is also God who will help us keep going when the going gets tough.
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We continue our sermon series on spiritual disciplines with a focus on prayer this week. Prayer can be pretty intimidating! Many of us feel we must bring something or be something in order to engage in this foundational faith practice. But Jesus shows us when he prays in the passage from Luke 22 that you only need to bring one thing: yourself. Engaging with God and sharing all of your hopes and dreams and fears and anxieties is exactly what God desires
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Throughout Lent we'll be looking at the spiritual practices of Jesus and how they got him ready for the events of Holy Week. Pastor Hannah speaks this morning about the details in between Jesus’ actions that we don't often consider. In between the miraculous healings and wise parables Jesus practiced his faith too! We’ll explore today his practice of regularly breaking bread with friends, and how sharing a meal with the people you love just might be the transformative spiritual practice you've been searching for.
Following her sermon, Pastor Hannah shares an update with the UVC community.
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This week we enter Lent- a time when we reflect on ways we can fortify and deepen our faith. And singing is an amazing spiritual practice to lead us! This morning we’ll focus on the power of song and the ways music can speak to our emotions. Chicago musician Clif Wallace leads us in worshiop alongside a New Orleans-jazz ensemble with a guided reflection from Pastor Darneather Murph-Heath
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This Sunday in worship, we explored the text Job 33:12-16a:
Now you’re wrong about this; I’ll answer you, for God is greater than anybody.
Why do you contend with him, saying that he doesn’t answer all your words?[c]
God speaks in one way, in two ways, but no one perceives it.
In the dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon humans, during their slumber on a bed,
then he opens people’s ears…
Pastor D’Angelo reflects on the passage “then he opens people’s ears…” considering sleep alongside US history and current circumstances stemming from the pandemic. You’re encouraged to listen with a pillow and blanket!!
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We hope this throwback meets you in a holy way. During our ‘Popcorn Gospel’ series, Pastor Emily spoke candidly about the realities of suicide with the all important, completely necessary reminder that YOU MATTER, and at UVC, you are always invited to come and be part of something that is inclusive, and relevant, and love-infused. Whether online or in-person, we can’t wait to see you
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Dreams inspire us, nourish us, and keep us moving towards a future we can’t see quite yet. This week’s dreamer, Ella Baker, once said “This may only be a dream of mine, but I think it can be made real.” We will follow her and Daniel of the Bible through their journeys to make dreams real in the midst of an oppressive, imperfect world, and in the process, hopefully get a little closer to making some of our dreams reality.
(At 4:40, we listen o Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ‘Ella's Song’ which you can access online here: youtu.be/S2T216XgiO0)
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If you grew up with in a family with a strong Protestant work ethic, it may seem sacrilegious to talk about sleep, napping, and rest as powerful acts of faith. But Number Three in the Big Ten (of commandments) puts it right there: Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Sabbath. Shabbat Which means "rest."
As we talk about dreams this month, it makes sense that we would also talk about sleep and rest and that's the focus of this Sunday. What does it mean to rest as an act of faith and resistance in a society that constantly asks more and more of us?
In scripture, God tells Joseph in a dream to flee Judea with Mary and Jesus and go to a town called Nazareth. At one of the most pivotal and courageous moments in our nation’s history, Harriet Tubman received dreams from God that directed and protected her on a perilous journey to freedom from slavery, freeing over 70 other enslaved people. In their dreams, Joseph and Harriet receive guidance on how to protect themselves and community.
This Black History Month we’ll explore all the ways God works through our dreams and invites us to be dreamers too: dreamers of grace, liberation, rest, and joy. Please join us! All are welcome and affirmed!
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Pastor of Emerging Ministries Christian Coon reflects on how God intercedes in our lives (including in our dreams) to provide guidance and protection. The Scripture focus is Matthew 2:19-23.
When Jesus enters the home of Mary and Martha, things happen! Raw emotions are expressed, people are calling people out, and Jesus brings to the surface the topic of care in a shocking way. This passage is both a favorite to many and also frustrating to many (are you Team Martha or Team Mary??).
This Sunday in online worship Pastors D’Angelo and Alexa will be in conversation with healthcare workers to explore this scripture from the lens of workers rights, exhaustion, and our healthcare system. There is much to say. Please join us! All are welcome and affirmed.
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Familiar with the Great Resignation? It’s a term to describe a current economic trend where millions of workers are leaving their jobs during the pandemic and redefining work in relation to one’s life, purpose, and meaning. In scripture, the first disciples Jesus calls have a similar experience! In worship, Pastor Chan discusses this “great acceptance” in conversation with South loop member Julie to explore this radical decision and how to re-evaluate our own relationships to work and how it defines us.
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This Sunday's Choose Your Own Adventure service was a justice edition in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We still have opportunities to advocate voting rights, make meals for neighbors in need, learn Chicago music history, and more!
In worship, Pastor Hannah connects Dr. King's message of civil rights and economic justice to modern movements and the ways we can be a part of that work today.
In testimony, Marlon Chamberlain from the Fully Free campaign spoke about voting rights efforts for people detained in Cook County Jail. You can support Fully Free's work and hear Marlon's story from our full worship stream on our YouTube channel: Urban Village Church.
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Grab your favorite hot drink of choice as Pastors D’Angelo, Hannah, Christian, and Emily gather around a virtual fire place to have a conversation about life in such a time as this. Focusing on Isaiah 40:26-31, we will explore challenges, grief, creativity, and fresh ways to imagine being relevant as people of faith, starting with an honest word
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Happy New Year! We hope this throwback from a few weeks ago is a helpful reminder about how we hope to be community in the months ahead - and - invite you to join us! As you listen, let us know how we can meet you with our resources. Whether through our online community of one of our sites meeting in-person, we hope to see you around.
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In our Weslyan Covenant New Year's service, we celebrate God's faithfulness and love while being honest about our circumstances. Responding to God's presence in our lives invites us to renew our commitments to one another as people of faith. This type of covenant is worth celebrating! We are empowered to love ourselves and to love our neighbor because God loves us. Join us! All are welcome. All are affirmed.
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On this first day of Kwanzaa, Pastor D’Angelo addresses the myth that we can go our way alone. We are meant for community- community that is rooted in love, care, and attention to our neighbor. During this Umoja Service celebrating unity, we honor community. It is a gift from God!
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Merry Christmas! In our third week of Advent, Pastor Emily preached from the gospel of Luke about Jesus’ nuanced claim as the ‘Prince of Peace.’
We hope you enjoy this word in these days leading up to the 25th. May it meet you in a holy way. And during this Christmas celebration in particular - stay safe!!
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Music is a constant companion for many of us. When we are feeling a particular emotion, we often reach to a particular song that evokes exactly how we’re feeling. Songs play a role in our Scripture passage this week, known as the Magnificat, which Mary sings. Mary has traveled a long distance to be with her cousin, Elizabeth. Her response to seeing Elizabeth is to voice a song that’s a prophetic word.
Like Mary, we are all called to sing songs that bespeak joy, justice, and love for all
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We hear the phrase ‘it’s better to give than receive’ this time of the year over and over. And it’s a fine thing to live into! But it’s also not a bad thing to receive, too. We read in our Scripture lesson this week about how Mary received good news from the shepherds and she pondered this news and treasured it. She is a model for us on how to receive joy, even in the midst of weariness. It is good to give, yes. It is also good (and sometimes necessary) to receive.
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Pastor Hannah continues our sermon series, 'A Weary World... Rejoices?' as the shepherds were working the night shift and Mary had just given birth. They and everyone they knew were living under Empire. There were many, many reasons to be weary. Yet into the midst of their weary night comes an announcement from an Angel, and then, bounteous rejoicing. How can we find this joy too?
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Pastor Christian begins our Advent sermon series in a season of all things comfort: comfort food, comfy clothes, comfort music. It’s understandable that we’re drawn to the comfortable when so much in our lives these days sap us.
Today’s scripture however seems to make us un-comfortable. Or does it? In the midst of these challenging images that Jesus gives us, Christ also seems to say that when things are dim, God’s kin-dom is particularly evident and near. Will we look for those signs? Can we see them?
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Streaming from our Edgewater site! This weekend, Pastor Chan explored Hannah’s prayer and offering from 1 Samuel. Finishing our sermon series “An Important Piece of the Puzzle,” we recognize how the act of giving is usually portrayed as this honorable and faithful act. Not to say it’s not… but sometimes giving is hard. It can mean being honest about our struggles, anxieties, pains and frustrations. Hannah’s prayer reveals to us a boldness in expressing our actual needs to God. What new possibilities exist when we do the same?
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We continue our series “An Important Piece of the Puzzle” claiming every gift matters because each adds up to creating and sustaining beautiful community. In our scripture this morning, Digital Pastor Jennifer Stephens explores this loving act by Mary when she pours expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and then wipes his feet with her hair. After presenting this gift though, Mary receives some shade…
Mary’s gift reveals a hallmark of discipleship and makes a bold claim about who Jesus is. Join us as we discuss our community’s identity and how we can continue being bold, inclusive, and relevant in in our gift giving .
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We reflected last week on what it means to put our whole selves in, but how exactly do we do that? What can we offer? Christian Coon reflects on the powerful story of Mary in John 12:1-8 and how she can be a model for us.
With the uncertainty of the pandemic still weighing on so many, it may feel awkward to talk about financial giving. But it’s also why community is so important! We begin our series this month claiming every gift matters because each adds up to creating and sustaining beautiful community.
This morning, Pastor Chan leads us in the practice of looking towards abundance amid scarcity in practical and holy ways. As we connect individual gifts to the creation of greater community, we celebrate how the puzzle is more beautiful with every added piece. Please join us! All are welcome and affirmed. .
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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link to sign up is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year!
In 1 Samuel, we read the moving story of Hannah, a woman who has difficulty in conceiving and who comes to God and brings her whole self, including her bitter tears. What does it mean to offer our whole selves to God? Christian Coon reflects on this in this sermon podcast.
We end our sermon series on being neighbors at UVC-West by focusing on how we can be neighbors. The focus is on the story of Zacchaeus.
On Sunday we celebrated the tradition of Día de Los Muertos and All Saints Day with the story of Lazarus. Pastor Hannah reflects how we can grieve, mourn, and miss those who have passed, but also hope that grief will not be the only thing we ever know. Jesus' invitation is not for us to deny our grief, but to experience it fully, and ask God to be present.
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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year!
We welcome Tonika Johnson, creator of the #FoldedMapProject, to share about her work and facilitate conversation among church folks who have recently done Folded Map tours to learn more about their neighborhood, their city, and the segregation policy that tries to separate and under invest in us.
Join in to talk about being a good neighbor, and knowing your neighborhood, wherever you are.
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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year!
“Who is my neighbor?” is a question at the heart of our faith. Throughout this month we’ve explored Chicago’s history of redlining, segregation, and also our deep and diverse cultures throughout this “city of neighborhoods.”
This morning, Pastor D’Angelo discusses how we can be citizens of the whole city while caring for our whole selves, and doing so in beloved community. All are welcome- all are affirmed!
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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year!
Through the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus gives us a new way of defining who our neighbors are and how we can respond to them.
The scriptures are clear: as neighbors, we are all "members of each other." But how often do we act like Jesus' neighbors who refused to see him, referencing stereotypes like "Can anything good come from Nazareth?!" The truth is there is so much good everywhere, if only we take the time to build the connections and see it. This Sunday, as we continue our neighborhood tours, we’ll explore how to deepen our love and responsibility towards one another. Please join us!
The Parade was cancelled- but the celebrations go on! Enjoy our panel conversation featuring Pastor Hannah Kardon, Blanche DoBoys, and Shea Evangelipstix during our All UVC Drag Worship service at Wicker Park! This week, continue celebrating all of who God made us to be!
Malia (Shea Evangelipstix) is an Afro Latina American Transwomen native of Springfield, Illinois, that spent most of her life in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2015, Malia moved to Chicago. Being the oldest of four loved and loving children, Malia has developed a great appreciation and passion for helping others. Although Malia has many passions like performing Drag, singing,acting, making clothes, cosmetology, spending time with friends and family, crocheting, painting and drawing just to name a few. her most harbored and embraced passion is dance. It has been a lifelong dream of Malia to be the founder of her own liturgical dance company. She is in the very early stages of doing the hard ground work to build up her dance company and bring her dream and purpose of changing the world and building the kingdom of God through Dance.
PP: $rytheminfaith
Blanche DoBoys is a Chicago drag queen originally from rural Indiana. She is a performer who loves both lip-syncing, speaking, and live singing, as well as a designer who creates all her own looks and wigs. “Thank you so much for including me! I am so grateful to be in a church body that not only allows, but affirms and celebrates queerness and expression!”
Instagram: @blanchedoboys.
Venmo and Paypal: @BRJ97
“Who is my neighbor?” is a question at the heart of our faith that Jesus uses to teach us about what it means to care for one another, love one another, and grow closer to God. In Chicago, with our history of redlining and segregation and deep neighborhood cultures, it’s an especially provocative question.
On Sunday, Pastor Emily spoke about our partnership this month with the #FoldedMapProject which invites us to understand ourselves not only as in the context of our own neighborhood, but also in relationship with neighborhoods across Chicago. How can we practice belonging to one another, carrying one another’s burdens, calling people in - and expecting our community to do the same for us? Starting where we are, with what we have, is a great first step to reflecting God’s love in our neighborhoods.
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urbanvillagechurch.org
What do we do when a trust has been broken or a betrayal has occurred? Our culture would tell us to cut off, walk away, and never look back. But our faith tells us there is a different way.
Finishing up our sermon series on restoration, Pastor Emily reflects on John 21, we encounter the original “Come to Jesus moment” and learn that when we make amends in our broken relationships, we can also make amendments that help us begin to trust again.
When we're in need of restoration, we sometimes look for that healing in familiar places. But God can surprise us by restoring us in unexpected ways. Christian Coon reflects on this using the story of Naaman.
How can we find restoration when others have harmed or betrayed us? Christian Coon reflects on how Jesus shows us a way.
In 2 Kings there is this mighty character, Naaman, who’s seeking healing and restoration from an illness. Naaman is disappointed though with the instructions he receives to be made well. It takes the encouragement of his community, getting out in nature, and a readjustment of perspective to take next steps. In worship, Pastor Chan discussed how part of finding restoration and wholeness is being open to all the ways it may come to us, and the surprising forms it may take in our lives.
We are not the first faithful people to return to worship together after a long time away - others have done so too, under even harder circumstances, and we can learn from them.
This morning, Pastor Hannah encourages us to look to the Israelites who returned from exile to rebuild the Temple under Ezra and Nehemiah. How did they return to one another and what did they do? How can we embrace God while moving forward in recovery and care together? .
In our fifth (and final) week of ‘Living Into Community’ - we’re running it back!! In week one, Pastor D’Angelo spoke about gratitude, and it’s such an important aspect of community, we're speaking about it again.
Pastor Emily invites us to consider how Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians centers around hope being restored in the midst of despair. How does hope encourage us to contribute towards abundance within community, and, cover that commitment in gratitude? Please join us!
Yesterday, we concluded our “Living Into Community” series by discussing truth telling. In the letter to the Colossians the author talks about taking off something old to put something new on, and in this process, there is a period of nakedness and vulnerability.
Pastor Christians asks us what does it mean to be fully truthful and transparent with ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities? And how can we remind others that we are God’s beloved?
“Make yourself at home.” As we continue our series “Living Into Community,” Pastor Emily invites us to look at hospitality.
Hospitality in this passage is spoken about within two contexts: internal and external. And, hospitality requires an act of service on behalf of the entire community. But what happens when the entire community isn’t involved, and only certain members are asked to give up for others? What would hospitality look like if everyone approached it not as something that is extracted, but as something we freely give? When we lead and respond with love, hospitality is a spiritual experience.
We’re human, so we’re not always able to fulfill all the commitments and promises we make. And sometimes others may struggle to follow through for us. But in Christ, every one of God’s promises are ones we can depend on. How does God’s love and faithfulness impact our community?
Join Pastor Christian reflecting on what it means to make and keep promises and the importance of covenant.
**Streaming difficulties occur between 15:20 - 17:20. Apologies for the inconvenience. Click the “fast forward” button four times and enjoy :)
We all need community, and, community is hard. This morning we begin our series “Living Into Community” focusing on our first core practice: gratitude. Gratitude is a vital and sustaining aspect of community in that it is life giving. Gratitude invites us to engage, and keeps us from avoiding. Join Pastor D'Angelo as we explore new ways, gain fresh understandings, and challenge ourselves to be reflective of the love God shows us towards one another.
As we celebrate taking steps towards in-person worship, Pastor Chan encourages us to lean on the wisdom of Paul from Romans and Miles Morales & friends from 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.' What does it look like to lean into the abundance of spiritual gifts as community? How can we confront real fears of scarcity faithfully?
‘Drag & Spirituality’ part deux!! We’re back for a multi-faith, international conversation featuring Mango Lassi, Coco Sho-Nell, and hostess, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T. Enjoy!!
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Humza A. Mian, aka Mango Lassi, is a queer Canadian-Pakistani who currently resides in the GTA. The focus of his drag is to bring awareness to the existence of queer Desi folk and breaking the chains of toxic masculinity that hold so many queer Desi’s back from expressing themselves. His most current drag looks can be seen on his Instagram page (@_humzer) and are heavily influenced by his cultural background.
YouTube @HumzaMian
IG @_humzer
FB @Mango Lassi Queen
paypal: humzamian@gmail.com
Coco Sho-Nell has been in existence for over 12 years. She began her start in Andersonville performing in charity shows at the call bar. Raymond, the man behind the mascara, has been a practicing buddhist since 2004. “A lot of my faith is based on acceptance and love of everyone.”
www.youtube.com/theatrerat80
IG @cocoshonell
www.facebook.com/coco.shonell.1
twitch: twitch.tv/cocoshonell
tiktok: @cocoshonell
Hostess, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T: @aqueerchaplain
https://taplink.cc/aqueerchaplain
https://www.patreon.com/bonnieviolet
We’re back at the movies! Today in worship, much like in the movie 'Black Widow', we’re talking about forgiveness: what does it mean to move forward from a past where we were hurt, and where we hurt others? And how do we set a new way forward? Jesus instructs us to make our lives a constant act of forgiveness, but not to enable others to cause us harm, but as a way to heal as individuals, as a community, and as part of God’s entire creation. Thanks for joining us!
Spoiler: community-making is hard. In Jeremiah, God speaks to a people who have come into a new land after being refugees in another. ‘In The Heights’ tells a similar story about Usnavi de la Vega’s family (and chosen family) pushing back against oppressive systems with a strong commitment to community.
How will we show up for each other as we transition back into new & old building spaces? How can we care for our neighbor while holding grief & celebration, heaviness & joy? Join us as we turn to God’s story tellers in scripture and on the screen. All are welcome and affirmed! Please join!!
In the final service of our “Queering Faith” series, Pastor Juan Pablo invites us to ask “who is our family?” while weighing the realities of this world. Jesus asked this question, and in his response, we see a liberator who frees us from harmful ideas about God; a Jesus who invites us to be our full & authentic selves; and a Jesus who himself had to come out to his close friends & family, and eventually the whole world. Mark’s gospel reveals a Jesus who is in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. And so, YOU are our family.
This morning, as we celebrate Juneteenth, we read about an Ethiopian eunuch who, although is not given a name in the Bible, is named in several African traditional stories: Qinaqis.
Qinaqis has been denied the access to worship freely in the temple of Jerusalem and is dealing with this rejection by the religious leaders in the text. Join us as we explore freedom through Qinaqis’s story and hear reflections from the larger UVC community that claim Black and Queer liberation. All are welcome!
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On the final Sunday in our “Inward Journey” series, Pastor Chan speaks about the quest for God being a lifelong journey. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the community is struggling with understanding God’s truths. Paul, in the midst of his own sufferings, addresses the community’s fear and anxiety.
Join us in worship this morning to explore what it means to be a community on this journey to know God’s presence intimately. All are welcomed and affirmed!
In Acts 2, those gathered were celebrating a festival marking the first fruits of the harvest, and more importantly, when God gifted God’s people with the Torah law. This law binded God’s people together centered around loving God, living abundantly, and caring for the least of these. This morning, Pastor Emily asks ask how the Spirit invites us to open our heads & hearts to remove barriers, become fluent in other’s realities, and seek wholeness. Looking inward, we’ll deepen our knowledge of self through understanding our connection to others.
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This morning we continue our series “The Inward Journey” with Paul’s letter to Philippi. Today’s scripture connects peace & rejoicing with a conviction that God’s peace does not rest on external circumstances. Pastor D’Angelo reflects that while the presence of God does not always deliver us from all anxiety, God’s presence does offer peace amid our circumstances. How is God present with you this day? Please join us- and bring a piece of paper!
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We conclude our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions."
In this episode, we discuss prayer. How do I start praying? Are meditation and prayer the same? What if my prayers aren’t answered?
Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Site Pastor D’Angelo Smith, and UVC member J Dayvid Green.
Join us every Sunday for online worship on Facebook and YouTube (/uvchurch) at 10:30 am (CST).
Welcome to part 2 of our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions."
This episode tackles tough questions about what it means to be a Christian: What does “being saved” mean? If I'm not sure I believe in God, do I still count as a Christian? Do I still want to be a Christian?
Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Church Planting Resident Juan Pablo, and UVC member John Sianghio.
Join us every Sunday for online worship on Facebook and YouTube (/uvchurch) at 10:30 am (CST).
Welcome to our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions."
In this episode, we're talking about the Bible. Where do the different parts of the Bible come from? What does it mean to take the Bible literally (and do we have to)? What do I do with contradictions in the Bible?
Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Student Pastor Lijia Xie, and UVC member Gloria Feliciano Feltman.
Join us every Sunday for online worship on Facebook & YouTube (/uvchurch) at 10:30 am (CST).
As we think about what it will look like to come back together, we have many questions and anxieties. It will help for us to go back to doing what we know how to do. Jesus shows us how: To love.
A year ago we started quarantining and began a sermon series called “Now What?” to help us navigate an uncertain future. Today we’re facing similar questions.
This morning, we’ll turn once again to the Scriptures, when after Jesus’ resurrection, the Church found itself asking, “now what?” Student Pastor Lijia explores the early Church’s attempts to be faithful while recognizing the scars, wounds, and trauma’s of Christ’s death. Recognizing Jesus’ wounds is part of what makes the resurrection so radical, and triumphant.
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Christ is Risen! Jesus’ resurrection is a story that is constantly being written over and over again. This morning, Pastors Hannah, D’Angelo, and Juan Pablo share their own stories of God’s ability to resurrect and call us in to something new. Join us in worship! Happy Easter :)
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D’Angelo Smith (Site Pastor – Hyde Park-Woodlawn & Wicker Park)
Hannah Kardon (Teaching Pastor)
Juan Pablo Herrera (Church Planting Resident)
Our world is in an "in-between time" as we wait for the opportunity to fully be back and engaged with our friends and family. Can Easter speak to us in this limbo? Yes! Mary experienced the risen Christ in that uncertain time, too.
It’s Palm Sunday! In many ways this is a culmination of Christ’s ministry. Jesus is publicly recognized as the Messiah and the massive crowds, even the Empire, are expecting this triumphant leader. But God does something different. We reflect on this expectant hope, what today represents, and also, what comes next. We’re heading to an empty tomb, but first: Hosannah!!
Many of us (beloved and wonderful just as we are!) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life. We conclude our “Made New” series by exploring the final question asked during a baptism: “Do you commit to faithful participation in God’s work in the world?”
In Acts 2, we read about ancestors in the faith who “devoted themselves” to the teachings of apostles like Deborah and Peter. We’ll consider what the writers meant by ‘devotion’, how ancestors & mentors continue to inspire and inform, and how being honest about the difficulties of staying committed matter.
Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life. This Lent, we’re focusing on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.
Today, as we consider change, Pastor D’Angelo invites to focus on the constant: the amazing and liberating power of the Holy Spirit. Accepting God gives us freedom to act, to resist, and to say boldly “No!” to evils, injustices, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. And we are not alone. Even Jesus needed and had access to this constant Advocate. And so do we!
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Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life: a habit, character aspect, or circumstance that still hurts. We all hope for change. This Lent, we’re going to focus on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.
This morning, Juan Pablo Herrera (Church Planting Resident) reflects on how one of the greatest gifts of the resurrection is really knowing that any one of us, and our circumstances, and our communities can be made new. We see a Jesus who accompanies and is accompanied. We see a vulnerable Christ who requires solidarity. We see a God who offers and receives grace. Please join us!!
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Hannah Kardon (UVC Teaching Pastor; she/her) discusses with Drew Jones (Hyde Park Woodlawn; Loyola University Chicago; he/him) and Victoria Slabinski (Yale Divinity School; she/her) touch, care, pleasure, trust, partnership, joy, community, relationships… and how the Church hasn’t always been faithful at exploring such important aspects of being.
As Sunday just fell on Valentines Day, we were excited to discuss (especially during a pandemic!) what are we looking for in relationships? What are our relationships to our bodies? How do we prioritize what our bodies want & need? And where is God as we consider these things?
We believe all of these questions are areas of discipleship and discernment, and part of our lives we can talk to God about. Hope you enjoy!
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Hannah Kardon (UVC Teaching Pastor; she/her) discusses with Drew Jones (Hyde Park Woodlawn; Loyola University Chicago; he/him) and Victoria Slabinski (Yale Divinity School;
she/her) touch, care, pleasure, trust, partnership, joy, community, relationships… and how the Church hasn’t always been faithful at exploring such important aspects of being.
As Sunday fell on Valentines Day, we were excited to discuss (especially during a pandemic!) what are we looking for in relationships? What are our relationships to our bodies? How do we prioritize what our bodies want & need? And where is God as we consider these things?
We believe all of these questions are areas of discipleship and discernment, and part of our lives we can talk to God about. Hope you enjoy!
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life: a habit, character aspect, or circumstance that hurts. We all hope for change. This Lent, we’re going to focus on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.
This morning, Pastor Hannah begins our "Made New" series by looking at how we can turn around from harm and hurt. “Repent! For the kin-dom of God is near. Prepare the way.” Please join us!!
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“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Milani (@Millusi0n)!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
“Currently I am more spiritual, and I have been doing research on Santeria, a religion that is very predominant in the Caribbean region and Mexico. I am still Catholic but not have been part of the church in many years due to the negativity to my community.” - @Millusi0n
Instragram: @Millusi0n
Donate: cdc.gov/stophivtogether
“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Willa Vawisp (@WillaVawisp)!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
Willa/Tony is originally from Mexico City, and lived in Mexico until the age of 18. Tony was raised in a bicultural, bilingual household, as a Mexican-American. Tony grew up in a syncretic faith experience which brought together Catholicism, Native Indigenous practices, African/Caribbean/African Diaspora religious practices, as well as South Asian and East Asian practices and philosophies. “To not love myself is less of an option than it used to be” - @WillaVawisp
Venmo: @Tony-Guerrero
Instagram: @WillaVawisp
“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Fonda Koxx (@fkdrag)!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
“I am a National LGBTQIA Mental Health Advocate. I currently host Queen & Sober, a Facebook live series that covers all things LGBTQ and mental health. I am also an actor and comedian in Chicago.” - @fkdrag
Donate: allianceforeatingdisorders.com/donate/
Instagram: @fkdrag
“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Stargirl (@Stargirldrag)!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
“Hello my name is @Stargirldrag from Chicago, people would consider me a 'look queen' when it comes to my drag but I refer to my drag as club fantasy- a mix between a whimsical and kawaii aesthetic.” - @Stargirldrag
Venmo: @Stargirldrag
Instagram: @Stargirldrag https://venmo.com/stargirldrag
“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Mick Douche (@MickDouch)!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
“Mick is my imagination come to life but always within the realm of masculinity. He began as a frat boy type but as I learned about toxic masculinity, I began to make a conscious effort to change Mick to instead focus on other aspects of “being a guy” and exploring pop culture references.” - @MickDouch
Venmo: MickDouch
Instagram: @MickDouch
God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Pastor Emily, alongside UVCers from our South Loop, Hyde Park-Woodlawn, and Edgewater sites, reflect on Jacob’s struggle with God. This struggle was just part of Jacob’s transformation however. Unsure of what is next, Jacob is ready to face whatever is ahead as his full self. As we wrap us this sermon series on the many names of God, we reflect on how God names all of us- “Beloved.” Please join!
**We will be posting the full interviews featured in Pastor Emily's sermon in a "Directors Cut Special Addition" series over the next week. Stay tuned!!
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God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Today, Pastor D’Angelo (they/them) focuses on God the Deliverer and Yahweh Rophe- the God Who Heals. Transitional times are hard, frustrating, and can cause hopelessness. But God’s healing in this passage is not about a physical illness, but of restoration and justice. Join as we reflect on this good news!
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God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Today, Pastor Chan (he/him) speaks about the name of God most known to him- Haneunim (God Who Watches Us From the Sky, or, God Is One). We'll also explore what it means for God to be a "Good Shepherd" and how this concept opens us up to love of God and love for others.
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Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known is an ongoing series about with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). In our series premiere, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Saya Naomi (@queensayanaomi)!!
In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimately lacing drag narratives with a spiritual thread for the benefit of the artist and the audience that bears witness.
"I’m a kind and a spiritual person that loves passion and the arts. My star sign is a Gemini and I’m every bit of it. My motto is to stay humble and always help others in need." - @queenSayaNaomi
IG @QueenSayaNaomi YTube @ Saya Naomi Venmo-@Gilbert-Terry Cashapp- $GilbertTerry11
Pastors Hannah, Emily, Juan Pablo, and Christian discuss their favorite way for naming and addressing God, their most challenging concepts around God’s many names throughout Scripture, and how naming God in a diverse amount of ways impacts their discipleship, theology, and faith community. What is your favorite name for God? What lessons around using the names of God have you learned from your youth and recent faith practices? Join the discussion!
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Site Pastor D’Angelo Smith preaches today about darkness providing an opportunity to learn. Sometimes the darkness forces us to look right in front of us instead of far ahead, and this can be scary. We like to see far ahead of us. Still, darkness forces us to look for God’s imagination instead of our own expectations. Who would expect God to be found where animals eat?? This morning, let’s look closer at God’s imagination. Please join!
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This winter, some of us may be feeling the fear and anxiety of shorter days and longer nights. But it is in the darkness that we find some of God’s greatest, most nurturing gifts. This Advent we’re looking back on Christmas stories and finding in them the places where darkness holds us, loves us, guides us, and liberates.
UVC Pastoral Intern Drew Jones reflects on God’s promises in the dark. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus relied on God’s nurture and care to flee oppression and violence in the night. The magi depended on God’s faithfulness during the nights to be led to Christ through astrology and science. In these stories, darkness brings loved one and chosen family together, protects, and shelters! The realities of this season are hard, but we remind ourselves that we are not alone. God holds promises in the darkness.
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Join UVC's Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon and Executive Pastor Emily McGinley as they discuss scripture, formation, and God's bold, inclusive, and relevant love with new Site Pastor (Hyde Park-Woodlawn / Wicker Park) D'Angelo Smith!
This morning, UVC Pastoral Intern Sam Coker reflects on the prophet Isaiah who anticipated destruction and exile yet prophetically claimed a hope for a new way and a new expectation. Through Isaiah’s message of consolation, we are invited to reimagine the ways we think about darkness, the dichotomy of light and dark, and how binary ways of thinking lead to exclusion and division opposed to an inclusive, bold, and relevant love. All of what God has created is good, and in darkness there is beauty, nurture, and life!
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
Continuing our series “the gifts that keep on giving,” we look towards Scripture which consistently resists the myth of scarcity. We recognize scarcity leads to segregating us from our community and our neighbor. The Bible is clear about this attitude: it is sin. Pastor Myron Krys preaches that although our resources do not belong to us, we do not put our faith in our abundance, but the Giver of abundance. Giving is a holy act, a resistant act, and it leads to life! You are enough, your gifts are enough. Join us in worship!
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
In Mark 12 we read a story of Jesus condemning the systems and structures that exploit and do not protect, that restrict and do not liberate, by honoring the giving of the poor widow.
The text says she gave everything with her whole being and whole existence, reflecting Jesus’ commandment to love our God and neighbor with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. The widow who radically gives her offering fulfills God’s greatest commandment, and Christ’s honors her. We too are presented with this same decision: how can we contribute our whole selves to God’s radically inclusive, boldly liberating, and incredibly necessary work in the world? Please join us!
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
This has been a year! A year of grief, a year of politics, and a year of activism. What are these to the Christian, and what do they have to do with each other? Today we celebrate All Souls Day by taking time to remember those who have died and the ways in which, in Christ, we are all, even still, one community. With the names and memories of our collective “cloud of witnesses" who brought us this far, we honor those witnesses, and are strengthened in our own witness.
Join us as we honor those who have come before us and how we can gird our hearts for whatever comes next.
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
UVC turns 10- wahoo! This morning, pastors Christian Coon (Pastor of Emerging Ministries), Emily McGinley (Executive Pastor), Hannah Kardon (Teaching Pastor) and UVC co-founder Trey Hall (Director of Evangelism and Growth at Methodist Church London, UK) share about this deeply radical and ancient idea that God loves us, so we can love others. This is what has shaped UVC the last decade. This is also a message that has sustained faith communities for thousands of years, and while UVC may be giving different language to this idea for “such a time such as this,” we get to find fresh language again and again to invite, plant, transform, co-create, and bear good fruit!
CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183
UVC turns 10- wahoo! As we enter our 10th year, we're living in a time defined by fear and sorrow, skepticism and suspicion. Even so, we continue to boldly trust in – and live by – God’s vision for UVC: to be bold, inclusive, and relevant.
This morning, guest preacher D'Angelo Smith centers in on UVC's second "ingredient" for community: being inclusive. Although God’s wisdom may seem foolish to the world, it allows faithful communities to turn oppressive structures upside down! God’s wisdom does not strengthen harmful hierarchies, but instead calls us to examine who in the body is celebrated and what parts of the body need to be celebrated more (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).
As we enter our 10th year, we're living in a time defined by fear and sorrow, skepticism and suspicion. Even so, we continue to boldly trust in – and live by – God’s vision. Executive Pastor Emily McGinley reflects on how BOLD it was to start UVC and how that boldness continues to call us forward into a new and abundant future. We believe in the resurrection of Christ! Part of what resurrection does is rattle our logic and complicate our foregone conclusions- that's why "God math" is necessary essential. We aren’t afraid to imagine and claim that resurrection is here for us today and tomorrow. (1 Cor 15: 12-20)
Christian Coon, pastor of Emerging Ministries, leads us to reflect on God-given wisdom and discerning humility in how we apply that wisdom to our lives. We were empowered to believe our call as people of faith is to use our minds to deepen our faith - and like Dr. George Washington Carver - do so humbly. Our intellect is not meant to be put on a shelf to admire, but used for the benefit of others. This week, consider how you will use these gifts - the world needs it!
Juan Pablo, UVC's Church Planting Resident, leads us this week in our continued series “God and Science” to reflect on how ancient faith communities heard and interpreted the Creation Story. Instead of a scientific account, ancient Israel heard the creation stories in Genesis as a theological declaration about the goodness of creation. God’s love of creation invites us to be co-creators of God’s goodness on earth and to share that goodness in bold and innovative ways.
John 14:1-7 — Some folks imagine that science and faith are at odds, incompatible, or two ways of life to choose between. But in fact, the practices and promises of science can only enhance our faith, and our understanding of the extraordinary Creation we are a part of. In a time when science and reality are under attack, it is more important than ever to find our Christian call to be seekers, lovers, and defenders of truth wherever we find it. So let’s figure out how to do that, and how to seek greater knowledge, greater understanding, and greater wonder in Jesus together.
Psalm 44 repeats many of the themes found in Lamentations and Job. In our the series “God, What The F***?” we’ve explored lament, anger, confusion, sadness… but Psalm 44 also adds ways forward for faith and hope even amid hard experiences. First, the psalm roots itself in the ancestors and stories of the past. We can remember the past and all who came before us: what they survived, what they've done for us, and the ways in which God has gotten people through hardship. Psalm 44 remains convicted that when God is awake (and even woke AF), steadfast love is present.
Can I Be Mad at God? In short... Yes! Being mad at God is an act of faith which scripture invites us to do as a natural thing in the midst of pain, just as we're able to praise God in time of joy. This is all a part of living in relation with God. We cry out to God because we know God is real, God cares for us, and God suffers with us.
What does it mean to proclaim faith and live faithfully in times like these? What do we do with our anger, grief, disappointments and seemingly endless dead-ends? Pandemic or not, we’ve all had a moment when we have thrown our hands up in exasperation and asked God, “What the f***?” Now is as good a time as any to (re)visit this question with all the faithfulness of a man named Job and all the honesty of a community like ours.
This week Hannah Kardon covers "The Playful Spirit" in this weeks segment of Let's Play.
Jesus, playfulness, community, and communion: how are all these things connected? *We know that preachers pull from many resources in their sermon preparations and, if that's the case for you, we hope that this will inspire you as you prepare your message. Please be sure to cite and credit when appropriate. God bless you!
Today we begin a new sermon series, “Let’s Play.” In today’s sermon, Pastor Myron Krys invites us to “Get in the Flow” (Gen. 2:4b-6, 10)
Stuck alone by systems beyond his control, John finds solace in creativity and unconstrained, unlimited imagination, finding new beautiful and extraordinary things with God.
Honoring Palm Sunday - some sites also incorporate Passion Sunday texts into this Sunday worship service.
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM. Whether you are gay, straight, or trying to figure it out; whether you prefer hand sanitizer or hand washing; wherever you are in the city, the country, or the world: you are welcome at Urban Village Church!
Jesus trying his darnedest to get alone because he sees its gifts - prayer, connection to God, comfort with the self - but he just keeps getting pulled away
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM. Whether you are gay, straight, or trying to figure it out; whether you prefer hand sanitizer or hand washing; wherever you are in the city, the country, or the world: you are welcome at Urban Village Church!
Thomas is alone somewhere when Jesus first appears to the disciples, and in his alone-ness struggles to trust in the resurrection and his friends. How can we build that trust?
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM. Whether you are gay, straight, or trying to figure it out; whether you prefer hand sanitizer or hand washing; wherever you are in the city, the country, or the world: you are welcome at Urban Village Church!
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM. Whether you are gay, straight, or trying to figure it out; whether you prefer hand sanitizer or hand washing; wherever you are in the city, the country, or the world: you are welcome at Urban Village Church!
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM. Whether you are gay, straight, or trying to figure it out; whether you prefer hand sanitizer or hand washing; wherever you are in the city, the country, or the world: you are welcome at Urban Village Church!
Jesus gets interrupted at a party, and has to move forward in a different way. In this time, as we are invited to a festival of justice to change the death dealing systems of white supremacy and policing that have taken so many Black lives, how can we receive interruptions with the same openness to the Holy Spirit, and move forward believing in God’s power, and our own need to act with it?
This week, we'll hear from the Rev. Jessica Vazquez-Torres, Program Director at Crossroads Antiracism Organizing & Training as she talks about Jubilee and the celebration of radical forgiveness. Even though the summer festivals aren’t happening on the streets, it doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate Chicago Pride! Whether you are in or out, #trans or #cis, whatever color or flavor you are on the rainbow, there is a place for you at Urban Village Church.
Join us for worship this Sunday, 10:30AM, as we continue in our celebration of #PRIDE month in our sermon series – FEST! This week, we'll hear from guest speaker Rev. Mashaun Simon as he unpacks what it means that every one, of every kind, and with every status, is worth celebrating. Even though the summer festivals aren’t happening on the streets, it doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate Chicago Pride! Whether you are in or out, #trans or #cis, whatever color or flavor you are on the rainbow, there is a place for you at Urban Village Church.
Hear from the Rev. Jonah Holm, of Zao Church in Milwaukee, as they celebrate God’s power, and what God has made, even when others would call it undignified or wrong.
Grace, and the ongoing process of sanctification that happens when we allow grace to shape our lives, are at the heart of our faith and our relationship with God. This Sunday, Pastor Hannah invites us to understand the nature of what grace is and how it is a gift offered to each one of us by God.
As we continue to explore the process of growing in God’s grace (aka “sanctification”), we start with prevenient grace – the presence of God waiting to be discovered. Join us this Sunday at 10:30AM, on Facebook and YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/urbanvillagechurch) as we continue to explore what sanctification is, how to pursue it, and most of all, what God’s grace can really mean for you!
We’re continuing to explore the process of growing in God’s grace (aka “sanctification”), as Pastor Emily takes the time to reflect on justifying grace – the grace to choose transformation.
Scripture: Philippians 3:7-17
Here's a video of my kids jumping on the trampoline for the first time.
You can follow Corina Newsome on Twitter and Instagram @hood_naturalist
Meet wealth expert and entrepreneur Charisse Conanan Johnson! Charisse attends our UVC-Hyde Park-Woodlawn site. Check out her web site, www.charissesays.com. Would you like to be on the You See Me podcast? Let Christian Coon know, christian@urbanvillagechurch.org.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-16
To watch our worship online, go to our YouTube page.
Here is the This American Life episode that I mention in my sermon.
Today we talk to Jim Downing, who attends our South Loop location. Jim has been attending for several years and recently completed a term as UVC's finance chair.
Jim is the parent of two children and is the Global Chief Compliance Officer for the Retirement Solutions Division at Aon Corporation. Jim is open and honest about a lot of things, including his divorce and sobriety. It's a great conversation!
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11; 26:57-58
You can read the article I mention about Joseph Lowery here: https://www.atlantamagazine.com/civilrights/reverend-joseph-lowery-profile/
Welcome to a new UVC podcast! As a way to keep our community connected, we will be putting out weekly podcasts about the people who make up the UVC family.
This week, meet Julia Jordan-Lake and Shelby Huskey, who are a part of the potential Launch Team of a new UVC site in the near-western suburbs.
Would you like to be a guest on this podcast? Or would you like to nominate someone? Send an email to Christian Coon, christian@urbanvillagechurch.org.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Song of Songs 1:2-8
I make mention of a few things in this sermon:
New York Life advertisement
An interview that Walter Naegele had about his partner Bayard Rustin
An article about Brad Ryan and his Grandma Joy
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 104:1-4, 24-34
I make mention of a performance by Sister Rosetta Tharpe that you can find here.
Preacher: Chan Choi
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
(Sermon is followed by the Advent Candle Song, led by Pastor Emily McGinley)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Luke 2:1-7 and Luke 18:15-17
Here's the article that Tom Junod wrote recently about Mister Rogers.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Please consider supporting Urban Village Church. You can make a gift here.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Please consider giving to Urban Village. You can do so here.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33
To support Urban Village financially, go here.
Let's celebrate turkey vultures!
You can read more about Ruby Kate here.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46
Here's the article about the lost dog that I mention: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/21/us/lost-dog-montana-kalispell-spokane.html
Here's how you can pledge and/or give to Urban Village: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: James 2:1-10
Videos for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=47&v=fM07um4L_-Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=2UQfbAZfG_8
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: James 2:1-10
The two videos I mention in the sermon about systemic racism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=47&v=fM07um4L_-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=2UQfbAZfG_8
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27
My apologies for the poor audio for this week's podcast!
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: John 20:15-23
You can support UVC here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 27
Here is "Be a Lion" from the movie, "The Wiz"
Here is "Defying Gravity" performed on the Late Show with David Letterman
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13
Here is the scene from "Rent" that I mention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DivvicEvf6c
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14
The lyric video to "Shadowland" from the Lion King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJqaxkBRro
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 2:1-4, 17:16-34
Here's the video I mention in the podcast, about two men signing words from queer vocabulary
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, 35-38
Chicagoans, here is the crepe stand I mention! https://www.yelp.com/biz/crepes-in-the-park-chicago
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 9:1-19a
Here's the video of Jeff Purvis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaHJm0tOZQI
And here's some info of the Angel Oak Tree: https://www.angeloaktree.com/
*Please note there was a technical difficulty that may make this recording more difficult to hear than normal. We're sorry for the inconvenience.
Preacher: Emily McGinley (with guest speakers, UVC foster families)
Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Matthew 23:37-39, 21:1-11
(sermon followed by Palm Sunday communion message)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 8
The episode from This American Life that I mention: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/668/the-long-fuse/act-three-4
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8
Correction: When introducing the concept of queer theology, Pastor Emily attributed the concept of "telling the truth slant" to her Irish ancestors, which was not correct. It was the poet Emily Dickinson who deserves the credit for that!
Preacher: Emily McGinley (with Alora Chateux and Emily Howdyshell)
Scripture: 1 Cor 11:3-16
Some good resources during this series on gender:
Transforming by Austen Hartke
Sex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan DeFranza
To see Chris Weaver perform on The Voice
To hear an interview with Chris Weaver
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
A link to use to support Urban Village: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Luke 1:39-55
Here's the link to the story about Sara Tucholsky that I mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd_s
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Luke 21:25-36
[sermon is followed by a communion reflection honoring World AIDS Day by Emily McGinley]
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
You can find the pictures of my baseball cards on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/christian.coon?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARB5RKtNbYX0BvTfhDmDQS2Sf2MHFchx_hd7ZydwqbqNbLJ2JuzQgPmEzJTKukwLGlOMqYo74GeGsMkY&hc_ref=ART2px3shqiKvlg0MjJx6KG47SY0bajxLpuvEn8q35bSbfA1I0tOX_TblNc-GYcD0zA&fref=nf
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
Here's the NPR story that I mention about the Memphis sanitation engineers' strike.
Here's a link to the John Wesley sermon, "The Use of Money"
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: John 8:1-11
In case you're curious about the web series I mention: You're Doing it Wrong
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Romans 8:26-39
This short video is mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9brqFuZ1vwI
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Ruth 1:15-21
This is the Fellowship of the Rings clip that is mentioned in the sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCY_Hjv7vKc
In connection with our sermon series on Methodism, this is a conversation between Christian Coon and Wesley scholar and former UVC'er Dr. Jonathan Dean about what makes John and Charles Wesley (Methodism) relevant today and some thoughts about the future of the Methodist church.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:11-18
Here's the podcast I mention: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/188/kid-logic
And here's the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer (these are the cards I'm giving to folks at my site): https://thewell.cor.org/wesley-covenant-prayer-card-traditionalcontemporary-package-25
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-15
Here's a good website about the Enneagram: https://cac.org/the-enneagram-an-introduction/
And here's the interview with Matthew Stevenson and Derek Black: https://onbeing.org/programs/how-friendship-and-quiet-conversations-transformed-a-white-nationalist-may2018/
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11
Here's the video of Capes for Kids that I mention in the sermon: https://vimeo.com/219240163
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48
I mention a This American Life podcast, which you can listen to here: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/75/kindness-of-strangers
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 4:1-6
I mention these things in the sermon:
Sudan the Rhino
John Francis TED Talk
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Ruth 2:1-9
I make mention of this Peanuts comic strip in thie podcast (you'll have to scroll down a bit to see it).
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: John 20:1-18
[Music performance by Leslie Michele and Rico Howard, "Heal" by Tom Odell, © Sony Music Entertainment 2013]
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: John 20:1-18
Here's Brian Stepanek's IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0826745/
Here's a story about Nevest Coleman: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-freed-inmate-white-sox-20180321-story.html
Ask a Pastor Podcast: A-Way to Pray - A special Lenten podcast for 2018. In this podcast UVC staff members and pastors answer your difficult and dangerous questions about prayer and offer spiritual practices that will transform your life.
Music credit:
Seeing the Future, Dexter Britain
Ask a Pastor Podcast: A-Way to Pray - A special Lenten podcast for 2018. In this podcast UVC staff members and pastors answer your difficult and dangerous questions about prayer and offer spiritual practices that will transform your life.
Music credit:
Seeing the Future, Dexter Britain
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Luke 11:5-13
[Music performance by Jennifer Knapp, Gotee Records © 2012]
Ask a Pastor Podcast: A-Way to Pray - A special Lenten podcast for 2018. In this podcast UVC staff members and pastors answer your difficult and dangerous questions about prayer and offer spiritual practices that will transform your life.
Music credit:
Seeing the Future, Dexter Britain
Ask a Pastor Podcast: A-Way to Pray - A special Lenten podcast for 2018. In this podcast UVC staff members and pastors answer your difficult and dangerous questions about prayer and offer spiritual practices that will transform your life.
Music credit:
Seeing the Future, Dexter Britain
Waves, Freddie Joachim
We Prayed with Our Feet, Hal Weary
Ask a Pastor Podcast: A-Way to Pray - A special Lenten podcast for 2018. In this podcast UVC staff members and pastors answer your difficult and dangerous questions about prayer and offer spiritual practices that will transform your life.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Here's the video of the Freedom Singers that is mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhafyI6-Bp0
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-29
[sermon is followed by musical performance by Leslie Moore, Rico Howard, and the HPW worship team]
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Exodus 33:7-11
Here's the video I mention about Tamar Manasseh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL5zBFV5g-c
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Here's the TED Talk mentioned in the sermon: https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_esfahani_smith_there_s_more_to_life_than_being_happy
Here's the article about students becoming monks for a month: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/11/09/562933725/monks-for-a-month-college-kids-give-up-talking-and-technology
Here's more info on Maisy Dias: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/02/26/467969663/wheres-the-color-in-kids-lit-ask-the-girl-with-1-000-books-and-counting
Here's the Thomas Merton quote: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/148829962657695880/
Preacher: Colin McDonald and the Children's Ministry Christmas Program
Scripture: Isaiah 43: 1-4, 10, 19-21
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-8, 29-31
In this podcast, I reference these things:
The Island of Misfit Toys
The blobfish
Darkness as a resource
The naked mole rat
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Acts 4:1-32
(The video showed during the sermon can be found here. Additionally, the sermon recording is followed by a communion reflection for Transgender Day of Remembrance.)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 4:23-31
I mention this clip from the movie "The Apostle": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5v5DOEF45E
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Mark 12:41-44
In this sermon:
Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 138
Links from today's podcast:
The Hokey Pokey
What Can the Brain Reveal About Gratitude? article
Panel: Kelly Harrison, Darius James, Kevin Lee, Megan Marker
Scripture: Revelation 21:1–7, 22:1–5
Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7, Revelation 22:1-5
Preacher: Christian Coon
A few things mentioned in the podcast:
The article about the Mona Lisa
"It's The End of The World As We Know It"
Pictures from the UVC-South Loop Open Table
Preacher: Christian Coon
Text: Revelation 5:1-14
I mention these things in the sermon:
This song by Katy Perry
This book by Quincy T. Mills
This story about Jahkil Jackson
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Revelation 2, 3
A few things that I mention in this podcast:
The Olivia books
A map of Asia Minor at the time of Revelation
The Monster Book of Monsters
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Acts 16:16-34
I make mention of a video ("Ways to Help Someone Feeling Suicidal") in the podcast and you can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H02UQGwALgQ
Preacher: John Sianghio
Scripture: Jeremiah 31: 2-4, 8-13
(sermon is followed by a communion reflection from Jarell Wilson)
Preacher: Rich Pak
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
(sermon is followed by a communion reflection by Joel Brown)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Revelation 21:1-6, 23-26
Christian mentions a video that he shows in worship where Chance the Rapper is honored. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqfngsQWhag
Preacher: Tim Wolfe
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 8:26-40
Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch shows us what real evangelism looks like—and why progressive Christians must reclaim the “evangelical” label.
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: John 10:11-18, Heb 12:1-2
(Sermon is followed by communion reflection by Joel Brown)
Preacher: Christian Coon
Reflections on what the Gospel really means and using John 3:14-21 and Romans 1:16-17
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: John 3:14-21, Romans 1:16-17
(Music performance of "Intercession" by Andrew Jones and Rico Howard)
Preacher: Christian Coon
The story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21) gives us a model of how a group of individuals can use the Holy Spirit overcome the cloak of failure and live into a new thing.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Hearing that we are loved may be old news, but it's a foundational truth that helps us in times of failure. I reflect on this as we look at Luke 3:15-22.
Links I mention:
The scene from "Good Will Hunting": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQht2yOX9Js
A link to buy my book: http://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/DR878/failing-boldly.aspx
The Urban Village podcast page: https://uvchurch.podbean.com/
Preacher: Christian Coon
There are days when we may feel great about our bodies and celebrate them and there are also days when we wonder if we can return our bodies for a refund, especially those who combat disease or struggle with illness. What do we do if our bodies feel broken? Some thoughts on this using Mark 5:35-44.
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Mark 5:25-34
(Song performance by Leslie Moore and Rico Howard)
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Lobo Loco
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Lobo Loco
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Lobo Loco
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
Preacher: Christian Coon
Having the courage to speak up can be challenging sometimes and it's even more of a challenge to figure out what words to use. Words are particularly important during Palm Sunday and that's what I reflect on this week using Matthew 21:1-11.
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Lobo Loco
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
Scripture:
Luke 19:29-38: Jesus’ Enters Jerusalem
Luke 19:41-48 Jesus Weeps and Cleanses the Temple
Luke 22:1-6 The Plot to Kill Jesus
Luke 22:54-62 Peter Denies Jesus
Luke 23: 13-25 Jesus Sentenced to Death
Luke 23:33-4, 39-47 CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH
Testimonies:
Sanna Adlem
Patrick Moore
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Lobo Loco
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Ketsa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Ketsa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
Preacher: Emily McGinley
Scripture: Psalm 91, Matthew 4:11
(Special musical performance by HPW's Leslie Moore and guest performers)
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Ketsa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Ketsa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Ketsa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by krackatoa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by krackatoa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman
Music by krackatoa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by krackatoa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by krackatoa
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Hicham Chahidi
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Hicham Chahidi
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Hicham Chahidi
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
Series: Where The Wild Things Are
Topic: Dealing With Our Demons
Scripture: Matthew 4:8-10; Matthew 8:28-34
Preacher: Jarell Wilson
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Hicham Chahidi
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Hicham Chahidi
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Marco Castelli
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Marco Cartelli
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Marco Castelli
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Address to the White House:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
Music by Marco Cartelli
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Marco Cartelli
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
Preacher: Christian Coon
When we're in the wilderness, a map is often a helpful tool to help us navigate. Do we have a map for our faith lives when we feel like we're lost or don't know where to go? Jesus certainly thought so. This podcast focuses on the power of Scriptures as a guide as it focues on Matthew 4:3-7 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Chris Zabriskie
Artwork by Kyle Arend and Erin James-Brown
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Chris Zabriskie
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Chris Zabriskie
Preacher: Christian Coon
What does the wilderness mean to you? Sometimes it can be a time of renewal as we connect with God's creation. Other times, it might create a little anxiety as we're never quite sure what we'll experience when we go there. What did Jesus experience when he went into the wilderness? That's that I reflect on in this podcast, paying particular attention to Matthew 4:1-2.
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Chris Zabriskie
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Chris Zabriskie
Being "relevant" is one of the core values of Urban Village Church. The root of the word relevant means "raising up." How can we live out the Gospel in ways that connect with others and raise them and ourselves up? We explore this as we reflect on 1 Peter 5:1-11.
I mention a trailer for a Michael Jordan IMAX movie trailer in the podcast. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAFmO3XA-Y
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Gillicuddy
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Gillicuddy
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Gillicuddy
The 'Practice Resistance Podcast' is a collaborative Lenten effort between Urban Village Church and The Inclusive Collective. This week we invite you to practice guided breath prayer. You are invited to join us for the 40 days of Lent, Monday-Friday, for new spiritual practices, action steps, and choose this kind of fast for Lent.
If this podcast has meant something to you, we invite you to give financially and give generously. You can do so by going here: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/
Urban Village Church: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org
Inclusive Collective: http://www.letsgetinclusiveuic.org
Music by Gillicuddy
At Urban Village, we talk about lot about being inclusive. But what exactly does that mean? There are lots of ways to unpack biblical inclusion, but radical hospitality is one way to take a look at it. Christian Coon explores this using 1 Peter 4:1-13.
Hear the story of Valerie from Urban Village Church, Hyde Park-Woodlawn.
If this podcast means something to you, please consider making a financial donation to Urban Village Church at http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/ or by texting 'UVC" to 77977. Your donations make this possible. Thanks!
Things discussed in this week's podcast:
Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100) - http://byp100.org
Chicago school closings - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/04/philadelphia-chicago-school-funding_n_5635062.html
Baltimore uprising told through voices of the people - https://youtu.be/cJqJfAAi8VQ
Story of Marissa Alexander in her own words - http://www.essence.com/2015/03/04/marissa-alexander-exclusive
From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor - https://www.amazon.com/BlackLivesMatter-Black-Liberation-Keeanga-Yamahtta-Taylor/dp/1608465624
Barbara Randsby - http://barbararansby.com
Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis - https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Constant-Struggle-Palestine-Foundations/dp/1608465640
'Chewing Gum' on Netflix - http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/chewing-gum-is-a-netflix-hidden-gem.html
Preacher: Christian Coon
January sometimes brings resolutions and the desire to strive to obtain the mythical "good life." But what does that mean? Will God favor us more if we achieve more? We'll explore what it means to have the good-enough life as we reflect on Matthew 5:1-12.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Do you feel like you don't have a place in your family? In this world? In life? It's interesting to note that the birth of Jesus--the Messiah, the Savior--literally took place in "no place." God comes to us in those moments of displacement as God did that day thousands of years ago. A Christmas Eve podcast based on Luke 2:1-20.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Sometimes saying yes to God may mar one's reputation in "popular" society. Are we ready for that? Was Joseph? We'll explore his "yes" to God as we read Matthew 1:18-25.
I mention a clip in the podcast and you can view that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYgM6WpjCy8
Support Urban Village! www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
I mention Shonda Rhimes' TED Talk and you can see that here: https://www.ted.com/talks/shonda_rhimes_my_year_of_saying_yes_to_everything
To learn more about Chicago Run: www.chicagorun.org
Preacher: Christian Coon
At times in our prayer lives, we may feel like all we hear from God is silence or a "no." How can we truly hear God's yes? This podcast reflects on Luke 1:5-25 and also mentions two film clips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcB4XXGr1us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u56OqFjs1dg
Preacher: Christian Coon
Sometimes healing can come from surprising places and in surprising ways. Today's podcast looks at this topic and John 5:2-9.
This week's podcast is a bit different: It's a conversation that Christian Coon had during our worship with Jenan Mohajir from Interfaith Youth Core. Jenan is a committed Muslim and has significant interfaith dialogue experience. We think you'll find it helpful, particularly in light of last week's election results.
We're in the season of receiving financial commitments to Urban Village for 2017. Your support helps us continue our ministry, which has been helpful to many both in Chicago and outside of the city. You can pledge your support here: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give.
That's a big question in any relationship: What are you thinking? It's also a question we ask ourselves: What's on my mind? What thoughts are running through my head? Sometimes, unchecked thoughts lead us to places of fear and anxiety that make life particularly hard.
What do we do with those runaway thoughts? This is the first sermon in a series about healing and wholeness and I'll unpack this question and how it relates to our own healing. This podcast uses Luke 22:47-53.
What is our response to God's generosity? How should be be generous ourselves? I reflect on these questions in this week's podcast using Leviticus 27:30-32 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-3.
And if the Spirit moves you to be generous toward Urban Village, you can donate here: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
Fortify Podcast: Find Strength for the Journey Discipleship at Urban Village Church, Chicago
Hear from Charisse Conanan Johnson, member of Urban Village Church Hyde Park-Woodlawn and Financial Wealth Expert, about how financial planning is a spiritual practice.
Charisse Says Blog: http://charissesays.com Charisse Says Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcOmMGrbLXFgUQxnGMU4wZg Jesus and Economics featuring Carolyn Roncolato: https://youtu.be/vKHe4PXxpUQ
To give to UVC on our website: http://www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give/ To give to UVC on PushPay: https://pushpay.com/pay/urbanvillagechurch/I5sfeloNBdOQZiB6BJ1Z1A Or text UVC to 77977 to give on your phone.
Any time anyone makes a financial donation to an institution, s/he probably asks, is this organization worth my investment? It's a great questions and one that needs to be asked...including for the church.
Is the church worth an investment? Is Urban Village? I reflect on these questions while taking a look at Acts 16:11-15, 40.
And, if you answer in the affirmative to the above question, you can support UVC here: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Leviticus 25:1-8
Keeping the Sabbath is a great spiritual practice that hopefully helps us feel less anxious and more attuned to God's presence. But keeping the Sabbath isn't just about how you can benefit. It also means that we pay attention to how others can flourish, too.
Preacher: Christian Coon
As we continue our sermon series on unplugging and keeping Sabbath, this podcast takes a look at whether there's an instruction manual about what to actually do on the Sabbath. One good place to start: delighting in God and in God's creation. What do you delight in? The Scripture used is Genesis 1:27-2:3.
Pastor: Christian Coon
Of all 10 commandments, keeping the Sabbath may be the one that's easiest to fudge and yet it's also one that is given a lot of emphasis. Why do we need to keep the Sabbath? Some thoughts on what it says about how we treat ourselves and how we see God. The Scripture reading is Deuteronomy 5:12-15.
I make mention of a TED talk and here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG6xlKzFFrI
Also, I mention the iPhone blessing we did as a church. You can hear a radio interview I did about it here: http://wgnradio.com/2016/09/16/pastor-christian-coon-is-blessing-iphone-7s/
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Romans 12:9-21
Our faith often provides a respite and escape from a world that sometimes doesn't make any sense, but our faith also challenges us to stretch ourselves to experience transformation.
Claudia Mir testifies about her love of her home Puerto Rico, and all the ways God was with her as she found her way to Chicago. You can help fund the media project to highlight the Puerto Rican experience in the US she speaks about through this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/a-voice-for-puerto-rico/. We pray you too feel God with you as you figure out what comes next!
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Romans 5:1-11
When you think about the things you receive from your faith, hope, patience, and grace are all great ones that come to mind. But endurance? Probably doesn't make your top 10. But it's just as important in the life of a committed faith. I share a few thoughts about endurance and also take a look at Romans 5:1-11.
Scripture: John 20:30-3; 21:24-25
Story: Shh! We Have a Plan
Testimony: CC Haung
Testimony: Colin McDonald
Story: Bagels From Benny
Testimony: Rebecca Anderson
What would happen if all the Christians in America stopped shooting other Christians?
Preacher: Tim Wolfe Scripture: Psalm 55
Warning: The material enclosed is a personal testimony of God which references the experience of sexual molestation. If you or someone you love has experienced sexual molestation, abuse, or assault and want resources, visit rainn.org or call their safe helpline at 877-995-5247 any time. You, and every one of God's people, are wholly loved in a broken and painful world. Urban Village Church seeks to be a place where anyone can tell their story and be fully seen and embraced. God bless you.
The "disgust" emotion isn't one that's talked about as much, but it bears close attention. Something we may find disgusting may conflate into our seeing someone else--the person's humanity--as disgusting. What do the psalms say about this and how did Jesus respond to this emotion? This podcast looks at Psalm 119:153-160.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 119:153-160
We often think that anger is a negative emotion, but can it also be used for "good"? We continue our sermon series on exploring our emotions by looking at the psalms and this podcast reflects on Psalm 83.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Psalm 83
A podcast in response to all the tragedies of last week in Baton Rouge, Minnesota, and Dallas, and some reflections on fear and what we do with fear in the midst of it all. The text is Psalm 23.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Text: Psalm 23
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14
We may wonder at times during our faith journey: Is this all there is? Should there be more to living out my walk with Christ? Am I missing out? This podcast explores what it means to say "yes" to the invitation to the gospel party, using Matthew 22:1-14.
One note: This was recorded before the tragic shootings in Orlando, which all of our worship locations addressed Sunday morning. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims' friends and families; our hope will not be extinguished for a world that is safe for all, including LGBTQ persons; our voices will not be silenced as we call for peace and against gun proliferation.
Scripture: Luke 22:7-20
Preacher: Hannah Kardon, Kirk Vaclavik, Sunjay Kumar, Chris Sanders
Video Links:
Kim Chi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU5ns8wGiGM
Chance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxMApS0QXcE
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Luke 22:7-20
When tackling challenging issues like racism and injustice, we may wonder, how do we sustain our hope? How do we stay resilient? One way is to claim and listen to the stories of others who have been liberated by God. This sermon focuses on the power of story and uses Luke 22:7-20.
Preacher: Hannah Kardon, Carter Kelly, Shannon Straw, Maria Torres
Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26
-- Click here to see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjGQaz1u3V4
It's tempting sometimes to want to totally escape to a world where there is no anxiety, no fear, no injustice. But to truly be an individual and a church without walls, we must make the decision to engage and resist the powers that bring about injustice while keeping our hope in Christ alive. That's the reflection for this week, using Philippians 1:18-26.
The podcast refers to a movie clip that can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frXlYeflkt4
We start a new sermon series called "In/Formation: Becoming a Church Without Walls" as we explore what it means to be an anti-racist church and anti-racist followers of Jesus. It all begins with our taking a deep look at ourselves. This podcast uses 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
I also mention a video in this podcast and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRiWgx4sHGg
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: John 20:1-18
A reflection on Easter Sunday and what happens when we feel like Jesus is missing. The text is John 20:1-18.
Preacher: Emily McGinley (Contributions by Tracie Mezera, Grant Crusor, and Gihane Jeremie-Brink) Scripture: Luke 19-20 (selections)
Preachers: Jessica Lee Gloria Feliciano Alicia Crosby Christian Roldan-Johnson
Scripture: Luke 19:35-40 Luke 19:41-48 Luke 22:14-20 Luke 23:33-4, 39
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20
Being vulnerable (and naked) with God is one thing, but what does it meant to be naked with others who are also trying to be naked with God? What does conflict and honesty mean for those who are part of a church? This podcast explores these questions about the uncomfortable spaces of being open and honest with others.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Exodus 3:1-6
Links to two videos that are mentioned in this podcast:
Matt Harvey interviewing people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0D8V0dCbf8
Barry Bremen: http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=thegreatimposter
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:45-58
Sometimes it's hard even getting through one day at work so to wonder about the future, especially the distant future, seems exhausting. But a man named Paul was concerned about the future and argued that what we do now has a big impact on times to come. I'll share a few thoughts on this while looking at 1 Corinthians 15:45-58.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-7
When we think about how we're doing in our work, we understandably think about ourselves. Are we doing the job expected of us? Are we pleasing our supervisor or client? These are good things to reflect on! But I believe we can also ask if we're having an impact through our work for the common good. The passage this week is from Jeremiah 29:1-7 and explores this important question.
Preacher, Christian Coon Scripture, Colossians 3:12-17
Who are you trying to please at work? Your first answer probably comes pretty naturally. Your boss? Your supervisor? Your clients? Your co-workers? All perfectly good answers. But they not be the best answers. Some reflections on those answers in this podcast that focuses on Colossians 3:12-17.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-19
We spend a huge amount of time at work throughout our lives, but too often we don't reflect on how we might integrate our faith into what we do for a living. This podcast is the first of five that will focus on how we can flourish in our work and how we can help the world flourish at the same time. It uses Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-19 as a text.
Preacher: Tim Wolfe |Scripture: John 5:1-9 | Too often we get stranded by pools that promise healing and fill our heads with magical thinking. Then we wonder why nothing happens. The problem isn’t us or our limitations. The pool is the problem. That’s why we need to get up and walk away from these dead zones in our lives.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Luke 2:1-21, Philippians 2:5-11
We're jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon as we end our "Another Way In the Manger" sermon series. How do individuals in power use their power? How was it used in Jesus' time? How did/does God use power? And you and me? Lots of questions that I try to answer in this podcast using Luke 2:1-21 and Philippians 2:5-11.
Here's the clip from Star Wars that I mention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en8bh60K7m8
Here's a great article about DreamYard: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/07/bronx-dreams
To support Urban Village financially, you can do so here: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Luke 2:1-21
We get so used to being able to control things remotely that it doesn't impress us any more. But when I was playing with my son's remote-control robot the other day, I still marveled at this amazing technology.
It got me thinking about this sermon series about empire and how those in power liked to control things. I then wondered, who or what controls me? Am I really as free as I think I am? Do I really allow God to direct my life? These are things I reflect on in this podcast, which uses Luke 2:1-21.
Preacher: Christian Coon Text: Luke 1:46-55
Mary's song in Luke 1:46-55 has been sung to gorgeous music over the centuries. We may miss, though, that it's also a protest song of sorts, calling for some radical upheaval in the world.
This sermon takes a look at Mary's context (the Roman Empire) and at a contemporary television show ("Empire") to explore how we might be called to flip our own empires.
I reference a clip from "Empire" in the podcast and you can watch that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXo7IIO9uU8
Preacher: Emily McGinley Scripture: Luke 1:39-56 (with rap translation by Jovan Landry)
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Luke 12:12-25
It's easy to get possessive about our possessions. But what if we realize that our possessions really aren't ours to begin with?
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture 3:12-17
It's a natural feeling to desire and want to be desired by another person. When we know that we are the object of God's first love and desire, that helps us to see others in that same light. This is particularly helpful when one is dating and desiring to be in a relationship. How can the single life and the sacred life be combined?
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:8-22
This text about the rape of Tamar has been called a "text of terror." And yet it's important for us to reflect on this as we make sure that the voices of those who have been sexually assaulted are heard.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
So many competing voices in our society tell us different messages: You have unlimited freedom! Do what you want with your body! And also, your body isn't good enough!
How do we respond as people of faith? 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 has some guidance for us.
I mention a couple web sites in the podcast.
Here's how you can give to Urban Village: www.urbanvillagechurch.org/give
And here's the marshmallow experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo4WF3cSd9Q
Preacher: Brittany IssacScripture: Song of Songs 1:2-4a, 9-11, 15-16; 2:8-17; 7:10-12; 8:4, 6-7
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-11
While it would be nice if you could have wisdom delivered in 30 minutes or less, it takes more time and experience than that. The process, however, is much richer and brings us closer to God in the process. This podcast focuses on the issue of wisdom and anxiety and reflects on Proverbs 2:1-11.
I make reference to Amazon's proposed drone delivery system. Here's a video of that.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27
One translation of Proverbs 4:22 says that "those who discover these words live, really live body and soul, they’re bursting with health." Living a life that bursts with health sounds great, but can be overwhelming. Where do we start? We take the foot off the brake of our lives and allow the Spirit to move us forward.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-8
Letting go of self-reliance and trusting our hearts and lives to God is one of the hardest things we can do and it is also one of the surest ways to help ease the fears that create anxiety.
Preacher: Tim Wolfe Scripture: Proverbs 3:21-26 When life’s troubles plunge us into confusion and despair, our surest escape comes by practicing God’s presence.
Christian CoonProverbs 3:21-26
"You Are Here"
In the the first sermon in our "Serenity" series, Christian Coon reflects on the presence of God and how finding a sense of "here-ness" helps our minds and hearts be centered in the right place.
Preacher: Tim Wolfe Scripture: Romans 4:1-8, 13-17
Accepting God’s gift of grace can be very hard for us, because we live in a world that constantly expects you to prove your worthiness.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Mark 6:1-13
Despite the rejection of his hometown, Jesus continues to follow his own path and call telling his followers to pack light and don't be afraid to go outside their lanes.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Acts 10:17-37
Before we think about sharing our faith with others, we first need to think about how we need to be transformed ourselves. Peter is a good example of this from Acts 10.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Ruth 1:1-14, 4:13-17
Sharing our faith can be one of the most challenging things, but it helps when we're real with ourselves and with each other.
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46
When one hears the word "hospitality," little packets of sugar may come immediately to mind. But it is a theologically rich word that can have a huge impact on those who are recipients on bold hospitality.
Also, here's a video of the mistletoe guy Christian mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qAA6jJmm4
Preacher: Trey Hall Scripture: Matthew 25.31-46Faith without service is not much of a faith at all. Discipleship without action isn't discipleship, at least not discipleship of Jesus. Let's not let our absolutely important scriptural investigation provide cover for us to ignore the plain truths that Jesus sometimes speaks.
Preacher: Tim Wolfe Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40
What happens when we combine Jesus’s Great Commandment to love God, neighbor and self with his Great Commission to make new disciples?
Preacher: Christian Coon
Scripture: Galatians 3:24-29
Christians are quick to celebrate a verse that says we are one in Christ (like Galatians 3:28) but often fail to notice what makes us different and unique. Both of these things are worth celebrating and both are worth exploring when we unpack the word "inclusive." This is a continuation of our sermon series, "Elevated: Following God's Vision" and uses Galatians 3:24-29.
And here's that blue dress
And the article about Brother Jim
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Matthew 22:24-30, Matthew 28:16-20
As much as we'd like to give Jesus small portions of our life, his command about love is pretty clear: We are called to follow and love with all we have.
As part of our new sermon series, "Elevated: Following God's Vision" sermon series, we explore reasons why we continue to create new faith communities in our city, based on Acts 11:19-26.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Mark 16:1-8
Our society keeps giving us lists of things to do in order to receive new life. The great good news of Easter is that something has already been done. It's up to us to receive this and respond accordingly.
Preacher: Christian Coon Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 and Mark 15:21-34
Not many people like to dwell on the negative--we prefer triumph and happy endings. The story of Jesus' last days, though, are replete with sometimes unpleasant surprises and suffering. How should we respond?