Sermons at Morehead FCC: Recent Episodes
First Christian Church of Morehead, KY
In this podcast series of sermons you'll find Scripture comes alive with lively storytelling, deep scholarship, contemporary connections, and spiritual truths. First Christian Church of Morehead, Kentucky, is a Disciples of Christ congregation nestled in the Daniel Boone National Forest, along the Sheltowee Trace, and next door to Morehead State University. Listen each week for a new take on ancient sacred stories. To learn more about our congregation or to support this podcast financially, visit our webpage www.fccmorehead.org
God's Unconventional Gardening Practices
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Family, God, and the World
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Guest Sermon: Leanna Coyle-Carr
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On Trinity Sunday, Pastor Nancy reflects on the complexities of the Trinity and suggests embracing a spirit of open-minded exploration in our journeys of faith. Using the children's picture book Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson, she finds common threads for contemporary faith.
Listen as Pastor Nancy explores trinitarian metaphors that open up alternative theological understandings, holy curiosity, all with a spirit of generosity, vulnerability, and community.
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Dancing With the Wind
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When the Path is Unclear
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Love, Actually
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Heart of the Matter
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Presented by Dr. Alana Scott.
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Resurrection People
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Hosanna! Blessed That Is He That Comes
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With the Eyes of the Heart
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More than a Meme Theology
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Turning the Tables
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Bless Our Imperfections
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Every Road You Take--a sermon for the first Sunday of Lent by Pastor Nancy
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The Vision and the Silence
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What a Day This Has Been!
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What Kind of Kingdom is This?
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The Invitation for a Lifetime
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Dearly Beloved
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Shaping Faith Anew
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Making Room
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What Are You Waiting for? Sing!
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Interrupted by Joy
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Delight in One Another
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Space for the Weary
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The Stories We Tell Ourselves
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In times of contemporary unrest and apocalyptic rhetoric, Pastor Nancy briefly outlines the misguided popular rapture theology in the United States and then moves on to examine the rich context of Paul's letter to the Thessalonian church.
By examining Paul's melding of ideas from Jewish traditions and Roman imperial imagery, the sermon emphasizes a nuanced understanding of the Day of the Lord as a transformative and restorative event, not a destructive one. Pastor Nancy draws connections to the prophetic vision of Amos, highlighting the biblical concept of justice as a restoration of what belongs to the oppressed, contrasting it with retribution-focused understandings of justice.
She encourages listeners to seek hope beneath the metaphors, understanding Paul's vision as a call for the transformation of social and political realities in the present world.
Sermon: Past, Present, and Future Hope
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Amos 5:18-24
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In her sermon for All Saints Sunday, Pastor Nancy invites listeners to reflect on the ordinary saints in their lives, recognizing the legacy and calling to be beloved children of God, part of the communion of saints. The sermon explores the biblical foundation of the term "saint" as used by the Apostle Paul, emphasizing that it refers to anyone striving to live in the way of Christ imperfectly. Pastor Nancy challenges listeners to reflect on their own "saints" who have shaped their faith, both the renowned and the anonymous figures who may never have a designated feast day.
The sermon serves as a reminder that even in a divided world, the church is surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, providing support and encouragement in the journey of faith.
Sermon: On the Streets Where We Live
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12; 1 John 3:1-3
Links: All Saints:Daily Reflections on the Saints by Robert Ellsberg
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In this inspiring sermon Pastor Nancy explores the arc of the story of Moses, weaving through Psalm 90, which has long been attributed to Moses, and its poignant reflections on the challenges of human life and the pursuit of wisdom.
Touching on the heartbreaking violence in Israel and Gaza, Pastor Nancy emphasizes the need for love and compassion, echoing Jesus's teaching on the greatest commandments—loving God and loving our neighbors.
The sermon concludes with a call to embody this love in a world marked by division. Drawing on the wisdom of Justin Martyr and the contemporary words of Nicholas Kristof, Pastor Gowler urges listeners to be peacemakers, showing kindness, justice, and love to all. The message resonates as a reminder that, now more than ever, the world needs people known by their love.
Sermon: Where Love Has Always Been Enough
Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90; Matthew 22:34-46
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Idols, icons, and allegiances.
Listen as Rev. Nancy places in conversation with one another Jesus's answer to the question, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” with the first verses of Paul's letter to the church in Thessaloniki.
Sermon: Somewhere in Between Together
Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
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A Little Mercy Now
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The Heart of the Matter
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Changing Our Minds
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For our third Sunday in the Season of Creation, we explore the metaphor of wilderness places. In her sermon "Out in the Wild Again" Pastor Nancy does a deep dive into the wanderings of the Hebrew people in the wilderness and how those experiences can help us make sense of where we are today. Using William Bridges' concept of the "neutral zone," we can learn to find these wilderness times as moments for creativity and discovery.
Scripture passages: Exodus 15:22-27 & Matthew 3:13 – 4:2
seasonofcreation
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Presented by Rev. Roy Reynolds.
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Turning Aside to See
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How does the oppression of a vulnerable minority group begin? As Pastor Nancy walks us through the first chapter of Exodus, the storyteller reveals the common methods of tyrants. Troublingly, we find that not much has changed. First, separate the people from remembering their own history. Second, using the language of us/them, rhetorically attack a marginalized group. Once these two moves have made a demonization of a group possible, then the tyrant moves to overt acts of oppression and violence.
Exodus also provides us with examples of what to do when Empire sows division to keep power: Shiphrah & Puah, Hebrew midwives; the mother and sister of Moses, and the daughter of the king of Egypt.
Listen as Pastor Nancy highlights stories of resistance and allyship, in the women of Exodus 1 and 2.
Scripture passages: Exodus 1:8-21 (2:1-10); Romans 12:1-8
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Moral Imagination
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In the wee hours of the morning the disciples find themselves out in the middle of the sea and a storm whipping up around them. They're terrified to see a ghostly figure approaching them, walking on the water. Listen to Pastor Nancy explore a story of risk, faith, and community during our special Blessing of the Backpack Sunday.
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33
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Struggling to Imagine
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Sacred Dreaming
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Listening to Hard Stories
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The Joy of the Unexpected Yes
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Soul Systems
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Finding Calm in Chaos
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Daring to Dream Again
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Making Space for What Comes Next
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In the World
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Know This
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Open Invitations
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On The Way
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Whom Are You Looking For?
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At the Crossroads
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Lingering in Graveyards
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Challenging Our Questions
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Sharing Water with Jesus
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How Do We Begin Again?
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Who Will You Listen to?
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Choosing a Way that Leads to Life
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A Fast That Changes Things
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Finding Ourselves in God's Foolishness
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In this expansive story of the journey of the Magi, Matthew extends an invitation to us: join the Magi as fellow pilgrims on a spiritual journey of discovery. What can we learn from the Magi? Listen as Pastor Nancy offers words of insight from this well-loved Epiphany story.
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18
Sermon links
- Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
- Sermon linksH Song by Emund H
- Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Lifeby Dacher Keltner.
- "The Angels' Song" by Edmund Hamilton Sears.
- "Into this Silent Night" by Ann Weems in her collection of poetry, Kneeling in Bethlehem.
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Tis the season for resolutions. In conversation with the Teacher of Ecclesiastes, Pastor Nancy invites us to approach the new year with openness and questions, leaving space for God to do a new thing.
Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6
Poetry sources mentioned in today's sermon:
"Reasons to Plant Raspberries," by James McKean. https://baltimorereview.org/summer_2021/contributor/james-mckean
"We look with uncertainty," Anne Hillman https://grateful.org/resource/we-look-with-uncertainty/
"In Memorium," Alfred, Lord Tennyson https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57829/in-memoriam-a-h-h-obiit-mdcccxxxiii-106
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Faithful Living in a Fear-Filled World
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Matthew's gospel begins with a long list of ancient names, some familiar others less so. Why start a gospel this way? In her sermon, Pastor Nacy explains, "The genealogy is in some sense Matthew's way of letting us know who Jesus's people are. It's situating Jesus's story into a larger story, one of the history of Israel, and to the larger work of God in the world. So while we may want to skip over the strange names and get on with the real story, Matthew wants us to wander in the groves of the ancient ones, to consider their complicated stories and carry them with us as we move into the good news of the Jesus story."
Pastor Nancy read from First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.
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God's Plan: A Generational Legacy
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In this week's sermon "Welcome to the Neighborhood" Pastor Nancy explores the words of the prophet in Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7.
"Jeremiah says, 'Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…for in its welfare you will find your welfare.' These words, even though they were first spoken to a people living in foreign land over 2,500 years ago, hold wisdom for us today. What can we do to promote the flourishing of our community? We who are homeowners and renters, landlords and small business owners, students and retirees. What part do we have to play in the life of our community? How are we promoting the welfare of our neighborhoods?"
To read the Asset-Based Community Development workbook Pastor Nancy mentions which includes the visioning questions: How to create a good and inclusive neighborhood? How to locally source happiness for our neighborhood?, visit Cormac Russell's academia.edu page.
To see examples of neighborhood street murals, see Richard Nunno's essay. And for a more extensive treatment of public street art and murals see the Asphalt Art Guide by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
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Enlarging Our Vision, Enlarging Our Souls
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Wisdom in the Midst of the Storm
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How might an intentional practice of observing and reflecting upon our everyday world shape our spiritual lives? Preaching during an outdoor worship service at Morehead City Park, Pastor Nancy continues our focus on the Season of Creation, following the instructions of Jesus to "Consider the lilies...." and exploring the image of God as midwife in Job.
Note: the audio of this service reflects the outdoor setting of the worship service.
Scripture Readings: Job 39:1-8, 26-30 and Psalm 104:14-23; and Luke 12:22-31
More information on Corita Kent.
On Being interview with Naomi Alderman.
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Can We Have a Different Text?
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Travel Tips, Jesus Style
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What Are We Waiting For?
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Guiding Us into All Truth
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Today we welcome Bob Pryor as our guest preacher with his sermon "Radical Hospitality."
Scripture readings: Genesis 18:1-8 and Acts 16:9-15
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A Radical Change In Plans
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Saul on the Damascus Road is perhaps the most famous of conversion stories, but is there more here than meets the eye? Listen as Pastor Nancy explores this pivotal story in the book of Acts and in the history of the Christian tradition. How might this story help us think about issues in our day? Pastor Nancy examines a current case surrounding religious liberty and public schools before the Supreme Court.
Scripture: Acts 9:1-20
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In an introduction to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Pastor Nancy gives an overview of the background of the book and dives into the necessity of historical context as we interpret stories of conflict between the early believers and the religious leaders in Jerusalem and beyond.
Scripture: Acts 5:27-32
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"One strand can be found in all the resurrection accounts, whatever the differences, the experiences of resurrection all are clouded with mystery, what exactly happens remains puzzling, elusive, slipping through our fingers, not easily explained or understood. Explanations always fail. And yet, even though it's mysterious and perplexing, resurrection refuses to stay on the sidelines; it's always on the move, and keeps breaking into the story where it's least expected..." - Pastor Nancy Gowler
Scripture: Luke 24:1-12
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This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, beginning with the elaborately choreographed entrance into Jerusalem by Jesus. Soon the festive mood will turn, disciples will flee in fear, and only the women will remain to watch as Jesus is executed by the Roman Empire. Luke's story has no branches, no palm branches thrown on the road--Pastor Nancy asks, "What if that is an intentional choice by the writer of the gospel?"
"Perhaps Luke leaves out the palm branches as a hint for us--as a missing piece which points us to this upside down kingship which Jesus brings. This is no victory parade, Luke is saying to us. If you want military might, then go follow the Romans--let me know how that turns out. But if you know the things that make for peace, true peace, then you'll leave that behind and follow this man, Jesus, the one sent from God. Instead of palm branches to wave, Luke gives us rocks to listen to, rocks lining the road to Jerusalem, silent stones. And yet they are rocks at the ready, ready to testify to the world-changing possibilities which Jesus holds open for us. Even these stones would cry out, Jesus says, calling out with voices that will not be silenced. Even when we choose to say nothing." --Pastor Nancy Gowler
Scripture: Luke 19:28-40
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It's a story long interpreted through the lens of sin and shame, but in John's version of the anointing of Jesus, the act of anointing his feet is done by one of his close friends, Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha. Pastor Nancy invites us to ask the question, "How does our understanding of the story change if we think of it through the frame of friendship?"
"Friends are those anchors for us when the happenings of life threaten to overwhelm us, those who know us in all of our brokenness and with all of the beauty that is in us too. Jesus calls us friends, and perhaps we hesitate because we feel the weight of the responsibility of true friendship, fearful that we don't measure up. What could it mean for us to call Jesus friend?" --Pastor Nancy Gowler
Scripture: John 12:1-8
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"What if this parable is indeed a story of lavishness? Not of the lavish living of the younger son in a far off land, but the lavishness of a father who spreads out his arms wide to embrace the son who wandered off and the one whose heart has hardened with resentment? It's the prodigal father who pours out grace upon grace. God is the one who searches out for the lost sheep scourers the house for a lost coin and then rejoices, not just a little bit happy...But an all out, no holds barred celebration--a barn-burner of a party." Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the familiar and beloved Parable of the Prodigal.
Scripture reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
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Vineyards and fig trees, impatient landowners and determined gardeners. In her sermon for the third Sunday of Lent, Pastor Nancy explores a small parable of Jesus about a fig tree without any figs. What's this story have to say to us today? How can we find ourselves in it? And what does the next year hold for this poor fig tree?
Listen to "One More Year," a sermon on Luke 13:1-9.
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Today's gospel reading is the story of a fox, a hen, and an unruly brood of chicks. We discover in these few verses the determination Jesus has to fulfil his mission, to live out his calling as he announced in his hometown of Nazareth at the beginning of his ministry:
"to bring good news to the poor.
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
"Faced with a fox, God in Christ chooses vulnerability, elects to live in the messy moments of our human lives, not seeking security, but risking everything for love." --Rev. Nancy Gowler, from today's sermon, "Under God's Wings."
Link: Malcolm Guite on "Fiddling Whilst Rome Burns: C.S. Lewis Speaks to our Crisis!
Scripture: Psalm 27; Luke 13:31-35
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The wilderness is a mythic place of danger. In the wilderness we are out of our element, unsure of our footing. On the first Sunday of Lent we listen to two wilderness stories. The first from Deuteronomy, as the Hebrew people are at the water's edge, waiting to cross over and start a new life. The words of Moses seek to ground the people in a worldview of gratitude, rooted in God's generous giving of the land. From that experience of God's graciousness, the people are to extend a grace-filled welcome to the sojourners who will live in the land with them. In the second story from Luke's gospel, we find Jesus out in the wilderness, experiencing an extended time of prayer and temptation. There too, we see the theme of God's generous provision, which breaks our human tendency to care first for ourselves.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-13
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The Christian year is at a threshold moment, between the end of the season of Epiphany and the start of Lent. As we have considered the revelations of God we find in the stories of Jesus, we have encountered glory in unexpected places. In her sermon, "Disoriented by Glory," Pastor Nancy weaves reflections on the gospel reading with a short story "The Displaced Person" by Flannery O'Connor, and an altarpiece painted by Titian. View image.
Scripture: Luke 9:28-43
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The blessings we find in Luke's version of the teaching of Jesus are direct and tangible.
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh...."
And the woes which follow should cause us to squirm uncomfortably.
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep...."
In the affluence of our contemporary culture, how shall we receive these teachings of Jesus? Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the beatitudes from Luke 6:17-26.
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The one where Jesus offers fishing advice to professional fishermen. The story of Jesus's ministry continues in the gospel of Luke as Jesus begins to gather a closer group of followers.
"In these lingering days of pandemic, when everything we thought we knew about how to order our lives, how to be a faith community together has been upended, it's easy to find ourselves on the side of the lakeshore with Peter. Tending to our old nets, the way we've always done things, hoping against hope that the next time doing the same thing will have a better outcome. And Jesus comes along and invites us to break out of old habits, to re-imagine ourselves in light of new circumstances, to set out into deeper waters. And part of us just wants to stick to what we know, fixing the nets, after all, we've been doing this our whole lives."
Read more about the ancient Galilean fishing boat at bibleodessy.org
Listen to the hymn, The Summons, by John Bell.
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
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In the fourth chapter of Luke, Jesus returns to his hometown. At first things go well, but then it takes a turn for the worst, as Jesus is run out of town. Listen as Pastor Nancy walks through the opening themes of Luke: the great reversal of the realm of God, the expansiveness of God's welcome, and the movement of the Spirit in the world.
Sermon: Now That You Know
Scripture: Luke 4:14-30
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The work was hard, the future uncertain, and perspectives clashed as the people returned from exile in Babylon and attempted to rebuild their beloved city of Jerusalem. Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the setting of this passage from Nehemiah and what happens when people hear the love story God has with them and with all creation.
Scripture: Psalm 19 and Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-12
View the painting, Sunday Morning in Virginia by Winslow Homer here.
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Imposter syndrome is defined "as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success." (Gill Corkindale, HBR, 5/7/08). Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the story of the baptism of Jesus, and what it means for us that Jesus got in line to be baptized.
Scripture: Luke 3:15-22
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Today Pastor Nancy speaks of Epiphany, magi, stars, and unintended journeys. Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
As part of our faith community's spiritual practice we receive a star word for personal reflection in the new year. If you would like to receive a star word from us, message us on social media @fccmorehead (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter).
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"I see a glimmer of hope in this story of the young boy Jesus, who finds a home among religious teachers…who don’t chase him away, or discount his questions, or ignore his insights. But who in their wisdom recognize in his questions a growing life of faith and choose to nurture that faith in him. Can that be our faith community today? Can we relate to others not in fear, but with the best of our attention, finding in others the seeds of spiritual longing and faith to be explored?" --Pastor Nancy, in her sermon for the first Sunday after Christmas.
Scripture reading: Luke 2:41-52
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"Oh, how we need more Elizabeths, don’t we? –those who see beyond the surface things to the deep longings of our hearts. Our world aches for more of those wise folks who give words of blessing, not judgement; those who encourage, rather than tear down." Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the story of Mary's visit with Elizabeth.
Want to read the text of this sermon? Visit Pastor Nancy's blog at https://ruminari.wordpress.com/2021/12/19/close-to-home-a-safe-haven/
Scripture reading: Luke 1:39-55
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In her sermon Collective Repair, Pastor Nancy offers a fresh perspective on the preaching of John the Baptist. Could it be that John was less of an end times doomsday prophet and more of a promoter of faith-based practical living? In his targeted advice for tax collectors and soldiers, we find an invitation to life with intentionality and justice in our own lives.
Scripture readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, and Luke 3:7-18.
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It's not just superheroes who have origin stories. Many of us have those stories of our early lives which highlight themes in the arc of our living. In her sermon for the second Sunday of Advent Pastor Nancy explores the origin story of John the Baptizer, the divinely imposed silence upon his father, Zechariah and his joyous canticle of praise and hope as he and Elizabeth name their newborn son. Zechariah's story leads us to wonder, who has been part of our origin story? and who are we blessing with an origin story rooted in love?
Scripture: Luke 1:68-79; Luke 3:1-6
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"Advent steers clear of the sparkling glitter of the holiday season. It always begins at what feels like an ending--with the world crashing down, with chaos and upheaval, images of global destruction, people fainting from fear." Listen as Pastor Nancy speaks of the homesickness which marks the time of Advent.
You can read the text of the sermon at Pastor Nancy's blog, https://ruminari.wordpress.com/2021/11/28/close-to-home-the-great-homecoming/
Sermon: The Great Homecoming
Scripture readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, and Luke 21:25-36
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"It is the extravagance of God's creative grace we see in the beauty of wildflowers which blossom for a moment and then fade...in the freedom of a soaring hawk or in the beauty of the songbird's melody. There is an overflowing wildness to the grace in Creation, an extravagance that astounds us. Today is indeed enough." Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the familiar teaching of Jesus, "Consider the lilies...."
Sermon: Choose Joy
Scripture: Joel 2:21-27; Psalm 126; Matthew 6:24-34
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What's the church to do when the voices of fear, hatred, and despair grow louder? Reclaim their calling as incubators of love, rediscovering their identity as an alternative community of love and good deeds. Listen as Pastor Nancy explores a difficult passage in the gospel of Mark and finds inspiration in some startling words from Hebrews.
Sermon: Provocateurs of Love
Scripture: Mark 13:1-8; Hebrews 10:23-25
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The story of the widow's mite, two small copper coins, which she drops into the treasury box at the Temple is a familiar story within Christian circles. Often the woman and her giving is lifted up as an example for us to give generously. But is that what Jesus is describing when he says of her, "she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Listen as Pastor Nancy invites us to zoom out on this encounter and see the larger critique Jesus is leveling upon a social system which is exploiting the very poor and vulnerable.
Scripture: Mark 12:38-44
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From sacred poetry in the books of Isaiah and Revelation, we find biblical writers seeking to offer hope to people facing hardships. There is hope, not in some far off future, but here and now, as the beloved community discovers God is moving in with humanity, seeking to spread shalom and abundance with all the earth. Listen as Pastor Nancy weaves these two readings together for her sermon, Finding New Jerusalem, for All Saints Day worship.
Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9; Revelation 21:1-6
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Outside the walls of Jericho sits a man, blind and begging on the side of the road. Jesus passes by along with his disciples and a crowd of folks excited to follow the teacher and healer on his way to Jerusalem. Until, that is, the beggar, Bartimaeus, begins making a scene. As he throws off his cloak and heads toward Jesus, we see what it means to follow Jesus along the way. Listen as Pastor Nancy unpacks this powerful scene from the 10th chapter of Mark's gospel.
Scripture: Mark 10:46-52
Sermon: The Old Ways Aren't Working
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What does it mean to live a life of significance? Is it only for those in positions of power? In our gospel story two disciples take Jesus aside in the hopes they might make it big and gain influence by being his top two followers. Jesus pushes back, asking them to reimagine power and discipleship. As she explores this ancient story, Pastor Nancy weaves together thoughts from contemporary pop culture including The Office, Calvin & Hobbes, and Ted Lasso.
Scripture reading: Mark 10:32-45
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Another question is posed to Jesus, this time, not from an antagonist. A man kneels before Jesus, asking the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the hidden assumptions behind the question, and invites us to listen to Jesus's answer in new ways.
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
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It's one of those tough passages in the gospels. Jesus is asked about marriage and divorce, and the words seem harsh to us. Acknowledging the pain the church has caused to divorced persons, Pastor Nancy invites us to look again at this story. Can we find a word of hope in them? Where is the good news for us today?
(After some technical difficulties in our livestream service, Pastor Nancy recorded her sermon again from home.)
Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24; Mark 10:2-16
Sermon: Behind the Question
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Note: this sermon was recorded outdoors next to a creek which affects the sound quality. This is the final sermon in a month long series on the Season of Creation. You can watch the complete worship service on YouTube; there you'll be able to see some of the beautiful landscape of eastern Kentucky. In Isaiah's hope for his people we find an alternative vision of God's shalom which Isaiah sees lived out on the mountain of God, a place of justice and plenty, of peace and community. Listen as Pastor Nancy encourages people of faith to "live like the mountain is out."
Scripture - Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 48
To support the ministries of First Christian Church of Morehead, KY, visit our website.
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Note: this sermon was recorded outdoors which affects the sound quality. This is what summer sounds like in Kentucky! You can watch the complete worship service on YouTube; there you'll be able to see some of the beautiful landscape of eastern Kentucky. For the third Sunday in the Season of Creation Pastor Nancy moves from lament to praise. It's so easy to be discouraged by the urgency of climate change. How do you practice listening to the songs of the skies? Where do you find hope?
Scripture - Jeremiah 4:23-28; Psalm 19
To support the ministries of First Christian Church of Morehead, KY, visit our website.
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How we read the creation stories of Genesis matters. In this second sermon in our 2021 celebration of the Season of Creation Pastor Nancy reflects on the dangers of understanding human beings as having domination over the earth. As a counterpoint she invites us to imagine humanity as part of God's gardening staff, tending the landscapes we live in with care and intention.
Note: this sermon was recorded outdoors which affects the sound quality. This is what summer sounds like in Kentucky!
Scripture - Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8
To watch the video of this sermon and the complete worship service check out our YouTube channel.
For more resources on the Doctrine of Discovery from a Disciples of Christ perspective, see our Yakama Mission website.
To hear highlights of the interview with Colonel Hatfield, click here.
To support the ministries of First Christian Church of Morehead, KY, visit our website.
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Carl Sagan famously wrote of his response to seeing a picture of Earth taken from the Voyager 1 at the edge of our solar system, in which Earth appears as a pale blue dot, "To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
During the month of September we'll be celebrating the Season of Creation; each week focusing on a particular part of our world. In her sermon, "Fragile: Handle with Care," Pastor Nancy invites us to see the creative processes of God as holy invitations, partnerships among God, the created world, and humans as part of Creation.
Note: this sermon was recorded outdoors which affects the sound quality.
Scripture - Genesis 1:1-25; John 1:1-14
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In our final installment of A Summer with David: Lessons from an Imperfect King, Pastor Nancy leads a reflection on the startling sensuous love poetry in The Song of Songs. How did these ancient love poems become included in scripture? What wisdom might they hold for us in our day?
Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Sermon: Sacred Matters
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Following the plans of his father before him, Solomon now presides over the opening worship ceremony of his newly constructed temple. Even as he offers a dedication prayer, he questions his efforts, saying, "But can God really dwell on earth? Look the heavens and the heavens beyond the heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house that I have built."
In the long extended days of pandemic, what are the sacred spaces we inhabit? When sanctuaries are closed, where to we experience the Holy? Listen as Pastor Nancy reflects on the sacred spaces in our lives.
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Sermon title: Holy Spaces
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King Solomon like his father is the stuff of legends--renowned for his wisdom, wealthy beyond measure, countless wives and concubines. At the beginning of his story is the tale of a dream, a dream in which God asks what Solomon desires. At this crucial juncture, Solomon asks for wisdom, wisdom to discern between good and evil. What does this fable have to say about our days of disinformation and distrust? How can the church be a place which forms people with discerning hearts? Listen as Pastor Nancy explores this passage from Hebrew Scriptures.
Scripture: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:1-14
Sermon: Seeking Wisdom in an Age of Misinformation
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The tragic story of King David draws to a close this week as the lectionary reading describes David receiving the news of the death of his son Absalom. Pastor Nancy retells the story of their estrangement and invites us to imagine a different outcome. Listen in as she asks, "what if?" The gospel story gives us the chance to break the cycles of violence and retribution and to practice the power of our moral imaginations to make a way of peace where there was once no way.
Sermon series: A Summer with David: lessons from an imperfect king.
Sermon Title: Regrets
Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
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Just when King David thinks he's successfully covered up his indiscretions, the prophet Nathan comes for a visit. He ensnares the king with an story of an outrageous injustice, and soon David is caught in the prophet's trap. Listen as Pastor Nancy continues our series: A Summer with David.
Scripture:
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Now the saga of David takes a dark turn, as the storyteller of 2 Samuel recounts the encounter of David with Bathsheba and the actions which follow. from this moment on, his life is on a trajectory of decline, tragedy, and loss. What are we to do with such disturbing passages in scripture, what Phyllis Trible calls "texts of terror"? Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the history of interpreting this story and offers some ways for the church to be in solidarity with those who have been victimized by abuses of power today.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-17
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King David has big plans. With a new capital and a new palace in place, now he begins drawing up designs for a fabulous temple in which to house the Ark of God. Before the first shovel is in the ground, the prophet Nathan has some startling news for David: God rejects the offer, and counters with a grand design beyond David's dreams. Listen as Pastor Nancy explores why we might be moved to pray, "God, take our best-laid plans and tell us no."
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
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“There are many roads which lead to God. I have chosen the one of dance and music.” -- Rumi
In the six sermon "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" in the series, "A Summer with David," Pastor Nancy spends time unpacking the celebratory story of David's decision to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. What can we learn from this ancient story of communal joy and the ominous dangers which surround the Ark?
Scripture reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
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"On this fourth of July we can pause to consider how we tell our own stories. Can we tell them honestly, without skipping over the uncomfortable parts? Can we be truly patriotic or will we slip into the sin of idolatry of nationalism?" --Pastor Nancy, from her sermon, "Not Leaving out the Details," part of the series, "A Summer with David: lessons from an imperfect king."
Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
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This week's scripture passage finds David leading the people in the face of grief. They have lost a battle, their king and his son have been killed, and the future is unsure. Pastor Nancy in her sermon, "Lament in a Forgetful World," invites us to consider the ways in which the church is called to engage in lament.
"As we lean into moments of lament, we learn to be in solidarity with those who cry out for social justice. Making the space for honest lament opens us up to be changed ourselves, to grow as disciples, to participate in God’s work of reconciliation in the world. We learn deeper truths about our own history, and we find ourselves speaking out as allies for those who have been marginalized."
Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
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It's a familiar bible story many learn in Sunday School, the young boy David takes down the giant Goliath with only his slingshot and 5 smooth stones. "What do we do with a story we’ve known since childhood? with a story whose themes are woven into some of our favorite books and movies? How do we free the tale from our expectations and allow it to speak to us beyond the easy platitudes of Sunday School lessons?"
In her sermon "Confronting Giants," the third in our series "A Summer with David: lessons from an imperfect king" Pastor Nancy invites us to visit this old story with fresh eyes.
Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
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In our 2021 summer worship series, "A Summer with David: lessons from an imperfect king" we're following the story of David and the beginnings of the monarchy in Israel. In her second sermon in the series, "The Perils of First Impressions," Pastor Nancy explores the selection and anointing of the young David to be the next king of Israel. How do we decide who will be a good leader? The writer of Samuel contrasts the decision-making of the prophet Samuel with the way God discerns, writing "God sees with the heart."
Pastor Nancy explains, "In our day we think of the heart as emotional, speaking of feelings. But in the ancient world the heart was the center of one's being: encompassing one’s emotions, yes, but also one's intelligence, discernment, wisdom, character--all the intangible things that make up our existence, who we are as a human being. Taken this way, the text suggests God sees holistically, with the fullest sense of understanding and insight."
Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13
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This summer we begin a deep dive into the story of David and the beginnings of the ancient monarchy in Israel through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. How does an ancient story about prophets, judges, and kings relate to our modern context? Listen to Pastor Nancy as she opens up the series with her sermon, Be Careful What You Wish For. Scripture text: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15).
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In the dazzling glory of a vision in the Temple, Isaiah hears a call from God, "Who will go for us?" And in response, he steps out in faith saying, "Here I am, send me!" Listen as Pastor Nancy explores this ancient call and how it connects with our current journeys of faith, in her sermon for Trinity Sunday, Saying Yes to God's Community of Love. Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13, Romans 8:12-17.
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For Pentecost Sunday 2021 in-person worship returned to FCC Morehead, KY. Pastor Nancy explores the story of the gift of the Holy Spirit and its implications for our current day. Sunday sermon title: We're in the Wrong Place. Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Acts 2:1-21.
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When artists attempted to depict the story of the ascension of Jesu (Acts 1:1-11), some interesting images appear. Today Pastor Nancy reflects on one detail from a painting by Master of the Dominican Cycle in a passion series painting from the 16th century. You can view the painting at the German National Museum.
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"Too often we tend to think of faith as a one time decision, perhaps at our baptism or when we join a particular church. Peter’s story offers us another way of imagining our faith, one of process and discovery--of making mistakes, of changing one's mind, of having our ways of understanding God and the world challenged, enlarged, of being--as Peter was that day in Caesarea--interrupted by the Spirit....That's part of the journey of faith. It’s not measured in how firmly our feet are planted, but how expansive our love becomes." --Pastor Nancy
Scripture texts: Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17.
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On the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season, Pastor Nancy returns to the story of Peter and John in Acts 4, as she continues our reflections on life after resurrection. As the Elder of 1 John writes, this eastering life requires practice, we live into a life of divine love, one day at a time, one action of love after another. It's through our practice of love that the Sacred breaks through our brokenness and uncertainty, transforming us into disciples who follow in the footsteps of Peter. Scripture passages: Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24.
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How does a stammering, impulsive fisherman, who in Jesus's darkest hours denied him 3 times transform into a bold, risk-taking apostle who can bring good news to an outcast and to those in power? The Elder who wrote 1 John tells us it's because of God's initiative, embracing Peter as a beloved child. It's that love that opens up a different future for him and for us.
Deep inside most of us long for someone to tell us who we are. In the light of Easter resurrection we take on a new name now we are children of God, God's beloved. Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the amazing, transformative love of God for us.
Scripture passages: Acts 3:1-19 and 1 John 3:1-7
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In recent weeks the findings of a Gallop research Poll on church membership have been in the news. For the first time since they began tracking the numbers in 1937, membership in a faith community fell below 50% of the U.S. adult population. The headlines have been everywhere, marking this milestone. "If we take seriously the findings of these studies, the truth is, dusting off our traditions and sprucing up our worship services is not what folks are looking for. For many, there’s a longing for authenticity, for true community, for a group of people honestly struggling with what it means to be a human being on a spiritual journey, caring for the earth and for the common good."
Facing such grim statistics, what's a church community to do? Listen as Pastor Nancy Gowler explores two scripture texts (Acts 4:32-35 and 1 John 1:2-2:1) and helps us listen for a word of hope in these days.
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What are we to make of the ending of Mark's gospel? With only five verses and no resurrection appearances by Jesus it stands alone with its abrupt, unsettling end. On Easter Sunday in 2021, as many churches have yet to return to in person worship services, Pastor Nancy suggests we consider the unfinished ending as an open invitation--how are we responding to the news of resurrection?
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Chanting crowds, a donkey, branches and cloaks lining the road, shouts of Hosanna ringing in the air--there is always a festival feel in our celebrations of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Pastor Nancy invites us to imagine ourselves in the crowds that day. What might move us to shout Hosanna, God save us? Who is crying out, save us, today?
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 and Philippians 2:5-11.
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What do you do when political structures exploit the poor and religious institutions align themselves with the powerful? According to the prophet Jeremiah you expect God to do a new thing. On the fifth Sunday of Lent Pastor Nancy explores the dream of Jeremiah of the day when God's covenant bypasses the powerful and transforms the hearts and minds of the people with God's law of love. Scripture texts - Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33.
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On the fourth Sunday of Lent, Pastor Nancy explores an obscure story about a bronze snake from the book of Numbers and its unexpected appearance in Jesus's late night conversation with Nicodemus. As we make our way through Lent on the way to Good Friday and the cross, we must gaze upon the cross, and if we look at it honestly, "we see humankind's rejection of...divine love lived out in Jesus....the worst that the world can offer: all of the fear, the anger, hatred, bigotry, the greed, lust for power, the poisonous nationalism, the idolatry of self."
Scripture readings: Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:10-21.
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"...if we've abandoned the cross and taken up the trappings of glory and power of the world, then we're left with nothing but crumbling monuments to our own folly, dollar store idols of our own creation."
In her sermon for the third Sunday of Lent Pastor Nancy holds three scripture texts in conversation with one another. The Ten Commandments, Jesus clearing the Temple, and Paul's take on the foolishness of the cross shed light on the liberating work of God in the world.
Scripture passages: Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, and John 2:13-22.
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In the age of GPS mapping apps, directions are always at our fingertips. Use your current location and select destination—with just a click, each road and every turn appears. Our spiritual journey has no quick guides. One day the path seems clear, other times the way is hidden from us. The journey of faith is a walk of trust, radically trusting in the God who calls us, walks with us and paves our way in steadfast love.
In her sermon for the second Sunday of Lent Pastor Nancy finds explores what it means to take up one's cross, deny oneself, and follow.
Scripture passages: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-17 and Mark 8:31-38.
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On the first Sunday of Lent Pastor Nancy opens up the story of God's first covenant found in Genesis 9:8-17. A story of a bow hung in the heavens, a sign of remembrance of lives lost and of God's vow never to bring destruction to life on earth again. What can we learn from this ancient story? How can we find inspiration in this story to meet the challenges of our day?
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As the church moves from the season of Epiphany to the time of Lent, we pause for a moment with the Peter, James and John on a far away mountain top. There in a mysterious moment of revelation, the disciples catch of glimpse of glory in the person of Jesus. But what does it mean? And how are we to understand this strange story? Listen as Pastor Nancy invites us to see the glory of God in the moment.
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The mind numbing realities of life during the pandemic can be exhausting. Pandemic burnout pulls us down as we wonder when this will all end. Join Pastor Nancy as she explores the questions and the inspiration found in Isaiah 40:21-31. Whether it's in the soaring majesty of eagle's wings or in the fragileness of a grasshopper's wings, you just might find some words of hope you need for today.
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In her sermon "Tough Words on Love and Freedom" Pastor Nancy goes behind easy platitudes and thin excuses to explore the real world wisdom of the Apostle Paul's words, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" from 1 Corinthians 8.
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In her sermon "You Can't Be Serious?" for Sunday, January 24, 2021, Pastor Nancy invites us to consider two call stories, the first from Jonah 3:1-10, and the second from Mark 1:14-20. "In God’s realm all things are possible. The good news is spread by imperfect people--folks struggling with their own prejudices, or those just struggling to get by."
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In this week's sermon Pastor Nancy Gowler explores the richness of the story of the call of Samuel. She lifts up the faithfulness of his mother Hannah, the blindness of his mentor Eli, the corruption of Eli's sons, and the unsure response of a young boy learning to listen to the voice of God in his life. You can find the story in 1 Samuel 3:1-20.
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The events of the week of January 6, 2021 have shaken our country to its core. In her sermon on the Sunday after the violence inside the nation's capitol in Washington, DC, Pastor Nancy addresses the dangers of Christian Nationalism and looks for hope in Mark's gospel story.
You can read the text of her sermon on Pastor Nancy's blog: https://ruminari.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/dragging-the-burdens-of-the-past-with-us/
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In this sermon for Epiphany Sunday Pastor Nancy Gowler asks us to imagine ourselves invited to journey along with the magi to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child. What is this time holding for us? What keeps us from crossing the threshold? What star awaits us? This sermon was preached on Sunday, January 3, 2020 at First Christian Church in Morehead, Kentucky, USA.
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