Christ City Church, Washington DC: Recent Episodes
Christ City Church
In this series, we will walk through the Psalms of ascent and consider the truths these ancient songs may have for us as we engage in our own summer of pilgrimage. We will consider our own joys and sorrows, our own disappointment with God and God’s people, our own hope for forgiveness and deliverance. In week three of this series, Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Psalm 122 and our faith journey with God.
In this series, we will walk through the Psalms of ascent and consider the truths these ancient songs may have for us as we engage in our own summer of pilgrimage. We will consider our own joys and sorrows, our own disappointment with God and God’s people, our own hope for forgiveness and deliverance.
In week two of this series, Pastor Lisa Rodriguez-Watson preaches on Psalm 121 and how God guards us both from harm and amid hard times.
In this series, we will walk through the Psalms of ascent and consider the truths these ancient songs may have for us as we engage in our own summer of pilgrimage. We will consider our own joys and sorrows, our own disappointment with God and God’s people, our own hope for forgiveness and deliverance.
Pastor Matthew Watson begins this series in Psalm 120 as he talks about vulnerability in corporate worship.
As we enter a summer of change and sojourn, let us enter knowing that God is with us, ahead of us, and for us. Let us journey together this summer, individually and collectively knowing that God has a plan and purpose for us.
Pastor Matthew Watson starts off this series discussing the faith of those who followed God into the unknown according to Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16.
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. On Pentecost Sunday, the last Sunday of this series, Pastor Justin Fung talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [Acts 2:1-8, 37-47]
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. In week four of our current series, three panelists talked about mission. [Acts 2:42-47]
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. In week five of our series, guest preacher, Rich Rivera, speaks about a mission-minded life according to Acts 2:42-47
Born and raised in New York City, Rich has dedicated over 22 years to urban ministry and church planting. He honed his skills through Redeemer City to City's Urban Incubator program before planting Restoration Community Church in the Bronx. Family is a huge part of his life; he is married to Frances, a Montessori educator who runs Heketi Montessori. He is a father to three incredible children. Currently, he is prayerfully planning to plant a new church in NoMa.
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. In week four of our current series, three panelists talked about community. [Acts 2:42-47]
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. In week three of this series, guest preacher, Ken Wytsma, talks about community and individualism. [Matthew 28:1-20]
Worship, Community, and Mission have often been referred to as the three pillars that mark the spiritual lives of the church. In week two of our current series, Pastor Matthew Watson interviews three panelists from Christ City Church in a discussion about worship. [Romans 11:36-12:1]
Kicking off a new series around Christ City Church's core practices (Worship, Community, and Mission), Pastor Matthew Watson points us to the early church's example and what worship looks like for us today. [Acts 2:42-47]
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Resources:
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Sacred Pathways Survey: https://go.christcitydc.org/sacredpathways
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Typing Test: https://ratatype.com
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Justin Fung concludes our journey through Learning to Live, inviting us to remember the promise of new life. [Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20]
This week in our Learning to Live series, Pastor Matthew Watson reminds us that we are a sent people whose mission is to embody the presence of God. [John 20:19-23]
This week in our Learning to Live series, Pastor Justin Fung looks at what it means to be the Church. [1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-12]
This week in our Learning to Live series, Kiry Murray preaches on the Bible as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path according to Psalm 119:105. They recognize that Scripture has been used to harm and point us toward the hope that Scripture can also be used to heal.
Kiry Murray (They/Them) is an intern at Christ City and a Seminary student at Wesley Theological Seminary.
This week in our Learning to Live series, Pastor Justin Fung talks about overcoming and enduring through life's journey in community and with God. [Psalm 23]
This week in our Learning to Live series, Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson explores one of our core practices for spiritual growth: prayer—what it is and how it can help us become more like Jesus. [Luke 11:1-13]
-- Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.
Pastor Matthew Watson continues in week 6 of Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next several weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [1 Timothy 4:7-16]--Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.
Pastor Justin Fung gives an Ash Wednesday Homily on transformative fasting according to Isaiah 58.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann continues in week 5 of Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next several weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 5:22-23]--Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.
Pastor Justin Fung continues in week 4 of Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next several weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [John 3:16-17]--Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.Find a Christ City small group at christcitydc.org/small-groups
Resources mentioned in the sermon:
- "Do You Know" questions | Study by Dr. Robyn Fivush & Dr. Marshall Duke
- "The Gospel of the Kingdom" - The Bible Project
- "The Four-Chapter Gospel" - The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics
- "The Big Story" - James Choung
- Resources for Wise Peacemakers - London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (the diagrams were taken from here, adapted by the artist Deb Mostert from James Choung's categories)
Pastor Matthew Watson, along with Dr. Daniel Harris, continues in week 3 of Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next 12 weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [Psalm 139]
Follow along with Learning to Live at: learningtolive.app .
Find a Christ City small group at christcitydc.org/small-groups
Pastor Andrea Ackermann continues in week 2 of Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next 12 weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [Matthew 4:19]--Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.Find a Christ City small group at christcitydc.org/small-groups
Pastor Justin introduces Learning to Live, a church-wide curriculum written for Christ City that we'll be journeying through over the next 12 weeks, exploring together what it means to follow Jesus and seek the kingdom of God. [Matthew 6:25-35]
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Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app.
Find a Christ City small group at christcitydc.org/small-groups
Pastor Matthew Watson kicks off the first service of 2024, encouraging us to learn from the story of the Magi as we look to a new year. [Matthew 2:1-12]
Pastor Justin Fung offers a Christmas Day message to those looking for hope and light in the midst of all of the mess and chaos. [Luke 2:1-14]
In the fourth week of our Advent series, “Waiting for God”, Pastor Matthew Watson draws on the examples of Hannah and Mary to understand the love of God. [1 Samuel 1:19-2:10; Matthew 1:18-25]
In this third week of our Advent series, "Waiting on God", Pastor Justin Fung reflects on two women who found joy in God, even in their waiting. Judges 13:2-5; Luke 1:46-55
In week two of Advent, Pastor Andrea Ackermann reflects on the peace of God from the stories of Elizabeth and Sarah, two women who waited on God to fulfill Their promises. Gen. 18:1-15, 21:1-7; Luke 1:1-25
Pastor Matthew Watson starts off our Advent season with the story of Hagar and the hope she names in God in Genesis chapter 16.
Pastor Justin Fung wraps up our sermon series "Blessed are the Peacemakers" by looking at Isaiah 65:17-25 and the path to peacemaking.
This week in our sermon series "Blessed are the Peacemakers", Pastor Matthew Watson is joined by a panel of peacemakers who share their experiences and perspectives in local and global contexts. John 14:25-27
In the second week of our sermon series, "Blessed are the Peacemakers", Pastor Lisa Watson explores Ephesians 2:14-18 and three elements of peacemaking: forgiveness, rest, and love.
Pastor Matthew Watson starts off our new sermon series, "Blessed are the Peacemakers" by looking at Matthew 5:9.
In this sermon series, we will explore Jesus’ invitation to be peacemakers as articulated in the Sermon on the Mount and consider its implications for our lives in a world plagued by violence. What does it mean to be peacemakers in our families, neighborhoods, and world? What implications does peacemaking have on our economics, livelihoods, parenting, and prayers?
This week, Pastor Justin Fung brought our series, “The Meaning of Life: Life Lessons from Ecclesiastes”, to a close. Pastor Justin Fung preached on the words of Ecclesiastes 12 that call us to remember who God is.
Pastor Matthew Watson continues our series "The Meaning of Life: Life Lessons from Ecclesiastes" in Ecclesiastes 9:7-11, looking at what it means to live the life you have while it lasts.
Continuing our series, "The Meaning of Life: Life Lessons from Ecclesiastes", Rev. Dr. Starlette Thomas talks about Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 and our striving to make sense of suffering.
Rev. Dr. Starlette Thomas is an author, activist, visual artist, race abolitionist and archivist. She is a womanist in ministry and a wilderness wanderer proclaiming a raceless “kin-dom” that is coming. Starlette regularly writes on the sociopolitical construct of race and its longstanding membership in the North American church as the interim managing editor of news and opinion and the director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media. Her podcast, The Raceless Gospel, takes her listeners to church and to a virtual church service where she and her guests tackle that taboo trinity— race, religion and politics. An unrepentant academician and bibliophile, Starlette graduated in May with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Her thesis is titled "Take me to the water": A raceless gospel as baptismal pedagogy for a desegregated church. From thesis to book title, it will be published in November by Nurturing Faith Books.
Guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber taught on Ecclesiastes 5-6 and the roots of injustice.
Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber is an innovator, entrepreneur, and lover of the arts. He has dedicated 30 years to living and working towards what Dr. King called “the beloved community," ministering in multiple communities and capacities. Leroy is currently Executive Director of Neighborhood Economics. Leroy is the Co-Founder of the Voices Project and Adjunct professor at Multnomah University. Rev. Barber has served on the boards of The Simple Way, Missio Alliance, The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), and the Former Board Chair of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).
In our sermon series, "The Meaning of Life", Pastor Matthew Watson encourages us to look for meaning and humanity even in sorrow and death according to Ecclesiastes 7.
In our series, "The Meaning of Life", Pastor Justin Fung preaches on Ecclesiastes 4 and our need to offer help and receive help in a world where oppression exists.
In our series, "The Meaning of Life", Pastor Justin Fung looks at Ecclesiastes 3 and the seasons/times of life.
Pastor Andrea starts off our new sermon series, "The Meaning of Life: Lessons from Ecclesiastes" in Ecclesiastes chapters 1 and 2. This introduction to the book of Ecclesiastes calls us to hold the two realities that life is a vapor but also significant.
Pastor Matthew Watson reminds us of the rhythms of life that require times of rest in the One who renews, as described in Matthew 11:25-30.
Wrapping up our series, "How Do I Know", Pastor Andrea Ackermann talks about how we can discern where the Spirit is working by looking for the fruit of the Spirit's work as described in Galatians 5:22-25.
In our series "How Do I Know", Pastor Justin Fung looks at God's specific and general will in light of Matthew 5:13-16.
In week two of our series "How Do I Know", Pastor Lisa Rodriguez-Watson looks at 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and Philippians 2:12-13 and what these passages can teach us about the problems, promises and posture of discernment.
Starting off our new sermon series, "How Do I Know", Matthew Watson looks at Proverbs 3:1-8 in light of the question, "does God have anything to say about the decisions we have to make?"
The premise of this series is that too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. But the reality is that we all have deep questions we have wrestled with throughout life.
At Christ City Church we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. One of the most beautiful lines in the Bible is in Mark 9, when the man says to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” That captures the paradox of faith -- there are things we know and cling to, and there are things we don’t yet know -- and may never know.
During this series, people in our own community at Christ City Church will be sharing how they have wrestled through their most important question.
Continuing our sermon series, "The Basics", Pastor Andrea Ackermann talks about community and the practice of giving testimony in light of our Scripture passages Psalm 40 and Hebrews 12.
In week two of our sermon series, "The Basics", Pastor Matthew Watson about what it means to live as "sent ones" following Paul's example in Acts 17:22-34.
Pastor Justin Fung starts off our new series, "The Basics", talking about prayer and Scripture. He looks at how Philippians 3:13-16 and Luke 4:1-13 can help us understand the basics of worship.
In part four of our sermon series, "Conflict is Key", Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson walks us through three principles for healthy conflict based on James 1:19.
In week 3 of our sermon series, Conflict is Key, Pastor Justin Fung talks about building healthy relationships and understanding ourselves. This sermon refers to Mark chapters 1, 3 and 4 as well as Psalm 139.
In week 2 of our sermon series, Conflict is Key, Pastor Matthew Watson talks about Boundaries, Forgiveness and Reconciliation according to Acts 15:36-41 and 2 Timothy 4:9-11.
Conflict in relationships is inevitable. Healthy conflict is not. How do we work through conflict in emotionally and spiritually mature ways to be more whole people and a more whole community? Pastor Matthew opens our June series on conflict and how it can hold the possibility for deepening relationships.
On Pentecost Sunday Reverend Tonetta Landis-Aina preached on Acts 8:26-40 where we see an Ethiopian eunuch seeking God and being welcomed into the community of the Spirit.
Pastor Justin Fung wraps up our series, The Next Five, on Commitment Sunday. In 2 Samuel 24:16-25, King David says "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” This week Pastor Justin Fung discussed what it looks like to fully commit ourselves to God.
To submit your pledge or make a one-time donation to Christ City's next five years' worth of ministry, go to: https://www.christcitydc.org/tnf-give
Pastor Matthew Watson continues week four of our series, The Next Five, talking about collaborative justice according to Psalm 85:8-13. Collaborative justice is one of the top three priorities Christ City is highlighting in this Next Five series. To learn more about The Next Five, check out: https://www.christcitydc.org/thenextfive
"To take space is to know that you are invited to bring your whole self to the community and that there will be space for you. We should hear and know that we can experience belonging. Taking space is being able to resonate with someone else’s experiences and perspective in this community, it’s to see yourself, to hear your own language (literal and figurative). It’s simple things like someone else looking like you or having the same experience or life season or struggle." This week in our series, The Next Five, Pastor Andrea Ackermann talks about inclusive welcome, one of Christ City's top three priorities. She discusses inclusive welcome based on Acts 2:1-12 and Acts 2:41-47.
To learn more about The Next Five: https://www.christcitydc.org/thenextfive
Pastor Justin Fung continues week two of our series, The Next Five, talking about transformational discipleship according to Matthew 28:18-20. Transformational discipleship is one of the top three priorities Christ City is highlighting in this Next Five series. To learn more about The Next Five, check out: https://www.christcitydc.org/thenextfive
Pastor Justin Fung starts off our new series The Next Five with a reflection on Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35, inspiring us to think about what could be.
"God is trying to agitate you because God is listening to you, wants to know what you care about. God wants to move from the place you're at, your community is at, to a place that is more hopeful, more promising, more just." Brandon Wrencher preaches on John 20:19-21, a passage used to talk about "Doubting Thomas", and invites us to see Jesus and Thomas as "Holy Agitators".
"Resurrection persistence is entirely built on the truth that God never gives up on us and that means there is always something for us. There is always something of the good news of Jesus and the goodness of God for each and every one of us. For you and for me. Something to know. To learn. To experience. To share." Pastor Justin Fung preaches from Mark 16:1-8 .
“Even in the midst of hard places and trials, Jesus is still ‘the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One’; Jesus is still the Rescuing One.” Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on Mark 14:53-72.
Guest preacher Rev. Delonte Gholston challenges us to examine our certainty and be honest with ourselves and with God. [Mark 14:27-31]
Rev. Delonte Gholston is pastor of Peace Fellowship Church in Deanwood. Pastor Delonte is a native Washingtonian whose parents moved to the city to escape racial terrorism in South Carolina and Georgia. He is faithfully and joyfully married to Claire Wiggins Gholston. Together they have two daughters, Evyn (5) and Olive (2). They live in Ward 7 where Pastor Delonte shepherds Peace Fellowship Church and organizes PeaceWalksDC, a coalition of churches, community organizations, survivors and advocates committed to ending police and community violence. He is a public theologian, a songwriter and musician who loves singing and writing about the change we want to see. He is a proud alumnae of DC public schools, Swarthmore College and Fuller Theological Seminary.
"The last meal Jesus shared with his disciples looked back to Passover, God’s liberating action in history; and it looked forward to the kingdom feast, God’s full and final liberating action at the end. And every time wepartake of communion, we mark God’s liberating action through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection." Pastor Justin Fung preaches on Mark 14:12-25.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on Mark 14:1-11 and what the woman who anointed Jesus' head with oil can teach us about worship.
Guest preacher Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber preaches on Mark 13:28-37. The big question isn't when will things end, but rather, what are we here to do?
Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber is an innovator, entrepreneur, and lover of the arts. He has dedicated 30 years to living and working towards what Dr. King called “the beloved community," ministering in multiple communities and capacities. Leroy is currently Executive Director of Neighborhood Economics. Leroy is the Co-Founder of the Voices Project and Adjunct professor at Multnomah University. Rev. Barber has served on the boards of The Simple Way, Missio Alliance, The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), and the Former Board Chair of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).
Pastor Justin Fung preaches about having "a future-oriented faithfulness now." [Mark 13:1-27]
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Mark 12:28-44. She reminds us that the greatest commandment to love God and love others is an invitation to thrive and flourish, to see the kingdom of God on display in every life and every sphere of life.
In this passage--which is not actually about marriage--religious leaders are once again questioning Jesus, and Jesus' answer shows us that he is the ultimate authority. [Mark 12: 18-27]
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez-Watson challenges the divides between sacred and secular, reminding us that everything is God's. [Mark 12:13-17]
Pastor Justin Fung links the exploitation carried out by religious leaders in Jesus' time with the harm often perpetuated by leaders in American Christianity. Those who lead on behalf of God will answer to God—and that is both a comfort and a convicting word. How is God calling you to flourish and to promote the flourishing of others? [Mark 12:1-12]
Follow along with our Mark Reading Guide.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Mark 11:12-33.
Follow along in our Mark Reading Guide.
We're back in the gospel of Mark for the new year, with Pastor Matthew Watson preaching on Jesus' triumphal entry, and how when the people cried Hosanna, or "God, save!" it was both a celebration and a prayer. [Mark 11:1-11]
In the tempest of so much distress and disharmony in our world and in our lives, it can be hard to know how to accept the angel's message of peace to the shepherds. Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about shalom, when things are as God intended them to be.
"Peace isn't simply a concept, or even a future state of transcendent perfection. Peace is a person. That is what Advent reminds us. That is why there could be peace on earth, because the Prince of Peace had made his way to earth on our behalf."
[Luke 2:8-14]
Joy is the result of knowing that God is near. Joy holds strong in the midst of hardship and darkness. Pastor Andrea Ackermann challenges our misconceptions about joy, and asks us to reflect on these phrases throughout the week:
- Where God is, there is joy.
- Where I am joyful, God is there.
[Luke 2:8-11, John 15:1-11]
Pastor Justin Fung explores the theme of love in the second week of our Advent series. [1 John 4:7-21]
Pastor Matthew Watson opens our advent series with a message of hope, reminding us, "Do not be afraid." [Luke 2:8-15]
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches about how the disciples were not able to see who Jesus was or understand what he was trying to teach them about following him. Bartimaeus, however, was held up as the model disciple, who truly saw Jesus, and whose faith led to wholeness. [Mark 10:32-52].
Guest preacher Dr. Rev. Eun Strawser preaches on Mark 10:13-31.
Dr. Rev. Eun K. Strawser is the co-vocational lead pastor of Ma Ke Alo o (which means "Presence" in Hawaiian), a BGAV Watch Care Church with missional communities multiplying in Honolulu, HI, a community physician, and an executive leader at the V3 Movement, the church planting arm of the BGAV. She is also the author of Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples (IVP 2023). Prior to transitioning to Hawaii, she served as adjunct professor of medicine at the Philadelphia College of Medicine and of African Studies at her alma mater the University of Pennsylvania (where she and her husband served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) after finishing her Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Dar es Salaam. She and Steve have three, seriously, amazing children.
Content Note - This sermon discusses the sensitive topics of divorce, marriage, and sexuality.
Pastor Justin Fung takes a deep dive into a difficult passage in Mark about divorce. What did divorce mean in Jesus' historical context? What was Jesus really saying about relationships and God's divine intent for each of us? [Mark 10:1-12]
Three members of Teen City (Annabel, Jaemin, and Nate) share their insights on Mark 9:30-50.
As we enter the second half of the book of Mark, Jesus starts talking more about the path of suffering and death. Jesus' power is the power of a love that is willing to sacrifice, a love that is willing to suffer for the good of the other. Pastor Justin Fung shares six observations from this passage (the Transfiguration) about how we are to follow Jesus. [Mark 9:2-29]
Resources:
- Lectio 365 app
- Pray as You Go app
- Mark reading guide
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson reminds us that Jesus won't abandon us if we don't get it right the first time. His compassion extends to us and is sufficient for us [Mark 8:1-21].
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the stories of two people who shared their status as outsiders and their desperation in coming to Jesus. But their acts of desperation were also the signs of faith that Jesus wants us to emulate. [Mark 7:24-37]
Listen to the sermon that Pastor Andrea preached during our Ezer series on the Syrophoenician Woman.
Everyone can relate to the feelings of hurt that come with being let down by a leader, the damage it can cause to our trust in people, the effects of unease or fear of commitment that may still linger to this day as a result. Spiritual trauma, because of its nature—the depths, the expansiveness—can go deeper and more into the unconscious than we even know. Pastor Justin preaches from Mark chapter 7, where Jesus names the hypocrisy of religious leaders and offers a vision of integrity for all of us. [Mark 7:1-23]
Pastor Matthew Watson challenges us to create regular rhythms for spending time with Jesus daily, weekly, and seasonally. And he reminds us that we are to feed people using what we have. [Mark 6:30-44]
Pastor Andrea Ackermann introduces the second part of our series on the book of Mark, where we're exploring what it means to follow Jesus. [Mark 6:14-29]
Pastor Justin Fung kicks off a new series on investing in the mission and vision of our church. [Isaiah 43:16-21]
Pastors Andrea Ackermann and Lisa Rodriguez Watson have a conversation about the benefits of community, the barriers to community, and the ultimate goal of community. [Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:44-47]
Minister Joslyn Henderson and Pastor Justin Fung preach about worship as a practice of discipleship. [Matthew 22:34-38; Colossians 3:17]
Minister Nikki Wiggins & Pastor Matthew Watson kick off our new series exploring what it means to make progress as we seek to be formed in the likeness of Jesus. [Matthew 28:16-20]
During our fifth-year anniversary service, Rev. Thomas Bowen reminded us about our calling as a church, and the simple things we can do to share God’s love with those around us. [Matthew 25:31-40]
Rev. Thomas Bowen is the Director of both the Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs and the Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs, and the Earl L. Harrison Minister of Social Justice at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in northwest DC, where he has served as a member of the ministerial team in various capacities for over 20 years.
A graduate of Morehouse College and The Divinity School at the University of Chicago, Rev. Bowen resides in the Trinidad neighborhood of DC.
Too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. But the reality is that we all have deep questions we have wrestled with throughout life. At Christ City Church we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. One of the most beautiful lines in the Bible is in Mark 9, when the man says to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” That captures the paradox of faith -- there are things we know and cling to, and there are things we don’t yet know -- and may never know. Four members of our church community share their most important questions (featuring Jewel Obsorne-Wu, anonymous, Betty Mulamba Brown, and Nate Shultz).
Pastor Matthew Watson closes our series on the lies we believe and the truth of God that combats these lies by sharing the story of Gideon. [Judges 6:11-16]
Every single one of us has felt alone. For whatever reason, even if we are not physically isolated, we might feel relationally separate, emotionally adrift, perhaps even spiritually abandoned. How do we discern the truth from lies when wrestling with the feeling of being alone? Pastor Justin Fung invites us to consider how we can learn and practice the way of truth and life. [Genesis 3:6-13; Hebrews 12:1-2]
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches through Psalm 121, addressing the lie that God helps those who help themselves. [Psalm 121]
Pastor Justin Fung addresses this often-believed lie that our identity and fulfillment comes from what we do, but also reminds us that what we do does matter.
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson preaches on how we can be free from the insidious lie of insufficiency. "The truth is that we are not enough. AND, whatever we are IS enough because Jesus makes it enough."
Pastor Andrea Ackermann introduces our new sermon series, where we're exploring the universal human tendency that we have to believe things that aren’t true about ourselves, about God, and about the world.
In response to national tragedies and displays of violence in D.C. that weigh heavy on us, during this service we collectively professed our faith in the One whose Kingdom is marked by peace, healing, righteousness, and justice.
Pastor Matthew Watson explores how the resurrection informs our ministry of presence, particularly in the specific geographies and social locations we find ourselves in.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann explains what prayer is and what prayer is not, and provides space for individual and communal prayer.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann explains that resurrection justice involves choosing to follow Jesus out of the tomb and not leaving anyone else behind in there either.
On the Sunday after Easter, Pastor Justin Fung introduces us to our new series, "Living the Resurrection."
“Spiritual transformation always begins with some form of disruption or interruption.” – Dallas Willard On Palm Sunday, Pastor Justin Fung reflects on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and how divine disruption includes both comfort and challenge—and an invitation to growth and health. [Luke 19:29-45]
Pastor Andrea Ackermann encourages us to increase our curiosity and see where God's Kingdom is on the move, and how we can go with it.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about fear, the spiritual world, and Jesus’ power to heal. [Mark 5:1-20] Follow along with our exploration of the Gospel of Mark each week with our series reading plan.
Pastor Justin Fung preaches on how Jesus calmed the storm in Mark chapter 4, and how we can turn to Jesus when storms come in our own lives.
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson preaches on the different parables Jesus uses to describe the Kingdom of God in Mark 4.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about Jesus calling the 12 disciples, and what it means that Jesus calls our names too.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on two healing miracles that Jesus performs in the first and second chapters of Mark. Jesus as healer challenges our understanding of what it means that the kingdom has drawn near, and it should cause us to question what it means to believe and repent. [
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on Jesus' calling of the first disciples, and how faithfulness to Jesus may require us to lay aside our current situation and head in a new direction.
Pastor Matthew Watson brings an encouraging message as we enter 2022. Storms are ahead of us. Yet Jesus is with us through it all.
Pastors Matthew Watson and Lisa Rodriguez Watson bring a Christmas Eve message about Mary's song (The Magnificat).
Bathsheba is often seen as a side character in the stories of the men around her. Pastor Andrea Ackermann invites us to center Bathsheba in her own story.
Pastor Lisa Watson preaches on the story of Ruth the steadfast, a young Moabite widow who is unwavering in her love to her mother in law, Naomi.
Pastor Justin Fung continues our series on the Women of Advent by examining the story of Rahab.
Pastor Matthew Watson opens up our new sermon series on the Women of Advent by examining the story of Tamar.
Guest preacher Rev. Tonetta Landis-Aina looks at the intersections of identity and power in the story of Hagar and Sarai. She challenges us to examine our own identities and privileges in order to live into the vision of being a "multi" church.
Guest preacher Mark Charles brings an eye-opening perspective on why the ministry of radical inclusivity is so hard, and yet still possible through the Holy Spirit.
In order to be a kingdom community, especially a multiracial, multicultural one, we must recognize our existing instincts and learn new ones. Pastor Justin Fung preaches on the image of shalom found in Isaiah 11.
Life together is one thing when we talk about it; another thing as we live it out. Pastor Matthew Watson shares why as a church, we continue to learn, and listen, and act in solidarity with those in our community most affected by racist polices and practices that frustrate flourishing and attempt to stifle God's shalom in our city. We don't want to simply be hearers of the word - as important a listening is - we want to be doers as well.
It is our task to live in beloved community as children of God, and Pastor Andrea Ackermann walks us through how we are to flesh this out in our context, in our community, and with these particular people. Not in spite of our differences, but in a way that fully embodies them.
Pastor Justin Fung opens up our six-week series on Race, Faith, and the Kingdom of God, where we'll move beyond just what we should know or what we should feel - and toward what we should do.
Pastor Matthew Watson closes our series on "Who We Are" by answering the questions: What is a disciple? and How are disciples made?
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson preaches on why we love others and what that love looks like for us as individuals and as a church.
In a world that is so full -- of events, of emotions, of voices -- it is easy to forget our identity, our calling, our convictions. In this series, we are introduced and re-introduced to the vision and mission of Christ City Church -- the calling of God on each of us individually and all of us together. Pastor Justin Fung kicks off the three-week series by reminding us that we are to love God, because we are loved by God.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Jeremiah 29 and how we can remain full of hope in whatever season we find ourselves.
In this season of being in transition, Pastor Justin Fung provides a reflection on Psalm 23. "The promise of Psalm 23 is that God is with us every stumbling step of the journey, even if we do not know where we are going. And even as we wait for, long for, yearn for the quiet waters and lush meadows, for a banquet and bottomless beverages, for our souls and our society to be whole and at peace, may we learn to see the glimpses of the goodness and glory of God in our stories and all around us in the meantime."
It's Labor Day weekend, and Pastor Matthew Watson begins a three-part conversation about how we live in the "now and not yet" space. How do we dance between the rhythms of work and rest?
Nikki Wiggins, Christ City Church's Minister of Youth, Families, and Community Engagement, reminds us that the Spirit is always at work. Pay attention to the gifts that God has given you and how the Spirit is at work in you and through you.
This week we hear from Father Ben Beltran, a Catholic priest who served for four decades in Manila on the Smokey Mountain garbage dump, the 3rd largest garbage dump in the world and home to 25,000 people, most of whom lived by scavenging through what others threw away. Father Ben shares from his decades of ministry on Smokey Mountain and where he has seen the Spirit at work in the midst of a garbage heap. During his years living and serving among the scavenger community of Smokey Mountain, Father Ben developed schools, dance studios, microenterprises, and environmental justice efforts.
Guest preacher Oneya Okuwobi walks us through four shifts in our thinking that will help us restore our hope for a better world.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches during our first all-church in-person gathering in 17 months.
This week we hear from the premier Latin American theologian Ruth Padilla-DeBorst. Ruth is a Costa Rican-based theologian, missiologist, educator and storyteller. She has been involved in leadership development and theological education in her native Latin America for decades where she serves with a number of global organizations focusing on global mission and ministry primarily in the majority world.
Guest preacher William Lamar IV kicks off our new sermon series entitled: Church Now / Church Next.
This is the second week of our favorite annual series, My Most Important Question in which members of our community share their most important question regarding faith.
This week, we start one of our favorite annual series, My Most Important Question, in which members of our community share their most important question regarding faith.
Pastor Justin Fung finishes our series on Galatians by reminding us that true freedom is found in Jesus, true freedom is liberty and liberation, and true freedom is all about grace.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about the importance of carrying our own loads and bearing each others' burdens.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Galatians 5, and how we are to use our freedom for others.
Instead of skipping over a difficult-to-grapple-with passage, Pastor Justin Fung helps us understand what Paul was saying to his readers in Galatians 4.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on how Paul eroded categories of division and the hierarchies of the day when he wrote that all could become children of God through faith.
Pastor Matthew Watson unpacks Galatians chapter 3, and how Paul wants us to experience the full freedom that Jesus offers. Nothing beyond faith in Christ is required for life in Christ.
Pastor Justin Fung preaches on how Paul handled differences in the early church, and that both compromise and conviction are needed in order for everyone to experience the freedom of the gospel.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann introduces our new series by providing context and asking what counterfeit gospels we may fall prey to, just as the Galatians did. "How do we know the gospel we proclaim is true? By its transformative power."
Pastor Matthew Watson closes out our series on the Lord's Prayer by reminding us that evil is within us and around us, but we do not need to be afraid, because God is victorious.
Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson unpacks what it means for us to pray "Do not bring us into times of trial."
Guest preacher Teesha Hadra preaches on the Parable of the Prodigal Son and how God’s forgiveness is the foundation and the model for becoming forgiveness people.
In a year with so much news, Pastor Justin Fung preaches about the good news of the resurrection, and the hope we have in Jesus.
Pastor Matthew Watson's Palm Sunday message explores how Jesus entered Jerusalem in protest, reacted in anger to exploitation in the Temple, and then rested.
Guest preacher Aaron Dorsey looks at the story of Moses and the Israelites wandering in the desert in Exodus, reminding us that it is not selfish to pray for our own needs. "Part of God’s nature is to notice, to attend to people and their suffering. It is not something we need to coerce God into. God already attends to us."
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about the "already and not yet" of God's Kingdom, and how we can continue to pray for God's Kingdom to come and God's will to be done in the midst of this reality.
Before anything else, the Lord’s Prayer establishes a relationship. It begins with being about God, before it’s about us; it starts with recognizing who God is: our Father in heaven. Pastor Justin Fung examines the opening phrase in the Lord's prayer.
This Ash Wednesday, we gathered virtually to worship and confess together. Elder Ife Johnson shared a spoken word poem, and Pastor Justin Fung brought a homily from Joel 2.
God is a sending God and we are a sent people. Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the value of missional presence and our role in bearing the good news that God is at work today.
Our bodies matter, and what we do with them matters. Pastor Justin Fung preaches on sex and sexuality in our fifth week of The Deeply Formed Life series.
"Lord, show me, me." Pastor Matthew Watson encourages us to engage in interior examination so we can live the life God intends for us.
Guest preacher Bryan Franklin challenges us to seek answers to the questions, "Who am I?" and "Who is God?" as a foundation for our pursuit of racial justice and reconciliation.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann examines how Jesus sought solitude and stillness with God, and she challenges us to set up contemplative rhythms in our own lives. The work is God’s and God’s work is not defined by our limitations; God is at work in our work and in our rest.
Pastor Matthew Watson brings a pastoral word after the past week's events in DC, inviting us to recognize idolatry, repent, and remember the character of God in Psalm 147, reminding us that there is a rhythm to trusting Jesus.
Pastor Justin Fung begins the new year by preaching from Joshua 1:1-9. You may have heard that “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid” is the most repeated refrain throughout Scripture, because we are most often tempted to do just that—to be afraid, to fear, to forget that our lives and our faith and our world are in the hands of God, who made the heavens and the earth, who is greater than anything we might fear. As we begin 2021, let us be strong and courageous; let us stand firm in resolve and determination; let us press on.
Pastor Matthew Watson concludes our Advent "light in the darkness" series with this Christmas Eve homily.
On our last Sunday service of 2020, Pastor Andrea Ackermann takes her cue from the angels in the Christmas story. At the end of such a difficult year, it feels right to proclaim the truth that we are loved. God came to us in the person of Jesus. And by recognizing God’s love in Jesus, we recognize God’s love for us. No matter what this year has been like, no matter what has happened, no matter the level of uncertainty we're feeling about starting a new year soon, we can proclaim we are loved.
It’s been an especially difficult year, and fear has played a huge role in that. On the third Sunday of Advent, Pastor Lisa Roriguez-Watson reminds us that God matches our fears with his presence and power, and this brings us joy.
Jesus not only brings peace—as the angel chorus sang to the shepherds, “Peace on earth, goodwill to all!” Jesus is our peace. Pastor Justin Fung takes a look at how Christ is our peace in three areas of life: peace with God, peace with others, and peace with ourselves.
Pastor Matthew Watson begins our Advent 2020 series with a reminder that Advent Hope centered on Jesus is what actually allows us and frees us to see the light in the darkness.
In the final sermon of our series on the beatitudes, Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson preaches on the tough and timely last beatitude. She answers these questions: What is persecution? What are Jesus’ teachings about how we should treat people who persecute us? Why would Jesus ask us to do such hard things?
Guest preacher Pastora Inés Valasquez-McBryde challenges us to real peacemaking in the Spirit, becoming peacemakers and not peacekeepers, as part of both our spiritual practices and our spiritual identity as children of God.
Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the sixth Beatitude - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." He reminds us that Jesus is continually focusing on matters of the heart. What one does is incredibly important. And yet, time and again, Jesus exposes that the motives behind the actions are equally important to explore. Purity of heart, in the Biblical, Beatitudes-sense of the word and meaning involves integrity - a connection between outward action and inward thought. Jesus is warning against a duplicitous way of living and inviting us towards a life that is consistent in thought, word, and deed.
Guest preacher Reverend Tonetta Landis-Aina explores what it means to be merciful even while we pursue justice, and challenges us to follow the difficult path of mercy with hope.
Reverend Brandon Wrencher brings us a word on what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness on both a personal level and for the world. God does not offer us a "half-full justice." Rather, God abundantly provides enough justice for it all.
Pastor Andrea Ackermann takes a look at the third Beatitude - "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." In our current order of things, especially in the U.S., we do not revere the meek. We tend to understand meekness as weakness, or lack of will, or a doormat. For us, the meek do not inherit anything because they don’t deserve it. Yet in the reality of God's kingdom, the meek are already promised an inheritance.
The Beatitudes is where Jesus describes the lives of those in His Kingdom, and extends an invitation to join this Kingdom. If you have felt the sting of the world – if you’ve been last, been left out, been denied, been grieved, been the victim of violence of any kind or all kinds – this Kingdom is for you! It is especially for you. Jesus in his body, in his life, in his death and in his resurrection created this Kingdom for you. In a year that has felt like one long mourning, Pastor Watson looks at the second Beatitude, and how Jesus is our comfort in the midst of loss and grief.
In the midst of everything going on in the world today, we are still called to be citizens of God’s kingdom, marked by the character of Christ as revealed in the Beatitudes. Pastor Justin kicks off our fall series exploring Jesus' Sermon on the Mount by calling us to consider both the comfort and challenge of the Beatitudes, and examining the way God shows a particular care for the poor and poor in spirit.
As we close out our Telos series, Pastor Matthew Watson talks about what it means for us to love our neighbors, for that is the invitation—and command—of Jesus.
Assistant Pastor Andrea Ackermann takes a look at our calling to be church and what it means to love one another. We can see in Jesus' words and example that loving one another is not just the charge to care for one another, but loving one another is the foundation of our discipleship and our witness to the world.
When Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment, he responds, "Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength." Pastor Watson explains that loving God "with all" is the challenging part. It's not about working harder, it's about surrendering and saying "yes" to God.
On any journey, it is helpful to regularly check your bearings, to make sure you’re still heading in the right direction, and to course correct where needed. Our mission and vision since the beginning has been to join Christ “in his work of redemption in Washington, DC, and the world … to see the Kingdom of God on display in DC, in every life and every sphere of life.” As we approach six months of life in the age of COVID-19, Pastor Justin Fung helps us take time to recalibrate as a church, to remember what we’re called to, and to consider how to get from here to there.
In the midst of all that has happened and is happening—a global pandemic, another police shooting of a Black man, civil unrest, white supremacy, as well as financial hardships and health issues—it can be hard to read the exhortation of Psalm 150 to praise the Lord. Pastor Lisa Watson talks about what Psalm 150 has to teach us about worship.
As we continue our Strength for the Journey series, considering how we can persevere on the road of faith and justice, Pastor Matthew Watson reminds us that it is through remembering and being reminded of what God has already done that we may see what God is doing now.
How do we understand the ways the Bible talks about contentment in God, in the midst of a world that isn't how it should be? Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Psalm 131, a pilgrim song that reminds us who we are and where we're going. We are challenged to find rest and satisfaction in God's presence, as a child with its mother.
How do we not grow weary in well-doing when God’s vision for our world can seem so far off? How do we not become discouraged when what we wait for, what we yearn for, what we hope for is so long in coming? Pastor Justin Fung turns to Psalm 130 to find sustenance and the source of both rest and resilience for life and faith in these challenging times—and particularly for the work of justice and compassion.
As a city, a nation, and a church we find ourselves in a unique moment in history. With a raging pandemic, the ongoing uprising for racial justice, political and financial uncertainty all around, it can be hard to remember that God is still sovereign, is with us in the struggles for justice, and His Kingdom is unshakable. In this series, we will explore five Psalms that serve as needed reminders and necessary invitations to rest in the Lord while continuing the fight of faith.
Too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. At Christ City Church, we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. During this series, people in our own church community share how they have wrestled through their most important question.
In week 2, we heard from Sarah ("Can listening transform perspectives?") and Evan ("God, what good are you?").
Too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. But the reality is that we all have deep questions we have wrestled with throughout life. At Christ City Church, we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. One of the most beautiful lines in the Bible is in Mark 9, when the man says to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” That captures the paradox of faith—there are things we know and cling to, and there are things we don’t yet know—and may never know. During this series, people in our own community at Christ City Church share how they have wrestled through their most important question. This week, we heard from Anna ("Who is God when His promise of healing doesn't happen?"), Chuck ("Is it time to go home?") and Ashley ("Where do I belong?").
We celebrate Christ City Church turning 7 years old (including our time as a parish of The District Church), with a message from Pastor Matthew about where we've been, and where we're going.
The Ethiopian eunuch, Lydia, a demon-possessed girl, a jailor - Pastor Watson concludes our series on The Welcoming Kingdom by showing how the Kingdom of God expands to those who were traditionally viewed as outside of traditional boundaries.
We are to love our enemies because we see the imago dei - image of God - in all people. But who is our enemy, and how do we love them? Pastoral Associate Andrea Ackermann looks at Jesus' examples of loving his enemies in the gospels, and challenges us to identify and pray for our enemies.
As humans, we are going to have differences and disagreements. Pastor Justin Fung addresses how we navigate being united in community with folks with whom we may not see eye-to-eye, even if we both call ourselves Christians. How do we understand oneness in Christ with people who may express their faith differently, perhaps even in ways that hurts? Is a community that embodies the welcome of God to all people even possible, and if so, what does it demand of us?
Pastor Watson introduces our new sermon series, “The Welcoming Kingdom.” For the next few weeks, we will better understand the expansive nature of God’s Kingdom, and consider how this informs how we behave as a local church. Pastor Watson looks at how Jesus, and even Old Testament prophets, embraced those historically outside the community of faith. He challenges us to follow Jesus into displaying the radical welcome and inclusion of God. [Luke 5:1-11, 5:27-32, 6:12-16]
This Pentecost Sunday, in the midst of protests for black lives and a pandemic, Pastor Justin Fung names the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit, and how vital the Spirit is for us today. [Acts 2]
Resources
Urban Doxology, “God Not Guns”
Pastor Matthew unpacks the historically misunderstood Ephesians passages about submission to show how the gospel breaks down unjust power structures and brings freedom. [Ephesians 5:21-6:9]
Pastoral Associate Andrea Ackermann explores the church as a community of holiness. Understanding holiness begins with identity. We are God’s people, God’s church, a visible manifestation of God’s spirit and movement, and we are called to live into this identity. [Ephesians 4:17-5:20]
In the third week of our Being Church series, Lisa Watson explains how to be a community on mission by answering these questions: Who gets to be a part? What do we do? and How do we do it? [Ephesians 3:1-13]
How do we, as a community, anchor ourselves in the work of Jesus in a manner that displays the reconciling, unifying, uniting love of God in the midst of our differences and diversity? We are called to live out our new humanity in Christ, in the context of the new Human Family that God has formed through Christ’s cross. Pastor Watson reflects on how we are to be the church, given the beautiful diversity that is represented within Christ City, and DC more broadly. [Ephesians 2:13-22]
This week we learned that a dear member of our church, Angel Scroggins, passed away. In response to this news, Pastor Watson decided to take a break from our Being Church series and pause in this moment to lament – to grieve this loss, and other losses that we are experiencing during this time. This sermon gives space for us to name the death and loss that we’ve experienced, and then to name the life and hope that we see in Christ. [Psalm 42:1-7]
Just as the disciples had to figure out how to do life together after the Resurrection, so too we wanted to revisit the idea of who we are in light of the Resurrection. Pastor Justin kicks off our new series “Being Church: Becoming a Called Community” by exploring what it means to be the body of Christ. We belong to Christ, and when functioning properly, we work together as a unit to do what Christ wants us to do. [Ephesians 1]
He is risen! He is risen indeed. This Easter Sunday, Pastor Matthew Watson explores the story of Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross on the way to Golgotha. We are reminded that we don’t have to carry our crosses alone. [Mark 15:21-24, Matthew 28:1-10]
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate and remember that Jesus is King. Pastor Justin Fung helps us explore what that means for us in these times of chaos, anxiety, and turmoil. [Luke 19:37-42, 45-46]
Resources
- Wholeheartedness: Busyness, Exhaustion, and the Divided Life, by Chuck DeGroat
- Two-minute prayer (courtesy of Fuller FORMATION)
For 21 consecutive days, practice a quick prayer with a trusted friend, significant other, family member, or someone in your small group.
Spend up to a minute each day praying for the other person for whatever they ask—what’s coming up in their calendar or a concern for themselves or for a loved one or for the world.
When both have prayed for each other, close in the Lord’s Prayer together.
As we close out our 12-week series on Learning to Live, Pastor Matthew Watson uses words from Paul’s letter to the Colossians to help us consider what’s next. [Colossians 1:9-14]
As we begin to round out our Learning to Live series, we look at learning to live for the sake of the world. God does not invite us only into a one-on-one relationship between God and me but into one which directly affects and impacts those around us and the world in which we live. Pastor Lisa Watson talks about what it might look like for us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. [Micah 6:8]
In our first livestreamed service, Pastor Justin talks about “Church” — unpacking the very real church hurt that most, if not all, of us have experienced — or will experience — but also the very real hope for what church should be and can be, particularly when the coronavirus has upended so much of ordinary life. [1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-12]
Resources What we can do: 1. Follow public health advice from the WHO and DC Government. 2. Give to support the church as we care for and connect with those in need. 3. Serve, as you’re able, or let us know if and how we can help — email info@christcitydc.org. 4. Pray: for those who are sick or who have lost loved ones, those whose livelihoods and paychecks are at risk, those who are serving on the frontlines in hospitals and medical centers, those who are experiencing racism and xenophobia, those who are most vulnerable, those most deeply affected, those with the least margin.
Links: * Carol Howard Merritt, Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God After Experiencing a Hurtful Church. * Letter from Martin Luther, “Whether one may flee from a deadly plague.” * Order of service for today’s livestream liturgy.
Benediction: “Open Unto Me” by Howard Thurman
Lord, open unto me.
Open unto me — light for my darkness.
Open unto me — courage for my fear.
Open unto me — hope for my despair.
Open unto me — peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me — joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me — strength for my weakness.
Open unto me — wisdom for my confession.
Open unto me — forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me — love for my hates.
Open unto me — thy Self for my self.
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
Amen.
Pastor Watson shows us the place of Scripture in Jesus’ life and asks us to consider what that means for how the Bible should be situated in our lives. He reminds us of the many ways that Jesus used Scripture to confront and comfort. [Luke 4:1-21]