Harvard Avenue Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Harvard Avenue Christian Church
Weekly sermons from Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa OK – part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
text :: Matthew 21: 1 – 11 preaching :: Rev David Emery For video of worship, go to www.hacctulsa.org/worship/sermons
- Welcome & Call to Worship :: Rev. Courtney Richards + Pastoral Prayer :: Rev. Kevin Howe + The Lord’s Prayer + Reflection :: ‘shifting toward delight’ :: Rev. Howe + ‘Precious Lord’ (Dorsey) :: Avenue; Barry Epperly, director + Scripture :: Isaiah 58: 1 – 14 :: Rev. Richards + Reflection :: ‘Prepare : […]
- Welcome & Call to Worship :: Rev. Kevin Howe + Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer :: Rev. Darlene Martinez + Scripture :: Isaiah 58: 1 – 12 :: Rev. Courtney Richards + Reflection :: “prepare: rebuilding” :: Rev. Howe + ‘It Is Well with My Soul’ (H.Spafford) :: Kelly Ford, tenor; Mark DeLuca, piano […]
- Welcome & Call to Worship :: Rev. Courtney Richards + ‘Sanctuary’ :: Rev. Kevin Howe + “Pandemic” (Lynn Ungar 3-11-20) :: Rev. Darlene Martinez + Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer :: Rev. Howe + ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ :: Kelly Ford and Mark DeLuca + from ‘For Courage’ (John O’Donohue) :: Rev. Martinez + Reflection […]
text :: Isaiah 58: 1 – 9a theme verse :: “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly…” (Isa 58:8) // What light has God placed in us? What obstacle and interference has kept it covered? What practices can we engage to bring healing and hope? Where […]
text :: Isaiah 58: 1 – 7 theme verse :: “Is not this the fast that I choose … to let the oppressed go free?” (Isa 58:6) // Where do we need faithful freedom? What is keeping us from being fully alive in God’s presence? Where are we the ones blocking others from their full […]
text :: Isaiah 58: 1 – 5 The forty-day journey to Easter invites us to be honest with God, and ourselves, about our sin and our hope, about our shortcomings and our holy longings. Ash Wednesday begins with a cry for mercy and a commitment to follow Jesus on the way. reader :: Rev Kevin […]
text :: 1 John 4: 7 – 12 theme verse :: ‘No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.’ (1 Jn 4:12) // Sometimes love can be beyond all that we could ever expect of imagine. Agape (or divine love, as […]
text :: Song of Solomon 8: 5 – 7 theme verse :: ‘Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.’ (Song 8:7) // Of all the things we talk about in church, love gets the most attention, and probably also the least. We’re not very good at talking about eros love – the […]
text :: Romans 12: 3 – 10 theme verse :: ‘…love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.’ (Rom 12:10) // We seem to understand that there is a sort of deepening of love between friends when we use a phrase like, “I love you like a brother/sister/sibling.” The Greek word […]
text :: John 12: 1 – 8 theme verse :: ‘The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.’ (Jn 12:3b) // In the gospels, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus make multiple appearances, in different combinations. Jesus’ own family is named, of course. And he gathers a group of disciples to travel and work with […]
text :: Ephesians 3: 14 – 21 theme verse :: “…know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19) // If we step out on faith, following the star of Christ’s light; if we remember that a God who brought us this […]
text :: Mark 10: 46 – 52 theme verse :: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.'” (Mk 10:51) // Sometimes it’s just hard to see: our eyes are tired; we’re not sitting close enough (or […]
text & theme verse :: Joshua 23:14 // In movies, when someone is being chased, it never fails that they look over the shoulder, lose their footing, and fall. But in real day-to-day life, on the usual journeys – and even the unusual ones – looking over our shoulder … remembering where we’ve been … […]
text :: Matthew 2: 1 – 12 theme verse :: ‘For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ (Mt 2:2b) // The traditional text for the first Sunday of January – Epiphany Sunday, marking the arrival of the magi at the manger – is from Matthew’s gospel. […]
text :: Hebrews 11: 1 – 16 theme verse :: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ (Heb 11:1) reader :: Bill Queen preaching :: Rev Kevin Howe
text :: Matthew 11: 2 – 10 theme verse :: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ (Mt11:3) // We jump to story decades later, in Jesus’ adult life and ministry. It seems out of place in the Advent/Nativity theme, but it shows so clearly what Jesus […]
text :: Matthew 1: 18 – 25 theme verse :: But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream … (Mt1:20) // It would have been so easy, perhaps even reasonable and likely, for Joseph to give a ‘hard pass’ to the massive assignment […]
text :: Matthew 1: 1 – 17 theme verse :: “An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Mt1:1) // It’s a text that we skip quite often because it’s hard to read, but it’s here that we see just what it meant for the Divine […]
text :: 1 Peter 4: 7-11 theme verse :: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10) // No sooner than we’ve cleared the Thanksgiving Day table, our attention turns to the irresistible deals of Black Friday. Looking for that […]
text :: Acts 9: 36 – 43 theme verse :: “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’” (Acts 9:40) // The people of Joppa cared for Tabitha – a woman of generosity and talent, and a model of faith. […]
text :: Luke 18: 9 – 14 theme verse :: “…for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Lk 18:14) // ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ It’s a quick and easy saying, thrown out usually to remind us and others of how good […]
text :: Isaiah 65: 17 – 25 // It is easy to let uncertainty guide our thoughts. The prophets reminded the people of God’s constancy and faithfulness. Even in moments where we are unsure of our capacity to give, or even of the need to do so, remembering God’s presence and steadfastness shows us that […]
text :: Romans 10: 8 – 17 theme verse :: “The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’” (Rom 10:11) // Having gathered in wider circles, heard the word from God in our midst, and been renewed and transformed because of God’s great love for us, all that’s left […]
text :: Exodus 34: 27 – 35 theme verse :: “When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.” (Ex 34:30) // Once we make room and gather, and take time listen to God’s voice, we come to understand that we […]
text :: 1 Kings 19: 9 – 14 theme verse :: “He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’” (1 Kgs 19:11) // As we were drawn to the table and invited to be part of all that God is doing in Christ […]
text : Luke 22: 14 – 27 theme verse : “When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.” (Lk 22:14) // If we’re going to consider our place in the world – our role to play in life’s master work – as people of faith, as those […]
text :: John 12: 20-26 theme verse :: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24) // Is it a ‘circle of life,’ or is it something even more profound? We […]
text :: Ecclesiastes 3: 9-22 theme verse :: “He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Eccl 3:11) // On Being is a public radio show and […]
text :: 1 Corinthians 12: 12 – 26 theme verse :: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Cor. 12:12) // Our bodies are highly complex and intricate network of systems and features. […]
text :: Psalm 104:24-35 theme verse :: “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Ps 104:24) // Who’s caring for what and how is it to be cared for? The Psalmist names creation’s utter dependence of God to be the provider. […]
text :: Proverbs 8: 22-36 theme verse :: “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord;” (Pr 8:35) // In Proverbs, wisdom is personified (Sophia), sharing alongside God in the creation of the cosmos. Lady wisdom also makes it known that listening to her is a matter of life or death. […]
text :: Luke 9: 10 – 17 theme verse :: “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.” (Lk 9:16) // Our denomination’s General Minister and President, Rev Terri Hord Owens, recently said: […]
text :: Mark 1: 14 – 15 theme verse :: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mk 1:15) // What do you believe? When the question is asked, we are usually prepared to offer some sort of mental checklist of ideas that […]
text :: Matthew 22: 34 – 40 theme verse :: “’Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’” (Mt 22:36) // Jesus says that those who follow him will love God and love their neighbor. Frederick Buechner reminds us that ‘Jesus doesn’t mean loving as primarily a feeling. Instead, he seems to mean {it} […]
text :: Acts 2: 42 – 47 theme verse :: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) // Writer Kathleen Norris (Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith) describes worship not as perfect performance, but calls the worshiping body ‘Christ’s ragged band of disciples… […]
text :: Philippians 1: 3 – 11 theme verse :: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6) // Barbara Brown Taylor says, “To pronounce a blessing on something, it is important to see it […]
text :: Colossians 3: 12 – 17 theme verse :: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:17) // From mowing yards or babysitting or bagging groceries as teenagers to the roles of corporate life in […]
text :: 1 Peter 5: 6 – 11 theme verse :: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10) // Few of us seek pain yet none of us […]
text :: John 1:1-14 theme verse :: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) // Preeminent American food writer, M.F.K. Fisher once said, “People ask me: why do you write about food, […]
text :: Genesis 28: 10 – 22 theme verse :: “Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it!'” (Gen28:16) // How can we possibly know a God so vast and mysterious as intimately as we know the gift of rocking an infant […]
text :: Galatians 5:1, 13-25 theme verse :: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) // When given a task to complete without any instruction, there are generally two responses. Some people are thrilled! They wouldn’t have pulled out the instructions anyway. Others are terrified. “I […]
text :: Romans 5:1-5 theme verse :: “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Rom 5:1) // The classic rock band, Boston, offers us a line in their 1976 hit song, Peace of Mind: “I understand about indecision. I don’t care if I get behind. People […]
text :: Hebrews 10:19-25 theme verse :: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds…” (Hebrews 10:24) // 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION On March 22, 1959, a courageous few gathered imagining what it would mean for them to be Christ’s Church at 55th and Harvard in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sixty years […]
text :: Revelation 22: 12 – 21 theme verse :: “Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” (Revelation 22:17b) // A sermon from the book of Revelation. That should be plenty different. Is it a dream? vision? prophecy? something else? We’ve made ourselves afraid of this text … when most […]
text :: Galatians 3: 23 – 29 theme verse :: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” (Gal 3:25-26) // It’s race weekend in Indianapolis – Motorsports’ crown event. It’s truly an amazing thing – the […]
text :: Acts 8:26-40 theme verse :: “Philip commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:38) // Every time the waters of baptism are stirred, there is a stirring of the Spirit. It never fails. It’s just water and […]
text :: Acts 9: 36 – 43 theme verse :: “Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” (Acts 9:36) // Dorcas, a disciple of Jesus, was “devoted to good works and acts of charity.” The actual […]
text :: John 21: 15 – 25 theme verse :: “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21b) // ‘Tis the season for transition. Jesus moved from death to life. The disciples moved from followers to leaders. Our seniors are moving from high school to… whatever comes next. Any transition to a new existence comes as a […]
text :: John 20: 14 – 20 theme verse :: “…Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20b) // In each of the gospel accounts, the women are the first to learn of the resurrection, first to see and hear the risen Lord, and first to be charged with the task to […]
text :: Luke 24: 1 – 12 theme verse :: “Peter got up, ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” (Luke 24:12) // Rhythm is simply defined as a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. Gloria […]
A series of readings and choral works, updating the traditional service of darkness, marking the solemn importance of the cross, and Good Friday. As the readings move us through the order of events in the crucifixion, most are followed by the extinguishing of a candle – 14 candles in all. In the audio, you’ll hear […]
text :: John 13:1-20 theme verse :: “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15) // Any musician will tell you that honoring the ‘rests’ are just as important as playing the ‘notes.’ Even so, we are culturally all about the notes and […]
text :: Luke 19: 28 – 40 theme verse :: “They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:34) // “Discernment is truly a gift from God, but not one dropped from the skies fully formed. It is a gift cultivated by a prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge.”(Ernest Larkin). There was a lot of […]
text :: Psalm 139:1-18; 23-24 theme verse :: “See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:24) // Some of us have been so shaped by shame-based family or church systems that we resist entering into deeper levels of self-awareness for fear of being debilitated even […]
text :: Exodus 19: 1 – 8 // Civilizations have long valued and cared for the mystery that is the human body. The Christian practice of honoring the body is, as Stephanie Paulsell notes, “born of the confidence that our bodies are made in the image of God’s own goodness.” The complexities of physical health […]
text :: Romans 8:26-27 // Many of us have learned a “go-to” prayer over time –often a bedtime prayer as a child or The Lord’s Prayer as we prayed it each week in worship. But ask anyone without notice to say a prayer aloud or share about their prayer life and most get wide-eyed and […]
text :: 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10 // Do you read Scripture primarily for information or transformation? Do you imagine it as a text book or a love letter? There is room for both realities, of course, but in creating a sacred rhythm between God and follower of God, it is good to consider […]
text :: Mark 6:7-13 and 30-32 // When is the last time you were quiet enough to hear your own heart beat? To feel it? Sense itsrhythm as if your very soul was trying to show itself to you in a marvelous and tangible way? Parker Palmer suggests “the soul is like a wild animal—tough, […]
text :: Mark 10: 46 – 52 // Richard Rohr says, “A good journey begins with knowing where we are and being willing to go someplace else.” The sacred season of Lent always affords us such an opportunity. What is your deepest spiritual desire? Do you long for more? The movement from desire to discipline […]
text :: Matthew 23:1-12 theme verse :: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) // In the Middle Ages, a common food eaten by those with little economic means included deer innards. It was made into a pie, of sorts, and became known as […]
text : Matthew 14: 13 – 21 theme verse : “Jesus said, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’” (Mt 14:16) // Upon welcoming guests in their home, many say, “We practice an open fridge policy –please help yourself!” Some have taken this hospitality to the next level. In some neighborhoods […]
text : Psalm 127:1-2; Romans 8:35-39 theme verse : “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, willbe able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our […]
text :: Exodus 17: 1 – 7 theme verse :: “Moses called the place Massah because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”(Exodus 17:7) // Watching paint dry or grass grow were often sayings dropped when people were describing less-than-exciting experiences. Today’s culture supports immediate gratification and […]
text : John 16:29-33 theme verse : “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33b) // Do you know courage when you see it? Some people possess the abilities to approach physical challenges with a sense of fearlessness. And yet the ability to override fear is not […]
text : Luke 4:21-30 theme verse : “When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” (Luke 4:28) // The major themes of 2018, according to those who study the frequency of cultural conversation, include immigration, the #MeToo movement, possible Russian interference in the 2016 election and –fake news. The idea of […]
text : 1 Samuel 18:1-5 theme verse : “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:3) // An ancient philosopher said, “There are only two people who can tell you the truth about yourself—an enemy who has lost his temper and a friend who loves […]
text : 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 theme verse : “Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” (1 Corinthians 15:36) // 27,339. That’s the number of Starbucks in the world… for now. The world is enamored with a pricey cup of coffee, free wifi and a chance to people watch from […]
text : Isaiah 60:1-6 theme verse : “Arise, shine; for your light has come…” (Isaiah 60:1) // “Glory is God’s style.” Christian writer Frederick Buechner offers this gem. When the Bible tells us that “the heavens are telling the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), it is saying that the heavens are revealing God’s style: sunsets, […]
text :: Matthew 13: 45-46 theme verse :: “On finding a pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt 13:46) As we enter a time when millions of people will make resolutions for the New Year, we are met with a parable that Jesus tells about a […]
text :: Luke 2: 1 – 20 theme verse :: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host…” (Luke 2:13) // Sometimes standing isn’t possible. It is often pain or sadness or exhaustion that “takes your legs out from under you.” Sometimes it’s prayer that drives us to our knees […]
text :: Luke 2: 1 – 20 theme verse :: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host…” (Luke 2:13) // Sometimes standing isn’t possible. It is often pain or sadness or exhaustion that “takes your legs out from under you.” Sometimes it’s prayer that drives us to our knees […]
CHRIST IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM a traditional cantata in concert Kelly Ford, director of traditional worship Deborah Gist, reader Rev Mark Briley, liturgist
text :: Luke 1:39-45 theme verse :: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45) // “You better sing!” is the encouragement of Jennifer Hudson, one of four coaches on The Voice, when she is really moved by a contestant’s singing. […]
text: Acts 27: 13 – 20 // The Blue Christmas service is an annual evening of worship where space is created where it’s okay to say ‘This season is hard.’ Whether carrying grief into this holiday; or dealing with loss of a job, relationship, self-confidence, or direction; or sitting in uncertain health in your own […]
text : Luke 1:68-79 theme verse : “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us…” (Luke 1:78) // PEACE SUNDAY. The Christian liturgical year has long pointed us toward peace on the second Sunday of Advent. Peace really deserves more than one focal Sunday but we’ll light […]
text : Jeremiah 33:14-16 theme verse : “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:15) // Do you ever feel like you’re tripping your way to the end of the year? In a […]
text : Psalm 63: 1 – 8 theme verse : “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” (Psalm 63:3) You spend three months without your usual responsibilities, you learn a few things. You see different things, and you see things differently. Sabbath, sabbatical, rest, renewal. What it means, what […]
text : Acts 20:17-24 theme verse : “I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received form the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) // We all know that shrilling sound called “feedback” […]
text : Proverbs 11:24-25 theme verse : “Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due and only suffer want.” (Proverbs 11:24) // An old rap song from my youth included the line, ‘You better check yourself before your wreck yourself.’ While none of the other lines were memorable, that one […]
text : Luke 17:11-19 theme verse : “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.” (Luke 17:15) // Researchers have noted that positive emotions wear off quickly. Dr. Robert Emmons suggests that our emotional systems like newness. They like novelty. They like change. We […]
text : John 17:10-19 theme verse : “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) // Have you ever been confused in a conversation to the point you felt the person talking to you was speaking a foreign language? In John’s version of ‘The Lord’s […]
text : Matthew 13:24-30 theme verse : “…in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together…” (Mt 13:29-30) // Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr points out that some Native Americans have a tradition of leaving a blemish in one corner of the rug they are weaving because they believe […]
text : 1 Peter 1:13-16 theme verse : “For it is written, ‘You shall be holy for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16) // Holy Shmoly. Who can really be holy? At best we’re what Nadia Bolz Weber calls Accidental Saints, right? Who wants to be holier than thou anyway? It turns out that some […]
text : Luke 14:15-24 theme verse : “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” (Luke 14:22) // The invitation comes. You cross-check calendars. She can attend. He’s got an appointment. Everyone is exhausted. The RSVP card stares back at you thinking, “What do you say?” You check the box next […]
text : Job 12:7-10 theme verse : “But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you…” (Job 12:7) // What if I told you that a man who preached to the birds also saved the church? Francis of Assisi did both these things by many […]
text : James 3:13-18 theme verse : “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” (James 3:13) // By any number of accounts, we see that our decisions and actions are having some detrimental effects on the world we call home. […]
text : Luke 8:22-25 theme verse : “Who then is this that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Lk 8:25) // As if there weren’t already some context clues on their journey, the disciples really begin to wonder about who Jesus is when he dials in a new boating […]
text : Psalm 148 theme verse : “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created.” (Ps 148:5) // When one stops to consider the immensity of God’s creation, it can truly change our perspective and our living, even our understanding of worship. Turns out, worshiping God is not a solo […]
Job 23: 1 – 10 // Everyone asks, “Why?” As children, we ask that one-word question in response to everything. We’re just discovering the world and it’s full of wondrous questions. As we age, experience deepens our why questions. Why is there suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why not me? What […]
Exodus 33: 7 – 16 // “Lord move, or move me,” goes the lyric sung by the group, Far From Home. We’ve all likely done our best to move God like a chess piece in the game of our lives; longing to control every aspect of our lives. To our dismay, we wonder if God’s […]
text : Hebrews 4: 14 – 16 Theme Verse: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15) // I Wonder as I Wander is typically a hymn we sing during Advent. The melody itself is very mysterious and spirit-provoking. Beyond one season a year, however, […]
2 Corinthians 5: 16 – 21 // What would it take for a skeptical culture’s view of Christianity to see our faith as good? While we aren’t aiming to please an audience beyond God alone, Jesus practiced a faith more interested in reconciliation than keeping a list of the sins of others. What does that […]
Most Christians can rattle off the little phrase “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It’s been on enough bumper stickers that we seem to claim it. And it’s comforting when it comes to the sin that has tripped us up. It’s the sin of others that tend to make us […]
text : Mark 9: 38 – 41 // There is a growing sense that many Christians – and believers in other faith traditions – are feeling overwhelmed, sidelined, and misunderstood. It’s more than a feeling. For increasing millions of people in the wider culture, Christianity feels like a long list of rules that matter to […]
text: Luke 10: 25 – 37 // Neighbor. The very word conjures up some image for us. It may be the sweet widowed woman who lived next door during our childhood. It might be the term used when you run into someone while on vacation whom you discover is from your hometown. “Neighbor!” we say. […]
text : Proverbs 31: 1 – 9 // Like King Lemuel’s oracle gleaned from his mother’s wisdom, we all have that voice of proverbial wisdom in our lives. It might be a grandparent or the sage librarian that took us under wing. Whoever it is, theirs was likely a voice of experience that we treasured […]
text : Mark 7: 24 – 30 // Many have said that a parent is only as content as their least contented child. Something in that sentiment reminds us that we are intertwined, one to another. On this Father’s Day, we celebrate the father figures in our lives and the call for us all to […]
text: Mark 10: 17 – 22 // How far can you ride life on goodness alone? We often equate ‘good’ and ‘kind’. Lord knows the world could use all the kindness we can muster. Even so, when it comes to biblical justice, being good isn’t the sum goal of life. As the rich man approaches […]
text : Galatians 3:23-29 // Our earliest memories likely include a sense of social identity. We belong to the family. We go to that church. We play on that team.Our parent works at that factory. We begin to shape those identities without giving it too much thought. It naturally creates a sense of ‘my people’ and […]
text : Romans 10: 8 – 17 theme verse: “… how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 15) // We all have a story to tell. We learn by hearing stories, and we teach by telling them. Our rabbi, our teacher, Jesus, was a storyteller too … why? Because storytelling […]
text : Acts 11: 1 – 18 theme verse: “If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” (Acts 11:17) // If all of humanity is made in the image of God we must believe in […]
text : Acts 7:54 – 8:1 theme verse : “And Saul approved of their killing him.” (Acts 8:1) // No one expects to brave the wilderness without experiencing some unexpected setbacks. Many a mother has said, “There’d be days like this.” Nothing worth braving happens without some resistance. The Jesus movement ran into such resistance […]
text : Acts 5: 12 – 16 theme verse : “…they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by.” (Acts 5:15) // The disciples, getting well themselves, recovering from the heart-stopping realities of […]
text : Acts 2: 37 – 42 theme verse : “For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” (Acts 2:39) // Fishing was no longer the business. If you’ve ever given up all you’ve ever known, something you […]
text : Acts 1: 12 – 17, 21 – 26 theme verse: “Then they drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1: 26) // The exhilaration of the big moment, the big season, the tragedy or the triumph always gives way to the reality that life goes on. In […]
text : John 21:15-19 theme verse: “After this, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow me.’” (John 21:19b) // Peter walked the peaks and valleys of that first Holy Week (without knowing we’d remember it as we do of course) and is picking up the pieces in the aftermath. Clearing his head by doing what he does […]
text : John 21 : 1 – 7 theme verse: “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.” (John 21:7) // How many times have you stood at the edge of something from which you were […]
text : 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 theme verse: “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”(1 Corinthians 1:25) // Easter on April Fool’s Day. What are the chances of that happening? Not great. Since 1700, Easter has landed on April Fools’ Day eleven times. In percentages, that’s 3.5 […]
Traditional readings from gospel texts, prayers, and choral works, marking the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Week Thursday evening worship to mark the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the giving of the new covenant in communion, and the mandate (‘mandatum’ – Maundy): “Do this in remembrance of me.” // text : John 13, selected verses preaching : Rev Courtney Richards
text : Mark 11: 1 – 11 theme verse : “If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it…’ (Mark 11:3) // Growing up in a small town, creeks were a plenty and ready playground for curious kids. Farmers on the many gravel roads also knew you often […]
text: John 12: 1 – 8 theme verse : “Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.'”(John 12:7) // “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This was the idea behind the birth of the garage sale. Beyond that simple idea, is another […]
text : 1 John 2: 7 – 11 theme verse : “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:9) // A friend once said, “I only have five slots for friends in my life.” It was a curious statement; his way of […]
text : Mark 4:35-41 theme verse: “And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’.” (Mark 4:31) // Trust in a bottle –it’s out there! A New York City lab claims to have bottled trust. They say:After showering in […]
text : Ephesians 3:14-21 theme verse: “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21) // It is easy […]
text : Mark 1:9-15 theme verse : ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near – repent, and believe in the good news.’ (Mark 1:15) // ‘Repent’ is such a churchy word. How often did your parent or some authority figure yell at you in reaction to a poor choice, “REPENT!” […]
text : Colossians 1: 15-20 theme verse : “… and through [Christ] God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven…” (Colossians 1:20) // In our day, there is a growing distrust of many institutions, especially among younger generations. But whether you like them or not, we are all […]
text : John 1:1-18 theme verse : “The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”(John 1:17) // We often speak of our lives as a unique story. We even use phrases like, “I’m an open book,” or “You need to turn the page,” or “I’m starting a new chapter,” […]
text :: Colossians 3:12-17 theme verse :: “Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14) // Character has long been among our greatest treasures as humans. “Don’t call into question my character!” we exclaim. You might serve as a Character Reference for someone applying for a job. Of […]
text : Matthew 16:13-19 theme verse : “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”–Simon Peter to Jesus (Matthew 16:16) // What do you believe? It’s such a simple, yet loaded, question. We all believe something about most things. We didn’t come out of the womb with these well-thought-out, deeply structured convictions. We […]
text :: 1 Peter 1:13-16 theme verse :: “As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) // If there is any truth to “We are what we eat,” there may also be some credence […]
text :: Isaiah 64:1-9 theme verse :: “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isa 64:8) // It’s the first Sunday of the year. We all step back into the same seats we sat in the year before, a […]
text : Luke 2 : 22 – 40 theme verse : “And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.” (Lk 2:33) anthem : ‘Peace’ (M.McDonald) :: Kelly Ford, tenor; Billie Kay Sawyer, piano reader : Barbara Crider preaching : Rev Courtney Richards closing : ‘Some Children See Him’ […]
Christmas Eve Traditional Candlelight Communion Service 6pm // text : Luke 2: 1 – 20 :: reader : Rev Courtney Richards preaching : Rev Mark Briley
Text : Romans 16:25-27 Theme Verse : “Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed…” (Romans 16:25) // Soft spoken and humble preacher, Fred Craddock, once […]
Text : Psalm 126 Theme Verse : “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” (Psalm 126:1) // Poet Czeslaw Milosz said simply, “It’s madness to live without joy!” I would agree. I know, however, that the pain of life can often suffocate the joy within. At Christmastime, we […]
text : Mark 13:24-37 theme verse : “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’” (Mk 13:37) // Bell-bottoms, Razor scooters, Livestrong wristbands, The Crimper, flash mobs, “Vote for Pedro” t-shirts, speed dating, sideburns, Tebowing, Pogs, the “Macarena.” Fads: “An intense but short-lived fashion; craze; notion, manner of conduct, etc., especially […]
text : 1 Samuel 1:4-20 theme verse : “Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 4:20) // What first comes to mind when you hear the word‘seconds’? Perhaps something to do with a period of time? Racecar drivers might dwell […]
text : 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 theme : “To keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh…” (2 Cor. 12:7) // Any time a sales advertisement says, “As Is,” we get a little leery. “What’s wrong with it?” we wonder. We know we’re dealing with something less than perfect; maybe […]
text : Psalm 78: 1 – 8 theme verse : “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 78:1) // As human beings, we have leanings, inclinations, proclivities, predilections and preferences. We can safely assume God desires our leanings, inclinations, proclivities, predilections and preferences to […]
text : Hebrews 11:32 – 12:2 theme verse : “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely…” (Hebrews 12:1) // “Did you save it to the cloud?”What once may have only been experienced as a metaphorical connection to […]
text : Philippians 2:12-18 theme verse : “For it is God who is at work in you…”(Philippians 2:13) // The path to canonized sainthood is quite an ordeal. First, you must die – so there’s that.Then there are the required recommendations, theological reviews, and necessary miracles to name a few. To earn this badge of […]
text : Romans 1:1-7 theme verse : “To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints…” (Romans 1:7) // Intentionality is key in our attempts to be successful at most anything. Much of the time, however, it seems we step into everyday moments with a chance to be a help, an encouragement, […]
text : Jonah 3:1-5, 3:10-4:11 theme verse : “And the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’” (Jonah 4: 4) If you think being swallowed by a fish is bad, try forgiving people you despise. Just ask Jonah. God’s about to cut a break to a people that have mistreated him and […]
text : Philippians 3:4b – 14 theme verse : “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” (Phil 3:13) Do you ever find yourself living a life of “what could have been”? It is […]
Text : Matthew 21: 23-32 Theme Verse: “So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’” (Mt 21:27a) // Jesus teaches in parables. We know this. He is a storyteller, capturing the audience around him, bringing a lesson with an illustration and metaphor that they will understand, remember, and hopefully hold for retelling, to themselves or […]
Text : Matthew 9:35-10:1 Theme Verse : “Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.”(Mt 10:1) // Sending the Disciples out on a mission was long Jesus’ practice. Not many staycations for the twelve. Sharing good news by […]
Text: Hebrews 4:14-16 Theme Verse: “Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) // ‘Mercy’ has become more of an expression of disbelief, like my grandmother who often hollered, “Mercy sakes!” than it is an embodiment of […]
Text: Matthew 6:7-14 Theme Verse: “Pray then in this way…” (Matthew 6:9a) // “I don’t even know what to pray for anymore.” “What am I supposed to say?” “Does it make any difference?” Prayer. It’s complicated and mysterious. No matter your history with prayer or your sense that it has little to offer your future, […]
Text: Matthew 16:21-28 Theme Verse: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) They are popular Facebook memes and witty ripostes at cocktail parties. A sudden putdown when an apparently positive statement is ridiculed by a simple addendum: “Said no one ever!” […]
Text: Luke 4:14-21 Theme Verse: “Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he said, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20-21) // Once you’ve launched and the adrenaline drains, how do you […]
Text: 1 Samuel 17:31-37 Theme Verse: “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”(1 Sam 17:32) // The starting gun fires and a rush of adrenaline is released into your body. The multiple stimuli you experience can be overwhelming even as it is exhilarating. The moment […]
Text: Matthew 14:22-36 Theme Verse: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”He said, “Come.”(Matthew 14:28-29) // More than once I’ve called for my children to come to me and been met with the response: “You mean now?” We can be prayed up, studied up, and geared up to […]
Text: Colossians 4: 2 – 6 Theme Verse: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” (Col 4:2) // Have you ever been so excited about something that you jumped right in before you knew what you were jumping in to? Have you ever dreaded something so much that you resisted facing it […]
Text: Romans 8: 26 – 39 Theme Verse: “For I am convinced that …{nothing} in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:39) // Summer has us busy and moving in many directions. Four preachers in five weeks shows us ministry life is […]
Text: Proverbs 3:19-35 Theme Verse: “Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.”(Proverbs 3:29) // In some traditions, the term skillful means is used to describe an approach to making decisions and dealing with problems in a way that is appropriate to the situation and causes no harm. Skillful means always […]
Text: Luke 9:57-62 Theme Verse: “Jesus said, ‘ No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:62) // What is the price of commitment to, well, anything? When Vince Lombardi was a basketball coach at Fordham in the early 1940s, he used to have […]
Text: Hebrews 6:13-20a Theme Verse: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.” (Hebrew 6:19) // While we’re approaching mid-summer, perhaps the lazy days of summer are a thing of the past. No matter the season, there is always so much to […]
Text: Luke 14:1-14 // Summer is the season of celebrations and parties. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is found enjoying the company of others at banquets, dinners and other social gatherings. In fact, he offers some important party etiquette for us to take to heart. So, consider this your party invitation to join us for our […]
Text: Acts 8:26-40 Theme Verse: “As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water!What is to prevent me from being baptized?”(Acts 8:36) // Everyone’s approach to a road trip seems to differ. Some are destination oriented –“Get me there as quickly as possible!”Others embrace […]
Text: Matthew 6:25-34 (The Message) Theme Verse: “Give your attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.” (Matthew 6:34 The Message) // Many of us get lost in the details while traveling. We are constantly thinking ahead and managing a schedule of […]
Text: Luke 9:1-6 Theme Verse: “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money – not even an extra tunic.”(Luke 9:3) // Packing for a trip is hard. We want to take the right things with us just in case some particular item is perfect for whatever situation arises. We pack […]
Text: Psalm 104:24 – 33 Theme Verse: “When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” (Ps 104:30) // The English word ‘Pentecost’ is a transliteration of the Greek word pentekostos which means ‘fifty’. For Christians, it comes about fifty days after Easter and is the day […]
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Theme Verse: “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”(2 Corinthians 5:17) // Be reconciled. Reconciliation often infers some previous fracture in need of healing. Paul says such a need for reconciliation could require the single focus of an […]
Text: John 4:39-42 Theme Verse: “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42) // “Because I said so!” We’ve all heard that phrase (and may have used it ourselves). Typically, it […]
Text: Ephesians 3:14-19 Theme Verse: “And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.”(Ephesians 3:17) // How deep and wide is love? Most of us have claimed some measure of love. We know ‘ all the feels’ and we’ ve […]
Our annual celebration of faith and expression led by our junior high and high school youth. This year honoring six seniors, who each offer a message of how THEIR faith is expressed: Haley Baker & Gillian Payne – expression of faith through worship Abby Clary – expression of faith through creation Alicia Muro – expression […]
text :: Matthew 28: 1 – 15 theme verse :: “And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.” (Mt 28:15b) // “How long does Easter last?” It’s a common and natural question. Like many things, we have culturally made Easter one festive occasion: new clothes, worship with grandma, and a lunch […]
Text: Mark 16: 1 – 8 Theme Verse: “… and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16: 8) // Even with all the time we’ve just spent together in worship, in extra worship, with programs and events and projects, did you realize: Easter has just begun? Easter is a season. The […]
Text: John 20:1-18 Theme Verse: “Then the disciples returned to their homes.”(John 20:10) // The celebration following a big ‘ win’ of any kind can only last for so long. At some point, everyone returns to their homes. Some bask in the victory a bit longer. Some wonder, “What now?” Some immediately begin training for […]
A choral worship cantata (by Hal H. Hopson), this series of readings and music centers on the last hours of Christ’s life, as he prepared for and suffered death on the cross. // There are moments of quiet between readings and songs. After several of the readings you may hear, within that silence, a small […]
A service of worship centered on the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. // Text: John 13: 21 – 30. preaching : Rev Mark Briley // This audio excerpt opens with the blues tune blend ’11th Commandment/Well Well Well’ (B. Harper/B. Dylan), offered as ‘The Set Up’ before the reading of the text and […]
Text: John 12:12-19 Theme Verse: “The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.” (John 12:19) // It is often in hindsight that we say, “That’s when everything changed.” The tension may be building and the proverbial ‘writing may be on the wall’ […]
Text: John 11:45-57 Theme Verse: “What do we do now? This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.” – The Pharisees and High Priests (John 11:47-48) […]
Text: John 8: 2 – 11 Theme Verse: “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” (John 8:7) // Can you imagine gathering for worship each Sunday with the main attraction of the service being an opportunity to stone the week’s premier sinner from among the congregation? With the cultural draw toward violence, […]
Text: John 4:5-29 Theme Verse: “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.” (John 4:23) // The woman named only by the place she is from encounters Jesus in […]
Text: John 4:31-38 Theme Verse: “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me.” – Jesus (John 4:34) // Everyone is counting calories these days. And yes, there’ s an app for that. Metabolism shifts over time and our body’ s needs change as well. When […]
Text: John 3:1-9 Theme Verse: “How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up?”– Nicodemus (John 3:4) // Life is full of transition. We get that. We even anticipate it. Even so, timing often creeps up on us, surprises us, and leaves us wondering, “What just happened?”The season of Lent is […]
Text: Mark 1: 40 – 45 reader : Rev Courtney Richards preaching : Rev Kevin Howe // A homily for Ash Wednesday, to begin the season of Lent. // *Also included in this recording: special music ‘Take My Life’ (C.L. Bass) – tenor soloist Todd Maxwell, piano Susie Monger-Daugherty.
Text: Matthew 25:31-46 Theme Verse: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) // So much of scripture, especially Paul’s letters, refer to fellow Christians as family – brothers and sisters. We live this out well as church […]
Text: Matthew 22:34-40 Theme Verse: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36) // I have often been advised, and in turn advise others, “Don’t do the math.” This turn of phrase is most widely used as a way of saying, “It’s complicated – don’t try to figure it out.” For the […]
Text: Psalm 23 Theme Verse: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) // When all hell breaks loose in your life, what do you hold onto? What grounds you in such uncertainty if anything at all? The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the most recognizable passage in all of Scripture. Many memorized […]
Text: Matthew 5: 38 – 48 Theme Verse: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” (Mt 5:38) // Psychologists tell us that revenge fantasies can be a healthy way of assuaging our feelings of victimhood when we are wronged. Jesus, on the other hand, […]
Text: Jeremiah 29: 10 – 14 Theme Verse: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 29:11) // “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” Interviewers love asking job applicants such things as do guidance counselor and life coaches. What are your hopes? Where do you see […]
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Theme Verse: “I appeal to you… that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” (1 Cor 1:10) // Paul’s plea was for everyone in the Corinthian church to “be in agreement,” to have “no divisions among [them]” and to “be united in the same mind and the […]
Text: Psalm 40:1-11 Theme Verse: “He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” (Psalm 40:2) // We’ve all been there. The moment we’re ready to turn in our resignation, suffocating under the stress of the job, and its only […]
Text: John 7: 37 – 44 Theme Verse: “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38b) // Flow. The word itself stops me in my tracks. There’s movement, yes, but not just any movement. It’s fashioned with a rhythm that maximizes potential. Something that flows coordinates with the elements around […]
We gathered for one worship service this morning, children and adults together. In a casual and lively atmosphere, we sang Christmas hymns and shared stories of waiting for things to happen. An intergenerational scavenger hunt drew together 20 cards with verses of scripture, telling the story of Anna and Simeon meeting the newborn Jesus at […]
a Christmas Cantata (traditional worship) reader – Mike Moore Harvard Avenue Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Orchestra: director – Kelly Ford
all-music worship at The Rising (casual service) The Rising Band: leader – Isaac Herbert
Text: Romans 15:4-13 Theme Verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) // The Human Library Project sponsors events around the world in which people of wildly different backgrounds and experiences volunteer […]
Text: Hebrews 6:13-20 Theme Verse: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain.” (Hebrews 6:19) // Hoping and waiting. Hoping and waiting. A child hopes for something tangible and repeats aloud the hope over and over again thinking he can speak […]
Text: Psalm 116 Theme Verse: “What can I give back to God for the blessings he’s poured out on me?” (Psalm 116:12) // Have you ever known a person who is always generous? They may or may not have the most material possessions. They may, in fact, have very few resources. Regardless, they have a […]
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Theme Verse: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10a) // People have worn themselves out in attempts to re-pay God for, well, everything. The spirit is noble: “I’ll pay my own way.” “No freebies.” […]
Text: Romans 1:8-17 Theme Verse: “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” (Romans 1:14) // It may be the most awkward question in the English language: “What do I owe?” We often ask after we’ve received something of value. We are uncertain of the […]
Text: Luke 6:37-42 Theme Verse: “A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.” (Luke 6:40) // Whether we are aware of it or not, all of us are teaching something – just about all the time. What are people learning from us and about us […]
Text: James 1:19-26 Theme Verse: “But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing.” (James 1:25) // You might call the letter of James a practical primer for living faith. In a culture obsessed with […]
Text: Luke 18 : 1 – 8 Theme Verse: “ …yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” (Luke 18:5) // ‘I didn’t want to bother you.’ ‘No, it’s okay.’ ‘No big deal.’ It seems that no matter how much […]
Text: Mark 13:24-37 Theme Verse: “And what I say to you I say to all: ‘Keep awake.’” (Mark 13:37) // As he battled pancreatic cancer, Professor Randy Pausch knew intimately the importance of using time wisely. He famously offered “The Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he shared his heart about […]
Text: Psalm 46 Theme Verse: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) // When standing off balance, it’s hard to accomplish much of anything except trying to keep from falling down. The famed Psalm 46 reminds us of off-balanced living – the earth shakes (tell us about it!), the nations are in […]
Text: Jeremiah 1:4-14; 17-19 Theme Verse: “They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 4:19) // One of the football moms leans over to me as her son lines up in the fullback position in practice. “He doesn’t usually […]
Text: Mark 9:14-29 Theme Verse: “Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24) // Behold! The most honest line in all of scripture: “I believe; help my unbelief.” It’s like this line oops-ed its way out of the mouth of this father who just wanted his son to […]
Text: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Theme Verse: “As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because theywere like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34) // When you go about your day, do you look at the people you encounter as competitors […]
Text: James 5:13-20 Theme Verse: “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b) // Dr. Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, specializing in the area of social work. Her work around the subject of vulnerability exploded when she offered a TED Talk in 2010 now viewed nearly […]
Text: Romans 8:12-25 Theme Verse: “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25) // The magic formula: we’re always looking for it and, at times, we think we’ve captured it. Do these three things and get well or get rich or get six-pack abs. Formulas […]
Text: Luke 8:42b-48 Theme Verse: “Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’” (Lk 8:46) // This is Promotion Sunday. Sounds very formal and official, doesn’t it? It marks the day when students move up a grade level in Sunday School and our fifth graders make the big […]
Text: Luke 6:27-31 Theme Verse: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31) // Eugene Peterson says of Jesus, “We follow a very different leader, one who in virtually every detail guides us in a way of living that is counter to that of the world.” The next Christians have […]
Text: Hebrews 10:32-29 Theme Verse: “But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.” (Hebrews 10:39) // Life is hard. In attempt to stay engaged with the culture to find and highlight God’s beauty within, it is essential to stay grounded […]
Text: Romans 14:1-12 Theme Verse: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” (Romans 14:10) // We all know an arm-chair critic. We probably know him or her quite well actually. Dare […]
Text: Luke 19:1-10 Theme Verse: “For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.” (Luke 19:10) // At thirty years old, Jesus began his public ministry in Israel. At that time, the Pharisees dominated the religious landscape. They were revered as the most holy, God-fearing Jews in the land, bent on preserving […]
Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-15 Theme Verse: “Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15) // This moment in time is unlike any other in history. Its uniqueness demands an original response. If we fail to […]
Text: Isaiah 43:16-21 Theme Verse: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19) // The title cover story by Pulitzer prize winning writer Jon Meacham of Newsweek a few years back said it all: “The End of Christian America.” This was not a story […]
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 Theme Verse: “Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG) // JRR Tolkein’s “Leaf by Niggle” has been interpreted, by some, as a story of hope in our toil. He writes of a painter named Niggle who has a vision and desire to paint the perfect tree […]
Text: 1 Peter 4:8-11 Theme Verse: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10) // A generation ago, there was a general separation of time and space when it came to our professional and personal lives. There was a particular […]
Text: Exodus 32:1-6 Theme Verse: “Aaron took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’”(Ex 32:4) // Someone noted that the number one response to the question, “How […]
Text: Genesis 1:26 – 2:2 Theme Verse: “God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over it…” (Genesis 1:28) // Is work simply a means to an end? Is work the thing that gets in the way of what we really […]
Text: Ephesians 4:11-16 Theme Verse: “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything.” (Ephesians 4:15) // Life has a trajectory. We don’t foresee the twists and turns nor can we fully see into the future. Even so, we have certain expectations of […]
Text: Acts 2:1-21 Theme Verse: “That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency…” (Acts 2:14) // Marketing companies are the best at getting you to believe that life is pretty boring, mediocre and uneventful without the product they are selling. It was recently reported that 90% of […]
Text: John 2:1-11 Theme Verse: “Jesus said, ‘Is that any of our business, Mother – yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.’ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, ‘Whatever he tells you, do it.” (John 2:4-5) // Sometimes it’s not your time. Sometimes it is but, for whatever reason, you haven’t […]
Text: Exodus 3:1-6 Theme Verse: “The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked.” (Exodus 3:2) // There are likely only a handful of times in your life that you pressed forward boldly without the support of someone else. Generally, a gentle nudge […]
Opening the Lent Wednesday evening series with the tradition of Ash Wednesday liturgy, and the stories of faith from members of Harvard Ave.