Bethel Community San Leandro: Recent Episodes
Erina Kim-Eubanks
Sermon audio from Bethel Community, a PC(USA) church in San Leandro, CA. For more, visit www.bethel-community.org
Pastor Michael continues our "Expanding the Table" sermon series, preaching for Father's Day on the parable of the prodigal. How does the father in this story create new social imaginaries by rejecting the gender binary? How does this parable grant us a more expansive view of the revolutionary act of parenthood?
Pastor Erina preaches from Acts 11, about the Spirit's transgressive work in the early Church, which led to the inclusion of Gentiles in their community. What does Peter's encounter with Cornelius teach us about how to approach divine revelation? How might we wrestle with a Scriptural tradition in which the word of God presses against the word of God and brings about new and unexpected changes?
Guest preacher, Natarsha Sanders, preaches from Romans 12 about the nature of God's radical love - a love that we are called both to experience and to embody. What might our lives look like, planted in the fertile love of God?
Pastor Michael preaches for us on Trinity Sunday, about the life of our Triune God as an embodiment of family- a family marked by belonging and belovedness.
Pastor Erina preaches for Pentecost 2024, sharing about the Holy Spirit's leveling power and casting vision for a church community where power is shared. In light of Bethel's 5 year anniversary or revitalization, what does it look like to become a house of God marked by abundance and co-creation and inspired by the Spirit's leveling power?
Guest Preacher, Erna Kim Hackett, shares a special Mother's Day and AANHPI Month reflection on Yuri Kochiyama's legacy of radical solidarity and radical mothering. How might Yuri's life and witness point us to a God of justice, and teach us how to live in these days?
Guest preacher, Sara Kwon, explores what it means to sing new songs, especially in times of exile. How might the act of praise ground us in God's story, reminding us of our true identity and helping us imagine new futures together?
Sara is a Japanese and Chinese American woman who is growing in trusting her voice and having fewer ‘should’s’ direct her desires. She has been in campus ministry for 14 years. You can find her rooting for Tottenham Hotspur alongside her husband or doing nightly dance parties with her 2 young boys.
Pastor Michael preaches from the Eastertide lectionary text of John 15, exploring what a life of mutuality with Jesus looks like. What does it mean for us to be hosted by Jesus- freely and generously? What does it mean for us to host Jesus - in vulnerability?
Please note: Technical issues during the sermon have created some static and differing volume levels to the sermon audio.
Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide series on Good Shepherd Sunday, reflecting on the lectionary text of John 10:11-18 and Jesus' declaration that he is the good shepherd. In a world full of untrustworthy leaders, what does it mean for us to put our trust in Jesus and find hope in his good shepherding?
We kick off our Eastertide season with community testimonies from Monica Tzeng and Eric Chan, who share about how they are encountering God in this season. Monica shares reflections on her experience of walking 22 miles for the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage, and what it means to hope for a world where Palestinians also have hope. Eric Chan shares about his experience in a Lenten grief group and how he is processing the ongoing grief around losing both his parents in the last decade.
Guest preacher, Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson (pastor of Miriam's Song church) preaches for Easter Sunday from Hebrews 12:1-2 and reflects on what it means for Jesus to disregard the shame of the cross. How does the promise of resurrection invite us away from shame and into the reality of God's joy, a joy that no one can steal from us?
Palm Sunday is the day we remember the beginning of Holy Week, the week that leads up to Easter. Jill Gidlund, our Children's Ministries Director, gently hosted us in recounting the story of when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time.
Pastor Michael continues our series for Lent, reflecting on Jesus as both the starter and the finisher of our faith. How might remembering Jesus help us to endure in our faith? How might the reality of Jesus' suffering connect us to the presence of God in our own suffering?
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series for Lent by examining what it means to run with perseverance. In the face of suffering and hardship, how might the promise of the race set before us- a good and trustworthy road to follow- both deepen our faith and lead us endurance?
Guest Preacher, Erna Kim Hackett, continues our Lenten series by examining what it means to be surrounded by the "Great cloud of witnesses" and sharing more about her journey to explore, expand, and reclaim the cloud of witnesses around her. Through her sermon and her invitation to build a community altar, she reminds us that the cloud of witnesses is so much more expansive than we could imagine.
Pastor Erina kicks off the season of Lent and shared about our sermon series focused on endurance. She shared about faith in the book of Hebrews as a portal- both to new, unseen worlds and also to our ancestors- while inviting us to consider Lenten practices that might help grow and sustain our faith in this season.
Pastor Michael preaches for Transfiguration Sunday, reflecting on the ways that on the mountaintop, Christ is revealed as one who is loved. How might the simple yet radical truth of Jesus being loved invite us into the reality of our own belovedness? How might knowing we are loved lead us to live and embody God's justice in the world?
Guest preacher, Drew Jackson, shares about the ways Jesus models for us the practice of solitude. When the world presses in on us from all sides, how might the practice of intentionally withdrawing, help remind us of who we are and where we come from?
Drew Jackson is a poet, speaker, and public theologian. He is author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Comingand Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. Drew was formerly the lead pastor of Hope East Village in Lower Manhattan, and now currently works as the Director of Mission Integration for the Center for Action and Contemplation. He resides with his wife, Genay, and twin daughters, Zora and Suhaila, in Brooklyn, NY.
Pastor Erina invites us into spiritual rhythms of praise and thanksgiving by reflecting on the words of Psalm 111 and its call toward communal memory. She also shares some highlights of church life from the past year, in preparation of our annual church congregational meeting.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series for Epiphanytide, preaching from the lectionary text of 1 Samuel 3 and reflecting on the call of Samuel. How might we find hope and encouragement from the promise that God's lamp has not yet burned out? How might we learn to pay attention to a God who is still speaking, even in times when the world feels dark and God feels distant?
Pastor Michael examines the story of Epiphany- the "appearance" of Christ- by contrasting the intentions of the Magi with the intentions of Herod. He presents the impulses of Herod as an anti-epiphany, focused on the disappearance of Christ through violence and revenge, while presenting the intentions of the Magi to honor and worship King Jesus. As creation tells the story of the nearness of God which of these set of intentions and impulses might mark the path we choose?
Jazzy and Erina share creative reflections on the birth of Christ and its textured meanings for us in this present moment. Jazzy shares a "Black Love Letter," written to siblings of Palestine, Congo, and Sudan and wrestling with the reclamation of darkness as the womb of all creation.
Pastor Erina shares a poem titled "The Audacity of Birth," juxtaposing the birth story of Christ with the current realities of life for Palestinian siblings, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
Rev. Lynice Pinkard guest preaches for us from the lectionary, reflecting on Isaiah 61 and its promise of God's comfort coming to hopeless situations, broken bodies, and broken hearts. She reminds us that those who have lost out on everything are the ones called to rebuild, that the ones who've received comfort are invited to comfort.
Pastor Michael kicks off our sermon series by preaching on Isaiah 64, sharing the ways that God remains near to us and claims us, even when we fail and turn away. How might the promise of God's presence and nearness be comfort to us as we rebuild?
Pastor Erina closes out our fall sermon series by looking at the exhortation in Deuteronomy 30 to choose life. In the face of so many forces and impulses moving us toward death and destruction, how might we remember that the choice toward life is not too difficult for us or beyond our reach? How might we choose into this collective call together?
Guest preacher Nichola Torbett continues our fall sermon series by inviting us into God's vision for cities of refuge, found in Numbers 35.
How might cities of refuge help break cycles of trauma and violence by offering space for pause and ceasefire? How might we both seek and become cities of refuge as a way to transmute the suffering and violence of our world into love and freedom?
Nichola Torbett is a spiritual seeker, recovering addict, gospel preacher, podcaster, writer, resistance fomenter, dog-walker, nonviolent direct action trainer, and aspiring race traitor. Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of the Street, a training academy for love warriors, in 2009 and Second Acts, a liturgical direct action affinity group, in 2014. She is co-editor of Resipiscence: a Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy and a frequent contributor to The Word Is Resistance, a podcast from SURJ-Faith and SURJ-Action, enfleshed, and radicaldiscipleship.net. She current serves as associate director of Kirkridge Retreat & Study Center in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Pastor Michael continues our fall sermon series by preaching on the story of Balaam and Balak and what it means to receive prophetic movements of God from unlikely people and sources. How might this story challenge us to receive the prophets and priests among us today?
Our church Theologian in Residence, Barnabas Lin, continues our fall sermon series on life in the wilderness by reflecting on the risky and courageous witness of the 5 daughters of Zelophehad.
How do their testimonies reveal both the limits of the law and the hard work of peace? How might their memory serve as a blessing to us, granting us the persistence, creativity, and vision to keep pursuing that hard work of peace amidst all the forces of predation and violence in our world?
As part of our "Community Sunday" gathering (every 5th Sunday of the month), we took time to hear testimonies from Cindy Chan and Carissa Lee, about their current wrestling with faith and where God is showing up in their lives.
Guest preacher, Rev. Sally Steele, continues our series with a look at Leviticus 25 and the Year of Jubilee. Together we explore this future-facing text that embodies God's call to love and liberation, equity and justice, for our own generation and for generations to come.
Pastor Michael continues our "Still Gotta Live" series with a brief exploration of the Law and Creator's desire for communities and individuals to know God's presence as they seek holistic health. Also, we hear from Carlos Flores who shares about being a local community-based health care provider.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series and a monthlong reflection on aspects of the Law, by looking at Exodus 23:1-13 and the call toward justice, truth-telling, and dignified treatment of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Following her brief sermon are two different testimonies for "Work of the People," with Chris Han and our church accompaniment team sharing about how they are living out this vision in their lives.
Pastor Michael continues our fall sermon series by beginning our reflections on the Law. In particular, he examines God's vision for covenant faithfulness in Exodus 22:1-15, inviting us into a truthful telling of history and a rightful understanding of ourselves that allows us to choose into reparations.
Pastor Erina preaches from Exodus 32:1-6 about the events leading up to the building of the golden calf.
In the midst of dramatic and even disturbing events that surround this pivotal event in Israel's history, what do we learn about the project of idol making? What invitation might God have for us, as we confront our own tendencies toward idol making in the face of collective trauma and uncertainty?
Guest Preacher, Noemi Vega Quiñones, continues our Fall series by preaching from Exodus 16:11-30 about God's vision for Sabbath- a vision that is rooted in intimate knowing and trust. How might the "elder story" presented in Exodus 16 invite us into Yahweh's vision for collective liberation and flourishing, centered in rest? And how does that vision connect to the Indigenous vision of buen vivir, reminding us that collective care is not just for humans but for the entire community of creation?
GUEST PREACHER BIO:
Noemi Vega Quiñones was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and migrated to the United States when she was five with her mother and two younger siblings. She is a Mustang Fellow at Southern Methodist University, an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, and is currently conducting her field research in the Central Coast of California where she grew up. Noemi hopes to contribute to buen vivir en conjunto with her communities.
Jill Gidlund, our Family Ministries Director, leads us in an intergenerational experience of Godly Play to continue our sermon series on the wilderness journey of God's People. She shares the story, "The Ark and the Tent," which follows the journey of God's people in the desert as they build the tabernacle.
Pastor Michael kicks off our Fall sermon series by reflecting on Exodus 19 and the questions of God's people as they begin journeying through the wilderness. In the midst of the transitions and disorientation of identity they experience, Pastor Michael names two pivotal questions that mark the journey from slavocracy to liberation: "Is God trustworthy?" and "Are we free?"
Guest preacher, Aiden Yang, offers us reflections on the Beatitudes and extends an invitation for us to embrace our shadow selves- the "good troublemaker"- within while sharing his own journey with us.
How might we learn to set our shadow selves free, living in ways that both challenge the norms of a profoundly sick society and align with the countercultural, anti-empirical ways of Jesus?
----Aiden Yang is the author of The Spineless Porcupine, an all-ages fable based on his journey of self-discovery as an Asian American trans man. He’s delivered engaging talks on creativity, diversity, and storytelling to global audiences at Grace Hopper Celebration, Cisco, Oracle, TransTech Summit, and Women Who Code. As someone who’s lived as both male and female presenting, Christian and queer, and Asian and American, he’s spent his entire life creating safe spaces and bridges of understanding between seemingly opposing groups. He lives in Oakland, California, and loves drumming, karaoke, and performing standup comedy.
For more on Aiden and his book, The Spineless Porcupine, please visit www.AidenSYang.com.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on the parables by reflecting on Matthew 20:1-16 and introducing a new perspective on it. How might the parable of the vineyard workers invite us into a joyful imagination for a just economy? How might the vineyard owner model for us the possibility of a different way?
Members of our community, Katie Joh and Adam Wall, share stories about what God has been up to in their personal lives and in our community, through reflections on neurodivergence and our summer midweek groups.
Please note that these testimonies were followed by a video testimony on Bibliodrama, which we will post on our website shortly.
Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson guest preaches for us on the parable of the weeds, inviting us to wrestle with difficult texts and name our feelings with challenging teachings of Jesus. What might the parable of the weeds teach us about asking hard questions? And how might God be expanding our understanding of goodness as we face the reality of the harmful and the helpful living in close relationship to each other?
Riana (she/her) is a preacher, pastor, and prophet who is passionate about speaking the truth in love, offering a constant invitation for people to see themselves as beloved, and providing various ways to respond to the command to love God, self, and neighbor. She is a mom of 4, East Bay Native, Oakland resident, and Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America currently serving with Miriam Song's Church, which centers the healing, wholeness, and flourishing of women of color guided by the divine liberation embodied in the person of Jesus.
To learn more about Rev. Riana's church, check out: https://miriamssongchurch.org/
Pastor Michael reflects on the parable of the persistent widow, and what it looks like to pursue a life of faithful prayer in the face of injustice and tyranny. How might we find encouragement from this widow's courage? And how might we find strength to keep going in our world full of injustice?
Pastor Erina explores the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14, and the world of reversal that Jesus is instigating. She also reflects on this parable in light of Disability Pride Month, and presents a vision for a party that is shaped by principles of Universal Design- a space where all are not welcome but able to participate fully.
Pastor Michael challenges and troubles our typical readings of the parable of the talents and invites us into a life of integrity amidst the weight of Empire.
Pastor Michael shares some reflections on the parable of the mustard seed while also inviting our entire church community into a discussion on the church logo, as a concluding session to our 2023 church retreat.
Tamice Spencer-Helms guest preaches for us and continues our series on the parables by looking at the parable of the two sons in Luke 15. They provide a fresh perspective on a familiar parable by exploring the story through the lens of vulnerability and inviting us to bet on the unconditional love of the Divine, no matter how risky it might feel.
Tamice (she/they) is the founder of Sub: Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students. Throughout their life, Tamice has connected, supported, and ministered to countless young adults, and her debut book Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd was released on February 21st. 2023!
Tamice lives in Richmond with their spouse Ellison, her daughter Harlym and their puppy Beacon Rey. In her spare time, she loves to dissect and listen to Hip-Hop, watch documentaries, whiskey tasting, and relax with a good book and a fresh cup of coffee
Pastor Erina kicks off our sermon series on "The Parables of Jesus," on the first Sunday of Pride Month, by looking at the parable of the new cloth and new wineskins and challenging us to choose new vessels that can stretch to receive the new gifts Jesus might be pouring out.
Pastor Michael preaches a homily for Pentecost Sunday, exploring the ways that the Holy Spirit authors a new way of being and communing at Pentecost, rather than simply trading one kingdom for another.
Guest preacher, Dr. Joyce del Rosario, preaches for Ascension Sunday on the "revolution of the intimate" begun through the ascension of Jesus, and the ways that resurrection power provides freedom from the toxic powers of nationalism. She also explores what it means to live as witnesses by choosing to notice, enjoy, and remember the Spirit's work in our lives.
Guest preacher, Cara Meredith, joins us to preach on John 9:1-12 and challenge ableist readings of this healing narrative of the man born blind. What does John 9 have to show us about being Easter people who cling to the agency and identity God uniquely provides to our ordinary, everyday lives?
Cara Meredith is a writer, speaker, and nonprofit communications specialist. A former high school English teacher and nonprofit outreach director, she holds a master’s of theology (Fuller Seminary) and is the author of The Color of Life. She lives with her family in Oakland.
Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide sermon series on the lectionary by looking at John 14:1-11 and Jesus’ words of comfort to his disciples in the midst of their disorientation. How might we find a place for ourselves in the promise of an expansive house of God? How might we find comfort in Jesus, who reveals the way, truth, and life of the Divine?
In 1 Peter, Jesus-followers are suffering from having been disconnected from society for following Jesus instead of worshipping Caesar. What does Peter's message have to say to those of us who are also feeling and experiencing disconnection as we seek to follow Jesus?
Pastor Michael gives us a picture of these Jesus-followers' new lives with Jesus as their patron, and highlights the invitation to love and affection for those around them, especially those who are also feeling disconnected.
In the second week of Easter, Barnabas (Bethel's Theologian-in-Residence) preaches on how Jesus' resurrection interrupts the cycle of violence rampant in the world since Genesis, and begins repairing and healing the whole world.
Guest speaker Riana Shaw Robinson invites us to see our risen Christ through our tears and to run towards community in moments of pain as Mary Magdalene did on Easter morning.
Guest speaker Nichola Torbett shares the anticipatory grief and liberation expressed by the revelers and stones who welcomed Jesus as their indigenous King.
Guest speaker Rev JJ Flag invites us to question how Judas acts as a mirror for ourselves and how Jesus continues to love him even throughout his betrayal.
This Godly Play style story places three vignettes from Jesus’ teaching in the temple side by side, helping us get close to the story of the woman who gave two small coins.
Pastor Erina continues our Lenten sermon series by examining a portrait of Peter, corrected by Jesus in the wilderness. What does it mean to follow a Messiah who subverts the logics of Empire and chooses suffering in the wilderness? How might we find hope and solidarity through the Holy One, who knows us in our suffering?
Michael Kim-Eubanks accompanies Ally - the woman who crashes an all-men party and who we will name because the Bible does not - as we learn from her example of agency and generosity activated by Jesus' presence. How might we be companions in the wilderness with them: to share in vulnerability and see each other when forces exist that seek to erase us?
Guest speaker Rev. Alicia Crosby Mack invites us to venture into the wilderness as a surprising place of possibilities and embrace what we find there with Jesus. She challenges us to name what we need from the wilderness - to seek, to hold, to discard, to process through, to reckon with, to negotiate - to go on to do whatever we're meant to do and be whoever we're meant to be.
Guest preacher, Erma Sinclair, preaches from the lectionary on 2 Peter, and explores the difference between knowing and understanding. She positions faith as not just a cognitive process of understanding, but also a deeply embodied experience of knowing, and talks about Jesus as one who knows the realities of imperial violence and suffering by entering fully into it. How might our faith grow deeper as we embrace new stories beyond understanding?
Pastor Michael continues our Epiphanytide series by exploring how Jesus invites his listeners and followers to reject the violence of casting others aside, and to both give and receive the work of making things right.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series for Epiphanytide on the lectionary, and looks at the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount regarding kingdom identity. Through examining Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5: 13-20, she discusses how Kingdom identity is rooted in collective power and guided by God’s Law that is meant for life.
It feels like we have been here before. Mass shootings, police violence, protests, critical analysis, and organizing. But the violence keeps going. How do we continue in the onslaught of violence?
In this Sunday's sermon, Barnabas Lin continues our series on Epiphanytide and navigates us through The Beatitudes. He subverts its use as spiritual platitudes, grapples with whether religion is the opiate of the masses, and shows how Jesus is forming a people who are able to recognize, trust, and participate concretely in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on Epiphanytide and preaches from Matthew 4 about the beginnings of Jesus' ministry. Through reflecting on this story, she gleans a couple insights for Jesus-following communities and shares some hopes and questions for our church community in 2023.
How might we foster community as a church in this moment, despite all the barriers we face? And how might our church steward our selves, resources, and energy to participate in the healing and liberative work of Jesus for our communities?
Guest speaker Barbara Hüfner-Kemper invites us to preach collectively through a decolonized and liberative engagement with the Bible called Bibliolog or Bibliodrama. Join us in exploring the story of the wedding at Cana as we embody and be curious about the characters and the manifestation of the divine, present in the here and now.
Guest preacher, Erna Kim Hackett, shares her reflections on the Magi for Epiphany Sunday. By reflecting on the Magi's unexpected journey toward Jesus, she invites us to reclaim cultural practices, embrace community, and be gentle with our own evolution while reckoning with the undeniable opposition that will come from Empire as we journey.
How might we make more room for stars and dreams and unknowns as we search for Jesus, knowing that we, just like our pursuits, are sacred and beautiful?
On Sunday, January 1st, we had various artists from our community share some of the creative pieces they worked on during the Advent season, inspired by and engaging with the Magnificat.
Eric Chan shared about his woodworking project, creating a two-sided spoon that is inspired by Mary's declaration: "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." Nancy James shared a poem in which she pictures Mary under a really black, night sky, and what the stars would have looked like to her. Cindy Chan shared about an art piece she created, in which she reimagines the Magnificat, fusing the influences of Chinese brush painting and modern iconography while using markers. Finally, Pastor Michael shares an original song he wrote, which is a responsive dialogue to Mary in response to the Magnificat.
Hear about each piece through this audio, and check out our IG page (@bethelcommunitysl) to see some images capturing each work.
Following a congregational sound reading and recitation of Mary's song, Jazzy explores the Magnificat as a song filled with loving rage as Mary's voice is pregnant not only with hope and faith but with despair, anger, and the heartbrokenness of her people passed from generation to generation as they have awaited the messiah. This sermon also considers the the compounding love formations and loving collaborations Mary is a part of that enable her to participate in the divine miracle of becoming Jesus' mother.
Jill Gidlund guides us to play in Mary's song and look for a word or phrase that makes us have a little spark of inspiration - that somehow all this time later, these words could reach into you to inspire an idea, image or feeling that's something like joy. We invite you to take 10 minutes to play, or if you'd like, to simply enjoy Pastor Michael playing some beautiful music in the background.
Pastor Michael makes space to observe and receive Mary's song as an invitation into the work of Peace (shalom) that disrupts systems of oppression and reminds thr marginalized of their blessed and favored place in God's eternal work of making and enacting peace.
Pastor Erina kicks off our Advent sermon series- "Playing (in) Mary's Song"- by talking about the theme of hope in Mary's song, the Magnificat. She shares honestly about the difficulties of accessing hope in these times, but looks to Mary's practice of hope to ground and inspire. How might we access the communally grounded, intimate yet cosmic, and expansive hope she sings about? How might we draw strength from Mary and other ancestors of faith, especially when hope feels hard?
Guest preacher Nichola Torbett speaks to the ways that a convening in Jerusalem forever changed how we relate to rules…and each other. Have we gotten the message?
Nichola Torbett is a spiritual seeker, gospel preacher, podcaster, writer, resistance fomenter, dog-walker, and nonviolent direct action trainer. Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of the Street, a training academy for love warriors, in 2009 and Second Acts, a liturgical direct action affinity group, in 2014. She is co-editor of Resipiscence: a Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy and a frequent contributor to The Word Is Resistance, a podcast from SURJ-Faith, as well as to enfleshed, and GEEZ magazine, where she serves on the board.
As the Spirit moves to make room and expand boundaries, the Jews are experiencing the massive transition in their communal and ancestral identity, along with feelings of zeal and jealousy. As we experience similar shifts in our faith and communal identities, what does it mean for us to pause and make room for the strong emotions that may come with those transitions?
Guest preacher Rev. Sabrina Chan speaks to how Acts 12 draws out the tensions of living in times when Empire seems to be winning and still God's liberating power breaks through. James is executed and Peter is rescued. What do we learn from the early Church of living in this tension - knowing that the resurrection of Jesus shows us God's power and that the last word is yet to come? How might God want to meet us with God's abundant presence?
This Godly Play-style story presents the events from Acts 10, tracing Cornelius and Peter’s experiences that lead to their meeting and the Holy Spirit connecting them all as friends and followers of Jesus.
As God continues to expand the boundaries of what community and God's people looks like, Pastor Michael invites us to consider the ways that that work is uncomfortable, that loving our enemies - including them in community - is uncomfortable. We don't have to want to do it. God makes an invitation and we get to take our time.
Pastor Erina explores the rich faith legacy of the Ethiopian eunuch, and the work of the Spirit to expand the boundaries of the family of God. How does the Ethiopian eunuch remind us of the boundless love of God? How does he invite us to embrace our own questions and curiosities rather than diminish them?
Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson delivers a forthright word as she addresses the wounds that only family can inflict on us through the story and stoning of Stephen. She invites the Holy Spirit to help us face the story that we have in pursuit of individual and collective healing and insists that nothing and no one can tell us we're not a part of God's family.
Guest speaker Sara Kwon continues our sermon series on Acts by looking at the power of complaint to transform community in Acts 6. She illustrates how the language of complaint, grief, and pain can help us find clues to the work of the Spirit and to where the Church needs to be disrupted. Who is being overlooked in our systems, theologies, and programs? Who of us have we forgotten, even in our already earnest efforts to include? Whose complaints and stories need to disrupt us and this world, again and again?
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on Acts by looking at the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. He takes us through the various emotions he feels engaging this text- from troubled to fine to sobered- and challenges our impulses to conform to Empire through acts of performative faith and justice.
Guest speaker Rev. Dr. JJ Flag talks about the ways that Acts 3 has typically been interpreted while addressing the problems of ableism in the text. He leaves us with asking the question: What do we have to give?
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on Acts by talking about competing visions of community for the Early Church and describing how the Spirit births a new community that resists the impulses of both diaspora and Empire. How might the Spirit similarly be stirring among us, to move us from patterns of survival to sharing, and from competition to cooperation? How might the Spirit be restoring our hope in and for the Church despite all of our disappointment?
In this sermon Barnabas launches our new series by showing how Acts must be understood from within Israel's generational desires for peace, and how Jesus safeguards these desires from becoming violent utopian dreams. Barnabas encourages the church to reclaim this persevering hope for satisfied needs and safety, and shows that it will not be brought about by any new charismatic man, but by the Spirit who organizes and empowers imperfect communities to birth shalom.
We close out our sermon series on "Together in the Spirit" with a time of hearing community testimonies about where God has been present and what the Spirit's work has been among us in this past season.
Elizabeth Sherwin shares on her experience of reading "My Body is Not a Prayer Request" by Dr. Amy Kenney and her learnings about disability justice (starts at 3:33)
Jerry Yuan shares about his experience of discussing "The Will to Change" by bell hooks, and the impact it's had on engaging his anger (starts at 10:00)
Leah Sitler shares about God's promise to her of water in a dry , desert season, and how she has experienced life at Bethel Community (starts at 16:00)
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series, "Together in the Spirit" by looking at the practice of singing (and not singing) together. He reflects on Psalm 137, and the ways that hanging our lyres is an act of protest in the face of Empire, and invites us into a wider breadth of communal singing that makes room for our grief, lament, resistance, and shared imagination.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series by reflecting on eating as a spiritual discipline. She talks about nourishment as a gift from God and shares the ways that eating is a reminder of God's divine provision, divine belonging, and divine delight.
Climate. Economy. Politics. As everything declines, including our own bodies, how are we supposed to live as the people of God? Guest preacher, Barnabas Lin, walks through the story of Naomi to show how her life provides wisdom for life during times of sustained devastation.
Barnabas (he/him) has over a decade of ministry experience (primarily in Chicago, IL) and holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he is now working on a PhD in Theological Ethics. His academic focus is on reclaiming theology for public good (language, economics, and non-violence) and developing the theological agency of all Christians. He currently serves as Bethel Community's "Theologian-in-Residence."
For fun, Barnabas enjoys baking bread, loves musical theater (Come From Away, The Color Purple, and Sunday in the Park with George are his favorites), and is determined to learn how to surf before he turns 40.
Family Ministries Director, Jill Gidlund, leads our whole community through an intergenerational experience of Godly Play, on the exile and return. She tells the story of God's people, journeying in the desert and into exile, and how they encounter God's presence not just in the temple, but even in a foreign land.
Pastor Erina looks at the journey of Moses from Numbers 11 to discover God's vision for a community ethic based on shared burdens and interdependence. In honor of Disability Pride Month, she also shares the story of Disability Justice Culture Club and their model of interdependence as survival.
Guest preacher Peace Lee preaches from the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, and shares about the counter-song of liberation and love that is enfleshed in the marginalized, invisible women who make up Jesus' family line. Despite the prevailing forces of patriarchy, how does the communal practice of saying these names and remembering these women invite us to also say our own names and remember our place as beloved in the family of God?
**Please note that the first couple minutes of Peace's sermon were lost in the recording process. In those minutes, she talks about her own family genealogy- a book of names passed through the generations.
Pastor Michael preaches from Luke 19, and the story of Zacchaeus, to uncover a model for the practice of confession in the midst of our participation in oppressive and unjust systems. He led us through a corporate practice of confession at the end of his sermon.
Pastor Michael introduces our summer sermon series for us, focused on what it means to experience life in the Holy Spirit, together. He talks about what it means to be built up as the house of God, together, and invites us this summer to collectively imagine how to be and to belong in God's house.
Guest preacher, Nichola Torbett preaches to our community from John 16:12-15 about the truths we cannot yet bear. She shares about the Spirit's work in tearing down self-protection that keeps us from flourishing, as well as the Spirit's work in speaking truth and expanding our worlds to bring greater freedom to all of God's people.
NOTE: We did have some tech difficulties at the end of the sermon so the sound gets a bit muffled.
Pastor Erina preaches from Acts 2 about the Holy Spirit who is poured out on all- the Spirit of radical inclusion and universal participation. She talks about the Holy Spirit birthing a movement that collapses hierarchies and oppressive social structures, and shares how she has witnessed similar movements in our church community during the last 3 years of revitalization.
She concluded her sermon by showing a video that highlights some of this Holy Spirit work, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/KwdNKGiNJOQ
Guest preacher Tracey Gee preaches from John 1:35-38 on a spirituality of questions. In a society that loves answers, she reminds us that Jesus comes to us in the questions, and chooses to build relationship with us through our questions, longings, and desires. She also leads us into a time of reflection, to name the questions we are living into right now.
Guest preacher Benita Isaac preaches from John 5:1-9 about how Jesus offers new life and healing for those who are on the outskirts of it, unable to access life through broken and inaccessible systems. How might Jesus draw near to us in our desires and offer us life in ways we don't expect?
As part of our community storytelling practice, church member Sarah Park shares about her journey living with chronic illness and what identity formation and resurrection mean to her. What does it mean for us to choose resurrection daily, in the midst of our lives that are so used to accommodating death?
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series for Eastertide, as he reflects on the story of the two men on the road to Emmaus. Through examining their experience and embodied testimony, Pastor Michael invites us to retell God's story and share liturgical practices that help reorient us to the truth of Jesus in a world that causes us to misremember.
Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide sermon series by preaching on Mary's encounter with Jesus at the tomb. On the first Sunday of APIDA heritage month, she explores the ways that Jesus both witnesses Mary's pain and calls Mary by name, while connecting the experience of Mary to the lived realities of those who identify as Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American. What does it mean to us to recognize the risen Jesus, and how might we find resurrection as we embrace the fullness of our identities rather than minimizing them?
Pastor Michael preaches for Eastertide on the apostle Thomas, exploring the nature of trust and doubt, and the realities of Thomas feeling abandoned in the midst of Jesus' death. While Thomas might be most famous for his "doubting," how might we see his desires and even doubts as holy? And how does Thomas teach us that trust is not just rational, but a relational and embodied force that resides in and through our bodies?
In this sermon, Pastor Michael also discusses the powerful faith legacy of the Apostle Thomas in the Church in Southern India.
Pastor Erina preaches for Easter Sunday, about the complex nature of resurrection and why we are called to proclaim resurrection anyway. She reflects honestly about why resurrection might be hard for us to believe in these times, and yet draws strength from the women in Luke to share what the empty tomb means for her and invite us to do the same as we live out our collective call as Easter people.
Jill Gidlund leads our community in an intergenerational experience of Godly Play for Palm Sunday, helping us to enter into the fullness of Jesus' life through the "Faces of Easter" story. How might we make room for the fullness of Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and presence among us? Where might we find ourselves in this story, particularly in the midst of Holy Week?
To see the images that correspond with this story, check out this link: tinyurl.com/bcpcfacesofeaster
For more on Jill's work: https://www.jillgidlund.com/
Barnabas Lin shares an extended testimony for our Lenten "Dreams of the People" about his dreams for God's people to experience life abundant. In the midst of historical harm, abuse, and toxicity, what does it mean for the Church to reclaim its identity as a place of promise and miracle, a source of liberation for all? How might we continue to faithfully follow the new thing God is trying to do in our age?
In this testimony, he also introduces himself as Bethel Community's "Itinerant Minister and Theologian in Residence," sharing more about what that title means and his dreams for ongoing partnership with both the local church and the Church universal.
On the 4th Sunday of Lent, Pastor Erina preaches from Luke 15 on the parable of the prodigal(s) and explores the simple yet radical truth of God's unconditional love and embrace. She names some of the forces in our world that make unconditional love difficult for us to believe in, while gently inviting us to return to the promise of love and the extravagant embrace of God.
At the end of her sermon, she leads us through a contemplative exercise, inviting us to use our imaginations to bring our whole selves into an experience of being embraced by God. Pastor Michael also sings his original song, "Come Home" which can be found here:
https://michaeleubanks.bandcamp.com/track/come-home-from-prodigalia
Guest preacher, Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson, continues our Lenten sermon series on "Making Room" by reflecting on God's invitation in Isaiah 55 and what is possible when we make room at the table of God. She shares about our need as the only prerequisite to come to the table, and invited us into a communal imagination exercise to help stretch our vision of who has access to God's freedom and abundance.
Pastor Michael continues our Lenten series on "Making Room" by examining the mothering impulse of Jesus in Luke 13:31-35 and reflecting on the ways that we have rejected divine mothering throughout the generations. How might Jesus be wanting to gather us and remind us of who we are, in a world filled with violence, domination, and separation? And how might God be calling us to expand our narrow theological imaginations to experience God in new ways, particularly as Mother?
NOTE: The first minute of the sermon was not included in this recording, in which Pastor Michael shares about his experience growing up in his grandma's house.
Pastor Erina kick off the Lenten season with a sermon on the temptations of Jesus. How was the wilderness a place of formation for Jesus? How did his experience with temptation allow Jesus to grow deeper in his identity and vocation, even in the face of competing stories? And how might this Lenten season be a time when God invites us to make room- for truth, for goodness, for God's story- even in the midst of wilderness?
Guest Preacher Rev. Lynice Pinkard joins us on Transfiguration Sunday to share her powerful vision of transfiguration with us. Rather than intellectualizing about the transfiguration, she shares from her own embodied wisdom and lived experience as a pastor and spiritual director about what it means to truly love, see, and recognize one another in ways that bring about newness.
Rev. Lynice Pinkard is a pastor, teacher, writer, activist, movement chaplain and spiritual director. Her work is dedicated to decolonizing the human spirit and to freeing people from what she calls "empire affective disorder." Rev. Lynice, recently moved from Oakland, CA, and now lives with her wife in Efland, NC."
Pastor Michael preaches from Luke 6:27-38 about the ethics of non-violence and what it means to choose peace in the face of Empires that rage. How do we continue to remember our own worth and live rightly when violence and evil surrounds us? How might we wrestle with our own tensions and doubts regarding the efficacy of non-violence in our lives and our world?
Pastor Erina preaches from Jeremiah 17:5-8 and shares some reflections on what God has been doing in the life of Bethel Community after 100 weeks together on Zoom as a result of the pandemic. She shares some of the fruit that has been borne in this time of difficulty- the fruit of evolving faith, the fruit of our true selves, and the fruit of church reimagined.
Guest preacher Sean Watkins continues our sermon series on the lectionary by preaching from Luke 5:1-11 and providing a fresh perspective on a familiar passage. By examining how Jesus interacts with his first disciples, Sean shares the ways that Jesus is always stepping into our exhaustion, defying human logic, and calling us to small acts of obedience as we "Run That Back" and experience the impossible with him.
Guest preacher, Peace Lee, preaches from Luke 4:22-30, about the role of preaching in a community- to invite the community of faith to be co-conspirators with the Spirit of God as we inhabit the story of God together. She reminds us that the Word of God can never be contained by our expectations, coming to us through unlikely prophets who shatter our boundaries and borders, and she invites us to pay attention to how the Word of God that is living and active in our midst.
Pastor Michael preaches for us from Luke 4:14-21, about the work of the Holy Spirit that instigates resistance to Empire and anoints Jesus to enact God's disruptive purposes in the world. How might the Holy Spirit similarly be leading us to the encouraging yet also confounding work of "good news" that Jesus was anointed for?
Pastor Erina preaches from John 2:1-11, about the first "sign" of Jesus as a miracle of the collective that subverts hierarchy and centers those who are normally on the margins. She discusses the ways that the slow, tedious, work of subversive faithfulness allows us to experience the miraculous power of God, and invites us to consider our part in that work. On MLK weekend, she also reminds us that the work and legacy of Dr. King was ultimately also part of a greater movement of faithfulness, and honors the work of the unnamed servants who took part in a collective miracle.
Pastor Michael preaches for us on the Feast of the Baptism, about the ways that Christ's baptism is a cosmic confrontation between the realm of God and the realm of Empire. How does the declaration of Jesus as beloved stand in contrast to the violence of Empire and forge a pathway to live into an ethic of love, peace, and enjoyment? What are the ethical implications of our worship, particularly when we choose to worship a God who is loved?
Pastor Erina preaches on the 9th day of Christmastide, continuing the Luke narrative of the birth of Jesus and examining what it meant for Jesus to be a growing, developing, evolving human. How might we find encouragement in the fact that Jesus couldn't rush through his own development and had to grow in maturity? How might we, like Jesus, experience a village who will bear witness our own growth and maturing?
Pastor Michael preaches on the 2nd day of Christmastide from the Gospel of Luke about Simeon and Anna encountering baby Jesus. How did Simeon and Anna know that the birth of this baby meant so much? How can we know that the presence of God in Christ has meaning for our lives, our families, our communities?
Erna Kim Hackett joins us for the 3rd Sunday in Advent to reflect on the lives, leadership, and bodies of both Elizabeth and Mary. How do these two women remind us of the joy-filled community that is forged among unlikely and marginalized bodies? How do they invite us to attend to our bodies in this season with gentleness and kindness?
Erna is the founder of Liberated Together- a space for women of Color followers of Jesus to build community, learn liberative theology, and sustainable approaches to social justice. She lives in the Bay Area and loves her dog, cheese, and her husband.
You can learn about her work at https://www.liberatedtogether.com
Or follow her on IG: @ernakimhackett
Pastor Erina continues our "WILD BIRTH" Advent series by looking at the Annunciation and examining Mary's response to the angel Gabriel. While the force of patriarchy has often painted Mary as an empty vessel lauded for submission and obedience, how might we re-read Mary's interactions with Gabriel to see the ways she takes up space and claims her own agency before God? How does Mary's understanding of her own worth and favor allow her to say "yes," with full consent?
Pastor Michael kicks off our sermon series titled "WILD BIRTH" by reflecting on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He reveals how the coming presence of God- in our lives and our world- is always disruptive, silencing the powerful while giving leadership to those who are normally unheard. What new voices and new stories might be amplified for us in this season, as we allow our worlds to be disrupted?
*Please note that the first portion of Pastor Michael's sermon was cut off, so the recording begins a few minutes into his sermon.
Guest Preacher Tamice Spencer concludes our sermon series on the Psalms by sharing about her own journey with Psalm 16, and exegeting the Scripture alongside her own embodied experience. She discusses her own story of discovering God as she discovered joy, and reflects on how the beautiful boundary lines of God have helped her to find healing and resurrection.
At the end of her sermon, she references a song that she wrote about Psalm 16 called "Portion," which you can listen to here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/portion-feat-joy-salvatore-rebekah-koenig/487402109?i=487402270=
Also, please note that she shares a video at the beginning of her sermon which can be found here: https://youtu.be/Dnq6iI6PER0
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on the psalms, wrestling with both the challenging and encouraging aspects of Psalm 127. He explores the relationship between what we do and what God does, and describes God's vision of life as one that includes rest for God's beloved, as well as the use of privilege and power to protect the vulnerable.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on the psalms, reflecting on the communal nature of the invitation of Psalm 34:8- "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Sharing her experiences of trying new foods, witnessing the collective faith of Korean immigrant churches, and struggling to believe in God's goodness in this current moment, Pastor Erina reminds us that we never come to the banquet table alone. She exhorts us to have the courage to both share the good things God has done in our lives, and to keep trying to trust in God's goodness, even when it's difficult.
Guest Preacher Peace Lee reflects on Psalm 119, and the ways that God's law is a manifestation of God's love for us. In a culture that has often misused and abused God's law to oppress and harm, Peace reminds us of the ways that God's law is a gift to remake Gods peoples and provide them a pathway towards life, justice, and restoration. She also shares insight on the acrostic nature of Psalm 119, and the ways that the act of building a psalm through the alphabet, letter by letter, parallels the act of rebuilding a new world, one act of grace at at time.
Please note that the audio recording of the sermon accidentally ended a few minutes early. Apologies for the technical issues.
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on the psalms by preaching from Psalm 126 and the human experience of waiting for restored fortunes. He specifically explores the powerful and effectual nature of our tears in the midst of waiting, and reflects on the ways that crying is a fundamental part of what it means to be human.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on the Psalms by looking at Psalm 8, and the interconnectedness between humanity and the rest of creation. How is the vocation of humanity- to have dominion- meant to mirror a God of generosity and self-giving love? What might it look like for human worship to include extending the same mindful care, generous attention, and love that God shows us, to the entire community of creation?
Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson, continues our sermon series on the Psalms by preaching from Psalm 124 about the importance of both remembering and retelling of God's work of deliverance in our lives, particularly for the oppressed and marginalized. How do we encourage ourselves and one another in these difficult times by choosing to speak and even sing our testimonies of what God has done, even when the Empire tries to make us forget?
Riana is a preacher, pastor, and prophet who is passionate about speaking the truth in love, offering a constant invitation for people to see themselves as beloved, and providing various ways to respond to the command to love God, self, and neighbor. She is a mom of 4, East Bay Native, Oakland resident, and Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America.
*Please note that we had a technical issue with the recording so there is a small section of the recording that cut out in the first few minutes.
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on the Psalms by talking about the importance of singing in the life of faith. He shares the need for a holistic range of expressions in song, including songs that declare "yes," songs that cry "no," and songs for the waiting of "not yet."
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on the Psalms, by looking at Psalm 116 and the movements of faith that happen in it- from orientation, to disorientation, to reorientation. She also examines the key role that assertion plays in our life of faith, and shares how asserting ourselves before God might be a key to experiencing a return to rest.
Pastor Michael kicks off our sermon series on the Psalms with a reflection on Psalm 146. How is the call to praise God and the call to cry out for help connected? How is true praise distinct from toxic positivity, and how does true worship grow our appetite for justice in this world?
Pastor Michael shares a reminder about the meaning of our baptism and what it means to be students of our Rabbi Jesus together in community with other disciples. His reflections helped prepare our congregation to celebrate the baptism of Kaleb Enoh JohnEtebom!
Pastor Erina concludes our sermon series on Daniel by examining his prayer in Daniel 9. How does prayer help us engage God in the midst of uncertainty, confusion, and cognitive dissonance? How are the prayer practices of praise, confession, and petition acts of resistance against the forces that lead us to spiritual amnesia, entitlement, and numbness?
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on the book of Daniel, by looking at Daniel's dream from Chapter 7. How does the life of Daniel reveal the cycle of faith and imagination? How do our experiences of God shape the stories we tell about God and our imagination of what is possible?
Guest preacher Peace Lee shares with us from Daniel 3 the vision of a God who delivers us by being present with us in the midst of fires. As we experience the Empires raging on, she highlights the choir of living witnesses who sang a song of justice throughout the generations and encourages us to preach, protest, pray, and party in ways that continually resist the violence and tyranny of Empire.
Peace Pyunghwa Lee (she/her) is a spiritual director, preacher, and an educator committed to decolonial and feminist praxis. Formative experiences of growing up in Korea and the Philippines and later immigrating to the United States as a preteen has imbued her with a humanizing and inclusive perspective. At the core of her faith is the affirmation of the sacred worth of all persons, as imago dei.
Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on Daniel by examining the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5. What lessons might we learn from his life and ultimately his downfall? How might we avoid the pitfalls of hubris and foolish ignorance that are seen in his story, and choose instead to remember who we are and who God is rightly, even in the face of our own trauma?
Pastor Erina preaches for us on Daniel 4, reflecting on Nebuchadnezzar's dream, his fall from glory, and subsequent acknowledgement of the Most High God. As a Fourth of July sermon, she discusses the ways that God's sovereignty over Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar reminds us that only the reign of God is truly eternal. How might we turn away from American exceptionalism and Christian nationalism and choose to do right and show mercy to the poor, just as Nebuchadnezzar is invited to do?
Guest preacher Nichola Torbett speaks to us on Pride Weekend about the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their refusal to bow to the false gods and oppressive narratives of Empire. What does their determination to resist an unjust status quo teach us about queerness? How might their witness stretch our imaginations around what resistance and worship look like in our lives today?
Nichola Torbett is a spiritual seeker, gospel preacher, podcaster, writer, resistance fomenter, dog-walker, and nonviolent direct action trainer. Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of the Street, a training academy for love warriors, in 2009 and Second Acts, a liturgical direct action affinity group, in 2014. She is co-editor of Resipiscence: a Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy and a frequent contributor to The Word Is Resistance, a podcast from SURJ-Faith, as well as to enfleshed, and GEEZ magazine.
Pastor Michael continues our Daniel sermon series by preaching from Daniel 2 about the role of prayer in the context of Babylon. In the face of an Empire built upon control and tyranny, what do Daniel and his friends teach us how to engage mystery through prayer? How might we learn to pray similarly, with our eyes and our hearts open?
Pastor Erina preaches from Daniel 1:8-21 about the ways that Daniel's choice not to eat food served by Babylon was a discipline that resisted the Empire. How might our private disciplines fuel our public witness, and how do we reclaim the subversive nature of spiritual disciplines?
Pastor Michael kicks off our summer sermon series on the Book of Daniel, by examining the significance of names and the ways that the force of Empire also tries to erase and change our God-given names and identities. How is claiming the names and identities God has given us an act of resistance in the face of oppressive forces and the violence of erasure?
Pastor Erina addressees the awkwardness, tensions, and liminality of this time of transition for many of us- both in the pandemic as well as in our spiritual lives. How might the wilderness actually become a place of healing and life for us? How might we pay attention to God's presence going before us and remaining with us while we travel the roundabout way?
Pastor Michael shares with us on Pentecost Sunday about the magic of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit leads us away from nationalism, exceptionalism, and division by breaking oppressive boundaries. How might the work of the Spirit continue to create spaces of togetherness and belonging in the Church today?
Guest preacher, Thiên Ân Dương, shares from the Old Testament story of Jephthah and his daughter, a sobering story that both reminds us of the dangers of using God as a scapegoat for violence as well as the legacies of grief in our communities, particularly in creating rhythms for new life. How does grief- even in the face of great horror and loss- stretch our imaginations to create a new future?
Guest preacher Minu George Thomas shares about God's love for the othered from the story of Acts 10, the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out on Cornelius and the Gentiles. By reflecting on God's activity of inclusion from Acts 10 and making connections to her own life experience as a third culture kid from India, she challenges us to encounter the love of God that extends beyond boundaries and share that love generously with our neighbors.
Pastor Erina kicks off our celebration of APIDA heritage month by reflecting on a lectionary text from Psalm 22 and examines what it means for the people of God to move from lament towards praise. How might the practices of remembering history and recognizing the collective lead us to see and celebrate more of God's work - in the APIDA community and beyond?
Guest preacher Erma Sinclair preaches from the lectionary for our Eastertide sermon series. As she reflects on 1 John 3:16-24, she shares powerfully and vulnerably about everything from the killing of Ma'Khia Bryant, the limits of social media, the importance of grief, finding confidence in the promises of God, and what it means to faithfully live out God's call to love in this current moment.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series in the lectionary and reflects on how Jesus' first appearance to the disciples exposes their limited vision for resurrection. How are our collective imaginations so sickened by violence, death, and trauma that we are unable to witness Jesus in our midst? What does it mean to be a community that bears witness to the resurrection and imagines the impossible? She specifically explores how we might begin thinking about prison abolition, in light of recent events in our world.
Two members of our community- Jonelle Crow and Ann Cabello- share their reflections on the season of Lent, what they're learning about being human, and how Jesus has been meeting them in this current moment.
Pastor Michael preaches on Resurrection Sunday on the mystery and messiness of resurrection. What do the women at the graveside teach us about holding grief and fear along with trust and worship? How might we experience the good news of resurrection even amidst grief, uncertainty, and confusion?
Pastor Erina preaches on Palm Sunday, examining what it means that Jesus is the King who comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey instead of a warhorse. How does Jesus among us bring disruptions to cycles of violence and a new imagination for the way of peace?
Barnabas Lin guest preaches for us on our 5th Sunday in Lent, on what it means to encounter Jesus among us, in our human limitations. By looking at Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Barnabas presents a powerful picture of Jesus as the one who knew the limits of his capacity, the limits of visibility, and the limits of choice.
How might we experience solidarity from Jesus- particularly in the painful aftermath of the Atlanta-area shootings? How might we find our own stories in the story of Jesus?
On our 4th Sunday in Lent, Pastor Michael addresses the very human reality of both receiving help and helping others, as he looks at the interdependence that Jesus displayed in his ministry. In particular, he looks at the pivotal role that women played in Jesus' ministry, and the subversive nature of mutual partnership in a world marked by dominance.
Pastor Erina continues with our Lenten series by reflecting on how Jesus is among us in grief. As we collectively draw near to the one-year mark of living in a pandemic and sheltering in place, how does Jesus meet us in our grief? And how does Jesus make room for our lament, disapointment, and feelings of "it didn't have to be this way"?
This sermon was followed by a liturgy of grief and remembrance.
For our second Sunday in Lent, guest preacher Tamice Spencer reflects on the solidarity that Jesus chooses with humanity through the expression of anger. How might our experiences with anger embody the same commitment to relationships, care, and dignity that Jesus exhibited through his own anger?
Tamice is the President and CEO of Sub:Culture Incorporated, a ministry serving dedicated to removing the barriers that impede Black College Students from academic success, holistic well being, and meaningful spiritual life. She specializes in matters related to ministry to African American GEN-Z & millennials, hip-hop and urban apologetics, cultural exegesis and engagement, racial reconciliation, and New Testament studies.
Tamice holds a Masters of Arts in Contextual Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College as well as a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological seminary.
Pastor Michael kicks off our Lenten sermon series- "Being Human- Jesus as Flesh Among Us"- with a reflection on the temptations of Jesus. What do the temptations of Jesus teach us about what it means to live as fully human? And how does his faithfulness in the midst of temptation teach us how to resist the impulses of Empire?
Pastor Erina preaches for Transfiguration Sunday on the revelation of Jesus' identity as the dearly loved one of God. How does understanding Christ's own belovedness shape how we view our own? And how does the force of love have the potential to transform us and our society?
Pastor Michael kicks off Black History Month by preaching from Mark 1:29-39, and connecting the healing narrative of Jesus to 3 gifts embodied in the Black community. How does the authority of Jesus, exhibited in the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, illuminate the reality that bodies are always political, healing is always for everyone, and that prayers are meant for liberation?
Guest preacher, Jazzy Johnson, joins us in our sermon series on lectionary to talk about the surprising and refreshing authority of Jesus. How does the presence of Jesus among us cast out evil, expose the lies, and usher in healing for our whole selves? How does it bring about not the absence of conflict but the transformation of it?
Jazzy Johnson, a proud Native Texan and adopted Chicagoan, is an experienced Educator and Northwestern University graduate who specializes in curating and facilitating transformative spaces for learning & listening in the area of social justice. She is passionate about accompanying young people on their journeys of liberation, particularly in the areas in which oppressive systems have distorted their view of themselves, others, God, and creation.
Jazzy currently serves as a Resource Specialist for InterVarsity’s Black Campus Ministries Department (BCM) and recently relocated to Atlanta where she is pursuing her Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology.
Pastor Michael continues or Winter sermon series on the lectionary by preaching from Psalm 62, reflecting on what the words of the Psalm teach us about how to engage our vulnerability with God and with others.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon series in the lectionary, by looking at 1 Samuel 3:1-18, and particularly the word of judgment that comes upon the House of Eli and his sons. When is judgment good news for us? How do we hold judgment in tension with God's healing and restoration? And how does understanding God's judgment upon unbridled violence and entitlement offer good news in the current moment we are living in?
This sermon closes with a remembrance of the more radical aspects of Dr. King's legacy and an audio recording from his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."
Pastor Michael preaches on The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, about the unlikely coronation of Jesus through his baptism in the Jordan. How does Christ's baptism subvert the hierarchies of Empire and reveal to us a way of vulnerability, mutuality, and belovedness? And how is this baptism good news for us in the aftermath of the white supremacist, nationalist, and extremist violence and insurrection witnessed at the Capitol building this past week?
Pastor Erina provides an overview of our church history and what we've seen God do in our church during 2020. She also looks ahead to some hopes for the new years and shares updates on new programs to continue widening our banquet table for our now local and long-distance community.
Pastor Erina offers a few words of reflection on how we might embrace tension in this season of Christmastide and at the end of 2020, with guidance from the words of Psalm 126
Nancy James follows with a testimony on how she experienced Jesus in unexpected ways this year, through the gift of connection.
Pastor Michael concludes our sermon series for Advent on Jesus and the community of creation, sharing about the role of the stars in the birth story of Jesus. How do the stars teach us about curiosity and worship? How do the Magi open up a pathway to a world without tyranny?
Barnabas Lin joins us for our 3rd Sunday in Advent to interweave stories of living and working on a farm for 3 months with thoughts on the role of the sheep in Jesus' birth. How do sheep reveal to us the hope of communion and the way of shalom?
Barnabas is a recent transplant to Southern California, where he recently graduated with a Master of Divinity and finished three months on a farm. He has been a minister for over a decade, likes friendship, baking sourdough, and is concerned about how humanity and all creation can thrive under the current global economic rule of neoliberalism.
Jill Gidlund continues our Advent series with reflections on the hay, and the interconnectedness of all members of the creation community in the birth of Jesus.
Jill is a writer and speaker in the East Bay Area. Her work is primarily in the world of Children’s Spirituality, with a background in Children's Ministry, Godly Play and Early Childhood Education. Learn more about her work at: https://www.jillgidlund.com/
Pastor Erina kicks off our Advent series with a reflection on the unlikely bearers of God's promises- Elizabeth and Mary- and how the faith and encouragement shared between these two women are part of the community of creation that welcomes the coming Savior.
Guest preacher Grace Weng finishes out our sermon on the book of Haggai, reminding us that our hope is not in earthly kings or kingdoms, but in Jesus our Messiah. What does it mean for the Church to place our hope in Jesus and live as God's signet ring in this world?
Pastor Michael continues our series on the book of Haggai, as he explores God's vision of holiness and defilement, and the relationship between human choices and the community of creation.
Pastor Erina continues our sermon on Ezra and Haggai, by examining God's call to take courage and work in building God's temple, even when the ruins feel overwhelming. How does this passage speak to us today, the week after the 2020 elections, as we look at the ruins of the American Church and our current political landscape? What work are we being called to?
Pastor Michael transitions our sermon series to the book of Haggai, examining the call to build God's house amidst the temptation to secure our own paneled houses. We are reminded that God's freedom leads us to serve others, rather than just ourselves.
Pastor Erina continues us in our sermon series on Ezra, examining the opposition that God's people face in the midst of doing God's work. The testimony of the returned exiles reminds us that building the house of God has always challenged the empires of the land and that we are called to faithfulness, even in the face of haters.
We continue our sermon series on Ezra, and Pastor Michael examines what it means for the people of God to pursue exclusive worship that leads us to embody God's inclusive love and expansive community.
The fifth sermon of our series on Ezra looks at the beginnings of temple rebuilding, and what it means for the community of God to hold weeping and rejoicing together in the face of transition.
The fourth sermon in our Fall series on the Book of Ezra looks at the role of burnt offerings in the life and worship of the returning exiles.
The third sermon in our Fall series on the Book of Ezra looks at the names and numbers of those who returned home from exile, and talks about the importance of naming our ancestors- the people we come from who shape us and pave the way for us.
This sermon was followed by a special liturgy of remembrance.
The second sermon in our OT series on the book of Ezra. Pastor Michael parallels the return from exile with the Exodus from Egypt and examines the call for God's people to wake up, to remember, and to keep walking.
The first sermon in our Fall Old Testament series on the book of Ezra. Pastor Erina gives historical context on the book of Ezra and speaks about the power of God's promises and what it means to actively wait on God.
The final sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Michael Kim-Eubanks speaks from Matthew 16:21-28 about the suffering Christ and overturning the logic of Empire that leads to violence.
The fourth sermon in our Summer Lectionary Series. Preacher Erma Sinclair speaks from Psalm 124 about the role of truth telling testimony in the face of unjust and broken systems, particularly from the lens of the Black experience.
The third sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Rev. Janna Louie talks about the practice of Sabbath as resistance, and what it means for a people to rediscover home through practices of hospitality, justice, and righteousness.
The second sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Erina preaches about Elijah's encounter with God at Mt. Horeb, and what it means for the Church to reclaim its prophetic call in the face of persecution.
The first sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Michael preaches from Psalm 145, about both the discomfort and the blessing of praising God.
The final sermon of our "Seeds" series examines the value of "Radical Hospitality" in our church through the parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14. Erina Kim-Eubanks explores the inclusive welcome of God and the relationship between God's hospitality, spiritual family, and the Korean concept of jeong.
The fifth sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks explores God's vision for a subversive witness that resists Empire and aligns with the Way of Jesus.
The fourth sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Erina Kim-Eubanks explores what the image of the body of Christ teaches us about mutual community, and how to live as a church embodying both unity and diversity.
The third sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks explores the ways that Jesus cares about holistic healing and invites us to reexamine the scripts that shape our lives.
The second sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Erina Kim-Eubanks talks about our "Deep Roots" and what it means to reclaim the radical roots of our Christian faith, modeled in the prophetic ministry of Jesus.
The first sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks talks about "Divine Presence" and what we learn from the relationship between Jesus and "Levi the Looter."
"From Foreigner to Family"- An AAPI Heritage Month Sermon from Acts 17:22-31 by Erina Kim-Eubanks