During Lent, we set our minds and our faith upon God’s promise of descendants as vast as the stars. We are a pilgrim people journeying by faith in the light of God’s promise. Paul declares that our citizenship is in heaven, a reminder of our mortality and the temporal nature of life. As Jesus laments […]
View the Sermon (PDF)March 12, 2025, First Lent Midweek Service of Word and Prayer
The theme of this year’s Lenten midweek prayer is “The Incarnate Senses: Christ dwells in you.” Born to live among us, Jesus Christ dwells fully in our humanity. He is alive in our senses, helping us point to him in sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. Faith is the power alive within us that understands […]
View the Sermon (PDF)March 9, 2025, First Sunday in Lent
Lent is a season of self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love, strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament. As we, like our Lord Jesus, journey through the wilderness of the world, we face, and struggle with, temptations. Paul encourages us to call upon the name of the Lord […]
View the Sermon (PDF)March 5, 2025, Ash Wednesday
On Ash Wednesday, we begin a forty-day journey toward Easter with Christians around the world. Today is a day of fasting, repentance, and the imposition of ashes, reminding us that we will all die and return to the earth. As a fitting fast, Isaiah reminds us, “6Is not this the fast that I choose: to […]
View the Sermon (PDF)March 2, 2025, Transfiguration of Our Lord
As Jesus’ appearance was changed on the mountain, the disciples heard a voice saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus’ transfiguration began as he prayed, revealing him as God’s chosen Son. As Paul writes, “All of us are being transformed into the same image” of Christ. Over a lifetime God is […]
View the Sermon (PDF)February 23, 2025, Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Love. Do good. Be merciful. Joseph lived God’s love and mercy that reconciled him with his brothers. Jesus lived God’s love and mercy, always doing good for others, even forgiving his enemies. God’s love and mercy are unconditional, and God calls us to act with this same love and mercy, even toward our enemies. We […]
View the Sermon (PDF)February 16, 2025, Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
In today’s gospel, Jesus’ words about “Blessings and Woes” lay bare our aspirational and self-centered world of wealth and instant gratification. Jesus’ words are challenging for us because, lost in our wealth, we often fail to use God’s blessings to help others. Jesus’ words “Woe to you” remind us that wealth and “the good life,” […]
View the Sermon (PDF)February 9, 2025, Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
The fifth Sunday after Epiphany continues to highlight the unlikely human instruments and circumstances of God’s grace. Aware of his sinfulness, Isaiah initially hesitates, but when God calls, he says, “Here am I; send me.” Paul, also aware of his sinfulness, says, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am and his […]
View the Sermon (PDF)February 2, 2025, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
The prophet Jeremiah was appointed to speak God’s word of truth to the nations. In the same prophetic tradition, Jesus spoke God’s word of truth to those in his hometown, revealing their hardness of heart. Paul reminds us of faith, hope and love, and that “the greatest of these is love.” We are to be […]
View the Sermon (PDF)January 26, 2025, Third Sunday after Epiphany Sermon
We apologize that the January 26, 2025 service had technical difficulties. This is a recording of Pastor Timothy McKenzie’s sermon. The peace of Christ be with you. In today’s gospel Jesus reads from Isaiah, proclaiming good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. Jesus is […]
View the Sermon (PDF)