Sermons of 2024

Epiphany

Christian’s sermon of 1-7-24 on Matthew 2:1-12.

Christian’s sermon of 1-14-24 on 1 John 4:16-21.

Elizabeth Nelson’s sermon of 1-21-24 on Mark 1:14-20.

Rene Slataper’s sermon of 1-27-24.

Christian’s sermon of 2-4-24 on St. Brigid and Mark 1:29-39.

Transfiguration

Christian’s sermon of 2-11-24 on Mark 9:2-9.

Lent

Christian’s sermon of 2-18-2024 on Mark 10:13-16.

Christian’s sermon of 2-25-24 on Mark 10:17-22,46-52.

Liz Edman’s sermon of 3-3-24 on Mark 7:24-30.

Pavi Jaisankar’s sermon of 3-10-24 on Mark 14:3-9.

Liz Edman’s sermon of 3-17-24, 2024 on Matthew 16:21-28.

Holy Week and Easter

Palm Sunday: Christian’s Sermon of 3-24-24 on Mark 11:1-10, 15b-19

Maundy Thursday: Christian’s sermon of 3-28-24 on John 13:1-17,31b-35.

Eastertide

Easter 2: Christian’s sermon of April 7, 2024 on 1 John 1:1-9.

Easter 3: Christian’s Sermon of 4-14-24 on 1 John 2:3-11.

Easter 4: Christian’s sermon of 4-21-24 on 1 John 3:1-7.

Easter 5: Christian’s sermon of 4-28-24 on 1 John 3:16-24.  

Easter 6: Rene Slataper’s sermon of 5-5-25 on John 15:9-17.

Easter 7: Christian’s sermon of 5-12-24 on 1 John 4:7-21.

Pentecost

Christian’s sermon of 5-19-24 on Acts 2:1-12.

Holy Trinity

Christian’s sermon of 5-26-24 on Matthew 28:16-20.

Write It on Our Hearts Summer Sermon Series

Burke Gerstenschlager’s sermon of 6-2-24 on Acts 2:42-47.

Jack Holloway’s sermon of 6-9-24 on Colossians 1:11-20.

Liz Edman’s sermon of 6-16-24 on Genesis 32:22-31.

Christian’s farewell sermon of 6-30-24 on “The Road to Emmaus.”

David Parsons sermon of 7-7-24 on Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Elizabeth Nelson’s sermon of 7-17-24 on Ephesians 3:20.

Mark Gilman’s sermon of 7-21-24 on Isaiah 43:1-3.

Naomi Brenman’s sermon of 7-28-24 on 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.

One Door Closes, Another Opens (…But it’s Hell in the Hallway) sermon series

René’s sermon of 8-4-24 on Ruth 1:15-18 and Genesis 12:1-4.

Jack Holloway’s sermon of 8-11-24 on Jeremiah 22:11-16.

Andi Corso’s sermon of 8-18-24 on Psalm 31.

Burke Gerstenschlager’s sermon of 8-25-24 on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

Michael Perreca’s sermon of 9-1-24 on Deuteronomy 30:9-14.

Billy McEntee’s sermon of 9-8-24 on Luke 24:13-50.

Emily Scott’s sermon for St Lydia’s 15th Anniversary

Mark Gilman’s Sermon of 9-22-24 on John 20:11-18.

Bambi Galore’s sermon of 9-30-24 (read by Debbie Holloway) on Jeremiah 1:4-8.

Rene Slataper’s sermon of 10-6-24 on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Amelia Schonbek’s sermon of 10-13-24 on Ecclesiastes 2:15-26.

Rene Slataper’s sermon of 10-20-24 on Ecclesiastes 9:1-12.

Liz Edman’s Sermon of 10-27-24 on Ecclesiastes 9.13-16.

All Saints

Liz Edman’s invitation to sharing on All Saints, 11-3-24.

Advent

Jonathan Oliver’s sermon of 11-10-24 on Luke 13: 6-9.

Liz Edman’s sermon of 11-17-24 on Luke 1:5-23.

Larissa Shaterian’s sermon of 11-24-24 on Luke 1.5-25, 36-37, 39-45, 57-63.

Jonathan Oliver’s sermon of 12-1-24 on Luke 1:8-20.

Liz Edman’s sermon of 12-8-24.

Cienna Duamaoal’s sermon of 12-22-24 on the Magnificat.

Songs for Advent 2023

Dear Song Leaders and all singers,

Here is the menu of songs we’ll be singing during Advent.

Gathering song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (with updated lyrics)

Candle Lighting song: Within Our Darkest Night

Table Acclamation: Vasile Advent Table Acclamation

Prayer song: Songleader’s choice, including this new Taizé song.

Offering Song: Taste and See

Final hymn:  This will be a surprise hymn that we pick each week and practice during rehearsal before church!

Taste and See

“Taste and See” is an worship song by Jo Boyce, Mike Stanley & Aidan Pepper.

Here are the lyrics. We’ll use only the repeated refrain that begins the song.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord

If you’re interested, here are the rest of the lyrics. If you want to teach these, make sure to mix up the pronouns for God:

Come to him, come to him all who are hungry;
Come to him, come to him all who thirst:
(He says) “I am your God and you are my people”

I am the Living Bread, I am the New Wine
Blessed, broken, poured-out, shared for all.

We’ll

Here’s a beautiful recording of it.

And here’s another, even livelier version.

Wait for the Lord

“Wait for the Lord” is a beautiful prayer song from the Taizé community.

The words are:

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near;
Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart!

Here is a recording that illustrates the main melody, harmonies, and other options for soloists.

Within Our Darkest Night

“Within Our Darkest Night” is a beautiful song from the Taizé community in France.

The words are: “Within our darkest night, you kindle a fire that never dies away”

Here’s a recording that illustrates the melody and, for those who are curious, also includes harmony.

Songs for Summer 2023

The music menu for summer is here!

Gathering Song: Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Candle Lighting Song: Evening Lamps are Lit

Table Acclamation: Shelton Acclamation (not to be confused with the similar sounding “Summer Table Acclamation”)

Prayer Song:  Build a Shelter / Let It Rest, Down to the River to Pray, or any of these prayer songs or one you’d like to teach!

Offering Song: Zimbabwe Allelulia

Final Hymn:  In June we’ll sing, Spirit I Have Heard You Calling, and in July and August, we’ll sing Day Is Done.

Songs for Fall 2023

Dear Songleaders,

Here are the songs will be using for dinner church for the new liturgical season!

• Gathering Song: Lament for Zion
• Candle Lighting Song: Jyothi Dho (Give Us Light)
• Table Acclamation: Fall Acclamation
• Prayer Songs:  Any of these or one you’d like to teach us.
• Offering song: Amen
• Final Hymn: Come Thou Font of Every Blessing

Freedom Is Coming

“Freedom Is Coming” is a powerful song from the South Africa anti-apartheid movement.

It’s sung in a call response pattern between the song leader and congregation and therefore a bit trickier to lead than it may sound. Feel free to choose a different song if it feels like too much.

The congregation’s lyrics are . . .

Freedom is coming
Freedom is coming
Freedom is coming, oh yes I know

Subsequent verses vary, following on the song leader's call . . .

Jesus is coming
Jesus is coming
Jesus is coming, oh yes I know

And . . . 

Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know

Here is a helpful teaching track made by our own Debbie Holloway.

And here is a YouTube performance to help give you a sense of what it sounds like when it all comes together.

Songs for Eastertide 2023

Dear Song Leaders,

Here is the music we’ll be singing during Eastertide!

• Gathering Song:  Here Is Bread
  
• Candle Lighting Song: I’ve Got Peace Like a River
  
• Table Acclamation: Festive Table Acclamation
  
• Prayer Song: Any of our prayer songs or a new one you’d like to teach us.
  
• Offering Song: Duncan Alleluia or Freedom Is Coming.
  
• Final Hymn:  Now the Green Blade Riseth (April 23-30) and Jesus Christ is Risen Today (May 7-14)

I’ve Got Peace Like a River

“I’ve got Peace Like a River” is a beautiful and well-known African-American spiritual. Here’s a wonderful recording of it by Lynda Randle.

The words are . . .

I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my soul
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my soul

Subsequent verses can swap in new imagery . . .

I've got love like an ocean . . . 

Or

I've got joy like a fountain . . .