Zao MKE Church

This Sunday we reflect on Jeremiah’s image of God as the potter and we as the clay, discovering how God reshapes us with intention to live as vessels of justice, mercy, and hope. Guest sermon by Rev. R. Ellen Rasmussen

An exploration of Jesus’ work with his followers to build a rich, relational, liberatory movement. Guest sermon by Mark Fraley

God speaks through all of creation. In this special sermon, hear the voice of God as told by community members Krissie, Cat, and Galen: how God is showing up in their lives, how God invites them into transformation, and how God's love changes everything.

Have you ever felt like you are alone is this life, or that God was far from you? Let’s explore El Roi or the God that sees us. Guest sermon by Tamra Schneider

Every human being is divine. Each of us is born with inherent worth, in the image of God. Join us for this service where we explore birth as divinity incarnate.   Guest preacher: Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom

History is written by the powerful, but God invites those at the margins to be prophetic interpreters and storytellers. How does the story change depending on who tells it?

We spend our lives fighting for justice - but the point of the fight is that all may live whole, beautiful, connected lives of creativity and joy. So while we fight, why wait? We are called to come fully alive right here, right now - even as we work towards a better world.

Rage can be righteous, but if we don’t process and transform it, it will consume us. This week, Sweeney Todd offers a portrait of a man on the wrong path. How can we do better?

Defy gravity and quit playing by the rules of someone else's game! This week, we build the courage to resist systems that script us as villains or “wicked” for being different, powerful, or noncompliant.

In a world that punishes the poor and rewards betrayal, Les Misérables shows us that love, grace, and solidarity are revolutionary acts. This week, we’ll explore the daily choices that shape us—will we join the people singing for liberation, or cling to systems that cannot save us?

Guest sermon by Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis. The Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis is a theologian, author, pastor, and anti-poverty organizer. She is Founder and Executive Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. Rev. Dr. Theoharis is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), co-pastor of the Freedom Church of the Poor, and teaches at Union Theological Seminary in...

This week, we take a closer look at Miriam, a prophet, strategist, and teacher who led her people into freedom alongside her brother, Moses.

This week, we hear the story of Shiphrah and Puah, midwives who defied Pharaoh’s orders and protected their people, reminding us that liberation often begins with quiet, courageous resistance.

Queer, chosen family isn’t outside the Bible—it’s right at the heart of it, in the lineage of Jesus. This Pride, come celebrate and participate in queer kinship and connection at Zao and beyond.

When the urgency of the world overwhelms us, James reminds us we are called to be patient with the same dedication that others rush to violence.

James teaches us that friendship with the world (empire) will always give us a frenemy at best. No matter how loud and seductive the logic of scarcity and empire is, we can turn up the volume on resurrection truth through community discernment and prayer.

Resurrection faith transforms our speech, calling us to align our words with wisdom, integrity, and action. How we speak reveals the truth: has the word of God truly taken root in us?

This week at Zao: a sharp word from James on favoritism, wealth, and God’s economy of mercy. No more playing favorites - resurrection communities don’t hoard, they provide.

Faith that lives doesn’t just talk - it acts. James reminds us that belief without embodiment is dead, but resurrection faith shows up in mercy, justice, and love made real.

We’re kicking off a new series on the book of James: Agents of Heaven on Earth. This week, we’ll explore how James calls us to reject the world’s false wisdom and live whole, rooted in God’s abundance, even in a collapsing world.

On Easter Sunday, we proclaim the impossible: that death is not the final word, that empire doesn’t get to decide the ending, and that love—foolish, fierce, faithful love—cannot be buried. This is not a return to normal. It’s a rupture. It’s resurrection. And we are a part of it.

At Zao, instead of Palm Sunday, we call this day Protest Sunday—a celebration of fierce, faithful resistance to systems of violence and domination. In a world where empire demands silence and individualism breeds despair, we remember: we are not alone. Love shows up. Love tells the truth. Love organizes. And yes—love protests.

To love like Jesus is to surrender what we thought would save us. The cost is real—but what we receive is true love that lasts.

Guest sermon by Colby Martin.

When words fall short, love shows up in music, in awe, in presence. Come vibe with us as we explore the mystery of God and the love that moves us beyond words.