Bethel Community Sermons

Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide series by reflecting on Jesus' appearance behind locked doors, and the act of recognition that comes through revealing his wounds to his friends. What does this moment teach us about the nature of being sent as Christ's "apostles?" How might we embrace the call to be wounded healers, just like our risen Lord?

Our Theologian-in-Residence, Barnabas Lin, shares a few snapshots from his recent Witnessing Delegation to Palestine, revealing stories of Palestinian kin who keep hoping and remaining steadfast, even amid impossible situations. He also reflects on the story of Jesus, walking unrecognized on the Emmaus Road. How might God continue to be walking and moving among us- to be encountered in the breakin...

Pastor Michael continues our Eastertide series by exploring the moment of Mary hearing Jesus say her name, while grieving at the tomb. How does the act of being known and remembered help Mary to recognize what was previously unrecognizable? How might we remember resurrection not just as a cosmic, historic event, but also an intimate, tender one?

Pastor Erina preaches on Resurrection Sunday about the ways that resurrection is being seeded in our midst- not in the big and triumphant, but in the small and hidden. How might we take notice of the ways that the risen Christ is at work among us in unexpected ways? How might we take part in continuing his work through small acts of faithfulness, hope, and love?

Rev. Lynice Pinkard closes out our series on Habakkuk, by reflecting on the prophet's ability to rejoice, even when the world is on the brink of collapse. She invites us into the dialectic of suffering and joy, by embracing trembling as truth, waiting as revelation, strength as vulnerability, and movement as adaptation.

Habakkuk reminds us that, when times are hard, we can look back to our ancestors and our own past to see that God always shows up. God has a track record with us. God can be found in the old covenant ways that our ancestors knew. We can go back and find courage to go forward in faith.

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on Habakkuk, by looking at God's vision - a vision that understands tyrants come and go, anyone can become a tyrant, and that the righteous live by faith. In these treacherous days how might we continue to remember God's presence among us, and live the life of faithfulness that God calls us to?

Pastor Michael provides brief reflections on Habakkuk 2:2-4, to introduce a time of reflection for our community. He continues to track the conversation between Habakkuk and Yahweh, even as it arrives at the point of waiting. How does this section of Habakkuk model what it means to trust in God's word and God's promise, even when we are waiting for them to come to pass?

Pastor Erina continues our Lenten sermon series on "Habakkuk and the Blues" by following the trackable conversation between God and Habakkuk into dissonance. What do we do when God says and does things we don't expect or want? How might embracing dissonance be an expression of our faith, not our lack of it? NOTE: During this sermon, Pastor Erina plays a 2 min video clip, which can be...

Pastor Michael kicks off our Lenten series by examining the first 4 verses of Habakkuk as the start of a conversation between God and the prophet- a conversation that begins with lament. How might the prophet Habakkuk guide us into relationship with a God who does not censor us? And what might it look like for us to embody this practice of lament- both in the sanctuary and in the streets?

Pastor Erina concludes our sermon series on our church values by contrasting a Trinitarian vision for a life of mutuality and sharing with our society's current movements toward authoritarianism. How does our Triune God provide us an antidote for a life of hoarding and hierarchy? What might it look like to embrace the truth that we were created to be co-creators?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on our church values by exploring our value for repair. In our throwaway culture, what might it look like to commit toward the hard and courageous work of repair? How might we live out God's commitment to the goodness of creation and the renewal of all things, together?

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series, exploring our church value for curiosity by reflecting on the interaction between Jesus and "Ally Legend" in Mark 14. He challenges us to move away from relationships based on judment and surveillance, to relationships marked by care and curiosity. How might we experience God drawing near to us as we draw near to God in curiosity?

Pastor Erina reflects on our church value for moving with expansiveness- following the movements of the Spirit in ways that stretch, surprise, and expand. As we witness all the ways that our society is moving towards contraction and restriction rather than expansiveness, how might we be a church that continues to stay soft? How might we be open to the "many ways" that God can work in a faith commu...

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on church values by reimagining what it means to be a community with roots, moving from an individual vision to a collective one. She shares some wisdom from the world of redwood forests, and names some of the connections our church has - to tradition, to scripture, to saints, to history, and to denominational bodies- that keep us supported and nourished as...

Pastor Michael kicks off a new sermon series exploring our church's values, starting with our church's value for embodying a healing, joyful home. He explores the scandalous vision of God's house from Isaiah 56- where all are included, all belong, and narratives about who we are can be transformed and healed in God's presence. What might it look like, then, for us to truly live out this value toge...

Children and Family Ministries Director, Jill Gidlund, leads our whole church in an intergenerational experience of Godly Play, exploring the Epiphany Story. What might it mean for us that the light of Christ has come into our world and continues to be among us? If you would like to watch the video, please contact us!

Pastor Erina invites us to reflect on the gift of joy, even in the midst of the darkness and despair of the world around us. How might joy be activated by meaningful connections, deeper attention, and delightful expression? She concluded the sermon with a co-created concert of delights, as an expression of what has brought us joy this season.

Guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, shares with us about the love of God that comes to us in the form of divine vulnerability. He also unpacks the simple yet challenging commands of John the Baptist in Luke 3- to give away what we have as an expression of love those in need. How might John's words invite us into acts of generosity, care, and sacrifice as we continue to participate in the realm...

Pastor Michael continues our Advent sermon series by reflecting on the vision of God's "path of peace," as presented in Zechariah's song. How might we experience God's divine rescue from enemies and freedom through forgiveness, even in the midst of a world marked by violence and alienation?

Pastor Erina kicks off our Advent series by preaching on Romans 8 and exploring hope as the act of labor between groaning and glory- not just for humankind but for all of creation. How might we be invited to practice hope for the restoration of all creation in this Advent season?

Pastor Erina concludes our fall series by reflecting on the ambiguous, unresolved ending of Mark- with the women at the empty tomb. How does Mark's resurrection narrative make space for us to both name our fears and to invite new possibilities, especially in this post-elections moment? How might we embrace the mystery that the tomb might actually be a womb? NOTE: Betwen the 16:00-19:00 mark there...

Pastor Michael explores the trial of Jesus in Mark 15, highlighting the ways that the decision to execute Jesus was based in a "rigged game" and a "sham trial." What does this moment expose about the evils of both Empire and religious institutions? How might Jesus's actions that point to a greater hope for renewal beyond broken human systems, and give us hope in this current political moment?

Guest preacher, Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, speaks to our community about the importance of both individual and communal discernment in the midst of our political realities. While he acknowledges that elections are an activity of empire, he challenges us to engage power in such a way that upholds the belovedness of all people, even those we might consider our enemies. How might we prevent evil from "wi...

Barnabas Lin, our church's Itinerant Minister and Theologian in Residence, addresses the complexity and messiness of claiming our political power, even in the midst of the broken systems of Empire. How might our commitment to honor God and our love our neighbors compel us to vote, to protest, to divest, to advocate and to pray, even when the Empire seeks to limit our imagination and cause us to de...