Bethel Community Sermons

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 visi...

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...

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...

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 I...

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 Englis...

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?

Jon Chou and Nick Gee share testimonies of how God has met them in the in between spaces, amidst the wondering and the wandering.

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 invita...

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?