Colonial Church in Prairie Village

Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...but not yet! At church this week we're in the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and we continue with our theme, “What do you fear?” by turning to the story of Joseph, the quiet, courageous figure who stepped forward as Jesus’ adopted father. Scripture tells us little about Joseph’s inner life, but we can imagine the fear, uncertainty, and questions he car...

This week we continue our Advent journey with Mary’s courageous “yes” in Luke 1:26–39, a yes spoken into a world that felt as fragile then as it does now. Mary’s response to God was not naïve or easy; it was an act of deep trust and brave hope. And it invites us to consider our own "yes": the one we’re longing to say, the one that feels costly, and the one that becomes possible only with our commu...

Our theme throughout Advent asks the question, “Whom Do You Fear?” In Lamentations, the writer says: I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” (Lamentations 3:55-57, NIV) Our scripture for today’s sermon comes from Luke, Chapter 1, verses 5-13: During the r...

This Sunday at Colonial Church we gather for a joyful and meaningful morning as we bring our pledge season to a close. Throughout these past weeks, we’ve reflected on how our giving makes meaning, and how each commitment helps shape the vibrant, compassionate community God is calling us to be. We’ll celebrate that spirit of generosity in worship as we offer our pledge cards and give thanks for all...

When we hear “For unto us a child is born…” most of us immediately think of Christmas pageants, candlelight services, and holiday music. But these words from Isaiah were first spoken into a world that was far from peaceful. It was a word of hope given to people living through political turmoil, social upheaval, and deep uncertainty. It was not simply a promise about someday, it was a word of coura...

This weekend we turn to the prophets for inspiration, hearing words from the prophet, Amos. The prophets of the Hebrew Scripture are voices of old that can seemingly come crashing into our modern world. Their words were certainly meant for the people of their time - speaking to them of God, calling them out for their shortcomings, encouraging them to hear God’s desires for their lives. Somehow, th...

As October draws to a close, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of so many things: All Saints Sunday, stewardship season, the coming of Advent, and (somehow already!) the holiday season. But first, let me say it: Happy Halloween! 🎃 This Sunday we’ll gather for All Saints Sunday, a time to remember those who have gone before us and to listen, like the prophet Elijah, for the still, small...

Today’s scripture comes from the book of 1st Kings, and is read in the Common English Bible: When King Hiram of Tyre heard that Solomon had succeeded his father David, he sent envoys, for Hiram had always been a friend to David. Solomon replied, “You know my father could not build a house for the Lord because of war on every side, but now God has given me peace. I will build a house for the name o...

Today’s scripture comes from 1st Samuel 16:1-13 and is read in the Common English Bible: The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found my next king among his sons.” “How can I do that?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!...

The sermon is based on the following scripture. It comes from 1 Samuel 3:1-21 and is read in the Common English Bible: Now the boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. The Lord’s word was rare at that time, and visions weren’t widely known. One day Eli, whose eyes had grown so weak he was unable to see, was lying down in his room. God’s lamp hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was lying down in the...

Last week we had the opportunity to hear from Drs. Stacey Algren and Lisa Gilmer about their experiences in Malawi and in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Their commitment to caring for those most in need is a powerful reminder of the urgency of compassion in a world torn by violence, war, and greed. This Sunday, we encounter another way of being and living as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, joining...

This Sunday we welcome special guests Drs. Stacey Algren and Lisa Gilmer. They will share stories from their work at Pothawira, Malawi, one of the organizations Colonial supports through our Mission & Outreach ministries, and we'll hear of their climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro, where their experience revealed new challenges and fresh perspectives. At its heart, Pothawira (“Safe Haven”) is about giving wo...

Conflict comes with community - it’s not a matter of if you'll encounter it, but when. Sooner or later, someone will say or do something that frustrates you. The question is: what will you choose in that moment? Viktor Frankl reminds us there’s a space between stimulus and response, and in that space lies our growth and our freedom. We get to decide. And there's a great deal of power in that. This...

This week we encounter one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture: the binding of Isaac (Genesis 21:1–3; 22:1–14). After years of longing and waiting, Sarah and Abraham finally received the child God had promised them. Yet almost immediately, Abraham faces an unimaginable command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. We feel the weight of Abraham’s dilemma: how do you hold devotion to God alo...

September 7, 2025 Installation Sunday by Colonial Church in Prairie Village

This week, we will bring our Summer Soul series to a close by turning to the rhythms of work and rest. We're invited to see our daily tasks, no matter how ordinary, as opportunities to be present to God, to care for others, and to ground ourselves in love. In other words, to be a blessing. If you're returning to school, heading into a busy season at work, or just trying to get a handle on everythi...

August 10, 2025 Summer Rhythms: Embracing Gods Invitation to Rest by Colonial Church in Prairie Village

August 3, 2025 Defiant Joy by Colonial Church in Prairie Village

July 27, 2025 Ask and It Will be Given by Colonial Church in Prairie Village

Rev. Janet Weiblen

July 13, 2025 Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life by Colonial Church in Prairie Village

Like the mother bird who pushes the baby birds out of the nest to teach them to fly, Jesus sent them out with little more than show and tell instructions: “Share what you have ... show them my love.” In hindsight, Jesus treated them like a bunch of migrant workers: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” At...

When Jesus washed the disciples' feet before the meal in the Upper Room, this highlights one of those tough realities in life as we are not so much spiritual beings as we are spiritual beings trapped in messy, faulted, earthy bodies (the Bible says bluntly, we hold these treasures in clay pots). Jesus tended to their stinky feet as though even their feet was a blessed part of our humanity. So, whe...

The gospel tells us, He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message … They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land a madman from town met him: he was a victim of demons (Luke 8:1, 16, The Message). Jesus got out of the boat and was immediately face-to-face w...

It doesn’t matter much how you label them ... Father, Son, Holy Spirit; Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer; Idea, Enfleshment, Energy. Everything we do, in the Kingdom work of the Church, everything done in the community of faith, is all about Trinity. Jesus understood we could learn to trust the divine imagination who promised the Triune God is the one and the same God who loves us deeply and wants to...