First Cary UMC

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Martha McLean – April 12, 2026 In the face of deep grief and losses that feel like they take the very breath out of us, God is not absent. Just as God heard the cries of the widow and worked through Elijah to restore life to her son, God meets us in our despair. This story reminds us that even in our lowest valleys, God’s Spirit is already present, li...

First Cary UMC’s First on Chatham Sermon – Kollin Absher-Baer – April 5, 2026 Scripture: Psalm 150 and Matthew 28:1-10

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – April 5, 2026 Scripture: Psalm 150 and Matthew 28:1-10

First Cary UMC’s First on Chatham Sermon – Kollin Absher-Baer – March 29, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us see how God’s grace works its purposes over centuries. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone…This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it…Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-...

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – March 29, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us see how God’s grace works its purposes over centuries. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone…This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it…Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-2...

First Cary UMC’s First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – March 22, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us to proclaim our amazement and joy in seeing afresh what God has done and is doing for us.   “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Scripture: Psalm 27

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – March 22, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us to proclaim our amazement and joy in seeing afresh what God has done and is doing for us.   “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Scripture: Psalm 27

First Cary UMC’s First on Chatham Sermon – Natasha Arnold – March 15, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they shape us to approach God with humility, remembering that we depend on mercy and that God’s grace moves at God’s own pace.   “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice!  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope…” Scripture: Psalm 130

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – March 15, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they shape us to approach God with humility, remembering that we depend on mercy and that God’s grace moves at God’s own pace.   “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice!  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope…” Scripture: Psalm 130

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kristyl Kepley – March 8, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they quench a thirst deeper than our knowledge and understanding, and undergird us with a hope in the face of our challenges. “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.” Scripture: Psalm 42

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer  – March 8, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they quench a thirst deeper than our knowledge and understanding, and undergird us with a hope in the face of our challenges. “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.” Scripture: Psalm 42

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – March 1, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us to focus our attention on our deliverer. “I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?” Scripture: Psalm 121

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – March 1, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they help us to focus our attention on our deliverer. “I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?” Scripture: Psalm 121

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – February 22, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they lead us to the source of abundant life.   “their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” Scripture: Psalm 1

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon  – Rev. Ben Alexander – February 22, 2026 When we pray the Psalms, they lead us to the source of abundant life. “their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” Scripture: Psalm 1

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – February 15, 2026 In Matthew 17, Peter, James and John follow Jesus up a high mountain. Once again Jesus is named as God’s Beloved. Only this time Jesus is transfigured before them, as more of his identity is revealed. The disciples respond by falling down in worship. This glimpse of God’s glory transforms the disciples. Encounte...

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon  – Rev. Ben Alexander – February 15, 2026 In Matthew 17, Peter, James and John follow Jesus up a high mountain. Once again Jesus is named as God’s Beloved. Only this time Jesus is transfigured before them, as more of his identity is revealed. The disciples respond by falling down in worship. This glimpse of God’s glory transforms the disciples. Encountering...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – February 8, 2026 As Jesus watches a crowd donate money in Mark 12, he notices the rich contributing much. He also notices a poor widow give two small copper coins.  Jesus calls his disciples together, and teaches them who has contributed more.  The rich gave routinely out of excess, while the widow gave abundantly with next to no...

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon  – Rev. Ben Alexander – February 8 2026 As Jesus watches a crowd donate money in Mark 12, he notices the rich contributing much. He also notices a poor widow give two small copper coins.  Jesus calls his disciples together, and teaches them who has contributed more.  The rich gave routinely out of excess, while the widow gave abundantly with next to nothing....

First Cary UMC’s Sermon (community-wide worship) – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer  – February 1, 2026 The disciples encounter Jesus praying in Luke 11 and ask Jesus to teach them to pray.  Jesus responds with the Lord’s prayer. The language Jesus uses is that of a community: give us , forgive us , do not bring us . When Jesus teaches, he does so from a communal lens.  Discipleship grows in community. As...

First Cary UMC’s Sermon (community-wide worship)  – Rev. Ben Alexander  – January 25, 2026 Early in the morning, Jesus retreats from his community to a deserted place to pray. Only then is Jesus ready to begin his preaching tour in Galilee. Jesus shows us the importance of devotion and prayer.  Making space to slow down and connect with God amidst the hurry of life nurtures our souls and equips us...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – January 18, 2026 Early in his ministry, Jesus is filled with the Spirit, and returns to his home church. In a sobering moment we hear of Jesus reading scripture, within scripture, to fulfill scripture. And what scripture does Jesus choose to read? The prophet Isaiah.  Jesus has arrived to bring good news to the poor and freedom t...

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – January 18, 2026 Early in his ministry, Jesus is filled with the Spirit, and returns to his home church. In a sobering moment we hear of Jesus reading scripture, within scripture, to fulfill scripture. And what scripture does Jesus choose to read? The prophet Isaiah. Jesus has arrived to bring good news to the poor and freedom to the c...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – January 11, 2026 In the beginning of the Jesus story, Jesus goes into the waters of baptism first and calls his disciples to follow. In the end, Jesus commissions his disciples on a mountain top, encouraging them to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the...

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander  – January 11, 2026 In the beginning of the Jesus story, Jesus goes into the waters of baptism first and calls his disciples to follow. In the end, Jesus commissions his disciples on a mountain top, encouraging them to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy...