First Olympia Sermons

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Andrew Sergienko who continued our lay-led worship series, “Spirit Poured Out” by preaching on Matthew 25: 14-30. In his message, Andrew philosophized on different interpretations of the Parable of the Talents. 

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Jessie Gray who continued our lay-led worship series, “Spirit Poured Out” by preaching on Psalm 98: 1-8. In her message, Jessie spoke on the power of music in worship.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Sue Raymond who continued our lay-led worship series, “Spirit Poured Out” by preaching on Matthew 13: 3a, 10-17. In her message, Sue shared a Midrash with us based on the stories of each woman featured in one of Jesus’s parables.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from the team FUMCO sent to the Inhabit Conference who all began our new Pentecost worship series, “Spirit Poured Out” by preaching on Joel 2: 23-29. In their message, several members of the group shared what they learned in Chicago.

This Pentecost Sunday, we heard a sermon from our District Superintendent Rev Kathleen Weber who concluded our collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on Acts 2: 1-21 & 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13. In her message, Rev Kathleen celebrated ways in which the South Sound Co-op has honored the wonder of the first Pentecost and invited us to imagine the beautiful work we'll c...

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Kelly who joined us from Shelton UMC and continued our collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on John 21: 1-14. In his message, Pastor Kelly told the story of Jesus serving his disciples breakfast on the beach and participating in unorthodox communion.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on Acts 9: 1-19. In her message, Pastor Alexa spoke on Saul's conversion and the call to "get up and go" live the lives of resurrection God wants for us. 

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Kellen who joined us from Tumwater UMC and continued our collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on Luke 24: 13-25. In his message, Pastor Kellen told the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the Walk to Emmaus and invited us to consider clearing the "spiritual cataracts" from our eyes.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Allison who joined us from St Andrews UMC in Lacey and continued our collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on John 20: 26-31. In her message, Pastor Allison told the story of Thomas, the disciples leaving the upper room, and how they worked better together. 

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from all FOUR Co-op churches from Pastors Alexa, Kelly, Kellen, and Allison who began our new collaborative worship series, “Witness To The Risen Christ” by preaching on John 20: 19-23. In their message, our pastors each reflected on a related aspect of the same passage. 

This Palm Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on 2 Samuel 7: 8-17 & Mark 11: 1-11. In her message, Pastor Alexa connected Jesus's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem with God's Covenant with David.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Hebrews 5:5-10. In her message, Pastor Alexa spoke on God's invitation to share the dream of being "at one" together.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Brittney Gilleland, our Director of Children’s Ministry, who continued our Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on Numbers 21: 4-9, Ephesians 2: 1-10, & John 3: 14-15. In her message, Miss Brittney spoke on the aid God rendered when the Hebrew people were lost in the wilderness through Moses and the bronze serpent.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on Exodus 20: 1-17 & 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25. In her message, Pastor Alexa described how God gave the Ten Commandments as specific boundaries to structure a re-forming community.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Heather who continued our new Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16 & Romans 4: 13-25. In her message, Pastor Heather connected the fall of the Berlin Wall with Abraham's covenant with God and the theme of building trust.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who began our new Lenten worship series: Salvation Is Here by preaching on Genesis 9: 8-17 & 1 Peter 3: 18-22. In her message, Pastor Alexa told the story of Noah's Ark through the lens of salvation and invited us to fight against the despair of nihilism.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who concluded our Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Exodus 24: 12-18 & Matthew 17: 1-9. In her message, Pastor Alexa reflected on the rainbow light of God's identity and how shining our selves through this lens reveals more and more of who we are.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Isaiah 58: 1-9a & Matthew 5: 13-20. In her message, Pastor Alexa gave an example of a Japanese-American who resisted the powers of empire in the 1940's and invited us to act as "salt and light" in our unjust world today.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Heather who continued our Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Micah 6: 1-8 & Matthew 5: 1-12. In her message, Pastor Heather explained the beatitudes and described the ways we're called to be "blessings" in the world.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Heather who continued our Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Isaiah 9: 1-4 & Matthew 4: 12-23. In her message, Pastor Heather explained our place in the lineage of Biblical prophets and invited us to speak truth in the modern age.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Isaiah 49: 1-7 & John 1: 29-42. In her message, Pastor Alexa mused on the saying "wherever you go, there you are" and how it connects to the theme of being chosen.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Heather who began our new Epiphany series: Come And See by preaching on Isaiah 42: 1-9 & Matthew 3: 13-17. In her message, Pastor Heather reminded us that "Beloved" is where we begin and invited us to see baptism as a claiming of God's love rather than its source.

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who transitioned out of our Advent series: Mother and Child into Epiphany by preaching on Matthew 2: 1-18. In her message, Pastor Alexa invited us to interpret the story of the wise one's gifts in the context of archetypal stories and to draw parallels to our present political context.

On this Holy Night of Christmas Eve, we heard a sermon from Pastor Heather who continued our Advent series: Mother and Child by preaching on Isaiah 52: 7-10 & Matthew 1: 18-25. In her message, Pastor Heather reflected on the "imperfect" moments of parenting and how Mary's call to raise God's son and our call to follow him were never promises full of "unicorns and rainbows."

This Sunday, we heard a sermon from Pastor Alexa who continued our Advent series: Mother and Child by preaching on Romans 8: 26-27, 31-39 & Luke 1: 46b-55. In her message, Pastor Alexa explained Mary's title as the "Undoer of Knots" and how she and her son can help us unravel the snares we find ourselves in today.