God’s Acre on the Go

The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is often remembered for its violence and tragedy—the first act of fratricide, a chilling question of moral evasion, and divine judgment. But this week’s sermon invites us to look deeper: What if this awful story also lays the groundwork for a better one? Through this message, we explore how Jesus responds to Cain’s ancient question—“Am I my brother’s keeper?...

This special Epiphany episode explores what it means to find God’s light in the midst of life’s darkness. Rev. Chapin Garner begins with the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1–12 , who follow a star during a dark and dangerous time—“in the time of King Herod.” Their journey is a model for anyone searching for light in uncertain seasons. We’re then joined by guest speaker Ashley Tedford, who shares...

Every year, Jesus' family went to Jerusalem for Passover. Every year. That repeated phrase in Luke 2:41–52 sets the tone for this story—not one of crisis, but of rhythm and trust. But amid that faithful rhythm, something unexpected happens: Jesus stays behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph, believing him to be safe among the caravan, realize he is missing. After three days of searching, they find...

In this moving Christmas Eve sermon, Rev. Chapin Garner explores the often-overlooked line in Luke’s nativity: “There was no room for them in the inn.” With tenderness and clarity, he unpacks the deeper meaning behind the absence of hospitality and how it foreshadows the life and ministry of Jesus—who was repeatedly rejected by the world he came to save. Far from a sentimental retelling, this mess...

In this heartwarming Christmas Eve message, Rev. Chapin Garner invites us to rediscover the joy at the heart of the season—not through shopping, stress, or sentimentality, but through generosity inspired by Jesus. The message centers on the real-life story of Issa Kassissieh, Jerusalem’s own Santa Claus, who embodies the joy of Christ by giving freely to children of all faiths in the Holy Land. Wi...

In this Christmas Sunday message based on Luke 1:39–56 , we pause amid the holiday rush to ask: What gift can we give the One who gave us everything? Drawing from the joyful meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, and the bold beauty of Mary’s Magnificat, we explore how love, attention, and simple gratitude are the greatest gifts we can offer God. From ancient songs of praise to unexpected modern-day expre...

In this Advent message, we look at the life of Joseph—the quiet man in the nativity story whose whole world gets turned upside down. From broken dreams to divine detours, Joseph is invited into God’s Plan "C"—an unexpected path that leads to greater joy and deeper purpose. This sermon invites us to reconsider what it means when life doesn’t go according to plan. Drawing from Matthew 1:18–25 , we’r...

Eliana Cañas Parra draws us into the heart of Advent peace by recounting the Christmas Truce of 1914, when enemies in World War I briefly laid down arms to sing, share meals, and recognize each other’s humanity. This fleeting moment of Shalom offers a glimpse of what God's peace can look like even in the darkest places. Psalm 122 is a prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem here is not ju...

In this week’s message, we enter the wilderness—the place where things fall apart, where life feels uncertain, and where wild things roar. But as Mark 1:1–5 reminds us, the good news begins in the wild. It’s in that uncomfortable space where John the Baptist appears, calling people to repent, confess, and prepare the way of the Lord. Drawing parallels to Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are,...

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Chapin explores the ancient words of Psalm 8 , a song of awe and wonder that celebrates both God’s majesty and our astonishing role in the universe. From the stars overhead to the fragile cry of an infant, the psalm reminds us that though we are small, we are deeply loved and entrusted with great responsibility. With stories from the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving...

In John 21:15–17 , the risen Jesus meets his disciples on the shore after a long night of fishing. Over a charcoal fire, he cooks breakfast and restores Peter — not with a lecture, but with love. Before he ever commands, “Feed my sheep,” he first feeds them. Grace before commission; love before labor. In this message, Kelly Antonson reflects on what it means to embody Jesus’ love language: acts of...

In this message based on Genesis 32:22–33 , Chapin reflects on Jacob’s long night of wrestling at the River Jabbok—a struggle that transformed him from a fugitive into a man of faith. Jacob’s limp became his blessing, a mark of someone who chose engagement over escape. Drawing from his recent journey to the West Bank with Frank Lyon and Eric Dupee, Chapin connects Jacob’s encounter with God to our...

In this sermon from Matthew 14:22–33 , we encounter the familiar story of Jesus walking on water — a miracle recorded in three of the four Gospels. But what if we read this story not as a rebuke of Peter’s doubt, but as a celebration of his faith-filled risk? Rev. Dr. Stephen Chapin Garner reflects on his own experiences as a lifelong “lake guy,” drawing parallels between teaching others to water...

In this message, Chapin reflects on Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see” from John 1:35–42 . From a front porch in West Virginia to a hospice bedside in New Canaan, from the hills of El Salvador to the embattled Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, this sermon traces how presence—not productivity—is often the most powerful way we love and serve others. The name Emmanuel means “God with us,...

In this episode, we reflect on Luke 8:40–48 , where Jesus is surrounded by pressing needs — Jairus pleading for his daughter’s life, a woman reaching for healing after twelve years of suffering, and a crowd pulling at him from every side. In the midst of the chaos, Jesus notices the touch of faith, declaring, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” This story reminds us that compass...

When Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23–27 , he didn’t just demonstrate his divine authority—he raised questions that still challenge us today. This sermon reflects on Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”, not as a rebuke, but as encouragement. Jesus, a “lake guy,” found rest and trust on the water—and even in a storm, he trusted his friends at the helm....

In this episode, we explore a moment of sacred interruption. “In the year King Uzziah died…” begins the powerful scene from Isaiah 6:1–8 , a passage where a young priest encounters the raw presence of God amid national instability and personal uncertainty. Isaiah’s instinctive reply to the divine question—“Whom shall I send?”—is stunning in its immediacy: “Here I am; send me.” But what causes some...

This week’s message reflects on Jesus’ healing of blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46–52 and Paul’s plea for deliverance in 2 Corinthians 12:7b–9 . What do we really want God to do for us—and how does God sometimes answer in ways we don’t expect? Drawing from real-life stories of struggle and grace, including the inspiring witness of a blind church member and a lesson learned from a high school footbal...

This week’s message, “Can These Bones Live?”, begins with a deeply personal story of addiction, emptiness, and hopelessness. The preacher compares his past to the prophet Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 37:1–14 , where God brings him to a valley of dry bones—lifeless remains that seem beyond restoration. But even here, in a place of total despair, God is present. Through this vision, we see that God c...

This week we explore Luke 7:36–50 , where Jesus asks a striking question: “Do you see this woman?” She had just anointed him with perfume, tears, and love at Simon the Pharisee’s dinner party. But Jesus’s question goes deeper than physical sight—it’s about truly seeing someone’s worth, their transformation, and their capacity to bless others. The sermon draws out how God consistently sides with th...

This week, we turn to Matthew 16:13-20 , where Jesus takes his disciples to the politically symbolic city of Caesarea Philippi to ask a bold question: “Who do you say I am?” In a city named after Caesar—the so-called “Son of God”—Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah,” is a revolutionary claim. But instead of launching into doctrinal explanation, Jesus does what he so often does: he asks a question...

This week’s sermon explores Luke 14:1, 7–14 , where Jesus dines at the home of a Pharisee and watches guests scramble for seats of honor. Rather than scolding, Jesus turns the moment into a graceful, witty parable on humility and hospitality. Drawing from both ancient and modern examples — including inherited fine china, youth mission trips, and Chef José Andrés’ work feeding people in crisis — we...

In this closing message of our Be the Church series, we turn to Matthew 6:25–34 and hear Jesus’s bold invitation: “Do not worry about your life… but seek first the kingdom of God.” Easier said than done, perhaps—but essential if we are to live as Christ’s people. In this sermon, we reflect on why trust in God is the foundation for everything else: loving God, protecting creation, fighting for the...

In this message from Isaiah 40:28–31; 43:18–19 , we explore the often-overlooked holiness of the “in-between” seasons of life. The people of Israel knew it in exile—caught between what was and what would be. We know it in our own transitions: the end of summer, a career shift, a health change, a move. Scripture reminds us that waiting on the Lord is not passive. In Hebrew, “wait” (qavah) means to...

What if we believed we truly had enough—not just in our wallets, but in our spirits? In this week's message from Acts 4:32–35 , we explore the radical generosity of the early church, where trust and connection replaced fear and scarcity. In a world that often insists we must hustle for worth and hoard for safety, the Gospel of Enough invites us into a different rhythm—one of grace, sufficiency, an...