Pastor Unplugged

The story of the Flight into Egypt is the focus of this week's message and the call on all of us to be kind to the immigrant, the stranger, as the Bible commands. A timely, humanitarian message quite appropriate for today's world. 

A Christmas message based on Luke 2; may Jesus the Christ guide us on our way with light, hope and good news. 

Hope is tough to find these days, just like it was in the ancient world of the Hebrew Bible prophets. A new Light is about to shine this week as we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus the Christ, the Light of the World.  

Week 4 of my reflections on Erin Wathen's Calling All Angels centers on how we react to disruptions in our lives. Can we embrace the disruptions the way the shepherds did when the angel told them the Messiah had been born? Or will we complain, shun, and run away from the disruptions when they inevitably appear in our lives?

There are a lot of lingering fears from the days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev. Erin Wathen in her Week 3 Advent text challenges us in faith communities to "be a powerful presence in impossible places."

Peace is the theme for the second Sunday of Advent. Jesus calls us all to be peacemakers. The Apostle Paul cheers us on to be peacemakers everywhere. 

Our Advent reflection series continues this week focusing on how the poor and powerless are treated in our society and how it is necessary for all of us as Christians and citizens to speak out against these injustices.

Many of us like to be defiant. These days, being joyful is an act of defiance against the world we live in. A sermon based on Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 24:36-44 delivered at First Congregational UCC Elmhurst on Nov. 30, 2025.

A brief meditation on Stillness, a theme from the first week of the Advent book Calling All Angels by Rev. Erin Wathen. We as a society stink at it. This first week of Advent, let's get better, shall we?  

This week's sermon title was inspired by a 1980s sitcom, "Who's the Boss?" starring Tony Danza, Judith Light and Alyssa Milano. On Reign of Christ Sunday, the message asks us to consider who is the boss of our lives? Is it Christ? Or someone else?

We've got plenty of reasons to be serious in this world. There is no shortage of things to be concerned about. But we also need to lighten up, don't we? We're supposed to be following Jesus, and he loved getting together with friends and having fun. Maybe it's time we follow his example more closely! This message was delivered by Rev. Brian Louis on Nov. 16, 2025, at First Congregational UCC in El...

Here's a little teaser info for our Advent book discussion on Dec. 3 at First Congregational UCC Elmhurst. Please join us for an Advent study and discussion of Calling All Angels, a book by the Rev. Erin Wathen on Dec. 3 at 11:30 am or 6:30 pm in the parlor at First Congregational UCC in Elmhurst. Wathen uses the words of the angels who speak to people around the time of the birth of Jesus telling...

FOMO is a common problem in our world today. It turns out that FOMO -- fear of missing out -- also plagued the Thessalonians back in the early days of Christianity. Our message today centers on the importance of building a relationship with Jesus. You don't have to have a fear of missing out on a relationship with Jesus, all you have to do is start building one today.   

Today's story is the classic tale of Zacchaeus the tax collector who makes amends and gives away half his possessions. In the process of his repentance, the lost man is found, thanks to Jesus. For as Jesus said, he came to save the lost. Are you lost?

Arrogance seems to run amok in the world today. The louder and more bombastic you are, the better. But Jesus has a different take on all that -- he's about humility. Just another example of the counter-cultural Jesus.

This week's sermon theme is focused on Jesus the Teacher. This sermon is based on Luke 18:1-8 in which Jesus stresses the importance of persistence in prayer. Sometimes it seems prayer doesn't work, but don't give up! Many times, prayer changes the inside, not necessarily the outside. But God's bottom line is, don't give up! God wants you to keep praying and communicating. Persist in prayer and li...

Healing and gratitude are two of the most important themes from this Sunday's story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers. The sermon is based on Luke 17:11-19.

What does being a disciple of Jesus require of us? One thing it requires is to put God first in our lives. Listen to find out more!

A message from worship on Oct. 5, 2025 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elmhurst, Illinois, based on Psalm 133 and Ephesians 4:1-6, delivered by Rev. Brian Louis, the pastor at First.

The Sunday after the Charlie Kirk killing, a school shooting, and despair everywhere. Fortunately coming to worship can help us reset in times such as these -- if we only go.

What does being a disciple of Jesus require of us? One thing it requires is to put God first in our lives. Listen to find out more!

A welcome message for this channel of sermons and meditations of hope from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elmhurst, Illinois.