Presbyterian Church of Western Springs

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Matthew 28:1-10 Easter this year, like everything else, is a bit different. Or is it? That first Easter was a frightening moment. Join Pastor Erik as he explores what it means to choose to say “Alleluia!” in the midst of fear. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian In the predawn darkness, the light of Christ is lit and Pastor Erik shares the wondrous acts of God’s Resurrection power throughout history. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: Matthew 21:1-11   “Hosanna!” This is the word that the gathered masses shout to Jesus on Palm Sunday. In this sermon from Palm Sunday, Pastor Erik considers the Palm Sunday march from a different perspective: as people united in their common plea to Jesus: “Save us!” Listen for some words of encouragement and grounding of our faith in Jesus Christ. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Ezekiel 37:1-14   Breath. We take more than 23,000 breaths in a day and yet we hardly think about it. In our familiar text from the prophet Ezekiel in the valley of the dry bones, Pastor Erik focuses on the power of breath, but even more importantly, the way that God breathes into the world. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  John 9:1-27 How long? The writer of the Psalms asks this question to God, and for many of us it is our question, too. In this strange season, Pastor Erik invites us to be willing to sit with our struggle while also connecting with others for whom the struggle is a familiar companion. And we’re also invited to find, even in the midst of our fear, the room to rejoice!...

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: Exodus 17:1-7 This Sunday we had our first live-streamed worship. In this sermon, Pastor Erik calls us to be a people of worship, even in the midst of our present wilderness. Worship will look different going forward, but it is still worship, and it is still where we find our identity. Come! Let us worship and bow down! Support the show

Rev. Dr. E. Scott Matheney Reading: John 3:1-17 Listen as our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Scott Matheney, the chaplain of Elmhurst College, preaches on one of the most famous Biblical texts - John 3:16. Scott reflects on the wonder and goodness of God’s love for humanity and how that love speaks into our lives today. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Temptations. We all have things that tempt us, but our temptations reveal something about our identity. The more we are able to be in tune with our true identity in Christ, the more we can resist temptation and live into our created purpose! Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: Matthew 17: 1-9 Jesus invited his disciples to follow him up a mountain where they saw a surprising sight. Jesus is inviting us to follow him and he is inviting us to be surprised and transformed so that we can bring God’s light into the world. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Matthew 8:23-27 We all have fear. The question is how we let our fear define us. Following Jesus doesn’t mean that we won’t have fears or that the storms of life won’t affect us. Following Jesus means that we follow a God who knows our fears and who is stronger than our fears. Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! Jesus is speaking into our identity as the church and as people and we are invited to be part of bringing the light into the darkness of the world and our own lives. First, we need to take some steps to know the source of the light! Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Matthew 5:1-12 Imagine being in the audience when Jesus looks out at you and calls you blessed. The words of Jesus were surprising news for those who heard the Beatitudes for the first time, but how do we hear those words today in our lives?  Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading:  Matthew 4:12-23 Our whole lives are made up of split-second decisions. We make choices all the time that can boil down to the same choices that the first disciples faced – will I follow? These split-second decisions, though, are guided by an advocate – a helper.     Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 It is our daily challenge to seek to understand how we, in our lives, can live into our calling to be that faithful light to others pointing the way to Christ. This challenge is not easy. And the good news is that we are surrounded by others who share the same call.     Support the show

Rev. Izette Sama Hernandez Reading: Matthew 3: 13-17 On Sunday, Izett reminded us that our baptism is not an ending, but rather a beginning. Just as the ministry of Jesus started with his baptism, each one of us is called to live into our baptismal covenant by following Christ and loving others in Christ’s name. This is what we are about as a church! Support the show

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 What a blessing there is in a fresh new start to the new year! Take a deep breath today. I’ve always loved that today is a holiday … it is like a breath of fresh air before we hit the ground running into a new year. So, take a moment at some point today, and take a breath of that fresh air. Take a moment to look at your life and ask the questions that...

Rev. Erik Khoobyarian Reading: John 1:1-4 I wanted to let you know that I’ve spent time praying for you all this week. My prayer for you this Christmas is that you’ll experience God’s gift of love in a new way. I am reminded regularly that I follow a God of surprises - and I hope and pray that you will encounter the God of surprises this Christmas! Know that you are loved, by God, by me, and by th...