Seattle Mennonite Church Sermons

The ten commandments.  They are often co-opted by institutions and governments as a litmus test for political affiliation.  What they were in context was a covenant:  identifying community, limiting the powerful and protecting the vulnerable.  They were an offering and response to the God who raised up a people as on eagles wings. Photo by Theo Leconte on Unsplash

On his 40th Anniversary with his late wife Linda, Bob reflects on the way community has made God present over his and Linda's relationship with our church.

Pastor Amy explores why the destruction of Pharaoh's army is so important to the story of the deliverance of the people of Israel and how, when it's used as a recurring chorus of salvation, a people oppressed need a God who is powerful enough to conquer armies.  And also Disney.

What a week to hear this story! Listen as Pastor Megan exposes some of the troubling and resonant layers of our Genesis story of Joseph and Potiphar's unnamed wife. And yet heed the call to mark (Just)Peace Sunday with our Mennonite kindred across the country and world by reflecting on the sorry state of our immigration system here in the U.S. What might Joseph's story have to offer thos...

Pastor Megan explores the extreme vulnerability Abram & Sarai must have experienced as part of their call to leave their land and kindred.

SMC member Melissa Kelly invites us to consider what the armor of God, fighting racism, the Deathstar takedown and attachment parenting have in common. And how we are called on as followers of Jesus to take off the armor of empire and put on the armor of God.

On this first Sunday of our Narrative Lectionary adventure, we start at the very beginning: Genesis. Pastor Megan wrestles with how Creator God becomes Destroyer God in the story of the flood, and the re-covenanting that takes place after. [Image: The Deluge, by Nicolas Poussin]

The explicit desire expressed in the Song of Songs can make us squirm, which is why we don't hear it in worship very often. But this book gives voice to human longing and and expression to the the desire between two lovers. It's been explained away by making it about God's love for humankind but really it's about two lovers who are really into each other - and that can tell us...

Pastor Megan reflects on the people we carry around within us, "releasing" and "retaining" the sins of others, and the ongoing practice of forgiveness.

On this Sunday, Pastor Megan shared the words of Jan Richardson, offering them as sustenance. © Jan Richardson, “The Gastronomical Jesus,” Reading from the Gospels, Year B, Proper 13 / Ordinary 18 / Pentecost +9: John 6.24-35, www.paintedprayerbook.com/2009/07/27/the-gastronomical-jesus/. [Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash]

Summer Ministry Intern Thalia Neufeld dives into the way the Holy Spirit moves throughout Scripture and her understanding of the Spirit's work in the world. She also relates her experience with the !explore internship program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and how the collective experience with other young people doing ministry work shapes the way she understands the work of the Sp...

Jesus and his message of God's reign of love were rejected in the town where he grew up. That rejection pivoted Jesus into a ministry that was even larger and more broad, full of healing and the love of God than the people in Nazareth imagined. Pastor Amy explores how rejection can be turned into empowerment.

A large groups of SMCers traveled to Boise this summer and had a great time! Pastor Megan reports on the annual meeting of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference that took place in Boise ID at the end of June. She shares stories, reflections, business, "fun details," and highlights from our time of worship and delegate meetings, service projects and shared meals, anvils and donuts, and e...

We welcomed Erica Lea-Simka, pastor of Albuquerque Mennonite Church in Albuquerque NM, to preach for our Pride Sunday worship.

Pastor Megan reflects on the most "boring" of all parables in which nothings happens ... or is it EVERYthing happens? Listen for punch lines like: "the smallest of all seeds which, when sown, grows and becomes the greatest of all ... shrubs!" and "if there were 7 habits of highly effective seeds, they would be 1)grow, 2)grow, 3)grow, 4)grow, 5)grow, 6)grow, and 7)grow.&quo...

Reflecting on Mark's story of Jesus facing accusers very early in his ministry, Pastor Megan explore how "Scribes ... they're just like us!", has a few words to say about the supposed "unforgiveable sin," and shares her desire to be among the misfits who get to sit at the table with Jesus and be claimed by him as true family.

On Trinity-ish / Trinity-PLUS Sunday, Pastor Megan shares snapshots of some of the MANY names for God and images of God that make up her limited yet growing collage of who God is.

The Holy Spirit is active and expansive and there is no getting away from her. God's promise is to breathe into our dry bones and enliven what feels barren, to bring life where there is no hope. God's Spirit is as powerful as a mighty wind and as intimate as each breath. From Ezekiel to Acts to the beloved ones receiving the waters of baptism, to all who hear this word, "I will put...

All goodbyes are not created equal. Listen as Pastor Megan reflects on a couple of the goodbyes she's experienced, her semi-obsession with good goodbyes, and what we can learn about all of this from the time Jesus said goodbye for the last time to his closest friends and companions. It's Ascension Sunday and it's time to stop craning our necks...[Photo by Katarzyna Gonsior on Unspla...

Pastor Melanie reflects on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip from the book of Acts, listening for some resonance with our Community Ministries here in the Lake City neighborhood. From something about Jesus that is attractive and transformative ... to nothing preventing the baptism of one formerly excluded ... to building social capital in movements for justice in our communities ... lis...

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold, Jesus said. I must bring them also… So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Pastor Megan reflects on those other metaphorical sheep. In the particular. Who are they? Who are WE?[Photo by Jose Francisco Morales on Unsplash.]

Pastor Megan reflects on fearful disciples gathered behind locked doors in Jerusalem. Through the locked doors of their fear, in strides Jesus. Speaking a word of peace, in strides Jesus. [Photo by Bogdan Dada on Unsplash]

Pastor Jonathan reflects on when life goes sideways and finding hope amidst the impossible and fearful. Sharing stories of the unexpected uprising of life in our own community, this sermon is not to be missed.

Jesus' carefully calculated and lampooning political march into Jerusalem helped ensure that he would need to be crucified, along with many other brave prophets before and after him. Pastor Megan reflects on James Cones' eye-opening theological work in "The Cross and the Lynching Tree." Like lynching in our own country, crucifixion was a public act of terror designed to intimid...

Jason Rust preaches for us - reflecting on glory and death and earthiness and bodies and Mary Oliver poetry and unplanted seeds and lassitude and recklessness in love. You'll just have to listen to how these delightful strands are woven into an intricate whole...![Photo by Nico dit l'Ours on Unsplash]