Sermon Central

Today we conclude our worship series “Uncommon Wisdom.” In a culture that tells us we should do whatever we can to get ahead—even if it means lying, stealing, and manipulation—we have been looking at the seemingly uncommon wisdom of the book of Proverbs. In this book of scripture, we find 100s of short sayings that show us a God-centered path to the good life. Over the past five weeks, we have loo...

Today we continue our worship series “Uncommon Wisdom.” Current cultural wisdom tells us that we should do whatever we can to get ahead—if we want it, we should figure out a way to get it. But that is not the way God would have us act. So in this series, we are looking at the seemingly uncommon wisdom of Proverbs, which shows us a God-centered, path to the good life. Proverbs is a collection of 10...

In ancient cities, a strong tower was a central place where people could run to when an enemy’s army was attacking or they were encountering some sort of danger. It’s where they went for safety and protection. That’s what the name of the Lord is for the righteous—the wise: they run to God first, knowing that it’s God’s very character to protect and care for us. We know that because we see this tru...

Guest speaker Matt Mellott delivers some uncommon wisdom, including a tale about cheese in a hotel mattress.

Rev. Peg Welch, our pastor's mother-in-love, shares some uncommon wisdom with a meditation on Proverbs 12: 15-16

Today we are in the second week of our worship series “Uncommon Wisdom.” Our society’s current strategies for success appear to be exploitation, violence, and smear campaigns. But I’m confident we can all agree that this is not the way God would have it. So in this series, we are looking at the seemingly uncommon wisdom of Proverbs, which shows us another, God-centered, path to the good life. Ever...

Today we begin a new worship series titled “Uncommon Wisdom.” In a society whose only real success strategies appear to be exploitation, violence, and smear campaigns, we are going to look at the seemingly uncommon wisdom of Proverbs, which shows us another path to the good life. Every decision we make impacts not just ourselves, but others. Some decisions are small and cumulative, but none are ma...

Today we are in the last week of our worship series, “I trust in God…” It’s based off our Vacation Bible School theme for this year, that followed a new camp counselor through his nervous-excitement of his first few days of camp. Each day at VBS, the kids learn about a person in scripture who took Psalm 56:3 and put it into action: “when I’m afraid, I put my trust in you.” And throughout the week,...

Today we are in week 4 of our worship series, “I trust in God…” It’s based on our Vacation Bible School theme for this year. Each day at VBS, the kids learn about a person in scripture who took Psalm 56:3 and put it into action: “when I’m afraid, I put my trust in you.” They faced their fears and went on to do great things with God. And throughout the week, the children learn that they can put the...

Today we continue in our worship series, “I trust in God…” It’s based off our Vacation Bible School theme for this year, that follows a new camp counselor (who just so happens to be a firefly) through his nervous-excitement of his first few days of camp. Each day at VBS, the kids learn about ordinary people in scripture who trusted God, faced their fears, and went on to do great things in God’s na...

We continue in our worship series, “I trust in God…” based on our Vacation Bible School theme for this year, that follows a new camp counselor (who just so happens to be a firefly) through his nervous-excitement of his first few days of camp. Kids will spend each day at camp hearing about ordinary people in both the Old and New Testament who trusted God, faced their fears, and went on to do great...

Today we begin a new worship series that’s simply called, “I trust in God…” It’s based on our Vacation Bible School theme for this year, that follows a new camp counselor (who just so happens to be a firefly) through his nervous-excitement of his first few days of camp. They spend each day at VBS, hearing about ordinary people in both the Old and New Testament who trusted God, faced their fears, a...

Today we conclude our short series, “Faith In Action,” where we’re looking at 3 different ways we can live our faith in the world. The United Methodist Church began as a movement dedicated to “scriptural holiness,” to live not just saying we’re Christian, but living it out in our actions—a life dedicated to loving God and loving our neighbor. Our faith is not simply what we believe in our own hear...

Today we continue with our short series, “Faith In Action,” where we’re looking at 3 different ways we can live our faith in the world. The United Methodist Church began as a movement dedicated to “scriptural holiness,” to live not just saying we’re Christian, but living it out in our actions—a life dedicated to loving God and loving our neighbor. Our faith is not simply what we believe in our own...

The United Methodist Church began as a movement dedicated to “scriptural holiness,” to live a life dedicated to loving God and loving our neighbor. Our faith is not simply what we believe in our own hearts and minds, but it is something that moves us to get involved with people; try to change broken systems; and we get our hands dirty, working to make the world better. In this series, we’re going...

Each gospel has a main theme when telling the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. In the gospel of John, the theme is choice— we have the choice whether to receive God’s love or not. To acknowledge Jesus as God enfleshed. We also have a choice whether to live out that unconditional, extravagant love in the world like God— “for God so loved the world…” What would it be like if...

Today we continue our worship series, “Climate + Faith.” Our goal in this series is to look past partisan politics to recognize why valuing and caring for God’s creation is fundamentally an issue of faith. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, and enjoy the same forests and lakes and rivers and creatures. We all suffer in extreme weather, social instability, and mass migration. A liva...

Following Jesus involves the sometimes difficult and painful process of opening up—transforming from being turned inward in self-absorption to being turned outward in love and service. It doesn’t mean sacrificing to the detriment of ourselves, but it means putting ourselves with others—not thinking of ourselves as apart from, but connected with others and our whole world.

Humanity’s “dominion” or “rule” over creation is not a right, entitling us to do whatever we wish with creation. Rather, it’s a responsibility to manage and care for all of God’s creation just as God would, to the very best of our ability. Rights look inward—what can I get? What am I entitled to? Where responsibilities look outward—how can I best care for or be in community with that which is arou...

In virtually every transformative movement in human history – the abolitionist movement against slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, the movements for women’s suffrage, labor protections, the list goes on – in each of these cases, people of faith have been at the center of the action. Catalysts. Laborers. Visionaries. And now, as we confront what is arguably the greatest challenge in human history,...

Throughout Lent, we’ve learned about our own faith journeys as we’ve learned from the life and faith of the disciple Peter. We’ve watched as Peter dropped his nets to follow Jesus; trusted Jesus enough to step out of the boat and walk on water towards Jesus; professed his faith by declaring Jesus the Messiah—the one the Jewish people were waiting for; and then was rebuked by Jesus for not understa...

On this Palm Sunday, we are invited to think about what kind of king we're looking for in Jesus. Do you have the courage to say “I love you,” to this Jesus? A king of compassion and God’s justice—of God’s Truth and Love?

In Peter, we often see ourselves—someone who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. Someone who loves Jesus with all his heart, and struggles at the same time.

This coming week, I challenge you to be mindful of the ways you’re clinging and fixating on “what you know to be true” and missing God’s bigger truth. How might it feel to release your grip, and follow God into the unknown?”

our series is titled “Wandering Heart.” We are studying the faith journey of the disciple Peter, and connecting that with the lyrics of the hymn “Come Thou Fount.” So to set the stage, we’re going to be singing “Come Thou Fount” each Sunday. If you’ve been around the Church a while, it might sound a little different than you’re used to, but the message is still the same and so is spirit behind it.