Sermon Central

In our scripture today, we will see that although God could have stopped after saying, “Welcome home,” God didn’t stop there. God filled tables with food, and gave a robe, a ring, music, celebration, delight, and a loving rebuke for anybody who thought it was all a little too much, who thought it was all a little “extra.”

Grace is "the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in our lives through the ever-present Holy Spirit." Grace is God's presence in our lives that is creating, healing, forgiving, reconciling, and transforming our hearts, communities, and all of creation. As followers of Jesus, we receive this grace and we are called to share it with others—to live out God’s extravagant love in action. Th...

Chapter 18 of the Gospel of Matthew is Jesus’ teaching on how to live in community and communicate with one another. What does it teach us about forgiveness? This Sunday's message, "Forgive. And Forgive Again." is a meditation on Matthew 18:21-35. Join us on the lawn, in the sanctuary or from wherever you are! All of our services stream live -- and are archived so you can worship on your own sched...

Discipleship—living as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, however you want to say it—means taking the teachings of Jesus and applying them to our everyday lives. And sometimes that looks like managing conflicts—large or small—with the grace and compassion of Jesus at the forefront of our minds.

As Christians—people who follow Jesus’ teaching and example—it’s important for us to look to scripture for instruction on how God calls us to handle life’s challenges. And that’s exactly what chapter 18 of the Gospel of Matthew is—Jesus’ teaching on how to live in community and communicate with one another. Because just like we struggle with this, Jesus did as well, when he was living with and wor...

Having disagreements and hard conversations is part of life—whether it’s with family, friends, coworkers, or people on the internet. But knowing how to do it in a healthy and positive way is not something that necessarily comes natural to us.

Today we conclude our worship series titled, “What Is God Like?” This series has been inspired by the children’s book of the same title, written by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. Today we are reminded that God is like the stars, forever present and bright. Even when they feel far away, you can always look up and see them winking at you.

Today we continue our worship series titled, “What Is God Like?” It’s inspired by the children’s book of the same title, written by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. Then the book uses images and descriptions found throughout scripture to illustrate what God is like. We’re using this book as a tool to remind us that all throughout our lives, God invites us to continue to search and wonder...

"God is like three dancers, graceful and precise. They move to the same music in very different ways, showcasing all of God's elegance and rhythm in your life." - from the book "What is God Like?" by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner

Today we continue our worship series titled, “What Is God Like?” It’s inspired by the children’s book of the same title, written by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. Today we are reminded that God is like an artist, creative and unpredictable, always busy making and remaking everything brilliant and new.

Our new worship series, What Is God Like? challenges us to think about how we’ve come to understand God. This week, we will explore the ways that God is Like a River, with special guest preacher, Rev. Dr. David J. Tennant. Sunday's scripture is Psalm 1:1-3 "God is like a river, constant and life giving. When you grow near God, you'll sprout up strong as a tree."

In today's scripture, we learn that God is the creator of everything we see and know. God gives us everything we have, down to our life’s breath. God created everything from nothing, ordering everything, and enabling us to seek after God and find God. It is in God that we live and move and have our being. God is our Parent; we are God’s offspring. God is like these things and many, many more, beca...

Kids have fantastic imaginations. They look at a room and they don’t just see a few pillows and blankets tossed on the floor. They see boulders and pillars they can use to help them get across the bubbling lava floor. They can look at the same world we see and rather than dwell on the hurt and anguish, they are open to the awe and wonder of the world God has gifted us with. Our challenge is to lea...

When Peter and Cornelius meet in response to their visions, they help build a bridge to a changed future—one where vastly different people become family through the transforming love of Jesus. God’s Holy Spirit seeks to connect—not separate.

Many of us lament as we look to the world around us—we see the fear, hatred, anger, and abuse of each other and the natural world, and we think, “When will it end?” But what we forget is, “we are the ones we’re waiting for.” As followers of Jesus, we are called to ask the hard questions, work together to solve problems, care for all people, reach across differences, and imagine—and work towards—a...

Today we’re continuing with our series, Changemakers. This series goes along with our vacation bible school theme for this year, which is called “Changemakers Lab.” At VBS, the kids are going to spend a week learning that everyone can make a difference in the world! They’ll hear bible stories that explore examples of people who experienced and brought about change in the world around them. And thi...

Rev. Gregory Kendrick, Jr. reminds us that change makers take initiative; change makers are inquisitive; and change makers ask questions.

Today we conclude our three-week series titled Abide. We have been looking at the analogy Jesus uses in the Gospel of John of the vine and branches. This analogy puts into simple terms how we are to live—by abiding in God: resting in God, trusting in the Lord, and sustained by the Spirit.

A day of rest each week is one of the ten commandments. Do we sometimes think it's optional? Why does God ask us to set a day aside?

You go about your day and do the things that need to be done, but all the while, you’re with God. God’s love and compassion and peace is constantly soaking into you and God is whispering in your ear, “You are loved. You are enough. You are my beloved.”

How does the expression of "you only live once" sit with a man who has died? Hear Rev. Ash Welch's stirring testimony of life after death.

What happens when you trust in God and mind your own business? Visiting pastors, Peg & Ash Welch, deliver an uplifting dialog sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.

Rev. Peg Welch delivers a wonderful message - Yes, She Did!

We are a church with a long history which includes wonderful messages from pastors and guest speakers alike. This audio library includes sermons from our pastors Rev. Heidi Welch, Rev. Clark Stein, Rev. Karen Oehl, and special guests - Rev. Dr. William McCartney, Betsy Wooster, Rev. Lisa Drew, Rev. Dave Patton, Michael Jasczcak, Rev. Joy (Parker) Fenton-Jones, Janet Kleckner, Rev. Steve Clunn, Rev...

We are a church with a long history which includes wonderful messages from pastors and guest speakers alike. This audio library includes sermons from our pastors Rev. Heidi Welch, Rev. Clark Stein, Rev. Karen Oehl, and special guests - Rev. Dr. William McCartney, Betsy Wooster, Rev. Lisa Drew, Rev. Dave Patton, Michael Jasczcak, Rev. Joy (Parker) Fenton-Jones, Janet Kleckner, Rev. Steve Clunn, Rev...