The Church We Hope For

June 25, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | Acts 16 We look at the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 to see how the Spirit is moving them to unveil a more expansive vision of the gospel than most of us inherited growing up. It’s right in line with Jesus’ call in Luke 4 to set captives free. Our hope is that we would continue to say Yes to this gospel growing in us in even more expansive ways. Keywords: Gosp...

June 18, 2023 | Phil Allen, Jr. | Luke 4:18 The experience of the enslaved who were actually free in Texas long before 1865 (what we now celebrate as Juneteenth), like the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness who were set free from Egypt, become metaphors for a liberating God who remembers us and is attentive to us when opposing forces attempt to keep us in bondage. This message is about...

June 11, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Acts 16:1-10 The Holy Spirit pulls some stops in Paul, Silas & Timothy's journey on their way to Philippi. The Spirit actually stops and redirects them 2 times. When we pause and read in between the lines we see the gift of uncertainty that holds space for listening to the Spirit and releasing our control of life's twists and turns. Uncertainty...

June 4, 2023 | Rev. Bert Newton | Isaiah, Leviticus, Ezekiel, Luke, Matthew Rev. Bert Newton of Making Housing and Communities Happen in Pasadena joined to cast a Biblical vision of equitable housing and stewardship of the land. We looked from cover to cover in the Scriptures, from Jubilee to Jesus, to bear witness to God’s heart for all people. Keywords: Housing, Justice, Equity, Shalom About: Th...

May 21, 2023 | Dr. Cindy Lee | Ezekiel 37:1-10 What does an East Asian worldview teach us about engaging with and experiencing the Spirit? This message, based on Ezekiel 37:1-10, looks at the Spirit as a life-giving force and breath of life within us known as qi in a Chinese worldview. Keywords: Chinese spirituality, Chi, Qi, Ezekiel, Holy Spirit About: The Church We Hope For is a beloved communit...

May 14, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | Philippians 2, John 20 In this sermon, we look at Spirit Christology: the theological exploration of Jesus’ life lived fully empowered by the Holy Spirit. And as Jesus exhales his divinity — lives into his humanity — and breathes in the Spirit, so we are invited to do the same. Keywords: Breath, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Power About: The Church We Hope For is a b...

May 7, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Exodus 15:1-13 Miriam leaves the place of slavery in Egypt and the one thing she brings is a tambourine. Jewish tradition teaches that Miriam led the women and people of Israel in song and dance at God’s liberation. She danced on dry land. Her tambourine is a witness of her trust in God’s faithfulness out of slavery into liberation. Keywords: Exodus, Miriam,...

April 30, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | Zechariah 1-8 In this sermon, we lean into the Spirit’s writing through the prophet, Zechariah. And we imagine a world without walls — a vision of humanity where all that has historically divided has now been cast aside in the name of coming together in Spirit-shaped oneness. Keywords: Oneness, Grace, Division, Justice, Hope, Healing, Peacemaking, Holy Spirit Abou...

April 23, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Genesis 1:1-3 Pastora Inés dives into an overview of the Ruach Elohim and scans the presence and power of the Spirit within the Old Testament. The same Spirit that hovers over the waters of creation falls upon prophets and prophetesses. She leans into the language we use to talk about the Spirit to reclaim the feminine divine in metaphors and images. She i...

April 16, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | John 20-21, Luke 24 Jesus’ post-Resurrection life is filled with such simple but profoundly meaningful moments of reconnecting and reconciling with those closest to him. Let’s look at three vignettes of these sacred stories together. And then remember and recall the resurrection stories the Spirit is writing in our own lives. Keywords: Forgiveness, Restoration, Re...

April 9, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | John 20:1-18 In this Easter sermon, we followed the footsteps of Mary Magdalene as she bravely stayed at the tomb, even as others had fled. We also took note of Mary’s courage in looking into the tomb and we're invited to look into the tombs of our own lives as well. And in so doing, to be met by the Resurrected Christ who awaits us there amidst darkness and de...

April 2, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Luke 19:35-40 Triumphal entries were a thing in ancient Rome. Kings would come back from a conquest showing off their spoils of war by marching in a procession in a conquered city. Victors would show off the conquered (enslaved) peoples, conquered kings and queens, and seized property/land. In contrast, Jesus has to prep his own parade with a borrowed donke...

March 26, 2023 | Sarah Dornbos & Inés Velásquez-McBryde | 2 Thess. 5:23-24, Mark 12:30-31 In this message, we’re reminded that spiritual transformation is an ongoing process that involves our bodies, spirits, and souls (not just our minds)! Spiritual Direction is one resource mentioned to help us sustain a faith that is both Holy & Whole. A guided Contemplative Body Scan is also provided....

March 19, 2023 | Bobby Harrison, Eleanor Baylan, Rocio Kang, & Jed Meyers | Matthew 11:28-30 In this panel, we listen and learn from three mental health practitioners in our local church and community. We leaned into Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 as our framework. And we talked about the importance of fully integrating our faith alongside mental health care. Keywords: Anxiety, Faith, Mental...

March 12, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde and Nicola Patton | Psalm 32:1-11 The psalm shows an anatomy of confession: it moves through reflection and confession all the way to joy. We learn from it that there is indeed nothing that can keep us from God and that confession is good for our souls and bodies. Unconfessed sin burdens and dirties us, but it does not change that God calls us good: holy and...

March 5, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 In this sermon, we look to Jesus as our source of peace, while naming the human reality of anxiety in our lives. The hope is that Jesus becomes our center as we seek a peace of mind. While also being compassionate to ourselves in our own journeys of mental health. Keywords: Peace, Mental Health, Anxiety, Prayer, Fear, Rest About: The Church...

February 26, 2023 | Glendar Haskin | John 6:51-53, 56 In this sermon, Ms. Glendar Haskin walks us through the historical account of her life as a young girl living in the segregated South during Jim Crow. As someone who had to give up her seat to a white man on a bus, she boldly speaks to the ways that systemic racism continues to manifest itself in our modern society. She draws us into the libera...

February 19, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Phil. 4:4-7 NRSV  Joy is such a wild and elusive word that the Apostle Paul invites us to rejoice not once but twice! He writes from the prison of his own house arrest in Rome and yet has the audacity to call us to rejoice, to not be anxious, to pray and give thanks, and present our requests to God. The challenge to our rejoicing is our current rea...

February 5, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | Exodus 3 In this sermon, we look at a very familia story — Moses and the Burning Bush. But we do so through an entirely new lens: God is on fire. We take time to ask why God is on fire in the first place in this story. And we connect it to our call to follow the “justice of Jesus” as followers of Christ. Keywords: Deconstruction, Discipleship, Faith, Injustice,...

January 29, 2023 | Manny Arteaga | Revelation 5:-14 We live in the tension of a victorious lamb on the throne and the reality of our present-day Patmos, a place of suffering, pain, and injustice. Today we worship with our tears. We weep because it hurts, but not because we believe pain is final. Keywords: Grief, Pain, Lament, Worship, Tears, Victory, Lamb, Revelation, Ryhthms of Justice About: The...

January 22, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Matthew 15:21-28   The kingdom of heaven is like a Canaanite mother who crosses the border seeking mercy for her demonized daughter. This immigrant mother exhibits courage as a rhythm to demand justice. She asks for what she needs, believes in the identity and authority of Jesus, stands in solidarity with her daughter, and risks rejection. Her repet...

January 15, 2023 | Bobby Harrison | Matthew 2:22-36 As we continue in our Rhythms of Justice series, we look at Peter’s “desperate” prayer in Matthew 14. And in so doing, we allow ourselves to be inspired to cry out to God in our desperate places just as Peter did to Jesus. Keywords: Desperation, Faith, Hope, Justice, Prayer, Trust About: The Church We Hope For is a beloved community moved by the...

January 8, 2023 | Inés Velásquez-McBryde | Matthew 2:9-13 This past Sunday we began a monthlong new series: Rhythms of Justice to explore the rhythms of life that sustain it. We celebrated Epiphany and the way the magi in Matthew 2:9-13 returned home by a different way: they performed an act of civil disobedience by ignoring Herod’s malicious executive orders. They encountered Jesus and were overw...

December 18, 2022 | Bobby Harrison | 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Luke 1-2 On the last Sunday of Advent, we looked at snapshots of three characters in the Christmas story: Zechariah, the Shepherds, and Mary. And we did so through the lens of that which is veiled in their lives before their encounter with God. And that which becomes unveiled as they behold Jesus. Keywords: Transformation, Behold, Witness...

December 11, 2022 | Nicola Patton | Luke 1:26-38   We easily rush through Advent to get to Christmas but it’s important to take the time to reflect on the pauses, to notice the piece in each story. Maybe it’s within the tension of hope and promises that God shows up. Maybe surrender is where we find ourselves most secure. And each of the ordinary moments of tension is holy. Keywords: Advent,...