Village Pres Sermons

Easter is the day that we remember love wins, justice is coming, kindness is a power, and none of us are defined by the worst in us, but by the best in God. Easter means that there is life beyond the grave, but resurrection occurred in this world. The resurrection was a historical occurrence, so Jesus is alive in this world. And if that is true, we ought to be able to see him now and again. And we...

In his Palm Sunday sermon, Rev. Tom Are preaches on the Beatitude “Blessed Are the Meek.” It was a day filled with hope as Jesus paraded into Jerusalem. Matthew’s Gospel comments that Jesus came into the city in a humble fashion. It’s odd to think about a parade being humble, but this one was. For most parades, it’s about the people in the parade—those who ride on the floats or horses and wave to...

Jesus said the pure in heart are blessed. But who is ever pure in heart? Rev. Tom Are preaches to be human, is almost by definition, to live with a divided heart. Why would Jesus offer a description of blessing that no one would ever obtain? Well, he wouldn’t. We may not be pure of heart, but we might see what it looks like, and in so doing, be drawn a little closer… and know the blessing that Jes...

The Beatitudes include Jesus’ teaching that among the blessed are those who extend mercy. Rev. Tom Are reflects on how we might cultivate a practice of mercy. He shares wisdom both from the teaching of Jesus and from a Sikh woman named Valarie. Our scripture reading is Matthew 18:23-35.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-420...

Can you remember a time when you were really thirsty? The thing about being hungry and thirsty is that they are first-order needs. When we are thirsty, other needs we have can wait. We need water now. One of Jesus’ Beatitudes says those who are blessed hunger and thirst for righteousness. Rev. Tom Are reflects on what it would be like for righteousness to be a first-order need in our lives, someth...

In part 2 of the Lenten Sermon Series "The World Turned Upside Down," Rev. Tom Are turns to one of the more mysterious beatitudes: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” The beatitude does not say, “Blessed will be those who mourn,” but rather “Blessed are those who mourn.” There is something holy in the mourning itself. What is that? Rev. Are seeks the wisdom of this...

In Matthew’s Gospel, the first teaching Jesus offered was the portion we call the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. During Lent, Rev. Tom Are will explore the significance of these Beatitudes in his preaching series "The World Turned Upside Down." He begins with the first beatitude: Blessed are the poor in Spirit. Our scripture reading is Matthew 5:...

It’s from dust we came, and to dust we shall return. And yet, the story of scripture reminds us just what God can do with dust. From creation, to restoration in resurrection, God hasn’t needed more than what we already are to do amazing things. Our scripture reading is Psalm 103.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have...

For many of us, there were moments in 2020 when it seemed as if God was absent. That is exactly what Job wondered. Facing the loss of his family, friends, home, livelihood, and honor, he asks why God has abandoned him and is absent. Together, with Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka, we explore what we do when it feels like God is no longer with us. Our scripture reading is Job 23:1-9, 16-17.  Support the sh...

Rev. Melanie Hardison and Rev. Sally Wright explore scriptures related to God resting on the seventh day of creation, Jesus withdrawing to pray as part of his healing ministry, and Jesus’ invitation to “come unto me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens.” We explore these texts in light of God’s desire for us to be in relationship with God and ways we can actively tend our spiritual lif...

Rev. Tom Are concludes the “2020 Was My Teacher” series with a message on angels. If you have eyes to see it, there have been angels all around us in 2020, ordinary folks doing ordinary things and remarkable things, but things that have served the community. Seeing the angels around us gives us strength. And we have learned in 2020 that we are stronger than we thought. Our scripture reading is 2 T...

Both at the same time we have been confined to our families and in other ways, separated from our families. We have been cut off from patterns of support that we often take for granted. There is a human reality, we were made to love one another. And love is not something that we feel; it’s something that we do. Jesus teaches that we are created to love God and love our neighbor. Our scripture read...

2020 brought some tender conversations to us, specifically around the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Rev. Tom Are reflects on what happens to us in the midst of good and not so good conversations. What gets in our way that keeps us from hearing one another and learning from one another? We know from our own lives and from the story of faith that God does some of God’s best work in o...

As we struggle with our shock and sadness over the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Rev. Tom Are asks us to remember what our Presbyterian faith has taught us about how communities, be they congregations or nations, should be governed. Our scripture reading is Philippians 4:8-9. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4...

On the first Sunday of 2021, Rev. Tom Are preaches about New Year’s Resolutions related to spiritual goals. Ask yourself, “What do I need to do this year to become more the person Christ intends me to be?” We explore ways to grow in our spiritual life in 2021. Our scripture reading is Matthew 4:18-5:3.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres...

Rev. Owen Gray offers a brief meditation on the shepherds, Rev. Sarah Are points us to the magi and Rev. Tom Are allows us to peer into the manger.   Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @villagepres Instagram @villagepreschurch YouTube @villagepresbyteri...

Rev. Tom Are shares some wisdom from his friends in Presbyville—Rev. Noah Tall, Calvin Knox and of course the Williams family: Mabel, Hampy and Dink. They have some good advice for getting through a COVID Christmas.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congregational-care@villagepres.org Facebook @...

Rev. Tom Are preaches it’s just a baby.  We want a God who will destroy the evil doers, but instead we have a God who loves, extends mercy and comes to us in a way to change our hearts. Nothing like a child to do that. Our scripture reading is Luke 2:1-20.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer request?  congr...

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, Rev. Tom Are follows the Angel Gabriel, who is very busy this time of year. First Gabriel visits with Zechariah in the middle of his prayers. Then Gabriel appears to Mary and informs her that she will be the mother of Jesus. As soon as Gabriel slips away, Mary seeks out a girlfriend, her cousin Elizabeth. Mary will include Hannah in their sisterhood as well. It’s a...

On the third Sunday of Advent, Rev. Tom Are turns to John’s father, Zechariah. Zechariah is visited by an angel who announces John’s expected birth. Although, it was not what Zechariah had expected to hear, probably not for a long time. He and his wife Elizabeth were old and had probably laid down the dream of having a child. What is noticeable however, is that the Angel finds Zechariah in the tem...

On this second Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of peace and hear a word of encouragement from a surprising source: John the Baptist. John knows the truth of us. He knows how much each of us needs to grow in our faith; but John also knows there is good in all of us. An imperfect life is still lovable. Our scripture reading is Luke 3:1-14.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church...

Rev. Tom Are begins the Advent Sermon Series “Worth the Wait: God, We’ve Made a Mess of Things Can You Fix it? There is an unshakeable hope that rests in the Biblical story. That hope is painted in the portrait of the “return of the son of man.” Push through the images and what we see is the conviction that God will make things right. The reason we can trust this is because we trust that God is lo...

Rev. Zach Walker preaches we all face storms in our lives, and a lot of the time we are in those storms with people who see things differently than we do. What is the role for us, as followers of Christ, in the midst of heavy winds and storms? And how can we survive the night long enough for daylight to reveal salvation? Our scripture reading is Acts 27:27-44.  Support the show Contact Village Pre...

If you are anything like Rev. Meg Peery McLaughlin, in this COVID-tide, you are making everything up as you go. In Luke’s 10th chapter, Jesus gives his followers some marching orders, words of how to shape life as the church. Perhaps these words could guide and ground us in these topsy-turvy days. Our scripture reading is Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church...

Rev. Tom Are concludes the series “Village Begin Village” speaking of mission. The history of mission at Village is significant. It began in our first days and continues to be a central part of who we are today.  There was a time when we thought of mission being one way, but we have learned, mission, when it is in the spirit of Christ, is a two-way heart holding.  Our scripture reading is Philippi...