Zao MKE Church

J.J. Warren preaches from Acts 11, challenging us to be like Peter: to respond to the voice of God, which calls us to move beyond the boundaries that keep us apart from our fellow humans and the doctrines that keep queer people out of UMC pulpits.

Guest sermon by Derrick Scott The folks who received the Sermon on the Mount were probably surprised to hear these words being said to them. The call to be salt and light for the sake of the world goes out to everyone, but especially to everyday, ordinary individuals. And the world is waiting on us to respond.

Guest sermon by Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, Pastor at Union Church Boston Loving self (body) is a process of unlearning… self criticism, self hate, self loathing - it is the rejection of how we’ve been shaped by society. Being beloved of God and the body of Christ is accompanied by transformation of the mind.

Guest sermon by Cor Christophe, Zao community member We believe God created us and most of us claim, believe, and/or have been told that because God created us, our bodies are sacred/holy. But what does it mean to have a sacred body? Are all bodies truly sacred? And how do we care for our sacred body? Join us this Sunday as we explore these questions, and examine how we may attend to our sacred/ho...

Guest sermon by Rev. Jason Butler Our bodies represent a power but our question is always, “How will that power be used”? For good or not so much? When Jesus encounters the religious leaders he is facing strongmen who are oppressing the people. How does Jesus respond? And where are our bodies in this story?

Guest sermon by Bryan Minan, Zao community member The love of God has always and will always be given and extended to us all. Especially to those communities who have been historically hurt, oppressed, and had religion weaponized against them. Join us for a message about that love that promises to always be there, from a community that wants to do the same.

Guest sermon by Rev. Victoria Sun Esparza What do our scars tell us about God’s transformative work? What happens when our scars only remind us of our painful past? Join us as we talk about transformation, the story of our bodies, and what we do with the scars left behind.

Guest sermon by Rev. Tyler Sit, Pastor at New City Church How do we cure pity in our society? What alternatives does the Bible offer to paternalistic charity? Join us to see how Jesus answered those questions!

Guest sermon by Rev. Afi Dobbins-Mays, Pastor at Solomon Community Temple United Methodist Church and the New St. James Community Church In true Zao fashion, we are still celebrating PRIDE long past June! Join us for a sermon from Reverend Afi Dobbins-Mays, in celebration and honor of Pride month. It is a call for justice, love and unity in Christ!

Guest sermon by Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister at First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee Stillness has a relationship with movement, just as the notes of a piece of jazz are punctuated by silence. As opposed to silence, stillness can be a frame for music, creativity, and teeming life. Stillness can serve as the ground for creativity, the rest that creates the next thing. Join us for this w...

Each 4th of July weekend, churches across the country wave flags and sing songs of patriotism. But is this commitment to national identity faithful? Or do we have other opportunities to celebrate alternative American histories that align less with colonizing empire and more with the Gospel message of freedom from oppression?

When we come to the end of the Spiritual life cycle, we are invited to reflect on what we've learned. Where have we come from, and how are we different? Can we accept that this path is not what we thought it might be when we set out?   We'll look to Jesus on the cross, facing transition from life to death. Though he will rise again in just 3 days, even Jesus must face the end of this cycle. How ca...

In the middle of our spiritual cycles, we can find ourselves in a bit of existential crisis. Does any of this even matter? God invites us to turn from ourselves in these moments to see that we are part of something larger and more lasting - and that our contributions matter!

Happy Pride weekend! This week, we'll be entering the part of the spiritual life cycle concerned with identity and love - who am I? Can this new version of myself love and be loved authentically? Learning from the Biblical story of young lovers David and Jonathon, we'll see how stripping off the expectations of others and pursuing your true self can lead you into deeper and truer love - for yourse...

At the beginning of every spiritual cycle, we ask ourselves, "Can I risk it?" We wonder whether we are truly capable of embarking on a journey into the unknown. Is it safe? Who must I rely on, and how much can I trust myself on the new path?   To give us hope and a model of how to leap into the spiritual unknown with abandon, we'll look to Jesus in his own childhood, putting his trust entirely in...

Jesus asks his followers to stay awake, which begs the question: Stay awake to what?   Join us for a special sermon from Tyler Sit, who is a queer POC friend of Zao, church planter and author of the new book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers. We'll explore how we can stay awake, show up for justice and transform the world around us by first transforming ourselves.

Sometimes we're plagued by doubt, even if we're *mostly* sure that God affirms and celebrates LBGTQ people. So what if we're wrong? Come hear a word of hope in the midst of uncertainty - our earnest, imperfect pursuit of the Gospel is holy and good. Even if we're wrong.

This week, we'll unpack the handful of single verses that have been taken out of context to harm LGBTQ people. What's an abomination anyway? Do these scriptures actually reference consenting relationships between adults at all? From Leviticus to Romans, we've got you covered, verse by verse.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has been wielded against queer people for so long that some of our anti-queer words and laws are references to this scripture. But what if the Sin of Sodom isn't about LGBTQ people at all?   TW: service will contain content related to sexual assault

What if the creation is about Adam & Eve, Adam & Steve, and Eve & whoever she's into? We'll dissect the origins of one of the hater's favorite slogans, and see why Adam & Steve can get their happily ever after just like everyone else.

Want to know how to respond to family, friends, or even strangers when they use the Bible as a weapon to harm or reject LGBTQ people?   In this series, we'll break down: 1) How to read scripture in a way that truly honors God and all God's children 2) Each of the 7 verses most popularly used to harm or reject LGBTQ people 3) What to do with internal nagging doubts like, "what if the haters are rig...

Are science and faith opposites? Why are Christians hypocrites? What's the point of prayer?   This Sunday, Pastor Jonah will attempt to answer 20 burning questions submitted anonymously by the community, in just 30 minutes.

Wounds and all, Jesus has risen to invite us into a new kind of hope - one we just might have to live out to believe.

Palm Sunday is not only a culmination of years of Jesus's ministry, it's a massive protest against empire. Come hear how the day in, day out work of discipleship makes major disruption like this possible.

Last week, we talked abolition and hope for a world redeemed. But what if the quickest way there begins with praise of the God who promises that it's possible?   Come hear a story of prison walls crumbling and jailers redeemed all because of a powerful song of praise.