First Cary UMC

First Cary UMC’s First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Martha McLean – January 4, 2026 Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

First Cary UMC Community-Wide Worship – Rev. Ben Alexander – December 28, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – December 21, 2025 Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel interrupts Mary’s life with unexpected news of a coming baby. At first Mary is perplexed. Then, in faith, she asks questions. Then she arrives at an open willingness, submitting to God’s marvelous plan. How might Mary’s process remind us of the process of Advent? To be u...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – December 21, 2025 Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel interrupts Mary’s life with unexpected news of a coming baby. At first Mary is perplexed. Then, in faith, she asks questions. Then she arrives at an open willingness, submitting to God’s marvelous plan. How might Mary’s process remind us of the process of Advent? To be unhurri...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer  – December 14, 2025 Scripture: Exodus 16:13-21 Not long after the Israelites had been delivered from slavery in Egypt, their stomachs began to rumble and they began to grumble for food. God graces them with Manna, a provision that is only good on the day it is collected. To be unhurried is to recognize the grace before us and to s...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – December 14, 2025 Scripture: Exodus 16:13-21 Not long after the Israelites had been delivered from slavery in Egypt, their stomachs began to rumble and they began to grumble for food. God graces them with Manna, a provision that is only good on the day it is collected. To be unhurried is to recognize the grace before us and to stifle o...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kristyl Kepley – December 7, 2025 Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. While Martha is busy with preparations, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Frustrated, Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus gently corrects her and us all, encouraging us to sit in his presence and choose him over our presumption...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – December 7, 2025 Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. While Martha is busy with preparations, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Frustrated, Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus gently corrects her and us all, encouraging us to sit in his presence and choose him over our presumption th...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer– November 30, 2025 Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 The Prophet Isaiah saw an inspiring vision of a Savior and shared it with the Israelites. And then they waited….for centuries. We have always been a people who wait on the Lord to make good on God’s promises. To be unhurried is to slow down and joyfully await the One who fulfills our deepe...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – November 30, 2025 Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 The Prophet Isaiah saw an inspiring vision of a Savior and shared it with the Israelites. And then they waited….for centuries. We have always been a people who wait on the Lord to make good on God’s promises. To be unhurried is to slow down and joyfully await the One who fulfills our deepest ho...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer– November 23, 2025 Scripture: Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells a story that turns our world upside down. An unnamed man of status ignores a downtrodden man named Lazarus in this world.  But in the afterlife, it is Lazarus who finds comfort and the unnamed man faces agony. Jesus uses this story to call us to a life on earth that is not abo...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – November 23, 2025 Scripture: Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells a story that turns our world upside down. An unnamed man of status ignores a downtrodden man named Lazarus in this world.  But in the afterlife, it is Lazarus who finds comfort and the unnamed man faces agony. Jesus uses this story to call us to a life on earth that is not about ou...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer– November 16, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 A phrase we often hear in postmodern life is that we are living in the age of anxiety. As human beings, we worry, we stress, we fret. Are we working enough? Do we have enough? Are we enough? According to Jesus, this is an ancient challenge. In Matthew 6, Jesus invites us to let go of ou...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – November 16, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 A phrase we often hear in postmodern life is that we are living in the age of anxiety. As human beings, we worry, we stress, we fret. Are we working enough? Do we have enough? Are we enough? According to Jesus, this is an ancient challenge. In Matthew 6, Jesus invites us to let go of our wor...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander – November 9, 2025 Scripture: Luke 15:1-7 As Jesus speaks in Luke 15, people of questionable reputation flock to this new shepherd. The old guard grumbles about his rubbing shoulders with the misfits, so Jesus responds with a story. Jesus reminds them, and us,  that God is a shepherd who never gives up on the lost. May we live with the...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Martha McLean   – November 9, 2025 Scripture: Luke 15:1-7 As Jesus speaks in Luke 15, people of questionable reputation flock to this new shepherd. The old guard grumbles about his rubbing shoulders with the misfits, so Jesus responds with a story. Jesus reminds them, and us,  that God is a shepherd who never gives up on the lost. May we live with the...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – November 2, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 Along a mountainside in Matthew 5, Jesus offers his most memorable teaching about Red Letter Life on earth. Early on, Jesus speaks to his disciples about being the salt of the earth,  and light of the world. On this All Saints Day, may the saints present and past be a living reminder of...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander   – November 2, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 Along a mountainside in Matthew 5, Jesus offers his most memorable teaching about Red Letter Life on earth. Early on, Jesus speaks to his disciples about being the salt of the earth,  and light of the world. On this All Saints Day, may the saints present and past be a living reminder of wha...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – October 26, 2025 Scripture: John 13:3-10a The story of the washing of the disciples’ feet offers two incredible perspectives about serving. On the one hand, we see the humility of the Son of God who submits to a menial task. On the other hand, we see the humility of being willing to receive a gift. How does this story remind us o...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander   – October 26, 2025 Scripture: John 13:3-10a The story of the washing of the disciples’ feet offers two incredible perspectives about serving. On the one hand, we see the humility of the Son of God who submits to a menial task. On the other hand, we see the humility of being willing to receive a gift. How does this story remind us of ou...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kristyl Kepley – October 19, 2025 Scripture: Genesis 33:1-4 One of the most humbling experiences in life is when we have done wrong and experience the mercy of forgiveness. That’s where Jacob is in Genesis 33. After tricking their father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing, Jacob lights out of town for a period of more than a decade.  Making his wa...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Ben Alexander   – October 19, 2025 Scripture: Genesis 33:1-4 One of the most humbling experiences in life is when we have done wrong and experience the mercy of forgiveness. That’s where Jacob is in Genesis 33. After tricking their father Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing, Jacob lights out of town for a period of more than a decade.  Making his wa...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer   – October 12, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5 It is very easy to look around and see what everyone else is doing wrong. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus powerfully reminds us of our need to recognize our need to grow before we try to fix the world. How can we develop the practices of self-reflection required to see our own shortco...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon – Rev. Martha McLean – October 12, 2025 Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5 It is very easy to look around and see what everyone else is doing wrong. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus powerfully reminds us of our need to recognize our need to grow before we try to fix the world. How can we develop the practices of self-reflection required to see our own shortcomings? H...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer   – October 5, 2025 Scripture: John 3:22–30 John the Baptist was a renowned prophet with a huge following. Yet after he realized that Jesus was the Christ, he humbly recognized that he needed to make room for Jesus, saying “he must increase, but I must decrease.” How does John’s willingness to decrease reflect our calling in the li...