First Cary UMC

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer   – July 13, 2025 Scripture: Genesis 37:12-34 After a plot to end his life, Joseph is thrown into an empty pit with no water by his brothers - and the story doesn’t get easier from there. A story that includes betrayal and pain, how does Joseph learn to tell the truth without losing hope? As we lean into Joseph’s Journey, might we...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon “The Audacity to Dream” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – July 6 2025 Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11 Joseph’s dream wasn’t just a glimpse of his future—it was a calling into something bigger than himself. Answering God’s call upon our lives is not as linear as a one-time “yes.” But instead, the courage to believe that God might use your life, even when others don’t...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon “The Audacity to Dream” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – July 6 2025 Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11 Joseph’s dream wasn’t just a glimpse of his future—it was a calling into something bigger than himself. Answering God’s call upon our lives is not as linear as a one-time “yes.” But instead, the courage to believe that God might use your life, even when others don’t see it...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon “The Story of Stephen” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – June 29, 2025 Acts 6:8-15 Stephen’s story ends in violence—but not defeat. He stands firm in truth, speaks with grace, and dies with his face shining like an angel. Sometimes, doing the right thing costs more than we want to give. But God's glory shines brightest when we remain faithful, even when the worl...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon “The Story of Stephen” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – June 29, 2025 Acts 6:8-15 Stephen’s story ends in violence—but not defeat. He stands firm in truth, speaks with grace, and dies with his face shining like an angel. Sometimes, doing the right thing costs more than we want to give. But God's glory shines brightest when we remain faithful, even when the world resi...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon “Reforming from the Inside” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – June 22, 2025 Acts 6:1-7 Under the weight of its own growth, the early church begins to crack. There are vulnerable people being overlooked, and frustration begins to set in. Instead of ignoring the problem, the apostles respond with humility, inclusion, and Spirit-filled change. A moment of internal...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon “Reforming from the Inside” –  Rev. Martha McLean– June 22, 2025 Acts 6:1-7 Under the weight of its own growth, the early church begins to crack. There are vulnerable people being overlooked, and frustration begins to set in. Instead of ignoring the problem, the apostles respond with humility, inclusion, and Spirit-filled change. A moment of internal conflic...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon “All or Nothing” –  Rev. Martha McLean – June 15, 2025 Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira hold back a piece of their offering—and end up losing everything. It’s a disturbing story, but one that reveals a deep truth: God desires our whole hearts, not half-measures. As we become the body, a church that is rooted in grace, integrity matters. On Trinity Sunday, w...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon “All or Nothing” –  Rev. Anna Thornburg – June 15, 2025 Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira hold back a piece of their offering—and end up losing everything. It’s a disturbing story, but one that reveals a deep truth: God desires our whole hearts, not half-measures. As we become the body, a church that is rooted in grace, integrity matters. On Trinity Sunday, w...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Spirit on Fire” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – June 8, 2025 Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 When the Holy Spirit arrives, it does not arrive quietly. Instead, it shows up like wind and fire. As we celebrate Pentecost this Sunday in worship, may we recognize the ways that the Spirit transforms a fearful group towards bold faith. This moment is not just about the birth...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Spirit on Fire” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – June 8, 2025 Scripture:  Acts 2:1-21 When the Holy Spirit arrives, it does not arrive quietly. Instead, it shows up like wind and fire. As we celebrate Pentecost this Sunday in worship, may we recognize the ways that the Spirit transforms a fearful group towards bold faith. This moment is not just about the birth of t...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "The End is the Beginning” – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – June 1, 2025 Scripture:  Acts 1:1-11 When Jesus ascends, it looks like the end—but it’s actually the start of something far greater. The disciples are left staring at the sky, waiting and wondering what’s next. Jesus gives them a massive mission: to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth. But Jesu...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "The End is the Beginning” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – June 1, 2025 Scripture:  Acts 1:6-11 When Jesus ascends, it looks like the end—but it’s actually the start of something far greater. The disciples are left staring at the sky, waiting and wondering what’s next. Jesus gives them a massive mission: to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth. But Jesus doe...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Love Never Ends” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 25, 2025 “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Love Never Ends” –  Rev. Martha McLean – May 25, 2025 “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all t...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Clothe Yourself With Love” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 18, 2025 “Above all, clothe yourself with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14 Each and every morning, we prepare for the day ahead. The Apostle Paul encourages us in the letter to the Colossians to put on the wardrobe that God has picked out for us, including...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Clothe Yourself With Love” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 18, 2025 “Above all, clothe yourself with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14 Each and every morning, we prepare for the day ahead. The Apostle Paul encourages us in the letter to the Colossians to put on the wardrobe that God has picked out for us, including compas...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 11, 2025 “ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 11, 2025 “ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, Give Thanks In All Circumstances” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 4, 2025 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Like the disciples, we may feel that there are seasons when God feels far away or absent all t...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, Give Thanks In All Circumstances” –  Rev. Anna Thornburg – May 4, 2025 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Like the disciples, we may feel that there are seasons when God feels far away or absent all togeth...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Rejoice in the Lord Always” –  Rev. Anna Thornburg – April 27, 2025 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” Philippians 4:4 The disciples have encountered so much over the past days. They have watched their friend Jesus encounter persecution, death, and now, resurrection! However, it takes a little while to encounter Jesus on the road to Em...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Rejoice in the Lord Always” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – April 27, 2025 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” Philippians 4:4 The disciples have encountered so much over the past days. They have watched their friend Jesus encounter persecution, death, and now, resurrection! However, it takes a little while to encounter Jesus on the road to Emma...

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Remembering Resurrection” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! As the women approach the tomb of Jesus, they are met with the unexpected - an empty grave and bewildering message of an angel: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” In this moment, the wilderness...

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "What Are You Doing For Easter?” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! As the women approach the tomb of Jesus, they are met with the unexpected - an empty grave and bewildering message of an angel: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” In this moment, the wilderness...