First Sermons

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that’s a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

The hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” premiered in November of 2019 and with it came the popular catch phrase for its fans and beyond, “This is the Way.” In short, this mantra serves as a connection point for the Mandalorians, reminding them what’s most important and how it shapes their lives individually and communally. As followers of Jesus, in the Wesleyan tradition, we also have a “way” tha...

Advent is a season of waiting and waiting can be hard. As people of faith, we’re called to embody the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love while we deal with the difficulties and disappointments that come with living in an imperfect world. The prophet Isaiah pointed to the gift of the Christ-child 700 years before he came. In what ways do our lives point toward our commitment to and our gratitude fo...

Advent is a season of waiting and waiting can be hard. As people of faith, we’re called to embody the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love while we deal with the difficulties and disappointments that come with living in an imperfect world. The prophet Isaiah pointed to the gift of the Christ-child 700 years before he came. In what ways do our lives point toward our commitment to and our gratitude fo...

Advent is a season of waiting and waiting can be hard. As people of faith, we’re called to embody the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love while we deal with the difficulties and disappointments that come with living in an imperfect world. The prophet Isaiah pointed to the gift of the Christ-child 700 years before he came. In what ways do our lives point toward our commitment to and our gratitude fo...

Advent is a season of waiting and waiting can be hard. As people of faith, we’re called to embody the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love while we deal with the difficulties and disappointments that come with living in an imperfect world. The prophet Isaiah pointed to the gift of the Christ-child 700 years before he came. In what ways do our lives point toward our commitment to and our gratitude fo...

“Beyond Thanksgiving: ThanksLIVING” sermon was preached by Reverend Alan Taylor at First UMC on Sunday, 20 November 2022. This sermon is based on Psalm 100.

The scripture lessons in this series challenge us to be “all-in” when it comes to following Jesus. How would our faith family at First UMC look different if we were all, all-in? This sermon examines Luke 21 where verse 2 says “…he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.”

The scripture lessons in this series challenge us to be “all-in” when it comes to following Jesus. How would our faith family at First UMC look different if we were all, all-in? This sermon examines Matthew 14.

The scripture lessons in this series challenge us to be “all-in” when it comes to following Jesus. How would our faith family at First UMC look different if we were all, all-in? This sermon kicks off the series and examines Luke 19:1-10 where verse 8 says “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”

The "Come To Your Senses" sermon series highlights the importance of using our five senses to experience God in the tangible things of life. Sometimes all we have to do is look, or listen, or smell, or taste, or touch to be reminded of God’s amazing grace all around us. Do we hear Jesus calling us to new life? What do we need to be unbound from to be free?

The "Come To Your Senses" sermon series highlights the importance of using our five senses to experience God in the tangible things of life. Sometimes all we have to do is look, or listen, or smell, or taste, or touch to be reminded of God’s amazing grace all around us. According to the book of Genesis the beginning of life itself started in the nose! How can we use the gift of life given to us by...

The "Come To Your Senses" sermon series highlights the importance of using our five senses to experience God in the tangible things of life. Sometimes all we have to do is look, or listen, or smell, or taste, or touch to be reminded of God’s amazing grace all around us. This week, we look at what does it mean for us to be the “salt of the earth.”