Series: Sunday Sermons

Pastor Wes reflects on Isaiah’s imagery of “beautiful feet,” challenging the conventional notions of beauty and perfection. Drawing parallels between cosmetically flawed produce and human imperfections, he emphasizes that beauty lies in purpose and message rather than appearance. Through Isaiah’s words, he connects the struggles of ancient exiles to our modern experiences of instability and uncertainty, urging the congregation to reflect on where they stand spiritually and where they are headed. The sermon concludes with an invitation to embrace faithfulness—growing in God’s image for the sake of others—even with life’s inevitable “bumps and bruises.”

Pastor Wes reflects on the centrality of water in scripture, from creation’s chaos to Christ’s baptism, connecting these images to our lives. Drawing from Isaiah 43, he reminds us we are both beloved and broken, living in a world of care and conflict. Water symbolizes life and struggle, while fire represents passion and destruction. Both invite us to examine where we’re thriving, struggling, or flickering. On Stewardship Sunday, Pastor Wes challenges us to consider where our “buckets” are full or empty and to embrace God’s call to give and serve generously.

In today’s sermon, Pastor Wes reflects on Isaiah 40’s message of hope to a people in exile—those feeling homeless, helpless, and hopeless. He parallels this with our own challenges, inviting us to consider where we find comfort today, through community, connection, and acts of love. Reflecting on the church’s 70-year legacy of compassion and justice, Pastor Wes calls the congregation to keep embodying these values, offering comfort and commitment as they journey forward together in faith.

The sermon, inspired by Isaiah 11:1-9, uses familiar nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty as metaphors for the brokenness we encounter, especially in grief and social challenges. Pastor Wes reflects on how, like Humpty, we often can’t be “put back together.” Yet Isaiah’s vision offers hope, symbolized by a sprouting twig from a stump, showing resilience rooted in God’s strength. This vision aligns with the lives of the saints, whose light and faith continue to inspire, reminding us to live in God’s world of possibility despite brokenness.

This sermon explores the dual nature of faith and healing through the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man. Using the metaphor of “two sides of a coin,” Rev. Ellen Marsey highlights Bartimaeus’s healing as both a physical restoration and a spiritual call. Bartimaeus’s act of reaching out exemplifies humility and dependence on God, challenging our self-sufficiency. The message concludes with a call for discipleship, where even in our own woundedness, we can find strength to serve others.

In this sermon, inspired by Isaiah 9:2-7, Pastor Wes reflects on how, like Isaiah, we live in challenging times filled with fear, exhaustion, and brokenness. Isaiah offers hope by presenting God’s promise of peace through the image of a child and names such as “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace,” which represent God’s wisdom, strength, and love. The pastor invites listeners to open themselves to God’s presence, seeking peace and support amidst life’s difficulties.

In this sermon inspired by Isaiah 6:1-8, Pastor Wes reflects on Isaiah’s awe-filled vision of God and his calling amidst a challenging time. The sermon highlights the concept of a “liminal moment,” a period of uncertainty after the end of an era, paralleling Isaiah’s time with present-day challenges like natural disasters and social upheaval. Pastor Wes emphasizes the values of confession, connection, and commitment, encouraging the congregation to embody faith, justice, and compassion in times of need.

In this sermon based on Isaiah 2, Pastor Wes reflects on the prophet’s vision of transforming tools of war into instruments of growth and peace. Using Pedro Reyes’s art—turning weapons into shovels and instruments—as an example, the sermon emphasizes our call to be “peacemakers,” not just “peacekeepers.” Pastor Wes encourages curiosity, humility, and openness as steps to create a peaceful, united world inspired by God’s wisdom.

Pastor Wes reflects on Acts 16:13-15, inviting the congregation to “join Lydia’s circle.” In her time, Lydia, a woman of faith and a dealer in purple cloth, worships by the river, outside the formal religious system, reminding us of God’s call to embrace and welcome others beyond societal boundaries. Like Lydia, who stands in a lineage of faithful women, we are encouraged to create inclusive spaces, open our hearts, and let faith inspire our daily lives. Pastor Wes challenges us to live out Lydia’s spirit by expanding our “circle” to include all voices, embracing God’s liberating love.