Sermons

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.

In this sermon based on Psalm 29, Dr. Sarah Melcher reflects on God’s power, especially as seen through the awe-inspiring force of storms. She shares personal experiences, connecting ancient Israel’s reverence for God’s strength to the modern challenges of climate change. Dr. Melcher emphasizes our role in environmental stewardship, drawing from theological insights that God’s redemptive work includes all of creation. She calls for partnership with God to “serve and preserve” the earth, seeking peace and strength from God to live sustainably.

In his sermon on Luke 12, Pastor Wes invites us to consider Jesus’ reminder to “consider the ravens” as a call to embrace peace over worry. Observing creation, from playful ravens to blooming lilies, Pastor Wes explains how Jesus uses nature’s resilience to illustrate God’s care for us. Despite our tendency to worry and strive for control, this passage reminds us that we are deeply connected to all of creation and cared for by God’s love. Jesus’ words urge us to let go of perfectionism, fear, and the need for control, and instead, to find calm and confidence in God’s unwavering kindness.

This sermon invites us to consider the clutter within our hearts and souls, asking God to help create a renewed spirit within us. Reflecting on personal experiences and the challenges we often carry, Pastor Wes likens our internal clutter to an old church basement filled with neglected items. Just as we clear out physical spaces, we’re called to open our hearts to God’s restorative presence, allowing divine love to cleanse and transform us. Through deep breaths and mindful prayers, we can embrace God’s continual work in our lives, inviting peace and purpose into our daily journey.