Sermons

Pastor Wes reflects on Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus calls Simon, James, and John to follow him after a miraculous catch of fish. He highlights Simon’s initial feelings of failure and doubt, the vulnerability of “deep water” as a metaphor for faith, and Jesus’ call to ordinary people to discipleship. Pastor Wes emphasizes that living our belovedness involves not only personal growth but also participating in community. He challenges the congregation to embrace discipleship as a shared journey, marked by welcoming, worship, caring, belonging, justice, and faithfulness, growing in the image of God for the sake of others.

Pastor Wes reflects on Luke 4:1-13, where Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. He explores how temptations—such as prioritizing personal needs, seeking power, or craving attention—echo through our lives today, particularly during times of exhaustion or uncertainty. Pastor Wes invites us to embrace the paradox of being both strengthened and stretched by the Holy Spirit as we navigate life’s wilderness. He challenges us to name the moments when we feel most alive, notice God’s grace at work, and live into our baptismal promise of belovedness with creativity and courage.

In “Is This Really How to Start a New Year?”, Pastor Wes reflects on Luke 3:1-14 and the bold call of John the Baptist to repentance. He explores how repentance, or metanoia (a change of mind), invites us not only to think differently but to live differently by aligning our actions with God’s call to love and justice. Pastor Wes challenges us to embrace small, meaningful changes in our daily lives, such as generosity, ethical use of resources, and compassion for others, as a way to awaken our sacred imaginations and participate in God’s transformative work in the world.

In “Growing in God,” Pastor Wes reflects on Luke 2:41-52, where Jesus, at age 12, stays behind in the temple. He explores the importance of rituals, routines, and rhythms, like those in Mary, Joseph, and Jesus’ faithful journey to Jerusalem, as scaffolding for our spiritual growth. Pastor Wes encourages us to reflect on what we’ve lost, where we are curious, and how we can grow in wisdom, Divine favor, and connection with one another in the new year. He challenges us to be intentional about tending our relationship with God and others, embodying faithfulness by growing in God’s image for the sake of the world.