Sermons & Worship from February 2025
The Value of Sunday—Sacred Time, Sacred Place, Sacred Renewal
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 24:13-35 (The Road to Emmaus) I have been spending time with people and learning what they need in their spiritual life. I’ve talked with people inside the church and beyond the walls of the church. Everyone says something similar to me: they want connection and to know that a gathering is going to happen, again. I call this ritual. This has got me thinking about the value of Sunday and why we come together as one…
Do You Love Me? Love of Self, Love of Community
Scripture: John 21:15-17 (NRSVUE) Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” The conversation between Jesus and Peter isn’t just about love in the abstract; it’s about the vulnerable, ongoing process of becoming—of stepping into love when we feel uncertain, unworthy, or afraid. 1. Opening: The Tension of Becoming I want to begin with the tension Peter feels when Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” When we read scripture, we do so with our bodies. This moment with Peter is a…
Lessons from the Field
by Rev. Wendy DeMott Fambro a retired American Baptist Minister with 36 years’ experience serving a variety of churches and campus ministries. Rev. Fambro is currently a tai chi instructor for Lifespan of Rochester. Scripture: Mark 12:28-31; Ephesians 3:14-19
Braving the World: Honoring Anger, Embodying Nonviolence
Scripture: Matthew 21:12-13; Ephesians 4:26-27 This week, I’ve had countless conversations with people in the church and in the community who are terrified and angry. I find myself angry, too! I am angry that the ruling class continues to compromise my and our futures. With a stroke of a pen, federal agencies were to pause payments that would impact my ability to receive healthcare or buy food. You see, Erin and I are one of those people who are “on…