Sermon: "On Rage and Weddings", John 2:1-11 (January 11, 2026)

*Neither our livestream OR recording were working this week, so there's no video or audio. Hopefully they'll both be up and running for next week.*

I have to tell you, I had an entirely different sermon planned for today. But as I was making notes and studying the scripture, I heard the news out of Minneapolis. Before I started writing, I saw the video. And I became angry. Angry that this sort of extrajudicial execution has become acceptable to our society, yes, but even more so angry at the people justifying and defending it and demanding that I ignore the evidence that I’ve seen with my own eyes. And this anger has been sitting as a pit in my stomach since Wednesday. As you can imagine, these are not ideal sermon writing conditions.

Sermon: "Along the Way", John 1:35-46 (January 4, 2026)

We’re all familiar with the saying, “It’s not the destination that matters; it’s the journey,” right? It’s a reminder to slow down, to notice what’s going on around you as you work towards an objective. It insists that there’s value in the experiences you have along the way to your goal. It’s a good lesson, but unfortunately, not one that our culture values much. In a society that measures success by what you’ve managed to accomplish - education, homeownership, skill mastery, financial security - we’re collectively very much not interested in the journey it takes to get there. The journey is just a necessary evil standing in the way of personal achievement. 

Liturgy: Jesus Calls Disciples, John 1:35-46 (January 4, 2026 - Epiphany Sunday)

       *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know that you have either used or adapted it.*

Hymns

Hymn GTG #134, “Joy to the World”

Hymn GTG #137, “He Came Down”

Sermon: “The Art of Regifting: REJOICE”, Christmas Eve Message (December 24, 2024)

December is widely considered a time for exchanging gifts, so this year during Advent, we’ve been taking a deeper look at “The Art of Regifting.” Even though regifting tends to have a reputation as “that thing you do when you want to get rid of something,” there ARE times when regifting can be a thoughtful and selfless act, especially when you take the time to be intentional about it. We shouldn’t write regifting off altogether, because there are some things that are just too good NOT to share - and that’s especially true when it comes to God’s gifts. 

Liturgy, Christmas Eve: The Art of Regifting: Rejoice, Lessons & Carols (December 24, 2025)

*You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know that you have either used or adapted it.*

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Leader: As we await the gift of God-with-us, we give thanks for all that God has already given to us.
People: Truly, we have been blessed by the Lord’s goodness
Leader: As we await the gift of the Messiah, we ponder how best to share these gifts with the world.
People: Truly, ALL should be blessed by the Lord’s goodness.
Leader: We have received God’s gifts to us joyfully and gratefully. [Light purple candle]
People: We have reflected upon the world’s need beyond ourselves. [Light purple candle]
Leader: We have repackaged God’s gifts to speak Good News in new ways. [Light pink candle]
People: And we have redirected them to the places that God calls us to go. [Light purple candle]
Leader: But tonight is for rejoicing in God’s gifts together, and so we cry aloud with one voice:
People: Let earth receive her king!

Prayer for Illumination

Leader: Let us pray: O Holy One, we gather together once again to share these sacred stories that offer us warmth and hope in the coldest time of year. As we hear these beloved words read and sung, we pray that we might receive them and the Messiah whose story they tell as the gifts from you that they are. Prepare our hearts to share the joy that we find in them to the ends of the earth. In Christ’s holy name we pray, Amen. 

Traditional Lessons and Carols

Offering in Response to God's Grace

Leader: Just like the shepherds and magi of old, we, too, ask ourselves, “What do I have to offer that is worthy of a king?” What matters most is not the value of our gift, but the fact that it is given in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving. So, as we pass the offering plates and hear an offering of music, let us take a moment to reflect silently on what God may be calling us to share of that which we’ve been given, and then let us stand to sing our praise and thanksgiving.

Random Thoughts: Another Take on the Shepherds' Fear

A thought that belongs in a different sermon than the one I wrote this week:

When the angel appears to the shepherds in Luke 2, it says, "The Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terrified." The traditional (and most obvious) interpretation of this is that God's glory was so overwhelming that they were afraid until the angel spoke to them.

Sermon: “The Art of Regifting: REDIRECT”, Luke 2:8-17 (December 21, 2025)

In just three weeks, we’ve covered a lot of ground in terms of the regifting process. Prior to Advent, some of us might have thought that regifting was a simple matter of finding something you don’t want and pawning it off on someone else, but now we know better. Now we know that regifting can be much more than that, and that there are steps to doing it well.