Sunday, May 3, 2026

Sermon: Pounding the Pavement Like Paul, Acts 17:16-31 (May 3, 2026)

Have any of you ever done door-to-door sales before? I never have, but I imagine it’s a pretty tough job. I mean, I know that as the person on the other side of the door, I almost always start out skeptical and annoyed when someone shows up at my house to sell me something. Before I even open the door, I have to convince the worst guard dogs ever to stop barking so that I can hear what the person is trying to sell me. But even after overcoming that initial hurdle, there are always plenty more. Maybe it’s an inconvenient time, maybe their product isn’t something I’m particularly interested in, maybe I’m wary of being scammed, maybe I’m just not in the mood to talk to anyone at all. More often than not, a door-to-door salesperson who finds themself on my front porch starts out at a distinct disadvantage. 

Friday, May 1, 2026

Liturgy: Paul's Sermon at Athens, Acts 17:16-31 (May 3, 2026)

         *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 #409, “God Is Here!”
Hymn GTG #317, “In Christ There Is No East or West”

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Sermon: "Until We All Are Free", Acts 16:16-34 (April 26, 2026)

This story about Paul and Silas in prison is a strange one. It reads more like Christian gossip to me than Church history, with each claim more outrageous than the last: “Did you hear that Paul got arrested for driving a spirit out of a slave-girl?” “Well, *I* heard that he converted all of his fellow prisoners *and* the prison guard!” “Oh yeah? Well, *I* heard that God sent an earthquake so big that it knocked all the doors of the jail off their hinges and even loosened the prisoners’ chains!” 

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Liturgy: Paul and Silas in Prison, Acts 16:16-34 (April 26, 2026)

         *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 #234, “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain”
Hymn GTG #653, “Give Thanks to God Who Hears Our Cries” [v 1-3]
Hymn GTG #772, “Live into Hope”

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Sermon: "Not Here", Luke 24 (April 5, 2026 - Easter)

You may have noticed some yellow papers taped to the pews as you sat down this morning. If you’ve joined us for worship at any point over the past few weeks, you probably recognize them: they’re the names of marginalized groups that have been hanging on our walls since Ash Wednesday. These are not groups that *I* have decided are marginalized; they’re ones that you as a community have lifted up. These are the people that we tend to forget, disregard, and push away so that we don’t have to practice empathy or confront the ways that our society has failed them. These names have been on the walls throughout Lent to remind us how again and again - especially in Luke’s gospel - Jesus demonstrates compassion and solidarity with the very people that society would prefer to stay “out of sight, out of mind.”  But they’re in our pews this morning because today, something is different. Something has changed. They are no longer out of sight and mind because today, the angels tell us, Jesus is not here. 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Liturgy: Easter Sunday Lessons and Carols, Luke 24 (April 5, 2026)

*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.*

 Additional Hymns:

Hymn GTG #232, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” [vv. 1, 3, & 4]
Hymn GTG #238, “Thine Is the Glory” [vv. 1 & 2]

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Liturgy: Palm Sunday Lessons and Carols, Luke 19-21 (March 29, 2026)

*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.*

 Additional Hymns:

Hymn GTG #197, “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” [vv. 1 & 3]
Hymn GTG #198, “Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!” [vv. 1-2]