Sermons

Worship services are recorded weekly. Please click a date below to view the service.

    • July 7, 2019 Sermon “God’s Healing” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: 2 Kings 5: 1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6: 1-6, 7-16; and Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20.
      • There is an elegant simplicity to the healing and ministry expressed in each of today’s scriptures. Simply “wash and become clean” and Naaman is healed. “I cried out for help, and you healed me,” the psalmist sings to God. The epistle advises, “Carry each other’s burdens and you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Jesus instructs disciples to simply offer God’s peace from house to house. No advance training, no fancy words, and no elaborate rituals are required as we answer God’s call to serve and to heal the world.
    • June 30, 2019 Sermon “Our God of Freedom” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: 2 Kings 2: 1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77: 1-2, 11-20; Galatians 5: 1, 13-25; Luke 9: 51-62.
      • No matter how much we don’t want it to happen, no matter how unprepared we feel to be on our own, mentors and guides eventually leave us, forcing us to carry on without them. Elisha follows Elijah until the very end – when his mentor and master is carried away in the whirlwind – for Elisha knows he cannot follow in the great prophet’s footsteps without a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem, knowing there is no return. The disciples will soon feel this loss. The psalmist cries out to God in distress, remembering God’s great capacity to make everything right again. Galatians does not fit into this theme, but beautifully describes the fruit of the Spirit available to those who live by the Spirit. We see this fruit in the lives of Elijah, Elisha and Jesus; indeed, we see it within our own lives when we love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
    • June 23, 2019 Sermon “There Is Hope in the Wilderness” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: 1 Kings 19: 1-15a; Psalm 42; Galatians 3: 23-29; and Luke 8: 26-39.
      • Even in the midst of calamity, God is there. When Elijah was hunted and wanted to give up, angels nurtured him, and God gave him rest. The psalmist speaks of the longing of the human heart for God when events turn against us, and expresses confidence in God’s help. Galatians celebrates freedom in Christ and the removal of all distinctions that society uses to judge some people as less worthy than others. And Luke calls the story of Jesus freeing the strong man from the demons and the chains that bound him. God is always there to set us free, always there to bind up our wounds, always there to lift us above the hatred we find in the world.
    • (No Sermon June 16 – Pastor at Annual Conference)
    • June 9, 2019 Sermon “Committed to Christ” and Confirmation – Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: Acts 2: 1-21; Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b; Romans 8: 14-17, John 14: 8-17, 25-27.
      • There is a unity of Spirit that pervades both the Pentecost experience and the lectionary scripture readings. The unity of a diverse group of people (Acts 2), the unity of all of Christ’s followers adopted into one united family (Romans 8), and the unity of love connecting both our Trinitarian God and our human community (John 14), are also echoed in the psalmists celebration of creation’s expectant praise.
    • June 2, 2019 Sermon “The Glory of God” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: Psalm 97 and John 17: 20-26
      • Ascension Day is a time to recognize God’s glory and rule over the earth. Jesus has been given power and dominion over all things. This Sunday, we can highlight this regal Jesus, our humble king of kings. The music and atmosphere of worship this day should reflect the reign of the ascended Christ over all things. It should also draw us to a place where we recognize that our calling comes from the most high – we must search for the hope to which God has called us.
    • May 26, 2019 Sermon “A Christian Is No Lone Ranger” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: Acts 16: 9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21: 1-10, 22 – 22:5; and John 14: 23-29.
      • As the season of Eastertide draws to a close, we anticipate Christ’s ascension. Yet even as he prepares the disciples for his departure, he assures them of God’s continuing presence with humanity. The texts from Revelation and John reminds us that God makes his home with us. When we welcome others into our homes in God’s name, as Lydia did in the reading from Acts, we are welcoming God. 
    • May 19, 2019 Choir “Through It All” and Sermon “Love Each Other” Love Feast Sunday.
      • Scriptures: Acts 11: 1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21: 1-6; and John 13: 31-35.
      • It’s a new day. Every scripture on this Easter season Sunday calls us to new life, new outlook, new hope, and a new call to love. Revelation’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth is coupled with Jesus’ commandment that we are to love one another as we have been loved by Christ. As Peter explains his vision that all things created by God are holy and pure, he launches a new vision of the early church, one that will include all who are open to the Spirit’s powerful presence. That Spirit of inclusion is reflected in the psalmist’s celebration that all of creation proclaims God’s praise – a joyous portrayal of the new heaven and new earth promised in Revelation 21.
    • May 12, 2019 Sermon “Arise” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: Acts 9: 36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7: 9-17; and John 10: 22-30.
      • Jesus is both the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd – guiding us toward the source of living water, and taking care of us even when we are afraid or beset by enemies. We can trust in the promise of salvation and eternal life when we follow Jesus and trust God’s goodness and grace.
    • May 5, 2019 Sermon “Jesus Lives and Is on the Move”  Rev. Edwin Foster
    • (No sermon 4/28/19 due to Special Music Sunday)
    • April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday Sermon “Seeing is Believing” Pastor Maribel Celiz
      • Scriptures: Acts 10: 34-43; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15: 19-26; John 20: 1-18; and Luke 24: 1-12.
      • The power of perspective drives the story of Easter Sunday. Are we looking for hope in the message of Jesus the Christ? Are we prepared to discover life in the midst of death? Are we ready to receive faith in the midst of doubt? Even when we aren’t sure what we’re looking for, Christ comes. Christ lives. Christ is present. We are not alone, and both life and love win. This is the victory of the Easter story.
    • (Sorry – technical issues – no video for 4/14/19)
    • December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve Worship
      • Scriptures: Isaiah 9: 2-7; Psalm 95; Titus 2: 11-14; and Luke 2: 1-10
      • This is a night for rejoicing – a night to sing a new song to God, a night to celebrate the salvation brought through the birth of Jesus, a night to embrace the light that shines in the darkness. God’s light and salvation shine forth through a child who will rule with justice and righteousness. This is a night to sing with all creation the glorious salvation of our God.
    • December 9, 2018 Sunday School Christmas Program “The Working Angel’s Guide to Christmas”
    • October 28, 2018 Special Music Performance by Singer/Songwriter Dan Holmes