by Rev. Suzanne Trump | Jul 30, 2023
When I was traveling in Turkey many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Turkish wrestling festival near Edirne, which is a smallish, non-descript town several hours west of Istanbul (near the border with Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria), with nothing...
by Rev. Cynthia Leslie Simmons | Jul 23, 2023
Note: Prior to the sermon, Pastor Simmons and Pastor Clifton presented the children’s book “The Runaway Bunny” in dramatic form as a modern parable to help understand the scripture. Francis Thompson was an English poet who, in 1890, published a poem called The Hound...
by Rev. Suzanne Trump | Jul 16, 2023
Luke 14: 1, 7-14 Text Focus Sentence: Jesus encourages disciples to invest their hearts and live fully into God’s reign. Instead of facing life with fear, those who know God’s generosity are always ready to receive from God and give to others. Sermon Focus...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Jul 2, 2023
I don’t know about you, friends, but I can’t stand weeds! We are constantly doing battle with them in the cracks and crevices of our sidewalks: we’ve tried chemicals, a salt and vinegar spray, spent hours pulling them up by hand. And still they just laugh and keep...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Jun 25, 2023
“I don’t need ANYBODY’S forgiveness.” I was standing in the narthex of the church in New York City where I was serving as an associate pastor, when I heard a voice say that. The pastors were all greeting people exiting through different doors at the end of the...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Jun 18, 2023
“What does this situation need?” No matter what kind of situation is under consideration, if you’re asking The Beatles, then the answer is: “All you need is [pause, motion] love.” That’s right, “All you need is love, love, love. Love is all you need.” And based on...
