Every spring, we look forward to our Youth Sunday. This is the day when our entire worship service is created and led by members of our youth group.
This year is a particular treat because instead of a sermon, they have written sketches, similar to Saturday Night Live and are calling it Sunday Morning Live. The sketches will tell a simple story about Jesus’ commandment to Love Thy Neighbor and what that really looks like in the life of faith alongside other things we tend to prioritize.
In addition, all of the music is written and performed by our youth and we will honor our graduating senior Lillian during our prayer time.
What a joyful celebration! Perfect for Mothers Day!

This Sunday with frequent guest preacher Rev. Dottie LaPenta, our congregation will continue in this Season of Creation with a focus on storms. That may seem like a strange part of creation to celebrate and reflect upon, but with climate change, our whole world has had to reckon more than ever with the power of nature; that which we cannot control. As Rev. Leah Schade wrote: “ultimately the powers that think themselves greater than God will fall just as easily as the waves and wind before the hand of Jesus. Internally, the storms that rage in me are just as answerable to the command of Jesus. With one cry to the Master, the wild waves and wind always calm themselves in his presence, and, once again, I experience peace in the midst of the storms”.

Today is also a Communion Sunday. Despite all the changes that may rage around us, we ground ourselves in this sacrament gifted to us by our Lord.

Link to readable sermon PDF

This annual Green Sunday celebration infuses creation care into every element of the worship service; a crucial part of our church’s mission. Each year, Green Sunday focuses on a different theme, and this year the theme is how blessed we are to have pets and animals in our lives. In this service, we will meditate on how God gave us creatures to nurture and take care of, but also on how they are able to teach us new things about God’s unconditional love and the practice of joy in daily life.

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Christ is Risen! This is true every Sunday for us, but this is the Sunday where we celebrate and remember how we got to this place of resurrection and newness of life.

Today we ponder the stone rolled away. What is it that holds us back from this hope and joy? What are the stones blocking out way out of the tombs in our world? How will WE roll the stone away? What does the resurrection mean for us today?

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This service is our annual service remembering the events of Jesus’ last week of life before the cross. Each year, the focus is a little different, and this year we will consider Jesus’ time of agonizing prayer at Gethsemane. He wrestles mightily with what is about to happen to Him. He does not want to die or suffer this pain. He needs strength from God to continue to go forward. He also needed His friends to be there for Him and not turn away from His suffering or deny His pain. Sadly, they (and we) fall asleep. We have a hard time remaining truly present with people when they may be at their most vulnerable.

Somehow, even despite this terrible holy week, Jesus is unhurried. He is no longer trying to get anything done. His priorities narrow down to personal time with God and time with His people. Perhaps this will remind Him of who He is and who upholds Him. He will need it…

Link to readable sermon PDF