Sermons from January 2023

Sermons from January 2023

Looking for a Blessing

Preacher: Pastor Liz MillerDate: January 29, 2023Text: Matthew 5:1-12 There are weeks when the troubles of the world are pressing in so hard that it feels like all I can do to muster the energy to say, “Well God, what you have you got for us?” Come to think of it, that feels like a pretty good beginning of a prayer.What have you got for us, God? What have you got for Tyre Nichols and his grief-stricken family? What have…

What We Left Behind

Preacher: Pastor Liz MillerDate: January 22, 2023Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 and Matthew 4:12-23 Our scripture readings today are two chapters in the same story of Christian discipleship. The Gospel story of Jesus calling the fishermen away from their craft and away from their families to follow him is what we refer to as an origin story. Origin stories are one of the most popular kinds of stories you can tell. Origin stories are what we are asking when we get…

Come and See

Preacher: Pastor Liz MillerDate: January 15, 2023Text: John 1:29-42 This weekend as we honor the legacy and life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it is a common practice to listen or read his speeches, to remember his words and his call to justice. We often pull our favorite quotes from “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” Some of us probably have his words memorized.This year, I took a slightly different approach. I didn’t return…

We Keep Seeking

Preacher: Pastor Liz MillerDate: January 8, 2023Text: Matthew 2:1-12 As part of our welcome and centering ourselves for worship each Sunday, we proclaim that “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” And frequently, through our prayers and liturgy and sermons we will specifically name different identities that may not have always been welcome or felt welcome in Christian community that we want to make sure hear an affirmation in this Christian…