John eats a scroll that is sweet to taste but bitter in his stomach.  This symbolic act tells us that God's message is bitter because it reveals the pain and suffering caused by empires.  But it's also sweet because God is shining a light onto an unjust and unfair world that needs healing.  

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Absolute certainty is a claim made by empires.  Jesus' way of love, however, requires humility and an awareness of our own limitations.  

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The 7 trumpets reveal a series of environmental catastrophes.  But who's causing all this chaos, death, and destruction?  Is it God?  The answer, in Revelation 8 and 9, is in the images of falling stars.  

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Two people are experiencing the same event at the same time and yet what they experience is different.  There are always multiple perspectives, because each of us will see things from different angles and through the lens of our own lived experiences.  The same is true in the book of Revelation where the author is showing us multiple perspectives.  

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In the book of Revelation there is a contrast between what is heard and what is seen.  This contrast reveals both the reality of suffering in our world and the stunning beauty of Jesus' healing way of love. 

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Welcome Rev. Dr. Grace Park from Palisades Presbyterian Church. 

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In his life, death, and resurrection Jesus was loving, inclusive, and non-violent.  How then did we come to believe that when Jesus returns he'll be coming back looking for revenge?  

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!  Conquest, Division, Economic Injustice, and Death, followed by hell on earth.  Where is the good news?    

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When something incredible needs to happen, what kind of character comes to mind?  What do our heroes look like?  In Revelation 5, a hero is needed and what happens next will be the most important part of this entire book.  

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Faith, in part, involves remembering and retelling our stories.  As a community we tell stories from the Bible, from history, and from our own lives.  We do this because we believe that in each telling there is always more to experience and discover.  Today, we remember and celebrate 150 years of faith, hope, and love at First Pres.  

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