Bethany UCC

In her guest sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Alaina preached on the power of mistakes (or more specifically, the power of being vulnerable enough to admit to them). Often in Christian culture, we "conflate being without sin with being perfect". But Alaina points to examples of Jesus' humanity, moments where even he makes mistakes and learns from them. She reminds us that we have the opportunity to do the same.

In his sermon this week, Pastor Vince recounts an overly generous gift he recently received and the feelings of anxiety it brought him to accept it. He compares this experience to receiving the grace of God, and considers why we humans are often so weird about receiving good things.

In her sermon this week, Pastor Rebecca challenges typical notions surrounding confession. She asserts that "feeling bad is not the mechanism on which change is made", and centers confession as a means of righting our relationship with God, and with others.

In this sermon, Pastor Vince Amlin describes the repetitive cycles in our lives that feel like déjà vu (the hardships we face with incredulousness, thinking: haven't I already fought this battle before?) Reflecting on such moments in his own life, Pastor Vince helps to give meaning to these repetitive cycles.

In this sermon, guest preacher Xander King questions whether leaps of faith require an abstract faith in God, or if we might allow our morals and principles to lead us to God, telling us when it's time to leap.

In our first sermon of 2024, Guest Preacher Johnny Buranosky recollects on his childhood and considers the many "leaps" he's taken in regards to life, faith and queerness.

Pastor Rebecca preaches on the subject of happiness this week, thinking on when joy is a thing that comes passively, versus seeking it out with intention.

Pastor Vince used the metaphor of "desire paths" in this sermon to describe the repeated, well worn paths we walk to find our way to God.

Pastor Vince preached this Sunday, describing advent as a season where we can tell God what we really want, without holding back.

Pastor Rebecca preached on the subject of "choice" this Sunday. What decisions are made for us, and which ones do we have a hand in?