Guest preacher, Jazzy Johnson, joins us in our sermon series on lectionary to talk about the surprising and refreshing authority of Jesus. How does the presence of Jesus among us cast out evil, expose the lies, and usher in healing for our whole selves? How does it bring about not the absence of conflict but the transformation of it?

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Jazzy Johnson, a proud Native Texan and adopted Chicagoan, is an experienced Educator and Northwestern University graduate who specializes in curating and facilitating transformative spaces for learning & listening in the area of social justice.  She is passionate about accompanying young people on their journeys of liberation, particularly in the areas in which oppressive systems have distorted their view of themselves, others, God, and creation.

Pastor Michael continues or Winter sermon series on the lectionary by preaching from Psalm 62, reflecting on what the words of the Psalm teach us about how to engage our vulnerability with God and with others.

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series in the lectionary, by looking at 1 Samuel 3:1-18, and particularly the word of judgment that comes upon the House of Eli and his sons.  When is judgment good news for us? How do we hold judgment in tension with God's healing and restoration? And how does understanding God's judgment upon unbridled violence and entitlement offer good news in the current moment we are living in?

This sermon closes with a remembrance of the more radical aspects of Dr. King's legacy and an audio recording from his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

Pastor Michael preaches on The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, about the unlikely coronation of Jesus through his baptism in the Jordan.  How does Christ's baptism subvert the hierarchies of Empire and reveal to us a way of  vulnerability, mutuality, and belovedness? And how is this baptism good news for us in the aftermath of the white supremacist, nationalist, and extremist violence and insurrection witnessed at the Capitol building this past week?

Pastor Erina provides an overview of our church history and what we've seen God do in our church during 2020. She  also looks ahead to some hopes for the new years and shares updates on new programs to continue widening our banquet table for our now local and long-distance community. 

Pastor Erina offers a few words of reflection on how we might embrace tension in this season of Christmastide and at the end of 2020, with guidance from the words of Psalm 126

Nancy James follows with a testimony on how she experienced Jesus in unexpected ways this year, through the gift of connection. 

Pastor Michael concludes our sermon series for Advent on Jesus and the community of creation, sharing about the role of the stars in the birth story of Jesus. How do the stars teach us about curiosity and worship? How do the Magi open up a pathway to a world without tyranny?

Barnabas Lin joins us for our 3rd Sunday in Advent to interweave stories of living and working on a farm for 3 months with thoughts on the role of the sheep in Jesus' birth. How do sheep reveal to us the hope of communion and the way of shalom?

Barnabas is a recent transplant to Southern California, where he recently graduated with a Master of Divinity and finished three months on a farm. He has been a minister for over a decade, likes friendship, baking sourdough, and is concerned about how humanity and all creation can thrive under the current global economic rule of neoliberalism.

Jill Gidlund continues our Advent series with reflections on the hay, and the interconnectedness of all members of the creation community in the birth of Jesus.

Pastor Erina kicks off our Advent series with a reflection on the unlikely bearers of God's promises- Elizabeth and Mary- and how the faith and encouragement shared between these two women are part of the community of creation that welcomes the coming Savior.