Advent prepares us to welcome God-with-us. Radical Welcome sets the table and lets go of what no longer serves to make space for new possibilities. Depending on how we understand it, service can be an act of worship drenched with hope and gratitude. Today, on this first Sunday in Advent, we hold the theme of hope as we listen to an apocalyptic text. Today, pastoral minister Jessica Gauthier invites us to consider how we serve, and how we hope–even at the world’s end.

The scripture reading for this sermon was Matthew 24:3, 36-44:

One time, when Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his followers came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”

[Jesus first warned of how many are deceived in times of suffering, persecution, war, natural disaster, imprisonment, betrayal and mistrust. He spoke of the end of the world as a place where the love of many would grow cold. Then he said:]

“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 

As it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Human One. 

In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. 

They didn’t know what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. 

The coming of the Human One will be like that. 

At that time there will be two men in the field. One will be taken and the other left. 

Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other left. 

So, stay alert and awake, because you don’t know what day the Lord is coming. 

But understand: The head of the house who knew at what time the thief would come, would have stayed awake, and would not allow a thief to break in.

In the same way, you must also be prepared, because the Truly Human One will come at an hour you do not expect. ▶️

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

November 23, 2025 marks 100 years of the church observing the feast day we call “Christ the King” or the “Reign of Christ”. Worship leader Martha Randy—with help from some friends—invites us to see that this reign is nothing like the rule of monarchs, political parties or empires.

Instead, it’s what happens when we live out the Way of Jesus…hand in hand in hand.

We're grateful to Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes of the Church of the Good Shepherd for her Instagram inspiration—The Reign of Christ, Explained—for inspiring our worship today.

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

Psalm 98 invites us to sing a new song to the Lord, a song of praise for the marvelous things of all creation. And in Isaiah 65, we are invited to delight in the new thing that God is creating. Can we join as the sea roars, and the rivers clap? Rev. Cathy Hamilton invites us to wonder: can we celebrate as equity, justice and love take hold in God’s new creation?  

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

In her reflection on this Remembrance Sunday, pastoral minister Jessica Gauthier invites us to remember the cost of conflict and the fragility of peace. Can we nurture life and beauty, like the poppies that take root in disturbed ground? Can we listen for the song of peace, and sing it bravely above the noise of war and fear?

Experience this entire worship on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/TATq_hXST-g?si=wX_t2ExasZbmIKyX

Connect with Cedar Park United: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

This week, Rev. Rosemary Lambie invites us to explore the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector in the temple. Jesus, she says, challenges us to think about who we are, and whose we are. Who do we see when we look in the mirror? Whom does God see and how are we reflecting the love of Jesus Christ in our daily lives?

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation:

https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch
💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: http://eepurl.com/hzTfUD

This week, worship leader Ian Fraser, in conversation with Montreal-based  jazz pianist Taurey Butler, explores the relationship between jazz music and spirituality. If Jesus had been a musician, Ian’s pretty sure he would have played jazz. Why? Keep listening to find out… and enjoy Taurey's inspiring musical offering, “What a Wonderful World”*

*By Louis Armstrong, Bob Thiele and Weiss livestreamed and recorded under ONE LICENSE A-732154.

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

Last week we gave thanks at Christ’s table in The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving. This week, worship leader Jessica Gauthier reflects that, to be a Thanksgiving People is to let gratitude shape our hearts: to rejoice in all things; to pray with thanksgiving; and to let God’s generosity overflow through us. 

Thank you for listening to the Cedar Park United podcast. If it inspired you, or comforted you, or even ruffled your feathers in a good way, please consider leaving a positive rating or subscribing to help others find their way here, too.

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

The Season of Creation closes and we step into World Communion Sunday, carrying with us the image of the Tree of Life. Worship leader Jessica Gauthier speaks of how Paul reminds Timothy to guard the good gift of faith, passed down through mother, grandmother, and mentor, and now entrusted to us, to be shared with radical hospitality.

It is like fruit from the Tree of Life, like bread broken at Christ’s table. In the Great Thanksgiving, we meet the living Christ and are strengthened with hope and courage for the life we share.

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

Today we hear from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to his friend and colleague Timothy.  God calls us to be rich in helping others. In his reflection, lay worship leader Paul Clarke asks, how hard can it be?

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community:

https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation:

https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub

In Luke 16 a manager is described as “shrewd”. Is this complimenting his discerning wisdom or criticizing his wily ways?  Have we been shrewd in our relationship with creation?" Visiting minister Rev. Cathy Hamilton asks, “have we been shrewd with creation?

Thank you for listening to the Cedar Park United podcast. If it inspired you, or comforted you, or even ruffled your feathers in a good way, please consider leaving a positive rating or subscribing to help others find their way here, too.

You can connect with Cedar Park United here: 

❤️ Find out more about this community: https://cedarparkunited.org/

🧡 Make a donation: https://cedarparkunited.org/donate

💛 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedar_park_united

💚 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarparkunitedchurch/

💙 Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food: https://cedarparkunited.org/media-hub