Claremont United Church of Christ

Unfortunately, only the last seven minutes of this sermon were recorded, but it's a powerful 7 minutes! Pastor Jen looks at Jesus' declaration that we have to become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and tries to understand what that means for us today. With the horrible treatment of migrant children in the news, Pastor Jen asks us what would happen if we were met by these children in heaven and held accountable for how we treated them.

One moment Jesus blesses Simon and renames him Peter; the next minute, he calls him Satan! WHAT?! Join Pastor Jen as she selves into yet another one of Jesus’ shocking sayings.

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a group of Sadducees that there will be no marriage in heaven. WHAT!? Before you tell your spouse or fiancee to take a hike, join Pastor Jen as she explains the context of this conversation and asks us to consider what it means to be in a relationship rather than be defined by our relationship.

We begin our journey through some of the head-scratching words of Jesus with this declaration from Jesus where he claims he is bringing division rather than peace. How does this fit the peaceful Christ we know? Join Pastor Jacob as he explores how to respond to division in this world and seek the true peace that Christ provides.

We celebrate the completion of our annual Stewardship campaign with a look into Daniel’s famous episode in the lion’s den. Did you know Daniel was said to be 90 years old when this part of his story takes place? And do you know why he was thrown in there in the first place? Join Pastor Jen as we explore this famous story and consider how we might be inspired to live faithfully and fearlessly!

In our next installment of our Faithful and Fearless sermon series, we dive deep into the story of Esther. When Esther feels as if there is nothing she can do to intervene on behalf of her people, her cousin Mordecai responds with one of the most powerful lines in Scripture: "Who knows? Perhaps you have been called to royal dignity for just such a time as this." Join Pastor Jacob as he explores the ways God is moving in our midst at just such a time as this.

Have you heard the Parable of the Talents? In it, Jesus tells the story of three servants who were entrusted with a huge sum of money in their master's absence. What they chose to do with that money determined their fate upon the master's return. How does this story challenge and inspire us today? Is it about money, or is it about more than that? Join Pastor Jen for a closer look.

In the Gospel of Mark, the first eyewitness to the resurrection flee from the tomb in fear and the Gospel ends. Join Pastor Jacob as he explores how doubt is a necessary component of faith. This Easter, let us sit in the wonder of the story of Christ's resurrection.