The Purification Story essentially claims that some of us are better than others. When we begin to view those who are “different” in some way as a problem to be solved rather than equal members of our human family, we reject Jesus’ call to inclusion, diversity and compassion. Jesus spent most of his ministry with those who were considered impure and unwanted by society. How can we who follow him ignore or even celebrate those who would continue to scapegoat those who don’t fit the image of what a “good Christian” or a “good American” should look like?

Join us this week as we look at the Purification Story and the ways we are called to tear down the barriers between us and them.

Series is based on the book, Corey & the Seventh Story, by Brian McLaren.

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

For me personally, the isolation story is perhaps the most tempting of all. The idea of holing up in a mountain cabin and tuning out the chaos of the world sounds more and more appealing with every news cycle. It is a story of separation and escapism, as if we could somehow create our own little fantasy world where all the other stories that tear us apart could somehow not follow us.

Rather than separation from the world, Jesus calls us to engagement as salt and light. From the very beginning we were created for relationship.

Join us this week as we look at the Isolation Story and Jesus' call to engage a darkened world with the light of his love.

Series is based on the book, Corey & the Seventh Story, by Brian McLaren.

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

In a nation built on stories of revolution, it is difficult to imagine a reality where fighting back against those in power over us is not the norm. Yet we see over and over throughout history that every time someone usurps power from another out of a spirit of revenge, they become the oppressors until someone else rises up and seeks revenge on them.

How can we break this cycle of violence and revenge? Could there be another way?

Join us this week as we look at the Revolution Story and Jesus' call to non-violent resistence instead.

Series is based on the book, Corey & the Seventh Story, by Brian McLaren.

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Between now and Lent, we will be unpacking the stories that have shaped and caused great harm to human civilization, stories of domination, revolution, isolation, purification, victimization, and accumulation.

Ultimately Jesus challenges each of these stories and models instead the strory of reconciliation and liberation. Join us as we wrestle with the impact of these stories on our lives and seek to live into the 7th story shaped by the love of Christ.

This week we focus on the domination story, our inherent desire for power and control. We will see how Jesus calls us instead to a life of humility and servanthood, to set aside our own ambition for the sake of others as Jesus himself did for us.

Series is based on the book, Corey & the Seventh Story, by Brian McLaren.

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

As we move from Advent to Ephiphany, we follow the journey of the magi in our own lives, as we search longingly for a light in the darkness, step out in faith to follow the star into the unknown, bring our gifts before Christ and return home by another route as we are transformed in the presence of God’s love.

For my congregations, Grace UMC & Shiloh UMC, this is also a day of new beginnings as we held our first joint service as a newly merged congregation. This week’s message is a bit more personal than usual in that it traces our own story as we have sought to follow God’s light to a bright new day.

I hope and pray you are inspired by our journey and that you find yourself in the Epiphany journey as you lean in toward the light of Christ in your own life.

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at:

https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2025/01/05/home-by-another-route

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Join us this Advent & Ephiphany season as we spend Christmas at the homes of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul, learning from each their unique perspective on the inbreaking of Christ into our world.

We often think of the story of Jesus’ life in the four gospels, but let us not forget that Paul also had a great deal to say about the incarnation. In fact, one of the earliest Christian hymns found in Philippians 2 would make a perfect Christmas song. In it, Paul declares that Christ emptied himself and took the form of a human. He humbled himself, not grasping for equality with God, but living as a servant and obedient even to the point of death. One can’t help but wonder if John’s theology of the Word becoming flesh might be drawn from this very song.

And yet for Paul, incarnation isn’t just about Jesus. It’s about us. Through the Spirit, the Word continues to take on flesh and God continues to dwell among us as we immitate the example of Christ in our lives. As we move into this new year, may the Christmas story live on in us.

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at: https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2024/12/29/paul

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Join us this Advent season as we spend Christmas at the homes of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul, learning from each their unique perspective on the inbreaking of Christ into our world.

Like Mark, John’s house doesn’t have a nativity or any other traditional decorations, though I imagine it might look a lot like our Christmas Eve Candlelight services as the light shines in the darkness. For John, it’s not enough that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah or even the Savior of the World.  Jesus is the fullness of the Word that spoke light into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.  Jesus embodies the Word of Life that spoke all of creation into existence.   John takes seriously the words of the Psalmist who writes, “The heavens declare the majesty of God and the skies proclaim the work of God’s hands” (Psalm 19:1).

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at: https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2024/12/15/luke

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Join us this Advent season as we spend Christmas at the homes of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul, learning from each their unique perspective on the inbreaking of Christ into our world.

Christmas at Luke’s house is much more familiar to us with the nativity, the angels and the shepherds. It’s the version of the Christmas story we see most in our displays, our Christmas pageants, and songs. But Luke’s Christmas story is about far more than some shepherds and a sweet little baby in a manger. It’s about good news of great joy for ALL people. It’s about the truth that “You are loved AND so are they.” Let us reflect on what this truth means for us and our call to share the good news of Jesus with everyone this week.

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at: https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2024/12/15/luke

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Join us this Advent season as we spend Christmas at the homes of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul, learning from each their unique perspective on the inbreaking of Christ into our world.

Matthew's Christmas is filled with the rich tradition and heritage of God's people, Israel. Through his telling, we are reminded that our faith is a gift an an inheritance that we must cherish and carry forward as we live and proclaim God's faithfulness from generation to generation for all people. May we honor our ancestors in the faith and our adoptive family name in Jesus Christ in all we say and do.

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at: https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2024/12/08/matthew

Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa

Join us this Advent season as we spend Christmas at the homes of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul, learning from each their unique perspective on the inbreaking of Christ into our world.

The Gospel according to Mark, the earliest written record we have of Jesus' life, doesn't even mention the Christmas story. For Mark, the birth of Jesus is not the beginning of the good news, it’s just one small part of the Kingdom of God breaking into our reality.

Mark’s question is simply this… “Are you ready?”

A short written reflection on this sermon can be found on my blog at: https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2024/12/01/mark

Podcast Intro Recorded by Ariana Sefa