First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "The End is the Beginning” – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – June 1, 2025

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

When Jesus ascends, it looks like the end—but it’s actually the start of something far greater. The disciples are left staring at the sky, waiting and wondering what’s next. Jesus gives them a massive mission: to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth. But Jesus doesn’t send them empty-handed. Before they go, they must wait—to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. While it feels like the end, it is just the beginning of Becoming the Body.

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "The End is the Beginning” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – June 1, 2025

Scripture: Acts 1:6-11

When Jesus ascends, it looks like the end—but it’s actually the start of something far greater. The disciples are left staring at the sky, waiting and wondering what’s next. Jesus gives them a massive mission: to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth. But Jesus doesn’t send them empty-handed. Before they go, they must wait—to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. While it feels like the end, it is just the beginning of Becoming the Body.

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Love Never Ends” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 25, 2025

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

There is so much within this world that does not last. From prophecies, words, and knowledge, it will all come to an end. However, Paul reminds us in a letter to the Corinthians that faith, hope, and love will always remain, and the greatest of these is love. Even when we find that we feel distant from God’s presence, the love of God remains close to our lives. For regardless of the things that we encounter within the wilderness of this world, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Love Never Ends” –  Rev. Martha McLean – May 25, 2025

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

There is so much within this world that does not last. From prophecies, words, and knowledge, it will all come to an end. However, Paul reminds us in a letter to the Corinthians that faith, hope, and love will always remain, and the greatest of these is love. Even when we find that we feel distant from God’s presence, the love of God remains close to our lives. For regardless of the things that we encounter within the wilderness of this world, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Clothe Yourself With Love” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 18, 2025

“Above all, clothe yourself with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

Each and every morning, we prepare for the day ahead. The Apostle Paul encourages us in the letter to the Colossians to put on the wardrobe that God has picked out for us, including compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline. Each time that we do this, we prepare our hearts to encounter God’s goodness and grace throughout our everyday, ordinary lives. So much so, that the love God begins to bind everything together in perfect harmony. 

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Clothe Yourself With Love” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 18, 2025

“Above all, clothe yourself with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

Each and every morning, we prepare for the day ahead. The Apostle Paul encourages us in the letter to the Colossians to put on the wardrobe that God has picked out for us, including compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline. Each time that we do this, we prepare our hearts to encounter God’s goodness and grace throughout our everyday, ordinary lives. So much so, that the love God begins to bind everything together in perfect harmony.

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 11, 2025

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

On any given day in any given season, we are pulled in so many different directions. It is easy to feel far from God. And yet, the Apostle Paul reminds us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. He writes to the Romans, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in accretion will separate us from the love of God. Even as we face the hardships of this life, might we come to find the goodness of God in our midst.

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God” –  Rev. Ben Alexander – May 11, 2025

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

On any given day in any given season, we are pulled in so many different directions. It is easy to feel far from God. And yet, the Apostle Paul reminds us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. He writes to the Romans, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in accretion will separate us from the love of God. Even as we face the hardships of this life, might we come to find the goodness of God in our midst.

First Cary UMC's First on Chatham Sermon "Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, Give Thanks In All Circumstances” –  Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 4, 2025

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Like the disciples, we may feel that there are seasons when God feels far away or absent all together. Even so, we are invited to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in the midst of all of it. As the Apostle Paul writes this to the people of Thessalonica, he is encouraging them to trust in the goodness of God’s promise and presence all of the days of our lives. As we celebrate Confirmation Sunday in the life of our church, may we look to the example of our Youth who have done this very task. Over the last year they have rejoiced, prayed, and given thanks - and have answered God’s call to faithfully join the church. We certainly give thanks for all that is to come!

First Cary UMC's First Sanctuary Sermon "Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, Give Thanks In All Circumstances” –  Rev. Anna Thornburg – May 4, 2025

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Like the disciples, we may feel that there are seasons when God feels far away or absent all together. Even so, we are invited to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in the midst of all of it. As the Apostle Paul writes this to the people of Thessalonica, he is encouraging them to trust in the goodness of God’s promise and presence all of the days of our lives. As we celebrate Confirmation Sunday in the life of our church, may we look to the example of our Youth who have done this very task. Over the last year they have rejoiced, prayed, and given thanks - and have answered God’s call to faithfully join the church. We certainly give thanks for all that is to come!