Harmony is not just a word for musicians, it’s a word for all of us because our lives are woven together in ways we can barely grasp. We need one another. As the world around us seems ever eager to fracture, how can we be agents of love and healing? How can we be harmonizers?

Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3vOMWTbGyM

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3vOMWTbGyM&t=2703s⁠

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo

In his ancient letter to the Romans, Paul reminds us that we have all received mercy from God. Just think about all the ways we mess up and fall short and drop the ball… all the times when we’re snappy with one another because we’re tired and overwhelmed? How might we find encouragement for our modern souls in these ancient words? How can we become more merciful people? And how can we become a more merciful people?

Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVWxF9pnyGE

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVWxF9pnyGE&t=2280s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo

Jesus approaches the disciples caught in a storm at sea. At first they think he’s a ghost and they are afraid, but then Peter puts him (and his faith) to the test and steps out of the boat himself. This story is ripe with applications for our own lives as we have to consider the storms that form in our own lives, the ways God may find us within them, and whether we are willing to step out of a storm-battered boat.

Link to Livestream:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPxJa4xcqw

Link to Start of Sermon:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPxJa4xcqw&t=1935s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo

Word of the Week is a series for the month of August offering just one word to carry us through the week. In a month like August, when summer rhythms transition back to school, church, work, and all the other things that keep us busy most of the year, it can feel overwhelming to try to re-organize our lives around faith and spiritual practice. So, we’re going to make it really simple and offer just one word each week for inspiration. Who knows, maybe one word can change everything?!

Link to Livestream:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9KWM3v1QQM

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9KWM3v1QQM&t=2186s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo

Have you ever had an encounter that changed your whole life? Simple Moments is a four-part series inspired by the All In Band’s performance of “Dream Small” during a springtime worship service. During the month of July, we’ll be paying attention to all the seemingly small things that happen in the stories of our faith. As we do, we’ll explore the possibility that God might be speaking to us, or using us for good, in all the more simple moments. This week we will hear about one simple encounter on the side of the road where Zacchaeus perched in a tree changed everything for this tax collector.

Link to Livestream:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPSFTqmaecY

Link to Start of Sermon:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPSFTqmaecY&t=2273s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo

A woman gives a very small offering that ends up putting the more pious donors to shame… or should we say… her small gift exposes the limits of their generosity and calls us all to consider our own.

Link to Livestream:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTRTbr4o2k

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTRTbr4o2k&t=1156s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First Congregational Church of Western Springs⁠

Jesus is sitting at a well when a woman walks up to fetch water for her household. In this ancient simple interaction, Jesus’ evangelistic ministry is launched by an unexpected disciple!

Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5obNj4N4ps

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5obNj4N4ps&t=2049s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First Congregational Church of Western Springs⁠

Jesus tells a simple parable about the smallest seed and as it turns out, that small seed has a large impact.

Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f9T_NSTB2s

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f9T_NSTB2s&t=1984s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First Congregational Church of Western Springs⁠

It doesn’t get any more “highlight reel” or fancy and put together than a royal. Modern history, especially following the death of Princess Diana, has exposed some of the trouble with this whole culture of perfectionism. Though the Kings of Israel didn’t have to worry about modern paparazzi, social media, or the 24 hour news cycle, they certainly had to juggle optics as well as social and political pressures. But the Kings tended to have prophets who were speaking truth to them, behind the scenes, urging them to listen to God even when it wasn’t popular. We may not be royals, but I wonder if we don’t have some prophets speaking to us behind the scenes?

Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CodFFC0he0g

Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CodFFC0he0g&t=2186s

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First Congregational Church of Western Springs⁠

Jesus visits the house of Mary and Martha and we get this infamous montage of two very different women. Martha who is rushing around doing all the things, and Mary who is sitting, worshipping, adoring Jesus. Can you imagine what Martha might have posted about this event if she’d had access to Instagram? What about Mary? The truth is it takes both women and their postures of work, rest, and worship to embody a whole and complete faith. How do we lean more into one than the other? And how do we allow our propensities for work or rest dominate our “highlight reels”? Is there a Mary or a Martha within us that needs more attention, in real life?

Link to Livestream: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BlwSVHTC9w⁠

Link to Start of Reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BlwSVHTC9w&t=882s⁠

If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First Congregational Church of Western Springs⁠