Lamentations 2:18-19; 3:22-24; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There is indeed a "time to weep." The Book of Lamentations shows us the pattern of healing from grief: Express the pain, move to hope.

Luke 2:1-20: On Christmas Day we celebrate that God is with us, "Emmanuel" - with folks like us, and in folks like us.

Continuing a sermon series on questions about the Christian faith, this sermon looks at forgiveness: God's, and ours. Might forgiveness help our nation heal from the stark divisions revealed by the recent political campaigns and the presidential election? The sermon explores what forgiveness is, and what it isn't. It isn't saying everything is OK; it isn't approval; it doesn't require that anyone put up with hurtful behavior. It is freedom to move into a different future. Like love, it cannot be quantified.

Continuing our sermon series on questions about our faith, this sermon explores the New Testament use of the term "God's will," using the Lord's Prayer in Matthew's gospel and Paul's letter to the Romans, Chapter 12. "God's will" does not mean that whatever happens is God's will, nor does it mean God has a secret plan for each of us, but rather, that God desires that all things on earth be united in God's plan for the healing and wholeness of the world.

Continuing our sermon series on questions about faith, this sermon explores whether churches should take positions on controversial or "political" issues affecting human rights, poverty, and human health and well-being.

Lesson Psalm 73. Why might we choose to worship God? Worship is a spiritual discipline, loving people is hard and we come to worship to practice and to be changed by God's love to live more fully.

As part of a sermon series about common questions concerning the Christian faith, this sermon takes a look at the way Christians have interpreted Scripture to assume some people are insiders with God while others are outsiders. Jesus practiced the neighborliness he preached, and shows us God loves the whole world, not just part of it; not just some people.

Lessons: John 1:1-14; Genesis 1:1-3. Today we welcome guest preacher Yolanda Norton, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Rev. Norton is completing her doctorate in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vanderbilt University.

We understand the Holy Spirit to be the way God inspires, fuels, encourages and challenges us, but where IS the Holy Spirit? In the third of our fall sermon series, "We All Have Questions," we explore the ways the Spirit works in, around, through and with us.

Lessons: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-26; Philippians 4:4-7. Given that praying "for something" raises so many philosophical, theological and logical questions, what is the purpose of prayer?