The Gospels were written in Greek, but Jesus spoke Aramaic. In recent years, biblical scholars have translated the Gospels into Aramaic, and the teachings of Jesus have taken on deeper meanings. Today Pastor Sal focuses on the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic.

Rev. Dr. David Van Dyke fills in for the vacationing Pastor Sal. Rev. Van Dyke is a retired Presbyterian minister who has been attending Douglas UCC since retiring in 2019. His sermon deals with John 6:35, 41-51.

When Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life,’ he was talking about a spiritual Self which dwells in each of us. Are you that self with ‘daily bread’, or are you spiritually malnourished? Pastor Sal provides practical ways to feed your spirit, enrich your soul, and partake daily of this life-giving bread.

Are you living an abundant life or are you living in Scare City (scarcity)? Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish symbolizes the Spiritual Law of Abundance. Pastor Sal talks about abundance and prosperity, sharing wisdom from Eric Butterworth, Wayne Dyer, and Eckhart Tolle.

Jesus invites the disciples to go to a deserted place by themselves and rest. Rest is an important part of our spiritual lives; it’s what honoring the Sabbath is all about. Pastor Sal talks about what it means to find rest in God.

Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit, but it does not simply happen. Henri Nouwen said, ‘We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.’ Pastor Sal talks about retraining our brains to choose joy.

Does the American flag belong inside a Christian church or the Ten Commandments in a public courthouse? What does a life of spiritual freedom look like? Pastor Sal talks about the separation of church and state as we celebrate liberty, justice, and spiritual freedom for all.

Today we affirm the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons in our church’s life and ministry. Pastor Sal talks about the spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ community blesses our world. We are proud to have been among the first congregations to go on record as open and affirming.

The apostles are in a boat during a storm, gripped with fear. Jesus calms the storm with the words, “Peace, be still.” Pastor Sal talks about how, when the storms of life rock our world, we have tools to transform fear into faith. He shares wisdom from Henri Nouwen, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Richard Rohr.

We’ve all heard the parable of the mustard seed. It’s found in nearly all of the gospels, so early Christians must have felt it was an important lesson. Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber says many of us miss the point – that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.