Messages from Douglas UCC

What did Jesus mean when he said he came to bring division, not peace to bring peace? Pastor Sal talks about the spiritual understandings of vision and division.

Jesus spoke of Heaven often. He gave lots of clues as to its whereabouts and said we have the keys. Pastor Sal talks about how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus tells of a man who keeps building storage units for his goods and calls the man a fool. Is money the root of all evil? Are material possessions a stumbling block on the way to Heaven? Pastor Sal explores how to manifest a prosperous, abundant life.

The disciples asked Jesus how to pray. Many of us are still unsure about prayer and how we are supposed to pray. In his message on prayer, Pastor Sal shares wisdom from Mother Teresa, Charles Fillmore, and David Steindl-Rast.

When Jesus visits their home, Martha is busy ‘doing’ and Mary is simply ‘being.’ Pastor Sal reminds us that we are human BE-ings. He encourages us to take time to be still and know, listening for the voice that has no words.

A lawyer asks, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ and Jesus responds with the parable of the good Samaritan. While talking about how to show love for our neighbors, Pastor Sal shares wisdom from Fred Rogers, Marcus Borg, Thomas Merton, and Joan Chittister.

We celebrate freedom, but are all Americans free? Should churches be involved in politics? Is America a Christian nation? Pastor Sal answers these questions and explores the topic of freedom from both an earthly and spiritual perspective.

Church should be a place where you are celebrated, not tolerated. Many Christian churches say they welcome LGBTQ+ people, yet refuse to include them fully in sacraments and leadership positions. Pastor Sal talks about Pride Month and Open & Affirming Sunday.

Emma Lazarus wrote, ‘Until we are all free, we are none of us free.’ Today we celebrate Juneteenth, ‘Emancipation Day,’ and commemorate the freeing of enslaved Black Americans. Pastor Sal helps us celebrate freedom and recommit ourselves to building a just world for all.

On Trinity Sunday we celebrate the three-in-one aspect of God. Pastor Sal explores whether God is one or three, citing Cynthia Bourgeault’s ‘Law of Three’ and sharing wisdom from Richard Rohr.