Do sources of wisdom look or talk a certain way? Must they have degrees or titles? Did you ever unexpectedly learn something?  Rev. Jody explores three stories: a shepherd boy becomes king, an evangelist has a thorn in the flesh, and Jesus is not welcome.

We don’t have to ignore Scripture to affirm our queer friends and family. Rev. Jody explains that the Bible says good things about same-gender loving relationships. Today we celebrate all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations!

These are tenuous days. We face trouble in our lives, our relationships, and our world. We do the best we can and, somehow we get by. In two stories this week, where David fights Goliath and Jesus calms a storm, Rev. Jody sees a response to trouble.

Remember the warmth you felt when someone was kind to you. What did they do? Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed is all we need to make a difference in the world. Rev. Jodi Betten talks about how kindness makes a difference.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks who his family is. What does your family of choice like? Does it fit the phrase ‘traditional family values’?

Rev. Jody explores today’s all-important question for our church – and any church. Why do we have the Vision we have? Why do we do this church thing? Are we making choices that support our Why?

Rev. Jody helps us explore all of our connections on this Memorial Day weekend. How are we connected to each other, our church, our sibling churches, other denominations and faith traditions, and the world, and God? Quite a big think, don’t you think?

Systems and Structures and Leadership! Rev. Jody, our interim pastor, shares a Pentecost message: the world was shaken, and a new world order emerged. How have we been shaken, and how will it make our foundation stronger for our future?

Michigan Conference minister, Rev. Lillian Daniel, author, homilist, and humorist offered this lovely interpretation of scripture and a hilarious-loving homily to illustrate the Body of Christ, with a Mother’s Day message running in the current.

Rev. Jody Betten had us thinking about identity, our own, our community’s, our church and its place in the world. Who do we think we are? Who do others say that we are? Who do we wish to be? What is possible for this church as we move into our future?