Peace of the City

In Luke 15:1–10, Jesus speaks to two very different audiences—tax collectors and sinners who listen with open hearts, and Pharisees and scribes who grumble in judgment. In this message, Pastor Jason Storbakken explore how Jesus disrupts polarized categories, centering the marginalized and revealing God’s heart through stories of a shepherd and a woman searching for what was lost. These parables remind us that our worth is never diminished, no matter how hidden or burdened we may feel, and that joy erupts in heaven when we are restored. What does it mean to seek mercy over sacrifice, to remove anything that stands in the way of love, and to see the eternal value in every person?

In Luke 14:25–33, Jesus challenges the crowds—and us—with stark words about discipleship: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” What does it mean to “hate” family, give up possessions, and count the cost? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken explores the cultural context of Jesus’ radical call, the danger of finding identity in politics, possessions, or social status, and the invitation to reorder our lives through the costly yet life-giving way of the cross.

In this episode of Peace of the City, we reflect on Trinity Sunday, Pentecost, Pride Month, and Father’s Day through a sermon titled Let Us Make Space. Rev. Jason Storbakken invites us into the paradox of honoring fatherhood while challenging patriarchy, exploring the mystery of the Trinity not as rigid doctrine, but as divine friendship and relational love.

Drawing from John 16:12–15, the sermon affirms a Spirit who continues to speak and a God who parents without domination. Through themes of inclusion, power-sharing, and holy disruption, we hear a call to embody a church that celebrates all flesh, all genders, and all people.

This is a word for seekers, doubters, and dreamers—a call to create space for love in all its forms.

Listen in and let the Spirit make space in you.

On this Pentecost Sunday—also the second Sunday of Pride Month—Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken invites us into the fire and fullness of the Spirit. Tracing the roots of Pentecost back to Shavuot and moving through Acts 2 and the prophecy of Joel, this sermon proclaims a radically inclusive vision of church and Spirit.

What does it mean that God’s Spirit is poured out on all flesh? What does it look like when queer teens, trans prophets, and nonbinary mystics receive divine fire? And how can we be a church born not in fear, but in flame?

Join Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship in this powerful celebration of Spirit, liberation, and love beyond the margins.

In this episode of Peace of the City, Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken preaches from John 14:23–29, exploring the promise of Christ’s peace: “not as the world gives.”

Titled God’s Home, this sermon invites us to imagine a God who does not demand perfection but chooses to dwell with us—in love, in truth, and in peace. Jason contrasts the world’s transactional, performative peace with the liberating, abiding peace of Abba. Drawing from trauma-informed chaplaincy and nonviolent practice, he asks: What kind of God makes a home with us? And what does it mean to become a home for God’s peace?

This is not a peace that demands silence or compliance—but one that tells the truth, holds sorrow and joy, and stays with us through transition and healing. In a world of temporary peace and conditional love, Jesus offers something deeper.

In this episode of Peace of the City, we welcome Dr. Ashley Moyse, Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics, McDonald Scholar, and Director of the Columbia Character Cooperatives. Drawing from his work at Columbia’s medical school and his research at Oxford, Dr. Moyse reflects on the view from the 14th floor—where the city’s pain becomes quiet, abstract, and dangerously distant.

Preaching on Revelation and the Gospel of John, he reminds us that God's dwelling is not above but among us. This is no promise of escape, but a call to costly presence: to see, to touch, to stay near enough to wipe away tears. With sharp theological insight and deep pastoral care, Dr. Moyse challenges us to love not from a safe height, but from the ground—with fidelity, nearness, and grief-soaked grace.

A sermon for anyone wrestling with how to live—and love—in proximity to suffering.

In Part 2 (of 2) of our series on John 20, we return to the locked room where Jesus appears not in triumph, but in tenderness. This Mother’s Day, we reflect on Thomas—the twin, the questioner, the one who names what so many of us carry: Unless I touch the wounds, I cannot believe. But Jesus does not shame him. Instead, Christ invites him—invites us—into the liminal space where wounds meet grace.

Through Thomas’s story, and through the witness of all who mother from their own woundedness, we glimpse a deeper truth: that faith can emerge from doubt, that healing begins with touch, and that even our broken places can become sacred portals. Blessed are those who mother, who mend, who believe without seeing—and who dare to reach for peace. Message by Pastor Jason Storbakken.

In this first part of a two-part message from John 20, Pastor Jason invites us to breathe deeply and draw near to the sacred. Through the lens of Scripture and spirit, we explore breath as both a physiological and theological gift—infused with divine presence from creation to resurrection. In a world often marked by fear and fragmentation, this episode reminds us that Jesus meets us behind locked doors, breathing peace and the Holy Spirit into our weary lungs. How close must we be to feel the Spirit move? Come, share a breath—and be renewed.

🎙️ Easter Sunday: Holy Disruption
Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship – April 20, 2025

Christ is risen—and nothing will ever be the same.

In this Easter Sunday message titled “Holy Disruption,” Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken invites us to reflect on resurrection not as a tidy conclusion, but as a bold and unsettling beginning. We re-member the wounded body of Jesus, the brokenness of our world, and the fragility within our own faith communities. And yet, we dare to believe: resurrection begins with what remains.

Drawing connections from the empty tomb to Anabaptist origins in 1525 Zurich, this message calls us to live as resurrection people—with love in our hearts, justice on our lips, and trembling hope in our steps.

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What does it mean to seek the peace of the city—not just for the city, but within it?

In this short reflection from Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, one member, Eric Kanagy, shares his personal journey of faith, family, and community in New York City. He speaks candidly about the challenges of building lasting relationships in a city of 9 million, the quiet grounding found at places like Camp Deer Park and Menno House, and the unexpected gift of a child’s phrase—touching boundaries—as a metaphor for spiritual growth.

As our fellowship enters a time of transition, this reflection is also an invitation: What keeps you connected to MMF? What vision do you carry for our community? Take a moment to reflect—and if you feel moved, share your story on a Sunday or by email. Let’s shape our future together.