Prince of Peace

On this Easter morning, Pastor Michelle explores how the grief Jesus' followers felt after the crucifixion was transformed at the Resurrection. Michelle goes on to tell us that this not only affects where where we go at the end of our earthly lives, but teaches us to bring courage and kindness into a world filled with hate and cruelty. Love and life triumph over all.

On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Jonathan (with his friend Rami) explains that the reason palm leaves are used to celebrate this Sunday before Easter is that the palm was a symbol of hope in Jesus' time. Palms were used as a protest against Roman rule, and a belief that the love that Jesus preached would conquer hate and tyranny.

This morning, Pastor Michelle warns of the dangers of Christian Nationalism. Yes, it promises that the world will be better if we all live the same way, but it seeks that end through control through the power of authority. Today's lessons show us a different way: those those who serve others are the people that can really affect the world. There is more power in servitude than dominance.

In this sermon Pastor Jonathan discusses the value of community among us. We were created for community and it is a gift that unites us and sends us out. It is the power to bring hope and care to our neighbors.

In this morning's old testament lesson, we hear the end of the story of Joseph. Joseph, who, despite everything that happened, provided food to the very people who had wronged him. Pastor Hannah uses his story, and the story of Peter, to show that God calls us to serve others, no matter the circumstance. And, like Peter (or the groups from PoP that have gone to Asheville and other places), we are never serving alone.

Both the old testament lesson and the gospel lesson this morning tell the stories of people who are unlikely allies of God's love in the world: in one case, a prostitute, in the other a woman who had been possessed by demons. Pastor Michelle continues the 'Ordinary Saints' series by sharing that God calls the most unlikely (and sometimes unwilling) people to spread His love in the world. I can be hard to believe that we are worthy of God's grace, love, and forgiveness, but He loves us just the same.

Todays gospel lesson tells us the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well . Pastor Jonathan shows us the reason this story is significant: in Jesus' day, there were fundamental disagreements between Samaritans and Jews. Yet, here is Jesus, not only talking to her as a real person, but offering her the same salvation he brings to the world. Jesus has come to the world to abolish the artificial rules that seek to divide us.

In this sermon Pastor Hannah discusses how change is a constant in our lives. Just as a relationship with Christ changed the disciples, so to does our relationship with God lead to a transformation in us. Throughout this, Christ's light guides us in this transformation.

Salt and light are both essential for life. In today's gospel, Jesus tells those who follow him that they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." Pastor Michelle explains that Jesus was telling us that we are essential to the well-being of the world. We can provide healing and enlightenment to all we meet.

Today, Pastor Jonathan delves into what the Beatitudes can teach us about today's world. Jesus tells us "Blessed are the peacemakers..." Pastor Jonathan explains that peace is not the absence of conflict, especially the conflict we've seen in Gaza and here in the U.S. Peace, and the Kingdom of God, is also not found through geography or strength. Instead, peace is found in the way we respond to conflict and those who use and abuse power.