In the Bible? Praise is nearly always political. Certainly in the book of Revelation where crying out “Salvation belongs to our God” is a direct affront to the Emporer of Rome who claims salvation comes soley through him and his “Pax Romana”. And a post script to our series on Revelation and Resistance: Thanks be to God for artists like John of Patmos (and countless others across time and space!) who buoy communities seeking to be faithful to the Way of Jesus in the midst of and in direct resistance to the empire.

Sermon begins at minute marker 3:37

Resources

• BibleWorm podcast: Episode 650 - Revelation and Resistance - Praising God, Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson, Jr
• Chutzpadik definition, OED: “colloquial. Esp. in Jewish usage: showing chutzpah; impudent, impertinent; audacious, very self-confident.”
• “ICE detains mother after legal entry,” by Tim Huber, Anabaptist World, July 2025.
• Donate to Iglesia Cristiana Roca de Refugio, the Mennonite congregation in San Antonio where Pastor Dianne Garcia serves.
• Read more about Pax Romana on wikipedia
• “Salvation Belongs to our God,” Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out, 1989. 
• William Stringfellow, An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land, Waco, TX: Word, 1973.
• “You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd,” text by Sylvia G. Dunstan, found in hymnal Voices Together, 432.
• Image: photo by Alex Radelich on Unsplash (detail)

A brief sharing of scripture and words from some of this year's new covenanters.

Join Megan as she reflects on Revelation and Deren, Carl, Madeleine, Susan, and Melissa as they reflect on Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference's annual retreat and delegate assembly.

Sermon begins at 2:31

Revelation 5.1–11

Resources

•  PNMC Resolution 2025 
• Image: Sacramentary (of Bishop of Metz), Fol. 5. Ill. MS (fragment)., ca. 850-900. Paris: Lib., Bibliothèque Nationale; lat. 1141., JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.11660420. Accessed 22 July 2025.

The title Revelation comes from the Greek word apokálypsi, or ‘apocalypse’, which in Greek means literally, the lifting of the veil. Ordinarily, a veil conceals or obscures that which lies beyond it, and when the veil is lifted, one sees clearly. But in this book the reverse is the case. John, the exiled poet of Patmos lifts a veil, and what we see beyond it is exceedingly less clear than what we expected to see…

Sermon begins at minute marker 4:32

Scripture: ​​​Revelation 13.1–18

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano on pexels

Join Christine Sine as she reflects on the Tree of Life and Revelation.

​​​Revelation 21.1–7, 22-27; 22.1–5

Image: Tree of Life by Gustav Klimt, public domain

In our first of a six-week series on “Revelation and Resistance,” we step - with some well earned fear and trembling - into the wild, the wondrous, the terrifying, the evocative world of apocalyptic literature. With so much to UN-learn about the book of Revelation, Pastor Megan invites us to begin again. What IS this ancient genre of literature, why and how was it written, and for whom and what purpose? As a revelation of Jesus the Christ, named in just the first few verses of the book as the ruler of all earth’s kings, we find that we’ve stepped directly into perhaps the original “No Kings” rally and march. The book of Revelation will take down its dominant empire (Rome) and all those who were being persecuted or seduced by the imperial cult. As we carry forward, perhaps we’ll find inspiration for how to live in relationship to our own imperial cult… U.S. Christian nationalism.

Sermon begins at minute marker 4:49

Scripture: ​​​Revelation 1.1–20

Resources

• BibleWorm podcast: Episode 646 - Revelation and Resistance - Lifting the Veil, Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson, Jr
• “A view of resistance to oppression rather than judgement,” by Alison Forster, January 21, 2025, https://medium.com/counterarts/the-book-of-revelation-8935ac647b32 
• Anabaptist Community Bible, MennoMedia, 2025, including introduction to Revelation by J. Nelson Kraybill. 
• “The Intimate Apocalypse,” hand-bound booklet by artist and writer, Jan Richardson.
• Left Behind (terror-inducing!) book series: wiki page.
• Image: by Pastor Megan, at Seattle’s ”No Kings” rally and march, June 2025

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over. During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Morlin Elias on Creation Care, and Laura Schlabach on Justice for Oppressed Peoples.

Stories begin at minute marker 6:55

​​​Acts 15.1-18

Resources

• SMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.
• Poem read:   https://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+Son+Throws+a+Blanket+Over+My+Daughter.-a0776923256
• Mennonite Action: https://www.mennoniteaction.org/
• "Letter to my newborn son" - https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/05/15/letter-to-my-newborn-son/
• Image by Matheus Bertelli on pexels

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over. During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Ann Marchand on Relationships, and Greg Thiessen on Economics.

Stories begin at minute marker 7:40

​​​Acts 8.26-39

Resources

• SMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.
• Image by Matheus Bertelli on pexels
• Hymn 453, As I Went Down to the River to Pray Text: African American spiritua.l  Music: African American spiritual.  Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over.   During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Rita Kowats on Spiritual Practices, and Anita Stokes on Spiritual Formation of Children.

Stories begin at minute marker 15:13

Acts 1.1-14

Resources

• SMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.
• Image by willsantt on pexels
• Hymn 386 One is the Body. Text: based on Ephesians 4:4-13, John L. Bell (Scotland) Music: John L. Bell, © 1997, 2002 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.) Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over.   During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Rex on Spiritual Journeys, and David on Giving and Receiving Counsel.

Pastoral Reflection begins at minute marker 2:31. Stories begin at minute marker 16:38.

Luke 24.36-53

Resources

• SMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.
• Image by Zayceva Tatiana on pexels
• Hymn: VT 366 - Although the Lord Has Left Us Text: Fred Kaan (England), © 1972, 1997 Hope Publishing Co. Music: Melchior Vulpius (present-day Germany), Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch, 1609 Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.