In the dazzling glory of a vision in the Temple, Isaiah hears a call from God, "Who will go for us?" And in response, he steps out in faith saying, "Here I am, send me!" Listen as Pastor Nancy explores this ancient call and how it connects with our current journeys of faith, in her sermon for Trinity Sunday, Saying Yes to God's Community of Love. Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13, Romans 8:12-17.

For Pentecost Sunday 2021 in-person worship returned to FCC Morehead, KY. Pastor Nancy explores the story of the gift of the Holy Spirit and its implications for our current day. Sunday sermon title: We're in the Wrong Place. Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Acts 2:1-21.

When artists attempted to depict the story of the ascension of Jesu (Acts 1:1-11), some interesting images appear. Today Pastor Nancy reflects on one detail from a painting by Master of the Dominican Cycle in a passion series painting from the 16th century. You can view the painting at the German National Museum. 

"Too often we tend to think of faith as a one time decision, perhaps at our baptism or when we join a particular church. Peter’s story offers us another way of imagining our faith, one of process and discovery--of making mistakes, of changing one's mind, of having our ways of understanding God and the world challenged, enlarged, of being--as Peter was that day in Caesarea--interrupted by the Spirit....That's part of the journey of faith. It’s not measured in how firmly our feet are planted, but how expansive our love becomes." --Pastor Nancy

Scripture texts: Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17.

On the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season, Pastor Nancy returns to the story of Peter and John in Acts 4, as she continues our reflections on life after resurrection. As the Elder of 1 John writes, this eastering life requires practice, we live into a life of divine love, one day at a time, one action of love after another. It's through our practice of love that the Sacred breaks through our brokenness and uncertainty, transforming us into disciples who follow in the footsteps of Peter. Scripture passages: Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24. 

How does a stammering, impulsive fisherman, who in Jesus's darkest hours denied him 3 times transform into a bold, risk-taking apostle who can bring good news to an outcast and to those in power? The Elder who wrote 1 John tells us it's because of God's initiative, embracing Peter as a beloved child. It's that love that opens up a different future for him and for us.

Deep inside most of us long for someone to tell us who we are. In the light of Easter resurrection we take on a new name now we are children of God, God's beloved. Listen as Pastor Nancy explores the amazing, transformative love of God for us. 

Scripture passages: Acts 3:1-19 and 1 John 3:1-7

In recent weeks the findings of a Gallop research Poll on church membership have been in the news. For the first time since they began tracking the numbers in 1937, membership in a faith community fell below 50% of the U.S. adult population. The headlines have been everywhere, marking this milestone. "If we take seriously the findings of these studies, the truth is, dusting off our traditions and sprucing up our worship services is not what folks are looking for. For many, there’s a longing for authenticity, for true community, for a group of people honestly struggling with what it means to be a human being on a spiritual journey, caring for the earth and for the common good."

Facing such grim statistics, what's a church community to do? Listen as Pastor Nancy Gowler explores two scripture texts (Acts 4:32-35 and 1 John 1:2-2:1) and helps us listen for a word of hope in these days. 

What are we to make of the ending of Mark's gospel? With only five verses and no resurrection appearances by Jesus it stands alone with its abrupt, unsettling end. On Easter Sunday in 2021, as many churches have yet to return to in person worship services, Pastor Nancy suggests we consider the unfinished ending as an open invitation--how are we responding to the news of resurrection? 

Chanting crowds, a donkey, branches and cloaks lining the road, shouts of Hosanna ringing in the air--there is always a festival feel in our celebrations of Jesus entering Jerusalem. Pastor Nancy invites us to imagine ourselves in the crowds that day. What might move us to shout Hosanna, God save us? Who is crying out, save us, today?

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 and Philippians 2:5-11.

What do you do when political structures exploit the poor and religious institutions align themselves with the powerful? According to the prophet Jeremiah you expect God to do a new thing. On the fifth Sunday of Lent Pastor Nancy explores the dream of Jeremiah of the day when God's covenant bypasses the powerful and transforms the hearts and minds of the people with God's law of love. Scripture texts - Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33.