This week on Sunday Sermons, we reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth—not just as a celebration, but as a confrontation with delay, denial, and the unfinished work of liberation.

Inspired by Amanda Gorman’s piercing words—“the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always justice”—and the relentless spirit of Opal Lee, this sermon calls us to remember the 2.5-year silence after the Emancipation Proclamation... and what it still says about justice today.

If you’ve ever wondered what faith has to do with freedom, or how we move from performative peace to real progress, this episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is for you.

(Note - I am currently on vacation, so this is a throwback sermon from June 16th, 2024)

What can a 17-foot statue carved from discarded marble teach us about resilience, courage, and spiritual grit? In this episode of Sunday Serkons, we explore the story behind Michelangelo’s iconic David—not just as a masterpiece of art, but as a mirror for our own lives. With the story of David and Goliath as our backdrop, we dive into what it means to face life’s giants with steady eyes and a quiet fire.

Whether you're standing before a challenge, wrestling with self-doubt, or simply trying to find your footing in a chaotic world—this episode invites you to reclaim your gaze, your courage, and your hope.

Tune in, reflect, and maybe leave with a little more fire in your heart and strength in your step.

When protestors showed up with Bible verses and hate-filled signs, they picked the wrong church. In this Pride Month kickoff episode, we set the record straight on what scripture actually says — and doesn’t say — about love, identity, and inclusion. If you’ve ever been hurt by weaponized religion or wondered how to respond to spiritual bigotry, this one’s for you. Welcome to Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike!

In this episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike, we explore the deep spiritual power of impermanence through the story of a Buddhist sand mandala created in Minneapolis—and the ancient wisdom it holds for our lives today. From the silence of the Buddha’s flower sermon to the delicate beauty of colored sand swept away, Pastor Mike reflects on what it truly means to let go, and how embracing change can bring healing, freedom, and peace.

Think Mother’s Day started with Hallmark? Think again. This week on Sunday Sermons, we go back to the real—and frankly pretty badass—origins of Mother’s Day. It started with women organizing for peace, public health, and justice… not mimosa-fueled brunches. From Mother Jarvis’s fight against infant mortality to Anna Jarvis’s epic battle *against* the holiday she started (yep), this episode is part history lesson, part reality check, and all heart. Thanks for tuning in to another epidote of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike!

This week's Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is a fun one as we join the 'May the Fourth Be With You' celebration and explore the power of storytelling through the lens of that famous series Star Wars. In this episode you will meet some creative advertisers, the famed Mythologist Joseph Campbell, George Lucas and hear the Magnificat from the Gospel of Luke like you never have before - it's out of this world! Stick around for some rich reflection questions after the sermon as well. Big thanks to Carolyn Wong-Stark and Michael Stark for the musical intro piece to the sermon and some very scary breathing! If you would like to see the video that music comes from, or the entire service, it is well worth the visit to the FaithUCCDunedin FaceBook or YouTube pages to view. And finally don't forget - it's Conclave week! We'll no doubt talk about that next week. Thanks for listening to Sunday Sermons!

Today's episode is a tribute to Pope Francis as a practitioner of THE best of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We will explore that night he was announced with those famous words "Habemus Papam," the history behind the name Francis and what it meant that he chose to be the first Pope in history to name himself after the gentle St. Francis from the 12th century. Today's episode also includes a bonus segment about the upcoming Conclave to select the next Pope - a fascinating process! We have a little fun with it in this episode. Note: towards the end of the sermon, I refer to two photos - one of Pope Francis washing the feet of 10 men and 2 women on Maundy Thursday in 2013 and a photo of Pope Francis embracing a man named Vinicio Riva. Both of these images can be easily found online with a simple search. I hope you enjoy today's Sunday Sermon with Pastor Mike!

In today's episode of Sunday Sermons, recorded on Easter Sunday, live at Faith United Church of Christ, in Dunedin, FL, we will be discussing whether Easter is holy or hokey. Hokey means 'phony' and it sure seems in this day and age that a lot of Christianity falls into that camp, with beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus being more important than living a life based on his words. Well, bring on Matthew 25 - The Sheep and The Goats - and let us explore what this ancient parable has to say about that through the lens of Easter beliefs and one of the greatest sermons of all time preached in 1984 by Pastor Tony Campolo. Stick around for a few reflection questions following the sermon and ponder how this message touches your life or your faith. Thanks for being here - your presence and listening ear is appreciated!