Sermons
Letters From Prison
Speaker: Cynthia Lapp
One of the unexpected gifts of the pandemic has been a “full house” for adult education this past year. We just concluded four months of adult ed sessions about the legal system, policing and prison in this country. It was moving, powerful, even life-changing, to learn from people in the criminal legal system, to try […]
What, to the Disinherited, is Memorial Day?
Speaker: Mary Hershberger
Some time ago, I was thinking about Memorial Day and how it seems to draw a line between war and the political and social rights that we value. I got a notice from my town of Brentwood last week that reminded me of this. The notice said, “The town of Brentwood will be hosting its […]
Guidelines
Speaker: Michelle Burkholder
Before I offer the words I have to share with you today, I want to speak directly to my fellow beloved community members who identify as LGBTQIA. The story I am about to explore is the history, present, and future of the Membership Guidelines of MCUSA. These guidelines have upheld false and harmful teachings about […]
Vine And Branches
Speaker: Cynthia Lapp
Last Sunday was our periodic break from screens and worship on Zoom. I hope you were able to get outside to enjoy creation or family, or whatever helps you feel connected to the Holy. At our house it was a Sunday of biblical proportions. We spent hours clipping and chopping and sawing at two giant […]
Seeds Want To Grow
Speaker: Hannah Breckbill
Hannah Breckbill was our guest preacher for Earth Day Sunday on April 18, 2021. She is a farmer in Iowa. You can read her message here on her blog.
Bewildered Hope, Defiant Love
Speaker: Cynthia Lapp
Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed. Here we are, another Easter, celebrating risen life on Zoom. Hopes are rising. The dangers of disease and death are starting to feel less immediate, the vaccine is in many arms – and I still protect my heart so it won’t be broken if things get more extreme […]
Seeds In The Earth
Speaker: Cynthia Lapp
Here we are, the 5th Sunday of Lent, our theme ever deepening as we approach Easter – deep calls to deep. Deep water, deep forest, deep sky, deep wilderness, deep earth. Last week we heard the story of how one of the religious leaders, Nicodemus, came to see Jesus in the night, under deep darkness, […]
A Given
Speaker: Michelle Burkholder
Imagine you are wandering deep into a space of wilderness. Just as you begin to wonder if you have gone so far into the wilderness that you have found a path that no other person has travelled before you spy something etched, by human hand, into the rock face next to you. It is one […]
Vast and Deep
Speaker: Cynthia Lapp
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your sight, YHWH, my rock and my redeemer! One year ago today we were celebrating the baptism of Max. It was a joyful, beautiful day with a big fellowship meal afterward; our hearts and plates were overflowing. The day before […]
Re-veil-ations
Speaker: Michelle Burkholder
I’m relatively new to home ownership. Becky, Simon, and I purchased and moved into our first ‘us’ owned home just about 2 years ago. I am still learning the ropes of home maintenance and upkeep as up till this point in my life I have had the privilege of others being responsible for repairs and […]