Real people don’t neatly fit into boxes. In a world of either/or we have a both/and faith. This sermon series addresses the complexities of our spiritual experience. Often, we put ourselves into boxes, or others do it to us. Rather than labels, let us embrace each other and not see the either/or but the both/and.

Week 1: Heart & Head | Mark 12:30-31, Acts 8:26-40
Week 2: Sacred & Secular | Acts 10:9-16
Week 3: Us & Them | Galatians 3:28-29, Hebrews 13:1-2
Week 4: Saint & Sinner| 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Observing the widespread and severe effects of social disconnection on Americans’ health, Dr Vivek Murthy (Surgeon General of the United States) says that “loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being.” This reality reflects what our faith already teaches us: God created us for connection and community. Drawing on the experiences of the early church in scripture, let us relearn how God leads us into lives of meaningful relationship with Godself and one another.

Week 1: Connection Among Christians | Ephesians 4:1-6
Week 2: Connection with God | John 15:1-12
Week 3: Connection with Community | Hebrews 10:23-25
Week 4: Connection Across Barriers | Ephesians 2:11-22
Week 5: Connection with the Larger Church (World Communion Sunday) | 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Fall Kick-Off Series

The idea of talking about our faith and sharing it with others can cause strong reactions. Fear. Nerves. Excitement. Uncertainty. Let’s face it, telling the Good News of the Gospel can be difficult for lots of reasons, even when our faith is at its strongest. Yet a faith worth having is a faith worth sharing! Thankfully, scripture not only tells us to share our faith, it also helps us learn how, for our own time and place. Coming soon!

Week 1: The Great Commission | Matthew 28:16-20
Week 2: The Good News is for Everyone | Acts 10:30-48
Week 3: Meet People Where They Are | Acts 17:16-28
Week 4: The World Needs the Good News | John 3:11-20

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, insisted that Christian faith was more than just a set of beliefs or a feeling. Faith changes our lives and results in faithful action in the world. The New Testament letter of James gives the same message. This series will look at John Wesley’s General Rules in connection with readings from James to show how our faith can come to life in all that we say and do.

This series follows the epistolary readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for Sept. 5- Sept. 26, 2021 [Year B].

Week 1: Genuine Faith | Scripture: James 2:1-7, 14-17
Week 2: Do No Harm | Scripture: James 3:1-12
Week 3: Do Good | Scripture: James 3:13-18, (4:1-3)
Week 4: Stay in Love with God | Scripture: James 5:13-20