Sermons

Sermon February 23, 2020 Time Is of the Essence Reverend Mac Bellner Matthew 17: 1-9 Today is what, in the formal church calendar, is called Transfiguration Sunday. It celebrates the time Jesus took three of his apostles with him and went up on a mountain. There, out of sight of everyone else, he was transfigured, Continue reading …

Sermon February 9, 2020 An Evolving Faith Reverend Mark Longhurst Matthew 9: 14-17 Following Jesus costs everything. I don’t mean that a follower of Jesus should attend church more frequently, although it’s not a bad thing to do. I don’t mean that a follower of Jesus should say Yes to every invitation to join a Continue reading …

Sermon February 2, 2020 Rediscovering the Bible (5 of 5 in a series on Renewing the Mainline Church) Reverend Mark Longhurst Matthew 5:1-12 The Bible is a library of books collected and written by people over the time span of nine hundred or so. These 66 books—or over 70 if you ask Catholic or Orthodox Continue reading …

Sermon January 26, 2020 Following Jesus is About Your Life (4 of 5 in a series on Renewing the Mainline Church) Reverend Mark Longhurst Matthew 4:12-23 Following Jesus costs everything. I don’t mean that a follower of Jesus should attend church more frequently, although it’s not a bad thing to do. I don’t mean that Continue reading …

Sermon January 19, 2020 Come and See: Embracing Art and Culture (3 of 5 in a series on Renewing the Mainline Church) Reverend Mark Longhurst John 1:29-42 Jesus tells the disciples to “Come and see.” These disciples are not first, the text says, disciples of Jesus. They are followers of John the Baptist and they Continue reading …

Sermon January 12, 2020 Discovering Mysticism (2 of 5 in a series on Renewing the Mainline Church) Reverend Mark Longhurst Mathew 2: 1-12   The Magi come from the East, and they have been observing a star. In ancient Greek circles, star-gazing is highly respected. Stars are thought to shine brightly at the birth of Continue reading …

Sermon January 5, 2020 Revisioning Theology (On John 1, Incarnation, Trinity, and Cosmology) Reverend Mark Longhurst John 1: 1-18 John starts off, like all gospel writers do, courageously. In his first, memorable words, he reaches back to nothing less than the beginning of space and time, the origins of creation. He does this by referencing Continue reading …

Sermon December 8, 2019 “… and a little child shall lead them” David Langston Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13 When I was asked to offer a meditation on how  today’s biblical passages — for this, the second Sunday in Advent — might provide a few lessons regarding the climate crisis,  my Continue reading …

Sermon December 15, 2019 Be Strong, Do Not Fear, Here is God Reverend Mark Longhurst Isaiah 35: 1-10 It’s a vision for the renewal of all things. After ancient Israelites fell and scattered first to Assyria and then to Babylon, God is returning to Zion. It is happening. The exile is ending. The ecological crisis Continue reading …

Sermon December 1, 2019 Neither Shall They Learn From Fossil Fuels Anymore Reverend Mark Longhurst Isaiah 2: 1-5 It takes courage to dream dreams. It takes imagination to say, with the prophet Isaiah, that nations shall not lift up sword against nation. It takes courage to envision a world beyond fossil fuels. Is such good Continue reading …