

Reformation in Crisis
For the proclamation of the Word on Reformation Sunday, we had a very special zoom-edition Reformation play from the Lord's Players. Video and script below. Pastor Serena: Hi everyone! Wow! I can’t believe that I am on a zoom call with so many amazing leaders in the church! Thank you all for being here today! All: (“Happy to be here.” / “Of course!” / “It is my pleasure.” / “Zoom is pretty amazing, huh?”) Pastor Serena: Wow! Thank you, but, umm, let’s remember to speak one at


Power vs. Identity
A sermon on Matthew 22:15-22. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here]. As I have already mentioned a few times in the last month and a half, accompanying my son in the adventure of virtual learning is offering me a number of surprisingly relevant lessons for the task of interpreting scripture! This week’s episode of “you actually WILL use this is real life” deals with the difference between point of view and perspective. Point of view is about who is telling the s


False Worship and Grace
(A sermon on Exodus 32: 1-14, and Matthew 22:1-14) [for an audio recording of this service, click here. Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash] Due to our pandemic safety precautions, I cannot invite the children forward for a children’s sermon today, but I do have a story to share that comes from one of our delightful younger members. The story is from my first ever Easter Sunday here at Abiding Peace. We had a wonderful worship, and of course we talked quite a bit about Jesus


The Sweetest Hard Message
A sermon on Matthew 21: 33-46, and Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20. [For an audio recording of this sermon, click here; Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash.] This week my son introduced me to a delightful new book: Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess. Macy is a girl who lost her hearing at the age of 4, and faces various social challenges, but she forms an unexpected friendship with her elderly neighbor, Iris. Iris was named for the Greek goddess, Iris, who carried messages for the