https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Tue, 19 May 2026 08:29:37 GMTWed, 01 Oct 2025 15:18:30 GMT60Trinity PresbyterianWeekly sermon recordings from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, Texas. We want you to know that you are welcome here, no matter who you are, where you are from, who you love, or what you've done. All are welcome and welcomed to join is in discovering the gracious heart of God.episodicTrinity Presbyteriantech@tpcfm.orgnoThis week, we will be “touching resurrection” by exploring how we make our faith public. How is our faith in the resurrected Christ seen in our everyday lives? It is through the hope we have and our openness to be transformed in our living out of this faith. Our faith is not something we just experience emotionally between us and God, but our faith is something we must proclaim.

]]>542014cf-024a-48b0-bb33-687c6cdac868Tue, 05 May 2026 18:23:31 GMT<p>This week, we will be “touching resurrection” by exploring how we make our faith public. How is our faith in the resurrected Christ seen in our everyday lives? It is through the hope we have and our openness to be transformed in our living out of this faith. Our faith is not something we just experience emotionally between us and God, but our faith is something we must proclaim.</p>no00:25:15Touching Resurrection: Making Faith Public; May 3, 2026fullEaster celebrates that while Christ suffered for what was good, refusing to return evil for evil, he was raised and vindicated by God. We, too, suffer in this life. If we are honest, we sometimes suffer for doing what is right and at other times we suffer because we have neglected to do what is right! In this season after Easter, we trust that we can know the power of Christ’s resurrection even in our sufferings. We learn to suffer, knowing that our suffering is neither in vain nor eternal. Instead, our God walks with us, gives us hope, uses suffering to bring change, and promises an end to all pain. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, let us walk this life arm in arm with God and one another!

-Jake

]]>42361d09-79b2-4a87-af70-a06fd4e8c39dTue, 05 May 2026 17:27:18 GMT<p>Easter celebrates that while Christ suffered for what was good, refusing to return evil for evil, he was raised and vindicated by God. We, too, suffer in this life. If we are honest, we sometimes suffer for doing what is right and at other times we suffer because we have neglected to do what is right! In this season after Easter, we trust that we can know the power of Christ’s resurrection even in our sufferings. We learn to suffer, knowing that our suffering is neither in vain nor eternal. Instead, our God walks with us, gives us hope, uses suffering to bring change, and promises an end to all pain. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, let us walk this life arm in arm with God and one another! <br /><br />-Jake</p>no00:25:19Touching Resurrection: Leaning Into Suffering; April 26, 2026fullThere's a moment in one of the resurrection stories where two of Jesus' followers spend an entire day talking with a stranger on the road — processing, arguing, trying to make sense of everything. Hours of conversation. And they still don't see what's right in front of them until they sit down and break bread together.
Something about that rings true. The people we debate, scroll past, or keep at a comfortable distance stay ideas to us. Abstract. Manageable. And at arm’s length, we suppose we can examine them just fine. But something shifts when we actually share a table. When we are passing bread to the person next to us, the stranger becomes a person and in that person, if we're paying attention, we catch a glimpse of the presence Christ.
The early church believed the table was where resurrection became real - and where they learned what it meant to be a community of the Risen Jesus - not just as a doctrine to affirm, but as a life to be touched. We still believe that.
This Sunday we're in Luke 24, thinking together about what it means to be a community of welcome. Join us!

]]>1c976a4c-7e33-4de8-bc7e-bf542165906cTue, 21 Apr 2026 15:59:04 GMT<p>There's a moment in one of the resurrection stories where two of Jesus' followers spend an entire day talking with a stranger on the road — processing, arguing, trying to make sense of everything. Hours of conversation. And they still don't see what's right in front of them until they sit down and break bread together.<br />Something about that rings true. The people we debate, scroll past, or keep at a comfortable distance stay ideas to us. Abstract. Manageable. And at arm’s length, we suppose we can examine them just fine. But something shifts when we actually share a table. When we are passing bread to the person next to us, the stranger becomes a person and in that person, if we're paying attention, we catch a glimpse of the presence Christ.<br />The early church believed the table was where resurrection became real - and where they learned what it meant to be a community of the Risen Jesus - not just as a doctrine to affirm, but as a life to be touched. We still believe that.<br />This Sunday we're in Luke 24, thinking together about what it means to be a community of welcome. Join us!</p>no00:24:01Touching Resurrection: Connecting at the Table; April 19, 2026fullChrist is Alive! As we begin a new sermon series exploring the resurrection, this Sunday we will think about resurrection in our own relationships. In our readings from the Gospel of John, we are reminded that Jesus came to save our relationship with God, not to condemn us from it. What does it look like for us to touch and hold the resurrection of Jesus, just as Thomas did, and live into forgiveness? Let us explore together how forgiveness is key in living as a resurrected people.

]]>3dd1a8cf-8447-4fc9-a3dc-1f28d396bc04Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:07:07 GMT<p>Christ is Alive! As we begin a new sermon series exploring the resurrection, this Sunday we will think about resurrection in our own relationships. In our readings from the Gospel of John, we are reminded that Jesus came to save our relationship with God, not to condemn us from it. What does it look like for us to touch and hold the resurrection of Jesus, just as Thomas did, and live into forgiveness? Let us explore together how forgiveness is key in living as a resurrected people.</p>no00:21:31Touching Resurrection: Resurrecting Relationship; April 12, 2026fullHappy Easter! He is Risen! Join us on Easter morning as we consider how the resurrection of Jesus makes him Lord of all, but how that alone doesn’t transform a life. It’s friendship with God that makes all the difference. We will consider two experiences at the empty tomb, putting John and Peter side by side with Mary, and delight in the ways that Mary becomes not only the world’s first preacher of the resurrection, but Jesus makes her unafraid of what might come. As the Apostle Paul once said, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Let’s be built up together in the powerful love of Christ!

]]>a68511f0-0725-48a1-aad3-a5158121f5b3Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:05:41 GMT<p>Happy Easter! He is Risen! Join us on Easter morning as we consider how the resurrection of Jesus makes him Lord of all, but how that alone doesn’t transform a life. It’s friendship with God that makes all the difference. We will consider two experiences at the empty tomb, putting John and Peter side by side with Mary, and delight in the ways that Mary becomes not only the world’s first preacher of the resurrection, but Jesus makes her unafraid of what might come. As the Apostle Paul once said, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Let’s be built up together in the powerful love of Christ!</p>no00:25:23Easter Sunday; April 5, 2026fullPicture this: it’s the week of Passover. The city of Jerusalem is packed with visitors, and two parades are happening at the same time.

From the west, Pontius Pilate rides in on a warhorse — armor, banners, the full theater of the empire’s power. It’s meant to strike fear into anyone who might get too inspired by this story of liberation from Egypt and try to make a move on Rome. From the east, Jesus crests the Mount of Olives on a borrowed donkey. There isn’t anything showy about this display, but people are throwing their cloaks and palm branches down on the ground and crying out to God to save them.

Same city. Same day. Two completely different answers to the question: what does power look like?

We've spent years watching people perform strength and wit for the cameras, and most of us have gotten pretty good at distrusting anyone who needs the crowd's attention, which makes what Jesus does here so strange and so subversive. What are we supposed to do with Jesus’ protest art? Imitate it? Rent our own donkey?

On Sunday, we will rehearse this strange scene, affirm our allegiance to the God who demonstrates power in humility and service, and let our imaginations be formed by the creativity of Christ. See you then, palm branches in hand!

]]>75189e80-6ac9-4442-86bc-7fd37cfef137Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:18:49 GMT<p>Picture this: it’s the week of Passover. The city of Jerusalem is packed with visitors, and two parades are happening at the same time.<br /><br />From the west, Pontius Pilate rides in on a warhorse — armor, banners, the full theater of the empire’s power. It’s meant to strike fear into anyone who might get too inspired by this story of liberation from Egypt and try to make a move on Rome. From the east, Jesus crests the Mount of Olives on a borrowed donkey. There isn’t anything showy about this display, but people are throwing their cloaks and palm branches down on the ground and crying out to God to save them. <br /><br />Same city. Same day. Two completely different answers to the question: what does power look like?<br /><br />We've spent years watching people perform strength and wit for the cameras, and most of us have gotten pretty good at distrusting anyone who needs the crowd's attention, which makes what Jesus does here so strange and so subversive. What are we supposed to do with Jesus’ protest art? Imitate it? Rent our own donkey? <br /><br />On Sunday, we will rehearse this strange scene, affirm our allegiance to the God who demonstrates power in humility and service, and let our imaginations be formed by the creativity of Christ. See you then, palm branches in hand!</p>no00:24:41Palm Sunday: A Palm Shaped Imagination; March 29, 2026fullFriends, we are at the end of our neighboring series and will sum it up with a sermon called “The End of Neighboring,” which isn’t just about the end of the series, but the goal of this project. We’ve explored how central this work is to God’s heart and our mission as God’s people, the hurdles to doing it well or at all, our motives for doing this work, and now we will consider the good and holy goals of neighboring. As it turns out, the ways this work forms us is an end in itself! The closer we get, the more we recognize the image of God stamped on every person, calling us to create a just and upright world for all people. Join us Sunday for worship and for our Day of Action afterwards as we talked about one of the many ways our Faith in Action committee is committed to being good neighbors.

]]>4d1831c0-98bd-453b-8a40-5f545b2efb42Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:57:54 GMT<p>Friends, we are at the end of our neighboring series and will sum it up with a sermon called “The End of Neighboring,” which isn’t just about the end of the series, but the goal of this project. We’ve explored how central this work is to God’s heart and our mission as God’s people, the hurdles to doing it well or at all, our motives for doing this work, and now we will consider the good and holy goals of neighboring. As it turns out, the ways this work forms us is an end in itself! The closer we get, the more we recognize the image of God stamped on every person, calling us to create a just and upright world for all people. Join us Sunday for worship and for our Day of Action afterwards as we talked about one of the many ways our Faith in Action committee is committed to being good neighbors.</p>no00:28:03The End of Neighboring; March 22, 2026fullThis week we trek onward to explore the motives for neighboring. As Presbyterians, evangelism might be a bit taboo for our tradition; however, what if we saw sharing the good news as just an outpouring of what God is already doing in our lives? Come on Sunday as we look at Luke 6:27-36 and Matthew 5:14-16 to hear about how the power of storytelling can build stronger bonds in the art of neighboring.

]]>52aa5c69-22c2-4828-93ae-2d75d1bf0443Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:42:42 GMT<p>This week we trek onward to explore the motives for neighboring. As Presbyterians, evangelism might be a bit taboo for our tradition; however, what if we saw sharing the good news as just an outpouring of what God is already doing in our lives? Come on Sunday as we look at Luke 6:27-36 and Matthew 5:14-16 to hear about how the power of storytelling can build stronger bonds in the art of neighboring.</p>no00:23:53The Motives of Neighboring; March 15, 2026fullWe are continuing our “Art of Neighboring” series this week through Lent. As with any art, this practice takes practice. That is, you don’t get to be the Michelangelo of neighboring without practicing your brushstrokes first. You probably won’t be the next Coco Gauff of neighboring without getting out there and working on that backhand. So, this week, we are going to talk about the discipline, the patience, and the hope that is required as we keep our eyes on the prize that is a world transformed by the love of God that works itself out in the mundane and holy acts of loving our neighbors in concrete and actionable ways, step by step. Don’t let this world make you a cynic! Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus this Lent! See you Sunday. 

]]>f9d7e425-6c1d-4832-90cf-fb26d5c6274eTue, 10 Mar 2026 16:31:22 GMT<p>We are continuing our “Art of Neighboring” series this week through Lent. As with any art, this practice takes practice. That is, you don’t get to be the Michelangelo of neighboring without practicing your brushstrokes first. You probably won’t be the next Coco Gauff of neighboring without getting out there and working on that backhand. So, this week, we are going to talk about the discipline, the patience, and the hope that is required as we keep our eyes on the prize that is a world transformed by the love of God that works itself out in the mundane and holy acts of loving our neighbors in concrete and actionable ways, step by step. Don’t let this world make you a cynic! Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus this Lent! See you Sunday. </p>no00:25:36The Movement of Neighboring; March 8, 2026fullLast week, we began a Lenten series called “The Art of Neighboring.” We started by establishing that Jesus thinks that loving our neighbors is important, like really, really important. So important it takes precedent over all the other commandments and is on equal footing with loving God. Loving God and neighbor is how we experience life in its fullest form. If God did God’s job on Sunday, then you should be convinced of this much! But here’s the challenge - as soon as we admit that this ought to be a priority, we realize that there are countless hurdles to living out that love. This Sunday, join us as we continue the conversation, name the hurdles, and pray for God to give us wisdom that shapes our priorities. There is good news ahead!

]]>b4703c48-c509-4a66-89c4-f629985b6a39Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:42:27 GMT<p>Last week, we began a Lenten series called “The Art of Neighboring.” We started by establishing that Jesus thinks that loving our neighbors is important, like really, really important. So important it takes precedent over all the other commandments and is on equal footing with loving God. Loving God and neighbor is how we experience life in its fullest form. If God did God’s job on Sunday, then you should be convinced of this much! But here’s the challenge - as soon as we admit that this ought to be a priority, we realize that there are countless hurdles to living out that love. This Sunday, join us as we continue the conversation, name the hurdles, and pray for God to give us wisdom that shapes our priorities. There is good news ahead!</p>no00:29:06The Hurdles of Neighboring; March 1, 2026fullThis Lent, I wonder what you plan to give up as a way to discipline your soul. Maybe chocolate? Screentime? Social media? Booze!? Well, I’m going to suggest another route. Our Lenten practice this year will be “neighboring.” Six years ago we tried this project and then the world came to a screeching halt, and if it happens like that again, I promise never to talk to you about being a good neighbor again, but we are going to risk it. Jesus identifies the two greatest commandments as the love of God with all that one has within them and to love your neighbor as yourself. The very simple question is how can we love our neighbor if we do not know them? This Lent, beginning this Sunday, we will explore the call and the art of neighboring, all for the sake of Jesus. See you Sunday.

]]>a953164c-25e6-45f0-8b46-1d1414c10ae9Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:55:58 GMT<p>This Lent, I wonder what you plan to give up as a way to discipline your soul. Maybe chocolate? Screentime? Social media? Booze!? Well, I’m going to suggest another route. Our Lenten practice this year will be “neighboring.” Six years ago we tried this project and then the world came to a screeching halt, and if it happens like that again, I promise never to talk to you about being a good neighbor again, but we are going to risk it. Jesus identifies the two greatest commandments as the love of God with all that one has within them and to love your neighbor as yourself. The very simple question is how can we love our neighbor if we do not know them? This Lent, beginning this Sunday, we will explore the call and the art of neighboring, all for the sake of Jesus. See you Sunday.</p>no00:28:01Lenten Series: The Art of Neighboring; February 22, 2026fullThis Youth Sunday, we will be talking about how God created us to travel in pairs. Throughout the Bible, we see God intentionally calling people to do his work with a partner by their side and we do not think that is a mistake! Come join us as we see the story of Noah and the story of Jesus calling his disciples interpreted through the eyes of our youth. Hear the word delivered by our seniors, Lily Taylor, Tyler Williams, and Bryce Denton, as they share more about God’s promises in their life and the community which has helped them get to this point. You won’t want to miss it!

]]>84e79a83-eee8-4ed1-a020-7895811c24fbTue, 17 Feb 2026 19:15:24 GMT<p>This Youth Sunday, we will be talking about how God created us to travel in pairs. Throughout the Bible, we see God intentionally calling people to do his work with a partner by their side and we do not think that is a mistake! Come join us as we see the story of Noah and the story of Jesus calling his disciples interpreted through the eyes of our youth. Hear the word delivered by our seniors, Lily Taylor, Tyler Williams, and Bryce Denton, as they share more about God’s promises in their life and the community which has helped them get to this point. You won’t want to miss it!</p>no00:15:10Youth Sunday: Made To Travel In Pairs; February 15, 2026fullThis Sunday, we are ending our sermon series, “Come and See.” We have prayed throughout the season after epiphany thinking through how God reveals himself to us, and now we wonder where exactly our words go. How are we to respond? We will look to the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of John and think about how we can cultivate spaces of meeting God in community where our words become flesh. Come join us this Sunday and take part in the holy feast of communion and celebrate our scouts from troops 280 and 123 as they help lead worship!

]]>4af6a673-092c-489e-8401-24546b87f009Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:48:38 GMT<p>This Sunday, we are ending our sermon series, “Come and See.” We have prayed throughout the season after epiphany thinking through how God reveals himself to us, and now we wonder where exactly our words go. How are we to respond? We will look to the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of John and think about how we can cultivate spaces of meeting God in community where our words become flesh. Come join us this Sunday and take part in the holy feast of communion and celebrate our scouts from troops 280 and 123 as they help lead worship!</p>no00:19:31Come and See: Beyond Thoughts and Prayers; February 8, 2026fullAs we continue our series on prayer this Epiphany, one of the ah ha’s we are invited to have by the Lord is that prayer isn’t just about us. A life with God is very much about a life with others. This should come as no surprise to us, as Jesus once responded to a question about the greatest commandment with two: love God with all that is within you and love your neighbor as yourself. Our scriptures this week are from 2 Corinthians, where Paul writes to a church about what it means to pray for and suffer with your neighbor and the second is from Micah, where God rejects our empty attempts at piety and demands that what God truly desires is for us to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Justice and kindness and humility are acts we do with one another, like those neighbors Jesus told us to love as ourselves. A life of prayer, we discover, is a life with God and with our neighbor. Join us this Sunday, as we listen for God to speak, baptize a child, and install and ordain our leaders. God is speaking through all of it! See you then.

]]>4dec210b-0f0a-4055-983f-ff4aaa5bcfe0Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:42:32 GMT<p>As we continue our series on prayer this Epiphany, one of the ah ha’s we are invited to have by the Lord is that prayer isn’t just about us. A life with God is very much about a life with others. This should come as no surprise to us, as Jesus once responded to a question about the greatest commandment with two: love God with all that is within you and love your neighbor as yourself. Our scriptures this week are from 2 Corinthians, where Paul writes to a church about what it means to pray for and suffer with your neighbor and the second is from Micah, where God rejects our empty attempts at piety and demands that what God truly desires is for us to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Justice and kindness and humility are acts we do with one another, like those neighbors Jesus told us to love as ourselves. A life of prayer, we discover, is a life with God and with our neighbor. Join us this Sunday, as we listen for God to speak, baptize a child, and install and ordain our leaders. God is speaking through all of it! See you then.</p>no00:19:31Come and See: Paracleting; February 1, 2026fullThis week, we will continue to lean into the season of Epiphany through prayer. Last week, Pastor Jake invited us to see prayer as a constant engagement with the Lord, which allows God to shape us day to day. This week in worship, we will tackle the question that always arises when we talk about prayer: what is it supposed to do? When we pray, are we hoping for a change in our circumstances or a change in God’s decision making? Or does prayer work on us as much as anything else? Join us for worship as we continue to put our lives in Jesus’ way!

]]>35993251-f7dc-4493-886d-e258ee4e0ec4Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:34:21 GMT<p>This week, we will continue to lean into the season of Epiphany through prayer. Last week, Pastor Jake invited us to see prayer as a constant engagement with the Lord, which allows God to shape us day to day. This week in worship, we will tackle the question that always arises when we talk about prayer: what is it supposed to do? When we pray, are we hoping for a change in our circumstances or a change in God’s decision making? Or does prayer work on us as much as anything else? Join us for worship as we continue to put our lives in Jesus’ way!</p>no00:25:05Come and See: My Will and Thy Will; January 25, 2026fullThis Sunday, we enter into a season that the church has dubbed “Epiphany.” It’s a time of exploration of who God is and how God is as we see the un-seeable and know the unknowable in the person of Jesus Christ. As it is, knowledge about God cannot be divorced from knowing God. Jesus resists being studied as under a microscope as a specimen of spirituality, but is always available for a dinner invite and a conversation. Therefore, in the gospels, Jesus invites prospective disciples to “Come and See.” So, we will take these next four weeks and receive the invitation to come and see by leaning into the practice of prayer. What is it? What is it supposed to do? Let’s venture our first answer to this by coming to see.

]]>023c8b28-9b75-43ab-a4b5-bb141050cf40Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:07:33 GMT<p>This Sunday, we enter into a season that the church has dubbed “Epiphany.” It’s a time of exploration of who God is and how God is as we see the un-seeable and know the unknowable in the person of Jesus Christ. As it is, knowledge about God cannot be divorced from knowing God. Jesus resists being studied as under a microscope as a specimen of spirituality, but is always available for a dinner invite and a conversation. Therefore, in the gospels, Jesus invites prospective disciples to “Come and See.” So, we will take these next four weeks and receive the invitation to come and see by leaning into the practice of prayer. What is it? What is it supposed to do? Let’s venture our first answer to this by coming to see.</p>no00:22:32Come and See; January 18, 2026fullThis week, we celebrate Baptism of the Lord Sunday with a baptism of our own. As we prepare to baptize a child of the church, we will consider the grace that saturates this gift from God. It isn't only a symbol of sins being washed away, though it is that. It isn’t only a sign of the beginning of something new, though it certainly is that. It isn’t only the model of dying and being raised to new life with Jesus in his own death and resurrection, but it surely is that. It is a mystery that is more than its component parts. So come on, brothers and sisters, siblings all, let’s go down to the river to pray.

]]>16833cb2-cbf1-4fe4-aceb-7927c78550edTue, 13 Jan 2026 19:27:06 GMT<p>This week, we celebrate Baptism of the Lord Sunday with a baptism of our own. As we prepare to baptize a child of the church, we will consider the grace that saturates this gift from God. It isn't only a symbol of sins being washed away, though it is that. It isn’t only a sign of the beginning of something new, though it certainly is that. It isn’t only the model of dying and being raised to new life with Jesus in his own death and resurrection, but it surely is that. It is a mystery that is more than its component parts. So come on, brothers and sisters, siblings all, let’s go down to the river to pray.</p>no00:19:34Baptism of the Lord; January 11, 2026fullThis Sunday we end the Christmas season celebrating the epiphany, when God “shined on us” in the form of Jesus Christ himself. God is a god who wants relationship with us, so much so that God gave us signs and wonders to guide us back towards the Light. As we celebrate the new year, we will pick “Star words” as a way to guide us, just like the Wiseman followed the Star towards Jesus.

]]>9c5c47a1-58e4-46f4-ba7e-9536c5f553c7Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:32:48 GMT<p>This Sunday we end the Christmas season celebrating the epiphany, when God “shined on us” in the form of Jesus Christ himself. God is a god who wants relationship with us, so much so that God gave us signs and wonders to guide us back towards the Light. As we celebrate the new year, we will pick “Star words” as a way to guide us, just like the Wiseman followed the Star towards Jesus.</p>no00:18:10Epiphany of the Lord; January 4, 2026fullWe are grateful to welcome the Reverend Sarah Crowther-Dixon into the pulpit this Sunday! Sarah is the Campus Minister & Executive Director of UKirk TCU. She started this campus ministry of Grace Presbytery in January of this year. She has been shaped by her experiences at Oklahoma State University, her Young Adult Volunteer year in Denver, Austin Seminary, and her amazing home church, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, TX. She is grateful to be back at Trinity this Sunday!

]]>b9ffc9f6-de90-4cfe-80da-644f3155c325Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:50:44 GMT<p>We are grateful to welcome the Reverend Sarah Crowther-Dixon into the pulpit this Sunday! Sarah is the Campus Minister &amp; Executive Director of UKirk TCU. She started this campus ministry of Grace Presbytery in January of this year. She has been shaped by her experiences at Oklahoma State University, her Young Adult Volunteer year in Denver, Austin Seminary, and her amazing home church, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, TX. She is grateful to be back at Trinity this Sunday! </p>no00:18:12Christmastide; December 28, 2025fullEvery Advent, we read the prophecy of Isaiah in which he declares that the Messiah will call a truce with the fire ants. This is something to give thanks for! Yet, our world seems to be in open rebellion against us: increasing global temperature, tornadoes, earthquakes, and all. Inspired by Isaiah and John the Baptist (who would absolutely fall into the category of “granola”), we are going to hear Advent’s joyous call to a connectedness with all creation. If the gift of Christ is joyous harmony, how can we embody this gift even now, and what does creation have to do with that? (Also, can someone let the fire ants know?)

]]>004e9131-ba69-4629-95ae-a602337db706Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:56:08 GMT<p>Every Advent, we read the prophecy of Isaiah in which he declares that the Messiah will call a truce with the fire ants. This is something to give thanks for! Yet, our world seems to be in open rebellion against us: increasing global temperature, tornadoes, earthquakes, and all. Inspired by Isaiah and John the Baptist (who would absolutely fall into the category of “granola”), we are going to hear Advent’s joyous call to a connectedness with all creation. If the gift of Christ is joyous harmony, how can we embody this gift even now, and what does creation have to do with that? (Also, can someone let the fire ants know?)</p>no00:23:17Advent Already: Lessons From The Wilderness; December 14, 2025fullThis Advent season, we are talking about the gifts that Christ has already given us. Far be it from me (Pastor Jake) to take the prayer “Fix it, Jesus!” out of your repertoire, but I am suspicious of the ways that we sometimes duck from responsibility in the hopes that God will clean up for us. In fact, that intuition motivated this whole series. Advent is a time of waiting, yet, but it is an active waiting! Jesus, the Messiah, has already come to bring peace to the world. He is “The Prince of Peace,” inviting the world to walk in the ways of peace. This Sunday, I hope that we will be inspired by the opportunity to join with the Peacemaker and use our own imaginations, our power, our strength, and all our love to join with God in creating a powerful witness to a world of peace. This week in worship, the choir will present part one of their cantata “Night of the Father’s Love.” Join us in joyful worship this week!

]]>5f5296ec-ab94-453c-b397-b3db9c3128f6Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:27:18 GMT<p>This Advent season, we are talking about the gifts that Christ has already given us. Far be it from me (Pastor Jake) to take the prayer “Fix it, Jesus!” out of your repertoire, but I am suspicious of the ways that we sometimes duck from responsibility in the hopes that God will clean up for us. In fact, that intuition motivated this whole series. Advent is a time of waiting, yet, but it is an active waiting! Jesus, the Messiah, has already come to bring peace to the world. He is “The Prince of Peace,” inviting the world to walk in the ways of peace. This Sunday, I hope that we will be inspired by the opportunity to join with the Peacemaker and use our own imaginations, our power, our strength, and all our love to join with God in creating a powerful witness to a world of peace. This week in worship, the choir will present part one of their cantata “Night of the Father’s Love.” Join us in joyful worship this week!</p>no00:24:22Advent Already: Peaceable People; December 7, 2025fullChristmas is a season filled with traditions and symbolism. As we celebrate the “hanging of the greens,” we will break open the signs and symbols of Christmas and prepare our hearts to listen to the story of Christ’s birth. However, how do we hear a story that has already been told again and again? What do the signs and symbols of Christmas point us toward today?

]]>b19a3584-91de-48a9-92ae-dd324ed542b2Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:42:47 GMT<p>Christmas is a season filled with traditions and symbolism. As we celebrate the “hanging of the greens,” we will break open the signs and symbols of Christmas and prepare our hearts to listen to the story of Christ’s birth. However, how do we hear a story that has already been told again and again? What do the signs and symbols of Christmas point us toward today?</p>no00:19:55Advent Already: You'll Never Believe This; November 30, 2025fullThis Sunday, we celebrate 100 years of the Feast Day of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted the day on December 11, 1925 in response at once to both the rise of secularism and, importantly, the increasing popularity of nationalism in a post WWI context. In 1969, Pope Paul VI changed the title of the day to “The Feast to Our Jesus Christ King of the Universe,” and moved it to the very last day of the liturgical year. So, this Sunday, we will celebrate communion, recommitting ourselves to the worship of the King of the Universe who stands above every earthly commitment and power, and let our Christian year be summed up in such a commitment. It is a timely commitment, as Christian Nationalist voices rise in our country and ultra-nationalist movements gain popularity around the world. Let us take our lead from the One who reigns in power by virtue of love!

]]>a6cac879-63a6-4c14-a14b-81a0eab5efd8Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:45:43 GMT<p>This Sunday, we celebrate 100 years of the Feast Day of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted the day on December 11, 1925 in response at once to both the rise of secularism and, importantly, the increasing popularity of nationalism in a post WWI context. In 1969, Pope Paul VI changed the title of the day to “The Feast to Our Jesus Christ King of the Universe,” and moved it to the very last day of the liturgical year. So, this Sunday, we will celebrate communion, recommitting ourselves to the worship of the King of the Universe who stands above every earthly commitment and power, and let our Christian year be summed up in such a commitment. It is a timely commitment, as Christian Nationalist voices rise in our country and ultra-nationalist movements gain popularity around the world. Let us take our lead from the One who reigns in power by virtue of love!</p>no00:26:34Christ v. No One; November 23, 2025fullThe God of the Cosmos, the One from Whom all things have come and for whom all things were made, has a plan for this creation. That is the original story we see in the scriptures, one of order from chaos. “Let there be light!” The story of God with us is a story of God’s wooing humankind toward justice, peace, beauty, love, and joy. God could have done this work solo, but God has chosen to hitch God’s wagon to you, my friends! We are co-laborers with the Great God of the Universe to pronounce the good news about Jesus to the world. Let’s gather this week to relish the honor and get a handle on the work we’ve been called to do. We will also have an opportunity to hear more about our stewardship campaign for 2026, “Partners in Good News.”

]]>45e637de-a4b3-4bc4-bcbd-d4bc5ed0869aMon, 17 Nov 2025 19:40:17 GMT<p>The God of the Cosmos, the One from Whom all things have come and for whom all things were made, has a plan for this creation. That is the original story we see in the scriptures, one of order from chaos. “Let there be light!” The story of God with us is a story of God’s wooing humankind toward justice, peace, beauty, love, and joy. God could have done this work solo, but God has chosen to hitch God’s wagon to you, my friends! We are co-laborers with the Great God of the Universe to pronounce the good news about Jesus to the world. Let’s gather this week to relish the honor and get a handle on the work we’ve been called to do. We will also have an opportunity to hear more about our stewardship campaign for 2026, “Partners in Good News.”</p>no00:26:01Partners In Good News; November 16, 2025fullThis week in worship, we conclude our “Straight Outta Control” series with a reflection on money. The fact is that we spend an enormous amount of time and energy thinking about money, regardless of whether we have a lot of it or a little of it. Economic realities are one of the largest controlling factors of our lives. Looking again at the story of Joseph and the parables of Jesus, we realize that those realities aren’t to be escaped from, but navigated faithfully and the two roads that are offered to us lead either to the illusion of control and isolation or to participation with God and restoration. Jesus offers us more than an “us versus them,” and instead an “us and them” in which all God’s children are provided for. We will also introduce our stewardship campaign “Partners in Good News” during this week’s worship service.

]]>f004f8c6-faf8-4045-8f61-4001e561b320Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:48:52 GMT<p>This week in worship, we conclude our “Straight Outta Control” series with a reflection on money. The fact is that we spend an enormous amount of time and energy thinking about money, regardless of whether we have a lot of it or a little of it. Economic realities are one of the largest controlling factors of our lives. Looking again at the story of Joseph and the parables of Jesus, we realize that those realities aren’t to be escaped from, but navigated faithfully and the two roads that are offered to us lead either to the illusion of control and isolation or to participation with God and restoration. Jesus offers us more than an “us versus them,” and instead an “us and them” in which all God’s children are provided for. We will also introduce our stewardship campaign “Partners in Good News” during this week’s worship service.</p>no00:27:4924Straight Outta Control: Money; November 9, 2025fullFaith invites us to see aging not as decline, but as a deepening. As our bodies refuse our direct orders – “Stop hurting, knee!” – or they simply take on a life of their own – “How am I in pain from sleeping?” – the illusion of control slips through the tightest of grasps. In Joseph’s final breath and in Jesus’ words to Peter, we glimpse the offer of a holy paradox: as our strength fades, our trust in God’s faithfulness can grow in its place. On this third Sunday of our “Straight Outta Control” series and All Saints’ Sunday, we remember that the saints before us have shown us how to live and how to die in faith.

]]>0c05a1b6-ddc2-4971-925a-0c140bfbed6eMon, 03 Nov 2025 18:14:01 GMT<p>Faith invites us to see aging not as decline, but as a deepening. As our bodies refuse our direct orders – “Stop hurting, knee!” – or they simply take on a life of their own – “How am I in pain from sleeping?” – the illusion of control slips through the tightest of grasps. In Joseph’s final breath and in Jesus’ words to Peter, we glimpse the offer of a holy paradox: as our strength fades, our trust in God’s faithfulness can grow in its place. On this third Sunday of our “Straight Outta Control” series and All Saints’ Sunday, we remember that the saints before us have shown us how to live and how to die in faith.</p>no00:25:3723Straight Outta Control: Aging & Death; November 2, 2025fullHave you ever had an emotion spring up that surprised you? All of the sudden you were at a 10 on the anger scale and had no idea how you arrived there? It happens quite often that we are out of control of our emotions. We don’t actually get a say in what we feel. As we continue our “Straight Outta Control” sermon series, we are going to talk about the every day experience of feeling out of control of our emotions and what forces in our world - in the form of AI and news and social media algorithms - conspire to wrest even more control from our hands without our knowing consent. Where is the good news of Jesus in this? Well, as we will see in our gospel reading for the week, we might not get to decide how we feel, but are offered the opportunity to take our emotions to Christ and to Christ’s community (our church!). It’s there in community that we learn what our emotions have to teach us and how to decide to act, or not, on those emotions in ways that help us to love God and God’s world. I’ll hope to see you Sunday!

]]>3bfdc06c-8ef5-4474-8559-fb9483ebe974Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:11:27 GMT<p>Have you ever had an emotion spring up that surprised you? All of the sudden you were at a 10 on the anger scale and had no idea how you arrived there? It happens quite often that we are out of control of our emotions. We don’t actually get a say in what we feel. As we continue our “Straight Outta Control” sermon series, we are going to talk about the every day experience of feeling out of control of our emotions and what forces in our world - in the form of AI and news and social media algorithms - conspire to wrest even more control from our hands without our knowing consent. Where is the good news of Jesus in this? Well, as we will see in our gospel reading for the week, we might not get to decide how we feel, but are offered the opportunity to take our emotions to Christ and to Christ’s community (our church!). It’s there in community that we learn what our emotions have to teach us and how to decide to act, or not, on those emotions in ways that help us to love God and God’s world. I’ll hope to see you Sunday!</p>no00:25:4522Straight Outta Control: Emotions; October 26, 2025fullWe live our lives mostly out of control. It’s one of life’s great frustrations for most people, especially those of us with just enough means to convince ourselves that we are in control. In this series, we will explore stories of being out of control: out of control of what happens in our lives, of our emotions, of our aging and death, and of our money. There is a grace in being out of control. We fall, as in love, over and over again into the hands of a loving God who charts a path, offers us partnership, and invites us to see the world and be not afraid. Join us for a series that is completely out of control.

]]>640883aa-f891-4357-b169-c96cda4098e9Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:25:12 GMT<p>We live our lives mostly out of control. It’s one of life’s great frustrations for most people, especially those of us with just enough means to convince ourselves that we are in control. In this series, we will explore stories of being out of control: out of control of what happens in our lives, of our emotions, of our aging and death, and of our money. There is a grace in being out of control. We fall, as in love, over and over again into the hands of a loving God who charts a path, offers us partnership, and invites us to see the world and be not afraid. Join us for a series that is completely out of control.</p>no00:26:4021Straight Outta Control; October 19, 2025fullReverend Pastor Kimberly Mendoza leads our sermon today. So often, we talk about the call from God to “go”, but what happens when God calls us to stay? Our world has widened (for better or for worse) with the advancement of technology and transportation. It is easier to leave or move on to the next best place. This Sunday, we will take a look at the book of Jeremiah and the the cleansing of the 10 lepers to understand a faithful response to God’s call to be still.

]]>8d6800c9-81ba-4da8-9313-1a2a8f457facTue, 14 Oct 2025 17:23:35 GMT<p>Reverend Pastor Kimberly Mendoza leads our sermon today. So often, we talk about the call from God to “go”, but what happens when God calls us to stay? Our world has widened (for better or for worse) with the advancement of technology and transportation. It is easier to leave or move on to the next best place. This Sunday, we will take a look at the book of Jeremiah and the the cleansing of the 10 lepers to understand a faithful response to God’s call to be still.</p>no00:20:5416A Rule of Life; October 12, 2025fullThis week, we celebrate “World Communion Sunday” (a 100 year old Pittsburgh creation - ask Pastor Jake about it later!) as we also wrap our month of Peace and Global Witness Offerings. If our earnest desire is for peace to come and for our communion in faith and love to be truly global, how do even begin? This is the question begged by the prophetic expectations on Jesus’ life - that this One will shine a light into the darkness of our world and guide us into peace. It’s possible that the answer to that question takes a thousand forms, and that all of them might be right. In Romans, we find the Apostle Paul responding to a very specific situation about who does what on which day of the week and who eats what in front of whom (See? We aren’t the first ones to find ridiculous things to argue about!). In the process, he offers a perspective so simple and fundamental that it might otherwise go unspoken: be mindful of your neighbor. So what makes for peace for the world? I’m not sure, but in our life it has to begin by making space for the people who are actually next to us. I’ll save you a spot at the communion table this week!

]]>bbe57202-44f7-4833-b19c-d36145033709Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:37:21 GMT<p>This week, we celebrate “World Communion Sunday” (a 100 year old Pittsburgh creation - ask Pastor Jake about it later!) as we also wrap our month of Peace and Global Witness Offerings. If our earnest desire is for peace to come and for our communion in faith and love to be truly global, how do even begin? This is the question begged by the prophetic expectations on Jesus’ life - that this One will shine a light into the darkness of our world and guide us into peace. It’s possible that the answer to that question takes a thousand forms, and that all of them might be right. In Romans, we find the Apostle Paul responding to a very specific situation about who does what on which day of the week and who eats what in front of whom (See? We aren’t the first ones to find ridiculous things to argue about!). In the process, he offers a perspective so simple and fundamental that it might otherwise go unspoken: be mindful of your neighbor. So what makes for peace for the world? I’m not sure, but in our life it has to begin by making space for the people who are actually next to us. I’ll save you a spot at the communion table this week!</p>no00:24:3315World Communion Sunday: Sunbutter; October 5, 2025fullThe good news is good, really good. It’s the proclamation of sins forgiven and a world of justice and purpose, but it does not land softly! Jesus calls us to follow, not just with our words, but with our lives. And sometimes that means confronting what we’d rather avoid: our divided loyalties, our lostness, our comfort with injustice. In this series, we’ll walk through stories that expose the cost of discipleship and the grace that meets us anyway. This isn’t only a feel-good faith, though it is that! It’s a faith where we follow a Savior who tells the truth, heals what’s broken, and turns the world right-side up. Thanks be to God? Thanks be to God!

]]>15c90cce-e9ed-46b8-a94a-45f4216e2012Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:08:57 GMT<p>The good news is good, really good. It’s the proclamation of sins forgiven and a world of justice and purpose, but it does not land softly! Jesus calls us to follow, not just with our words, but with our lives. And sometimes that means confronting what we’d rather avoid: our divided loyalties, our lostness, our comfort with injustice. In this series, we’ll walk through stories that expose the cost of discipleship and the grace that meets us anyway. This isn’t only a feel-good faith, though it is that! It’s a faith where we follow a Savior who tells the truth, heals what’s broken, and turns the world right-side up. Thanks be to God? Thanks be to God!</p>no00:23:3511Good News Ain't Easy; September 7, 2025fullAdmitting fault never comes easily. We would rather justify ourselves, minimize mistakes, or point elsewhere. Yet Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin insist on a good, yet difficult truth: to be found, we must admit something is lost. We aren’t always in the right. The good news is that in Christ our faults become occasions for grace, and our return is not met with shame but with celebration. Join us for the second Sunday of our September series “Good News Ain’t Easy”!

]]>6586ef92-5967-40e7-a97f-442838fe97ddMon, 06 Oct 2025 16:56:57 GMT<p>Admitting fault never comes easily. We would rather justify ourselves, minimize mistakes, or point elsewhere. Yet Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin insist on a good, yet difficult truth: to be found, we must admit something is lost. We aren’t always in the right. The good news is that in Christ our faults become occasions for grace, and our return is not met with shame but with celebration. Join us for the second Sunday of our September series “Good News Ain’t Easy”!</p>no00:26:1212Good News Ain't Easy: Lost and Found; September 14, 2025fullWhat if the real sickness of our age isn’t poverty, but affluenza - the endless chase for more? In our last sermon of our September series “Good News Ain’t Easy,” Jesus tells of a rich man, a poor man, and a chasm no one could cross. The bad news? Wealth disparities have created a rift in the common life of our people. The good news? Jesus’ invitation into Sabbath and Jubilee is good news for all - for the poor who are lifted up and for the rich who are freed from wealth’s grip. In Christ, both are healed, both made whole.

]]>f175f2d4-b3b5-4eb8-8efd-a7448bad3ebeWed, 01 Oct 2025 20:30:00 GMT<p>What if the real sickness of our age isn’t poverty, but affluenza - the endless chase for more? In our last sermon of our September series “Good News Ain’t Easy,” Jesus tells of a rich man, a poor man, and a chasm no one could cross. The bad news? Wealth disparities have created a rift in the common life of our people. The good news? Jesus’ invitation into Sabbath and Jubilee is good news for all - for the poor who are lifted up and for the rich who are freed from wealth’s grip. In Christ, both are healed, both made whole.</p>no00:27:5914Good News Ain't Easy: Healing Affluenza; September 28, 2025fullSome of Jesus’ parables are easy. A sheep got lost and a shepherd, a GOOD shepherd wink!, went to get it. Celebration ensues! Thanks be to God, Jesus seeks and saves the lost! Hallelujah! Not this week, my friends! This week in “Good News Ain’t Easy” offers us one of the trickiest parables in the gospels. The dishonest manager. Is there a good guy here? Join us on the journey and discover that that Jesus invites us to swim upstream and to see through the false promises of wealth and power and to live instead by God’s enduring grace. The good news isn’t easy, because it asks us to let go of what the world clings to

]]>2862675b-6b81-46db-8f19-1fe151f8c8d4Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:03:35 GMT<p>Some of Jesus’ parables are easy. A sheep got lost and a shepherd, a GOOD shepherd <i>wink!</i>, went to get it. Celebration ensues! Thanks be to God, Jesus seeks and saves the lost! Hallelujah! Not this week, my friends! This week in “Good News Ain’t Easy” offers us one of the trickiest parables in the gospels. The dishonest manager. Is there a good guy here? Join us on the journey and discover that that Jesus invites us to swim upstream and to see through the false promises of wealth and power and to live instead by God’s enduring grace. The good news isn’t easy, because it asks us to let go of what the world clings to</p>no00:25:1413Good News Ain't Easy: Lens Replacement; September 21, 2025full