Sermons

• Beneath the Mother’s Day Veneer

  Sunday, May 12 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  “Good morning,” the radio newscaster said, “I'm Renee Montagne.”  Then she continued, “Two is a coincidence … Three is a trend. That's why an Oklahoma City house has been dubbed The Twin House, after a third consecutive couple living there had ...

  Scripture: Genesis 18:9-15, Luke 8:42b-48

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 5/12/13

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• Communion: Radical Hospitality

  Sunday, May 05 2013

  When I was growing up, we used to sit at the dinner table for a long time, engaged in conversation. (I know, it sounds quite strange, right?) And after the coffee began to cool in the cups, my mother would look around the table and say with an ...

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 5/5/13

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• Sacramental Journey Part II: Baptism—Deep and Wide

  Sunday, Apr 28 2013

  Rev. Laura Loving

  Song: Deep and Wide, Deep and Wide, there’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. (Each time you sing it, take out a key word, first deep, then wide, then fountain, then flowing…and then after singing it with only connecting words, go back to sing the ...

  Scripture: Psalm 148, John 13:1-17

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 4/28/13

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• What Lies Beneath: Sacramental Journey Part One

  Sunday, Apr 21 2013

  Rev. Laura Loving

  This week on the church’s face book page, we ran a daily SACRAMENTS QUIZ, asking True or False questions. While we didn’t get an enormous number of responses, we were trying to increase opportunities for you all to think about and prepare for ...

  Scripture: Psalm 23, Acts 9:36-43

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 4/21/13.

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• The Conversion of Saul

  Sunday, Apr 14 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  If you know one story in the book of Acts, I bet this is it – Saul’s conversion.  Even non-believers have been known to describe a dramatic life change as a “Damascus Road event.” It’s the model by which other conversions are measured.  ...

  Scripture: Psalm 46, Acts 9:1-20

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 4/14/13

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• The Kerygma Enigma

  Sunday, Apr 07 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  We Christians never get tired of telling our story. With hymns & anthems, creeds & confessions, sermons & service, we declare our kerygma – the story of God’s saving work in the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus. There’s one in ...

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 24:13-27

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 4/7/13

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• Resurrection As Insurrection - 10:30 AM

  Sunday, Mar 31 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  The Celtic people of Scotland, Ireland and Wales have a story about a monk who died and was buried in the monastery wall. Three days later, the monks heard noises coming from the wall.  They removed the stone and found their brother very much ...

  Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25, Acts 10:34-43, Luke 24:1-12

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 3/31 Late

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• Easter Meditation - 8:15 AM

  Sunday, Mar 31 2013

  Rev. Laura Loving

  Easter Meditation This is the day that the Lord has made, a day of music and mystery, a day that challenges us to hear familiar words in a new way. Christ is Risen! He is risen, indeed. Part One: Running on ...

  Scripture: John 20:1-10, John 20:11-18

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 3/31 Early

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• Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible – A “Sinful” Woman

  Thursday, Mar 28 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  In those days, dinner parties weren’t private.  Homes were more open.  When a stranger showed up, crowds gathered round the door, peeked in the windows, and voiced loud opinions.  There were few secrets, and no lack of gossip. The ...

  Scripture: John 13:1-9, Luke 7:36-50

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• Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible: Really? Riding on a Donkey?

  Sunday, Mar 24 2013

  Today, Palm Sunday, is the first day of Holy week in the Christian year, a week in which it’s hard to tell who the good guys are and the bad guys just get “badder.” Continuing in  our series of sermons on the Bad boys and Bad girls of the ...

  Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2 & 19-29, Luke 19:28-40

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• Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible – Part 4 - After All I’ve Done for You…

  Sunday, Mar 10 2013

  Rev. Laura Loving

  Series:

  Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible

  Three roads diverge from the heart of this parable, and we’re going to venture down all 3 of those roads this morning and see where they take us:  1. The first (and most famous or infamous) road is that of the younger brother, who flees with ...

  Scripture: Joshua 5:9-12, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 3/10/13

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• Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible – Part 3 – Pontius Pilate

  Sunday, Mar 03 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  Two scripture readings today – both perfect for Lent – gloomy, depressing, pessimistic.  If you woke up and came to church feeling good, I’ve got the antidote.  If you sprang out of bed, smiled at the new day, ate a good breakfast and ...

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

  • Sermon Audio Recording - 3/3/13

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• Bad Boys (and Girls) of the Bible – Part 2 – The Devil Incarnate

  Sunday, Feb 17 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  Do you believe in the devil – I mean, a literal devil – maybe not dressed in red and carrying a pitchfork, but one who is Evil Personified just the same?  Before we address today’s scripture … or it addresses us, we have to ask. I’m no expert ...

  Scripture: Deut. 9:1-4, 6-8, Luke 4:1-13

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• Beyond Welcoming – Over the Threshold

  Sunday, Feb 10 2013

  Membership Committee

  The Gospel reading described what happened on Transfiguration Sunday when Peter, James and John saw Jesus transformed with a heavenly glow. They understood one thing: Jesus would cross a threshold they couldn’t comprehend. On this Transfiguration ...

  Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36

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• Look Who’s Talking!

  Sunday, Feb 03 2013

  Rev. Laura Loving

  Laura: What’s so scary, unnerving, threatening or shocking about hearing from our community’s own children? Just ask Jeremiah. Or Jesus. Remember the opening words of the prophet, recounting his experience as a youth, called by God to bring some ...

  Scripture: Jer. 1:4-10, Luke 4: 21-30

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• Church: The Body of Christ (A New Look)

  Sunday, Jan 27 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  (A Dialogue Sermon: L = The Rev. Laura Loving, J = The Rev. Jim Rand) In First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says, “You are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (12:27). The Corinthians needed to hear that, because they were divided ...

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 24b-27, Luke 4:14-21

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• Do Whatever He Tells You

  Sunday, Jan 20 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  This was the first sign Jesus did, John says.  He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed. “The first sign” – but an odd and mystifying one.  Most signs are simple, direct, clear; this one is obtuse.  A highway billboard has ...

  Scripture: Isaiah 62:1-5, John 2:1-11

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• Roll, River, Roll

  Sunday, Jan 13 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  The United States has its Mississippi, the Bible its Jordan.  Myth and meaning flow through the heart and heartland of each.  Identity and inspiration come to those who draw upon the waters. One river stands for westward expansion ...

  Scripture: Amos 5:21-24, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

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• A Star to Steer By

  Sunday, Jan 06 2013

  Rev. James M. Rand

  (Before reading the Gospel) When I was in high school, and gas was 33¢ a gallon, and my older brother had his driver’s license, he and his girlfriend sometimes drove around the city trying to find searchlights that shined a beam up to the clouds ...

  Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

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• O’s, Oz, and Ozymandias

  Sunday, Dec 23 2012

  Oh, my. The first set of O’s you have just heard is called the litany of the “O” antiphons of Advent. According to scholars, “These moving "O Antiphons" were composed in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts ...

  Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:7-18

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