January 4, 2009: 2nd Sunday After Christmas
Sermon: "Christmas Was Meant To Make A Difference", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 2: 7-12
Christmas is over. But what difference does Christmas make in our lives? The visitors that first Christmas, the Magi, went back home “a different way.” They not only used different roads, they were different people. Christmas should change us for the good.
January 11, 2009: The Baptism of the Lord
Sermon: "Shall We Gather At the River", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 1:4-11
Sermon summary here
January 18, 2009: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Future Ain't What It Used To Be", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 9: 14-17
In past years, we seemed comfortable predicting the future because essentially it was a continuation of the past. Not so, in these days. The future is more and more a break with the past rather than a continuation. We need to trust in God to lead us into that different future.
January 25, 2009: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Our Better Self", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 5:13-14
We human beings appear to be very complex. We are capable of doing both good things and bad things. We can be selfish or generous, helpful or destructive, useful or hurtful. Jesus Christ came to call our better selves and resist the temptations to yield to act out our cruel self, or some would say our evil self.
February 1, 2009: 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "On Hiding From God", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 17 1: 1-9
We frequently think God is not available to us, that God has abandoned us or is "hiding" from us. But the reality is, that we are running away from the God we have, to the God we want. We are the ones who are hiding.
February 8, 2009: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Why Go To Church?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 4:14-22a
Believers and non-believers often ask, Why go to Church? The question implies that it makes no difference for our lives. But Scripture makes clear that participating in worship changes our perspectives, and enables us to live with real hope and true purpose.
February 15, 2009: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Healing Touch", Pepa Paniagua, Intern
Lesson: Mark 1:40-45
Through the stories of Naaman and Jesus healing the leper, we are confronted with the fact that we too, can usher in healing through the power of touch, the power of community and power of faith.
February 22, 2009: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Living at the Bottom", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 9:2-10
On Transfiguration Sunday we are led to that wonderful time when Jesus took Peter, James, John to a mountain top. There he revealed his glory, What is clear to me as we engage in Christian living is that while we may like the mountain top, our real discipleship begins at the bottom of the mountain where we discover who we are and how we are to minister to a suffering world. We know that suffering and dying on the cross, was the only way the transfigured Jesus could reveal all of himself in his resurrection.
March 1, 2009: 1st Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "NSF", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 14:22-33
Too often we presume upon our personal faith, and when difficult times come we find that it is inadequate. We need to constantly renew our faith if it is to be a living, adequate faith.
March 8, 2009: 2nd Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "The Days of Our Lives", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 8:32-35
Pick up your cross and follow me. That is the ultimate sacrifice Jesus asks of us. It takes faith beyond our own understanding. But, we do remember those who gave us models for faith....Abraham and Sarah, Paul as he proclaimed we are justified by our faith. During this Lenten season, may we journey to the cross with hope and an abundance of faith.
March 15, 2009: 3rd Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "Of Public and Private Witches", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: 1 Samuel 28:3-14
We are very skillful in condemning the sins in the lives of others, while we overlook the same or similar unchristian actions in our own lives. Scripture instructs us to take the log out of our own eye before we presume to take the speck out of another’s eye.
March 22, 2009: 4th Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "On Being in the Same Boat", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 9:9-13
The fact that we are all sinners puts us "in the same boat". We are all sinners in need of God's grace. But God in Jesus Christ has freed us from our separation from God through His sacrifice on the cross. So forgiveness has come to us all through Jesus Christ. And God has promised to remember our sins no more. (Jeremiah 31:34). That too puts us all "in the same boat."
March 29, 2009: 5th Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "Seeing in the Shadows", Pepa Paniagua
Lesson: John 12:20-33
During this time of lent, we are called to die unto ourselves and let the power of the Holy Spirit transform our hearts and our lives so that we may fully greet the rising of the Son on Easter morning! What part of you must die so that you may live?
April 5, 2009: Passion/Palm Sunday
Sermon: "The Road", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 1:1-11
We find ourselves at Palm/ Passion Sunday...a time of celebration and a time we must face the reality of what is to come. Mark gives us a rather non descriptive picture of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Nonetheless, we can in no way ignore the fact that we must go down that road to Good Friday, or Easter will be meaningless.
April 12, 2009: Easter/Resurrection of the Lord
Sermon: "What Does It Take to Make Easter?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: I Corinthians 14:12-22
Easter is not simply a day, it is a reality. It is nothing less than an act of God. What then does it take to make Easter? It takes a great and loving God, a great deed, and a great faith. Without all three there can be no Easter.
April 19, 2009: 2nd Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "After Easter", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 16:13-20
Too often Christians see Easter as a destination rather than an important beginning. However, the entire mission of the Church is only possible “after Easter.”
April 26, 2009: 3rd Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "God's loving-kindness", NPPC Youth
Lesson: Ruth 1:8-17; 2:1-17
Sermon summary here
May 3, 2009: 4th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "A Transforming Presence", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 24:28-35
The four gospels record several appearances of the Resurrected Christ to his friends and followers. One of these appearances, reported in Luke 24, relates how two of his followers were “transformed” by this encounter. That is, they were changed and became no longer sad but joyous disciples who were committed to sharing the good news of Christ’s victory over death and evil. So our Lord desires to meet us and change us through encountering us.
May 10, 2009: 5th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "The Crucial Question", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: John 21:15-19
Jesus in one of his resurrection appearances asks the apostle Peter one question three times. “Simon son of John, do you love me?” It is the crucial question for each one of us. If we dare to answer yes, we need to realize that to love Jesus Christ is not a feeling but a commitment.
May 17, 2009: 6th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Remember, I Am With You Always", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus promised his disciples after the Resurrection that he would be with them always. But do we want Jesus with us all the time, or do we want him only when we need special help? What difference would it make if we took seriously Jesus’ promise?
May 24, 2009: 7th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "The Final Beatitude", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: John 20:24-31
It is frequently stated that "seeing is believing." But is it? Jesus said that those who have not seen but believe are blessed. Why is that so?
Bonus - The ever popular "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", J.S Bach, performed by Dr. David Heller as the Closing Voluntary.
May 31, 2009: Pentecost
Sermon: "The Breath of God", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Acts 2:1-13
The day the Church was born, the birth certificate read, “Born on Pentecost, by the power of an unpredictable God.” In the blink of an eye the house where the disciples gathered with others, turned into God’s delivery room. Let us be ready for the breath of the Holy Spirit to blow us away.
June 7, 2009: Trinity Sunday
Sermon: "Reflections on the Trinity", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: John 14:25-31
The central and distinctive doctrine of Christianity is The Trinity. No other religion espouses that doctrine. What is its significance? It is not a doctrine of “three gods,” but rather one God in three expressions, one being fully human as well as fully divine, Jesus Christ. It defies full understanding and holds up the importance of God being beyond our ability to fully understand.
June 14, 2009: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "A Footnote on the Sovereignty of God", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 22:39-53
We often speak of God being in “control” of everything. But what does that mean? In what sense is God in control? How does God’s sovereignty relate to our freedom? How can we affirm both? The clue to an answer lies in affirming a kind of sovereignty that does not cancel out our freedom as human beings.
June 21, 2009: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Personal Meaning of Blessing", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Mark 10:13-16
The word “bless” or some form of the word, is one of the words most frequently mentioned in the Bible. It literally means “bestowing of favor on another.” That human need to receive a blessing is important for all relationships, but often it does not transpire in human relationships. Through Jesus Christ, however, God has given a “blessing” to us all, which is a testimony of God’s “Divine favor.” That can make all the difference for our lives.
June 28, 2009: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Pushing Through the Crowd", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 5:21-43
Mark's gospel portrays a Jesus on the move. His presence is sometimes welcomed and sometimes not. In Galilee he is confronted by Jairus a religious leader who summons him to heal his daughter. It is on the way there that Jesus encounters an unknown woman and heals her. She pushed her way through the crowd to get to Jesus. If we look at the story through our own eyes we will see that our assumptions are often wrong, and our fear gets in the way of reaching Jesus..
July 5, 2009: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Laying It Down", Ms. Pepa Paniagua, Intern
Lesson: Mark 6:1-13
How will we respond to Christ and Christ's message? We know the road is long, and the message is hard to say- but if we do not answer the call that Christ has put on all of our hearts, what sin have we committed? What are you called to do?
July 12, 2009: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Surely, There is a Future", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Ruth 1:1-19
In the book of Ruth, nestled between Judges & 1 Samuel, we find two women, a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law, an unlikely pair, bound together. Ruth was the faithful one, Naomi, the hopeless one. Amazing thing….God showed up as always to turn this story into a love story which, in the end, becomes a love story for us as well. Remember, we should never underestimate the power of God to will and to work in all time.
July 19, 2009: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Tragedy of an Empty House", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 12:43-45
When a house is not occupied with people it quickly deteriorates. Likewise our “house of faith” needs to be filled with service or it deteriorates and becomes occupied by forces and habits which are detrimental for the Christian life.
July 26, 2009: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Friendship of Jesus", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: John 15:12-17
When we think of Jesus, we use many different words to describe him: Savior, Lord, God's Son, Redeemer, King and other words. But Jesus in his final meeting with his disciples before his death, called them "friends" instead of servants. That implies that at the deepest level Jesus is our friend, and we should regard him as "our friend."
August 2, 2009: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Feast Which Proclaims", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: 1 Corinthians 11:22-26
One of the central and basic tasks of Christians is to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. We do this in many ways, but one important way is to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. The Apostle Paul says we celebrate this sacrament to “proclaim” (or tell others) the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection on behalf of all people.
August 9, 2009: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "What Does Christ Think of Me?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Acts 10:1-16
Most often we as Christians ask people. "What do you think of Christ?" That is an important basic question for us all. But in our Christian lives another question helps us to grow and deepen our faith. It is this: "What does Christ think of me as one of his disciples?"
August 16, 2009: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Preventive Power of Christianity", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Jude 17-25
Christianity is not only a "rescue religion" whereby God's grace brings forgiveness for our sins, it is also a "preventive religion," which provides guidance and strength to prevent us from sinning.
August 23, 2009: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "...This I Know", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: 1 John 4:7-12, 16b
Jesus Loves Me This I Know....We take for granted the power that is in this simple little hymn. The texts for today give witness to Jesus' humbleness and power. We will visit some stories to confirm Jesus love and his command to love one another. We are reminded again of all the things that make us able to say.....This I know.
August 30, 2009: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Trading Tradition for Jesus", Pepa Paniagua
Lesson: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
What does it mean to be a "doer" of the word? Often the hard work of being a Christian means that we must look at "how we have always done it" and reexamine how what we do lines up with what Christ calls us to.
September 6, 2009: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Celebrating Our Salvation", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Ephesians 1:11-14
What are we about when we worship? Many things to be sure. One important thing we are always about, however, is celebrating our Salvation. That is a joyous and energizing act. So, "Let us worship our Lord and Savior!
September 13, 2009: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Powerful Littleness of the Church", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 13
Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as being like a small mustard seed and like leaven. This suggest that the church’s role is to help change the world in accord with God’s will through its influence and through being a source of refuge, not “dominating” or “dictating” it’s actions.
September 20, 2009: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Why Theological Education is Impossible", Dr. David W. Johnson
Lesson: John 6:53-69
There are three loves that theological education can nurture but not create; Love of God, Love of God's World and Love of God's People. Three loves that minds can appreciate, but only hearts can feel.
September 27, 2009: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Awful Patience of God", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Luke 13: 6-9
The parable of the fig tree is simple but has deep meaning. It is really about the awful patience of God. God's patience is contrary to the instant gratification and answers we demand. The fig tree got another chance...God waited. It is all about the awful, wonderful patience of God who gives grace upon grace. God will not cut us off, but waits for us to bear fruit when our leaves and our hopes are weary.
October 4, 2009: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "How Long Is This Table?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 28:16-18
The Communion Table in our church is seven feet eleven inches long. But on World Communion Sunday we realize it is over 24,000 miles long, for it reaches around the circumference of the planet. It also unites all Christians around the world.
October 11, 2009: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The More Excellent Way", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Mark 10:20-28
Jesus has shown us how to live life through caring for others and commitment to matters more significant than ourselves. Scripture calls that approach "The More Excellent Way."
October 18, 2009: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Children's Sabbath
Sermon: "The Vine and the Branches", NPPC Children, Beck McCall, Shelby Linker, Riley Malone & West Roberts
Lesson: John 15:1-8
Like branches connected to a vine, Christians are connected to Christ. We are to extend Christ's ministry in the world by helping others and by being held accountable.
October 25, 2009: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Count Me In!", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus offers salvation to all who believe in him. In response to that salvation Jesus calls us to be his disciples, which means to join Jesus Christ in bringing salvation to all people. He invites us to say, "Count me in!"
November 1, 2009: All Saints' Day
Sermon: "If These Walls Could Talk!", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Acts 4:31-35
If the walls of the church could talk, what would they say? The church building is as much a part of our faith experience as our belief. We are called to do God's bidding and that is saintly work. The kingdom of God is not over there it is among us.
November 8, 2009: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Opportunity - Met and Missed", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 25:14-30
As Christians, God provides opportunities for each of us to give and to serve. But each opportunity is unique and never repeats itself. So we need to take seriously each opportunity to give and to serve.
November 15, 2009: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "When Giving Becomes A Necessity!", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 16:1-13
Giving generously to God becomes a necessity when you understand that money is to be used for a greater good, and it is never a "good" by itself.
November 22, 2009: Christ the King Sunday
Sermon: "You Are Out of Your Mind!", The Rev. Brent Barry
Lesson: Acts 12:1-17
They said to Rhoda, "You are out of your mind!" But she insisted that it was so. They said "It is Peter's angel."
This sermon is indebted to Anna Carter Florence and her comments regarding Peter and Rhoda at the Festival of Homiletics in Atlanta Georgia in 2004, as well as Will Willimon and his book The Last Word, p. 108-109.
November 29, 2009: 1st Sunday of Advent
Sermon: "Promises, Promises, Promises", The Rev. Brent Barry
Lesson: Jeremiah 33:14-16
"And the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise." --Jeremiah 33:14.
This sermon is indebted to Thomas G. Long and his sermon entitled "Standing on the Promises of God"
December 6, 2009: 2nd Sunday of Advent
Sermon: "Metanoia", The Rev. Brent Barry
Lesson: Luke 33:7-18
Metanoia means there is an exit. An exit from your life the way it is.
Metanoia means there is an entrance. An entrance into your life the way God intends it.
And it doesn’t just happen in one way, it happens in all kinds of ways...
Credits: This sermon is theologically indebted to Barbara Brown Taylor-God in Pain, exegetically indebted to Fred Craddock-Have You Heard John Preach?, and homiletically indebted to Thomas Troeger, Yale Divinity School.
December 13, 2009: 3rd Sunday of Advent
Sermon: "All Flesh Shall See...", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Luke 3:1-6
Varying slightly from the lectionary, I discovered again the powerful words of Isaiah spoken by the very person who delivered them in Luke. John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness...shouting loudly would be a better way to say it. Our human tendency is to limit God's activity to our own kind of people. John shakes us loose, because God's concern for "all flesh" pushes us to tear down the boundaries we set when we exclude those not like us. We should do more than shout about that as we await the birth of our Lord.
December 20, 2009: 4th Sunday of Advent
Sermon: "Christmas Mischief", The Rev. Brent Barry
Lesson: Luke 1:46-56
In other words what sounds like mischief to some of us also sounds like mercy to others of us, and in some cases, it is both.
The audio team had a cockpit error (Christmas Mischief?) that reduced the audio quality of today's sermon. We apologize.
December 24, 2009: Christmas Eve
Sermon: "What is it about Silent Night?", The Rev. Brent Barry
Lesson: Luke 2:1-14
And it was just a small two day truce in a horrible war that stirs up hope for peace, and it was just one pastor raising his candle that has become so meaningful for this church, and it was just an ordinary birth that changed the world. It's one silent little light in the darkness of night.
And not all the darkness in the whole world can put out one small light.
December 27, 2009: 1st Sunday after Christmas
Sermon: "Mary, Full of Anger", Pepa Paniagua
Lesson: Luke 2:41-52
As people of faith, we can look to Mary as an example of how to deal with our anger toward God. She can help us learn not only to express that anger, but to also move past it so that we can begin to live into joy!
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