Author of Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian.Part 4 Making Peace and Being PeaceVon First Community Church

Today is the sixth Sunday of the Easter season. The fifty days between Easter and Pentecost is a special time in our church year. It is a time that we set aside to reflect on what happened to Jesus following his crucifixion. On Easter Sunday, we focus our attention on the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, on the empty tomb, the cornerstone of our fai…

Part 2 in the Sermon Series Somehow Love Will Find a WayLove is Our HopeVon First Community Church

Author of Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian.Part 3 Prayer and MeditationVon First Community Church

Part 1 Life Delivers the UnbelievableVon First Community Church

Author of Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian.Part 1 - God and NirvanaVon First Community Church

Author of Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian.Part 2 Jesus and BuddhaVon First Community Church

We had a baptism in our sanctuary this morning during the worship service. My reflection, which focuses on the way our sanctuary is set up architecturally and on the relationship of form and function, is a reminder that baptism is only the beginning of our spiritual. journey. I think you might find it at least informative. (At least I hope you will…

First Community Church 04.28.24 Glen Miles -Sermon, Grace Required Grace Received by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

This reflection, the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, is entitled "Don't Try to Hold On." It could just as easily have been named, "Don't Touch Me," "Don't Cling to Me," or "Don't Hold Me," depending upon which translation of the passage in John you read. It is about the suffering that arises from our attachments, from our grasping, whether it i…

First Community Church 04.14.24 Rev Dr. Otis Moss III -Sermon, From Miseducation to Liberation. by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

First Community Church 04.14.24 Rev Dr. Otis Moss III -Sermon, These are my Confessions by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

The liturgical season of Easter is one of my favorite times of the Christian year. It is a time when we read the gospel accounts of how the disciples encounter Jesus, encounter their risen Lord, or are encountered by him. Their experiences of rediscovering the One whom they felt they had lost can guide us in our own experiences of our risen Lord, c…

First Community Church 04.07.24 Mexico Mission Sarah Kientz -Sermon Turning a Little Into A Lot by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

In our observance of Holy Week, we move from Palm Sunday, a day of triumph, to Easter Sunday, another day of triumph, without passing through the dark night of the soul that is a central part of Holy Week. It is tempting to think we can have a resurrection without a crucifixion, without a sacrifice, without a death, either in Jesus’ life or in our …

First Community Easter Sunday 03.21.24 Glen Miles -Sermon, And I Hope by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Today is Palm Sunday, a day of celebration! Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem marks the beginning of Holy Week, one of the most profound and deeply symbolic weeks in human history. Churches distribute palms to their communicants on this day, sometimes as palm branches, sometimes in other forms. This morning, We reflect on the symbolism of the p…

This morning, the fifth Sunday in Lent, we are continuing our reflections on the power of prayer. I hope our reflections will lead us to a deeper understanding of the meaning and power of prayer, will lead us to believe more fully in the power of intercessory prayer, and will lead us to pray more constantly and more meaningfully in our daily life.…

Palm SundayHoly Week begins this weekend with Palm Sunday, the day we recall Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. My sermon, "Songs of Loudest Praise," is based on John 12:12-16. John's version of this story is briefer than the other three gospels. It is a bit quieter, too. The disciples are confused; the crowd is there for another miracle or two…

Scripture lessons and discussion topics on our journey through Holy Week by Mary Kate Buchanan.Von First Community Church

This Sunday's sermon, "Teach Me," is part 5 in our Lent sermon series, Wandering Heart, and is based on Jesus' well-known response to how often we should forgive. As you may recall, he said, "Seventy times seven." Or, the Greek is a bit unclear in the text, he may have said, "Seventy-seven times." Either way, it is a huge number, much greater than …

First Community Church 03.13.24 Glen Miles, Sacred Doorways, The Study of Celtic Christianity by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Von Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

This Sunday, we continue the sermon series Wandering Heart with Part Four: "I'm Fixed Upon It," based on Matthew 16: 21-23. This is the famous story of when Peter tried to tell Jesus what to do and what not to do. Peter is confused. He is creating a stumbling block for Jesus. Jesus replies, rather harshly, "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!" It sounds har…

First Community Church 03.06.24 Glen Miles Sacred Doorways, The Study of Celtic Christianity Part 3 by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

This morning, on communion Sunday, we are belatedly beginning our Lenten series of reflections on the power of prayer. I hope our reflections over the next few weeks, and probably after Easter as well, will lead us to a deeper understanding of the meaning and power of prayer, will lead us to believe more fully in the power of intercessory prayer, a…

First Community Church 03.03.24 Mary Kate Buchanan -Pastoral Prayer by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Glen presents the third installment of his Wandering Heart Lenten Sermon Series, Thy Redeeming LoveVon First Community Church

First Community Church 02.28.24 Glen Miles -Sacred Doorways The Study Of Celtic Christianity P2 by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Last week we thought about solitude, a theme to which we will be returning during our reflections on prayer, and the importance of touch, of breaking down or setting aside, or reaching past the boundaries that separate us from each other. This morning, let’s build on what we began last week by reflecting on community, on our community, and on the h…

First Community Church 02.25,24 Sarah Kientz -The Wandering Heart, Wilderness First Aid by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

First Community Church 02.25.24 Seth Stearns -Pastoral Prayer by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Adults are invited to stay for a new Bible study led by Rev. Glen Miles. Glen says this about the study: "I will begin a new study titled Sacred Doorways: A Study of Celtic Christianity. I've been fascinated by Celtic Christianity since my seminary days. A beautiful Celtic Cross sat atop the chapel of the school. My interest was rekindled during th…

For one more week, I would like us to remain with the theme that we began several weeks ago, the theme of healing as illustrated in the healing miracles that are described in the Bible. In previous weeks, we have attempted to discern what these healing miracles have in common (if, indeed, they have anything in common). We have attempted to identify…

First Community Church 02.18.24 Glen Miles -Sermon The Wandering Heart Part I Jesus Sought Me by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

First Community Church 02.18.24 Sarah Kientz -Pastoral Prayer by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

Von Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

First Community Church 02.11.24 Mary Kate Buchanan -Pastoral Prayer by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

This Sunday, I am preaching the sermon "If." It is a keyword in the story of Jesus' healing of a leper in Mark 1: 40-45. Essentially, the man with leprosy (in antiquity, the word leprosy was a catchall for any skin disease) truly believes Jesus has the ability and will do so. A New Testament scholar says the verse could easily be read like this: "I…

Glen in Part IV reviews the prior statement setting the stage for the final statement "God Doesn't Give You More Than You Can Handle"Von First Community Church

Von Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

First Community Church 02.04.24 Sarah Kientz Pastoral Prayer by First Community ChurchVon First Community Church

This Sunday's sermon is titled "Overwhelmed?" I cannot count the number of times in the last few years I've heard the word, overwhelmed, as the answer to "How are you?" Parents, kids, old, young, spouses, singles, you name the category, and you will find many who feel swamped by life.The sermon is based on Mark 1: 29-39. The text tells us about the…

Glen delves into the Biblical Instruction and the various paths they can be interpreted in painful and malicious ways.This weeks statement, God Said it, I Believe it, Thats good enough for me.Von First Community Church

Von Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

Join with Ministerial Intern Jennifer Garvin as she presents the congregational concerns of our days.Von First Community Church

General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, Reverend Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson shares her insight of the Biblical Passages from 1st Corinthians 8:1-13 in "When Certainty Fails".Von First Community Church

Glen shares the second installment of his Bible Study, discussing the biblical basis and refutation of Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner.Von First Community Church

Von Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

take this moment apart to reflect on gratitude and the love which embraces us. Reverend Mary Kate Buchanan shares this offering from our 10AM Sunday worship service.Von First Community Church