Prince Of Peace

(Natalia Terfa) On this Martin Luther King Jr holiday, we’re going to take time to hear the words of Dr King - a sermon not of quotes or cherry-picked but in its entirety. Dr King was a preacher first, and this sermon reminds us that his words have held the test of time, even when the world keeps changing.  Scripture: Amos 5:18-24 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Today we wrap up our Advent/Christmas theme, How Does A Weary World Rejoice? From the Jordan River to Mt. Kilimanjaro, we will stand in awe together of God’s declaration that we are beloved. Video Clip: (1:29:36) https://youtu.be/kosPUYq19lQ?si=lIJ5DG9BDDZyi5TS&t=5376 Scripture: Mark 1:4-11 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Here, on the other side of Christmas, we find ourselves living in the same old world with the same old people and struggling with the same old demons as always. On the other side of Christmas, we can't help but wonder: "Now what?” If we are honest with ourselves, many of us still haven’t found what we’re looking for. And then joy finds us again! Scripture: Luke 2:21-38 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke & Natalia Terfa) On an unusually warm and rainy Christmas Eve, hundreds gathered in our candle-lit worship center to hear the Christmas gospel. We continued to contemplate our theme, how does a weary world rejoice? We find hope and inspiration in the awe surrounding us, often in simple, even ordinary ways. We experienced God's presence, not in the booming voice from heaven or the burning bush, but in the babe in swaddling clothes, held out for each of us… the God we hold. Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The angel comes to Zechariah with a promise of good news, but Zechariah can’t fully receive it, and he is cast into silence for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Sometimes, weariness can prevent us from leaving room for joy. We’ve had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. And yet, we are surprised by joy which does not come necessarily to replace the weariness.  Rather,  joy simply chooses to squeeze in right next to us… in a manger, in the wilderness keeping watch by night, in our old age, a thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Scripture: Luke 1:1-23 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) It’s Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. This day was created as an answer to nationalism, so it feels even more important to create space for this day now, as Christian nationalism is again on the rise. When algorithms and broken systems feel like they are running everything, what does it mean to take one day and push back?  Scripture: Matthew 25: 31-46 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

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(Natalia Terfa & Chad Brekke) As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or question. Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The trouble with our God stories is that they are both beautiful and broken. Both essential and dangerous. How do we honestly but respectfully share our own God stories? How do we untangle beauty from brokenness in the stories we tell and hear? Scripture: Joshua 24:15-18, Amos 5:18-24 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) How do we hold onto hope in the midst of loss, grief, and fear? On this All Saints Sunday, we lean into our ability to hold more than one thing - that we can be grieving and hopeful, that we can be devastated and find joy. We can do this because we believe God comes close to us in our grief - close enough to wipe our tears.  Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Katie Rykal) As we celebrate our Confirmands on this Reformation Sunday, we will hear their words. We will hear the highs and lows of their faith journeys and we will hear about the people who have helped them to grow in their faith. Maybe their stories will spark something in you - the highs and lows of your faith journeys, and reminders of the people who have helped to shape your faith. How do their stories connect to the Reformation? Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13, Matthew 22:34-40 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) If you want to get a heated discussion going, bring up politics and issues like paying taxes. Some religious adversaries of Jesus thought they could trap him with a question so loaded, people would turn against him no matter how he answered. Rather than causing anger and violence, the answer Jesus gives causes people to drop their weapons and walk away amazed.  Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) In the wake of what has happened this past week in the Holy Land, we hear this story. It's one of those stories that changes the more you learn about it. A wedding feast, a guest list, and some pretty rude guests. It’s a recipe for disaster - or is it? Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Paul had a killer resume. He was born into the right family. He was a leader in the most exclusive secret society of his day. Neither the Knights Templar, Freemasons, Skull and Bones nor the Illuminati could hold a candle to the religious and social cache of being a Pharisee in the tribe of Benjamin. But Paul had been claimed by something so much better that he threw all these other titles on the garbage heap. What was that amazing thing? Can you have it too?  Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:4-9 Song: Monsoons by Johannes Bornlöf Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) The Israelites are not having a good time, and they would like to make sure God knows about it. I find their grumbling very relatable. What might today’s story of the people of God have to teach us about our own feelings when things don’t go quite the way we want? Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) When we hear someone, usually a child, say the words - “But it’s not fair!” - What is our typical response? “Life isn’t fair!” What a harsh and hard lesson to learn at any age. No matter how hard we try or earn or think we deserve something - sometimes life just doesn’t go the way we want it to. Today’s Gospel is this same lesson - told in parable form - for an audience that was struggling with this same concept. Video Shown During Worship Natalia's Jonah Sermon Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11, Matthew 20:1-16 Song: Dad & Darts by Marcus Mumford, Tom Howe Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) In the midst of a long, complicated theological treatise related to the law, faith, inclusion, heritage, and salvation, Paul fires off four simple questions and follows up with an answer you need to hear.  Scripture: Romans 10:5-15 Song: Like Heaven by Oomiee Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) It’s fall kick-off, and while the lectionary doesn’t follow the school year calendar, it feels like it today. In the Gospel today Jesus addresses some questions about what it means to be church - and how we can be church together, While a lot has changed since Jesus answered these questions, much of what he says can be applied to our own congregation today.   Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20 Song: Cleopatra by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Peter had different ideas about what it means to call Jesus the Messiah. It’s not about power and control and ruling and victory. It’s more about serving, giving, blessing, and hospitality. So when it comes to Paul’s advice to the church, it’s always Opposite Day!  Scripture: Matthew 16: 21-28, Romans 12:9-21 Song: Video Knights by Spring Gang Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Welcome to the Natalia Terfa lectionary. We’re in a text today that is never included, not once, in our three-year lectionary cycle. But, as I come back from three months away, I want to talk about Hagar today, and how significant she is, and how much it matters that she names God for all of us.  Scripture: Genesis 16 Song: RGBA by Chill Cole Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website