(Sunday, April 18 At 11 AM, Earth Day, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-10,15; Romans 8:18-28

Hymns: All Creatures of Our God and King; Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works; God of the Fertile Fields

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Sermon: “Earth Shall Be Fair” by Rev. Jim Reisner

God had more than humanity in mind in the work of redemption. Paul recognized this when he wrote, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now” awaiting redemption.

(Sunday, April 11 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-3; Luke 24:11-35

Hymns: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain; Because You Live, O Christ; Thine Is the Glory

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Sermon: “When Did We See You?” by Rev. Jim Reisner

Where is God? That’s an age-old question that seems more appropriate than ever. Amidst a world pandemic, school shootings, racial strife, social injustice, crushing poverty, and unending wars, where is God, indeed?

(Sunday, April 4 At 11 AM, Easter Sunday, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17; Mark 16:1-8

Hymns: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today; The Day of Resurrection; The Strife Is O’er

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Sermon: “Is That It?” by Rev. Jim Reisner

The conclusion of Mark’s Gospel is startling and abrupt. It seems to cut off in mid-sentence. We are left with the women at the tomb running away and remaining silent because they are afraid. Is this any way to end a Gospel?

(Sunday, March 28 At 11 AM, Palm Sunday, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Mark 11:1-11

Hymns: We Are Marching in the Light of God; All Glory, Laud and Honor; Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

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Sermon: “Hosanna!” by Rev. Jim Reisner

When Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he is a lit torch entering a firecracker factory – an explosion is inevitable. Jesus evokes images of the Passover, the prophecy of Zechariah, and the Maccabean revolt, all of which speak of political liberation from an oppressive force. No wonder that merely days later the people turn on him when Jesus preaches the power of love and not the love of power. Jesus is proclaiming liberation from an oppressive foe, but his enemy is far greater than Rome.

(Sunday, March 21 At 11 AM, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 3:1-17

Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus; My Song Is Love Unknown; O Jesus, I Have Promised

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Sermon: “We want to see Jesus” by Rev. Carolyn Tilley

“When we reach beyond our fears to the One who loves us with a love that was there before we were born and will be there after we die, the oppression, persecution, and even death will be unable to take our freedom. Once we have come to the deep inner knowledge – a knowledge more of the heart than the mind – that we are born out of love and will die into love, that every part of our being is deeply rooted in love, and that this love is our true Father and Mother, then all forms of evil, illness, and death lose their final power over us”

Henri Nouwen, Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring

(Sunday, March 14 At 11 AM, Fourth Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:1-17

Hymns: What Wondrous Love is This; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; Lift High the Cross

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Sermon:  “Nick at Night” by Rev. James Reisner

“We are on the road to heaven already if today we walk with God. For eternal life is not a possession conferred at death, it is a present endowment. We live it now, and continue it through death. And that is why belief in life to come should only increase our commitment to life now and here.” -- William Sloane Coffin

(Sunday, March 7 At 11 AM, Third Sunday of Lent, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-20; John 2:13-22

Hymns: God the Sculptor of the Mountains; Bread Was Broken, Words Were Spoken; In the Cross of Christ I Glory

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Sermon:  “Disorderly Conduct” by Rev. James Reisner

In the Gospel of John, the cleansing of the temple occurs at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, not on the evening of Palm Sunday as it does in the other three gospels. Another difference unique to John is that he does not accuse the moneychangers of defrauding the people. John sees the whole system of temple sacrifice as corrupt. The ritual formalisms have become more important than the essence of faith in God – the love of God and neighbor. We always need to keep in front of ourselves the question of whether our religion is getting in the way of our relationship to God.

(Sunday, February 28 At 11 AM, Second Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-12; Mark 8:31-38

Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus; Take Up Your Cross; Christ of the Upward Way

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Sermon:  “I Been ‘Buked” by Rev. James Reisner

“Take up your cross,” Jesus says, “and follow me … For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

(Sunday, February 21 At 11 AM, First Sunday in Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-10; Mark 1:9-15

Hymns: Great is thy faithfulness; Just a Closer Walk with Thee; God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us

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Sermon:  “The Year Lent Never Went Away” by Rev. James Reisner

Do we really need to be reminded of our mortality this Lent when death is all around us? Do we really need to give something up for Lent when so much has already been taken away from us?

And yet here we are entering a season of solemn self-examination and spiritual discipline. As we set out on our journey, let us remember that our destiny is the joy of Easter sunrise and the victory of life over all that would destroy us.