On the Mountain to Pray
Luke 9: 28-43a

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

This is the last week of the Season of Epiphany; Lent begins next week. For Luke, the Transfiguration is in many ways the mother of all epiphany stories ("epiphany" means "showing forth") since it reveals Jesus as a prophet and, above all, as God's beloved child.

The Transfiguration is one of the quintessential mountaintop experiences in scripture: a glimpse of divine glory, a word from God, and an experience that changes all who are present.

This is one of many instances in Luke-Acts where prayer sets the stage for significant events, decisions, and ministry moments. Jesus, Peter, James, and John ascend the mountain to pray, and it is as "he was praying" that the Transfiguration took place.

The disciples are tempted to stay on the mountain, but Jesus reminds them there is ministry on the other side of the mountain — down in the valley — among the people. They come down to find a father with his only son, who is suffering from epilepsy. The disciples couldn't heal him, but Jesus did.

Epiphany concludes today: Jesus has "shown forth" as a healer and a liberator, a teacher and a shining prophet. Think of this passage itself as a high "mountain" in the midst of Luke's Gospel.

On one side, we climb up through stories of Jesus' healing, liberating ministry. And on the other side, we descend down to Jerusalem. Today, we arrive at a clearing on the mountaintop — and from here, we can survey both how far we've come and the 40-day Lenten journey ahead.

Based on Luke 9:28-43a)

 Music this week:

• We Come from the Spirit

• Lead Me, Guide Me

• Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

• How Majestic Is Your Name

• Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)

• Take My Life

A Good Measure
Luke 6: 27-38

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

When it was time for the offering in my home church, the entire congregation would recite this verse with Rev. Hood: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." At the time, I did not understand the context of what we were saying or why it was so important. I now understand a little better. It's about more than the offering- it is about a radical way of living and acting in the midst of a harsh reality.

When read in context, we see that Jesus is telling us to love as God loves — to treat one another the way we would want to be treated and to behave in ways that take the higher ground. Jesus guides us to do something radical, to love those who hate you, to comfort those who cause you pain, to pray for those who have mistreated you. These are difficult words to live by, but they are the way of resistance. This model of behavior, while commendable, also has self-serving ends: we get to live in the world we create. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." The law of love is distinctly anti-retaliatory. If everyone returns evil for evil, what room does good have to grow, flourish, and spread? When we follow Christ's guidance, we will be resisting hate, curses, abuse, theft, and judgment by responding to those things with love, mercy, nonviolence, generosity, and forgiveness.

Kindness is compassion embodied and the emotion of love translated in acts that prioritizes the other as well as the self. The challenge of Jesus remains clear: to create the world in which God desires we live. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that". This is not passive love. This is what it might mean to give in good measure.

What might it be like if the measure of life and interactions we give are the measure we get back?

Based on Luke 6:27-38

 Music this week:

• Every Move I Make

• Here I Am to Worship

• I Could Sing of Your Love, Forever

• Live in Charity

• Help Us Accept Each Other

• When I Think About the Lord

Down with Them
Luke 6: 17-26

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

Continuing in the Gospel of Luke, we read the “Sermon on the Plain.” This same sermon, found in the Gospel of Matthew, is known as the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke's version, Jesus comes down from a higher part of the hill or the mountain to stand on the same level as the crowd, including the disciples and a multitude of folks from throughout the region. Jesus situated himself among the people. In his longest speech so far, he shows present and potential disciples, and those who would lead them, what God's gracious mercy requires of all who would follow Jesus. God's mercy will wear a human face in their company.

Jesus is available, accessible, and touchable. His ministry encompasses all. The people came from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon just as Jesus will instruct the disciples to witness to the good news “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 18) Jesus coming down to the crowd reflects not only a heavenly descent on his part, it also models an approach to ministry that reaches the world through humility. In the kindom, the goal is not to go higher; it is to go where there is need so that all may be well.

Another distinction between the Lukan account and Matthew's version is the presence of a series of "woe" statements. Like Matthew, Luke reframes blessings and presents a countercultural perspective on faithful life. Through the litany of blessings and woes, Luke juxtaposes the condition of what may be described as the lower economic class or downtrodden with the upper economic class or privileged. These are not simply theological statements; they promise and proclaim God's justice among the people who have come seeking deliverance and healing.

Where do you imagine Jesus coming down today?

Where is God calling the church to go, and who will we meet there?

In what ways do you commit to come down?

Based on Luke 6:17-26

 Music this week:

• Blessed Be Your Name

• Heart of Worship

• Sanctuary

• Give Thanks

• Here I Am, Lord

• Create in Me a Clean Heart

• Jesus-Man

Into the Deep

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

The themes in this text, which revolve around trust, call, discipleship, abundance, discouragement, risk, and persistence, are always relevant but have particular resonance during this challenging time.

This text can be heard as an acknowledgment of a time of emptiness and bleakness, as an encouragement for discipleship, and as a recognition of Jesus as the source of hope and abundance.

As we learned in the previous chapter, this text does not tell us what Jesus said while teaching. However, after he has finished instruction, Jesus shifts the conversation to focus on Simon and his nets. Simon’s response acknowledges the reality of limits and scarcity and his willingness to listen and try again. Jesus’ mentioning of the “deep water” implies that there may be unexplored areas of potential beyond the perceived limits of resources, knowledge, and energy. The response to this willingness is immediate; suddenly, they have more fish than two boats can bear. How does Peter's initial response to Jesus' request resonate with you? Have you ever felt hesitant to trust God's direction?

Here are a few other questions for you to consider this week:

• What are some experiences in your life where you felt like you were 'fishing' - trying hard, but not seeing the results you hoped for?

• Have you ever hesitated to step outside your comfort zone, even when you sensed God might be calling you to do something different?

• What does it mean to 'launch out into the deep' in your own life? What might that look like for you today?

• How can we, as a church, 'launch out into the deep' in our ministry and service to the community?

• What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to 'launch out into the deep'?

• What fears or anxieties are holding you back from fully embracing God's call?

• How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God and a willingness to follow God’s direction?

Based on Luke 5:1-11

Music this week: 

• Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

• Day by Day

• Hide Me in the Shelter

• I Will Sing, Alleluia

• Called as Partners in Christ’s Service

• Thirsty

Through the Mist

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

Before I moved to California, I had experienced heavy fog but never tule fog! It was eerie driving at night when I could see nothing — only a dull glimmer of the car lights in front of me! Being in a mist or fog provides a glimpse of the experience of being in clouds while being planted on the earth.

I remember when one of the youths at a church I served mispronounced "midst" 'as "mist." That mistake created a lot of creative conversation among the youth while the adults in the room chuckled. As I pictured the text, I could see the crowd chasing him to the edge of a high cloud-covered cliff and Jesus vanishing like a magic genie — can't you?

While all that is fun to imagine, the text contains layers of meaning and significance without my dramatic imagination adding to the narrative.

This passage continues from last week, with verse 21 serving as the bridge. Jesus’ public ministry begins in Galilee at his hometown synagogue. He proclaims the reign of God, enacted with grace and liberation (healing, exorcism, acceptance, forgiveness). Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus’ ministry brings release to God's people and begins to press beyond Israel's boundaries As long as Jesus talked about "other people," his message was terrific. His popularity ended when he started talking about the people in the room.

We know now that moments of prophetic courage in public spaces are so rare. When we embrace the prophetic call as followers of Christ, we reclaim the gospel from those who would distort, diminish, and demonize it. Our call is to follow Jesus in word and deed. His example invites us to be firm when confronting powers and principalities at odds with the will and kindom of God. His ministry demonstrates a path for us to pursue justice, truth, righteousness, and abiding peace "in the midst" of despair, distraction, and division. Even when that means speaking the truth and then going through the "mist."

Based on Luke 4:21-30

 Music this week:

• You Are My Rock

• Every Day

• Eagle’s Wings

• Show Me Your Ways

• El Shaddai

• Bread for the Journey

Proclaim

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

The passage for this week reminds us that Jesus was a faithful Jewish man. Jesus had already built a reputation for himself in his hometown and surrounding regions by the way he lived. To this point, everyone had only good things to say about him (Luke 4:14-15). He had not yet announced his ministry agenda. He had not yet leveled a critique in the synagogue against his own people. Jesus had attended the synagogue on a regular basis, but perhaps in previous visits, he only listened, watched, reflected, analyzed, and even read scripture, yet had not yet provided a contemporary critique or deconstructed the scriptures.

The words Jesus speaks in Nazareth are especially important because they are the first words we hear of his public ministry in Luke's Gospel. This is an inaugural address of sorts. What Jesus says here represents the heart of his message and mission. Of course, his message and mission do not come out of the blue but from the Scriptures. Hereads from the prophet Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because [God| has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. (God| has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (a conflation of Isaiah 61:1-2a and 58:6, and a reference to Leviticus 25). Then Jesus gives a one-sentence interpretation: "Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus clearly explains his mission. He boldly claims to fulfill the words of Isaiah, who speaks of the Spirit anointing him, sending him, and compelling him to bring good news to every one of God's children who are bound up, pressed down, broken in spirit, impoverished, imprisoned, and desperately hungry for good news.

How are you called to proclaim the good news? What are you called to proclaim? What is your prophetic message for this time?

Based on Luke 4:14-21

 Music this week:

• Amazing Grace (Peaceful, Easy Feeling)

• Lead Me to the Rock

• Build My Life

• Step by Step

• All Are Welcome

• Eat This Bread

Of all the miracles Jesus performed during his lifetime, turning water into wine may seem the most frivolous. After all, running out of wine may have led to some shame for the newly married couple's hosts and families, but there is no evidence that this condition would have threatened life or even livelihood. Later in John's gospel, Jesus would cast out demons and unclean spirits. He would alleviate the hemorrhaging of a woman who had been suffering for twelve years. Jesus would even raise Lazarus from his deathbed and a twelve year-old girl from her sick bed. Does running out of wine meet those standards?

Mary advises those working at the wedding to do what Jesus tells them to do. Jesus then follows that invitation with three directives: fill the containers, draw the water, and taste it. The entire passage is filled with symbolic images and actions, and these directives transcend the particulars of the miracle of Cana. Like the wedding guests, we are invited to experience God's goodness fully. Let us resist being satisfied or resigned to the emptiness that life offers and fill our lives' vessels with Living Water. By doing so, we will create reserves that we may draw from during times of trial, famine, grief, uncertainty, and despair. Jesus invites us to taste it — to test and verify what is good and true and available to us. When we fill, draw, and taste, we will find miracles. We may even become miracles.

On January 20, we will celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like the miracle at the wedding at Cana, Dr. King's message to the world speaks of transformation, hope, and the realization of a new and better reality. Like Jesus in this passage, King sought to fill a void, draw out hidden potential, and offer a taste of a more abundant and just life for all. He brought the message of hope and transformation that is central to the Gospel.

Based on John 2:1-11

Music this week:

• Hallelujah (your love is amazing)

• Abide

• Holy Spirit Rain Down

• In the Light

• Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

• All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly

Beloved
Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

In the first three chapters of Luke's Gospel, we read about angelic visitations, maternal and prophetic declarations, and temple encounters in Jesus' infancy and adolescence. We go from celebrating Jesus's birth to the Magi's visit within two years to a fully grown Jesus in a matter of weeks! The second Sunday of January is traditionally when we remember the baptism of Jesus.

The people have been confused by the ministry of John, the son of Elizabeth (and Jesus' cousin). His followers have diligently and faithfully ascribed to the way of life that John has promoted. In the text, we witness a transition in leadership as the fully human John describes the one who is coming with Spirit and fire. John knows he is not the Messiah and believes the Messiah is coming. Jesus was in the crowd and was baptized. No one suspects Jesus to be the Messiah. Only when Jesus has been baptized and prays is his identity revealed by Spirit and Voice as heaven opened and God calls Jesus "beloved."

What does it mean to be baptized?

Baptism is a public act by which the church proclaims God's grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection, through a visible sign of God's gracious initiative and the human individual's response in faith. We claim our identity as God's beloved.

Baptism welcomes the believer into the community of faith, the body of Christ, and reminds us that we are not alone.

Martin Luther, the German theologian and Protestant Reformer, was known to approach the baptismal font of any church he entered, dip his fingers in the water, and make the sign of the cross on his forehead while saying, "Remember, Martin, you are baptized." This Sunday, you will have that opportunity as well. If you have not yet been baptized and have questions or are ready to begin the conversation, just let Leslie know.

 Music this week:

• Gather Us In

• Because of Your Love

• Protector of My Soul

• Water, River, Spirit, Grace
  Wade in the Water

• Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters

On January 5, we celebrate the first Sunday of the new year. We will note that the Magi have arrived at the home where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are staying. They present Jesus with gifts that will symbolize his life and ministry (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and they warn Mary and Joseph to go to Egypt and hide there. They will go back home by another path, as well. We will see that sometimes God sends us on a path we do not expect to live into the life God has in store for us. We will be reminded that "The Road Isn't Straight."

Based on Matthew 2:1-12

 Music this week:

• Emmanuel, Emmanuel

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings

• Lord, I Give You My Heart

• Open the Eyes of My Heart

• Home by Another Way

• Let There Be Peace On Earth

Audrey Barton led this Taizé service of prayers, songs, silence, and communion as we celebrated Christmastide together in a contemplative service.

Music this week:

• Emmanuel, Emmanuel

• Come and Fill

• Give to Us Your Peace

• Live in Charity

• Come and Pray in Us

• Eat this Bread

• Glory to God

On Christmas Eve, we hear the story of Jesus birth. We, alongside the shepherds, are given the good news that God's love knows their names (and ours). We are told the good news that a child named Jesus, who will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting One, and Prince of Peace," has been born.

Music tonight:

• Come, O Long-Expected Jesus

• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

• What if Love Were My Gift This Christmas?

• The First Noel

• O Holy Night

• O Come, All Ye Faithful

• O Little Town of Bethlehem

• Silent Night, Holy Night

• Go, Tell It On The Mountain

• Joy To The World!

Unfortunately, we had serious technical issues with the recording this morning. The sound was quite poor and we had to reboot to fix it. Unfortunately, we neglected to record the part of the service in which the sound quality was good! (That said, the audio was quite good in the sanctuary...just sayin'...you're welcome to join us Sunday mornings in person!)

God's love made flesh, God's love for all of humanity, and God's love that makes hope worth the risk. The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus' genealogy. We then read about the story of Jesus' birth from Joseph's viewpoint. He took the risk. He believed the hope Gabriel promised was worth the risk of family and community rejection.

Based on Matthew 1:18-25

 Music this week:

• Good Christian Friends Rejoice

• Hark the Herald Angels Sing

• What if Love Were My Gift This Christmas?

• The First Noel

• When God is a Child

• Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

This year has been challenging for many of us. We have lost loved ones, experienced broken relationships, and experienced disappointment and devastation. You are not alone. We are here together. As 2024 ends and 2025 begins, we shared a worship service for endings and beginnings. This simple worship service is a way to make space for difficult emotions during the holiday season, particularly grief around endings and anxiety around new beginnings. This service has music, readings, times for reflection, and prayers, as well as communion for those who want to share in that sacred meal.

Do The Good That Is Yours To Do

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

As we listen to the news and see what is happening in the world around us, we often ask ourselves: "What, then, should I do?" We read about political upheaval around the world and in our own country. We see the results of wars on our television screens. We hear the cries of our neighbors who are afraid, marginalized, and disenfranchised. Sometimes, we may be too daunted by the enormity of the world's problems to respond. However, we need to be reminded that small, ordinary actions add up. It makes a difference when you are kind to a lonely person, when you compost, when you show up to a rally, or when you go to therapy and don't pass on generational trauma. You can't solve all the world's problems, but you can do something that matters. We must trust that we each have something to offer and that other parts of the community will bring what we cannot. What is yours to do?

In this liturgical season of expectant hope, we must remember that the good we do in the world has ripple effects beyond what we can see. We are not the world's saviors, but we move toward the One who invites us into the work and who labors alongside us.

We may think, "I'm just one person. What can I do?" Yet, as followers of Christ, we're invited to consider a different question, one rooted in hope and action: "What is mine to do?"

This week's scripture teaches a profound yet simple truth: "I can't do it all but I can do something that matters."

Isaiah 58, where the prophet calls us to be the "repairers of the breach, the restorers of streets to dwell in." This passage invites us to bring forth restoration through ordinary actions: feeding the hungry, serving the oppressed, and comforting the afflicted. It's about the cumulative power of small acts that weave together to create a fabric of communal flourishing.

How do you bring hope, peace, and joy in to the part of the world you occupy?

Based on Isaiah 58:9b-12

 Music this week:

• Angels We Have Heard on High

• O Little Town of Bethlehem

• What if Love Were My Gift This Christmas?

• While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

• It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

• Away in a Manger

Sharing Our Lives

Audrey Barton, preaching

Advent is a time of anticipation for, and as, a church community. Together we remember what it was like for Christ to enter the world, and prayerfully look forward to the new ways we hope he will manifest divine love and light in our lives in the coming year.

"Ruth" is a little book tucked into the Hebrew scriptures about two women walking, together, from destitution towards a tenuous hope.

Whether our Advent anticipation this month is showing up in the form of excitement or of peering uncertainly into the gloom, we can learn some things from this story about how not to let ourselves and others go forward alone.

Based on Ruth 1

Music this week:

• God’s Love Made Visible

• What Child is This?

• What if Love Were My Gift This Christmas?

• There’s a Song in the Air

• Totally Available

• like a child

You Are a Blessing

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

Mary is described as "blessed among women" (Luke 1:28). She is neither wealthy nor powerful, and yet she is chosen to bear God's child. Her story begins with blessedness, and so does ours, for the prophet Isaiah declares that we are claimed by a God who calls our name. We are a blessing because we belong to God. When blessedness is our beginning, we begin to see the world — and others — through the eyes of a God who says: "You are precious in my sight" (Isaiah 43:4).

The creative team at Sanctified Arts decided to begin the series with blessedness, for this is Mary's beginning, and it is ours as well. I want to encourage you to take in the radical nature of this statement, for far too many are told — implicitly and explicitly — that they/we are a burden instead of a blessing. It's a message that can easily be muted, trivialized, or redacted. Hustle culture, scarcity thinking, capitalism, racism, patriarchy, etc., are all forces that make us believe we are not a blessing. When we stop believing that we are a blessing to God, then we may stop believing this about others. Conversely, when were rooted in our blessedness, we can treat every created being as a blessing as well. Additionally, you will quickly notice that much of the art, commentary, and theme branding in this series are inspired by quilting. Information on the quilt squares can be found below.

Based on Luke 1:26-38

Music this week:

• Prepare the Way of the Lord

• Come, O Long Expected Jesus

• What if Love Were My Gift This Christmas?

• Christians All Your Lord is Coming

• Emmanuel, Emmanuel

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Better Than Amazon

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

We have all seen the Amazon logo — that arrow that looks like a smile that starts beneath the first A and finishes pointing upward to the Z. Amazon promises us to get everything we could want or need from A to Z. Many of us (perhaps most of us) have gotten things from Amazon since Jeff Bezos founded it on July 5, 1994, in his garage in Bellevue, Washington.

I admit I have often turned to Amazon to get something quickly or when I didn't have time to search for it. However, sometimes, a matter of convenience is not always good stewardship. Amazon may have most of what I think I need and want from a material perspective, but it cannot meet other needs.

Revelation 1:4-8 paints a powerful picture of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of life and the controller of time. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. This means Christ existed before all things and will continue to exist after all things. He is the source of all creation and the ultimate judge of all humanity.

While Amazon offers a wide range of products and services, it is limited by its physical and temporal constraints. It cannot provide eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, or the hope of a glorious future. In contrast, Jesus Christ offers these things and more. He is the ultimate fulfillment of all human desires and the only true source of lasting satisfaction.

Therefore, while Amazon may provide convenience and efficiency, it cannot compare to the infinite value and eternal significance of Jesus Christ. Jesus is better than Amazon!

Based on Revelation 1:4b-8

 Music this week:

• Lord Reign in Me

• Empty Me Out

• I Don’t Know Why

• Day and Night

• Forever Reign

• We See You God

Psalm 16
Nov 17, 2024
Joyful, Joyful

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

Psalm 16 is a beautiful expression of trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. The psalmist, likely David, pours out his heart, finding joy and security in the Lord.

The psalm begins with a declaration of trust: "Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge" (v. 1). David recognizes that his true hope and security lie in God alone, not in material possessions or human relationships. He trusts that God will guide and protect him. Like David, we rely on that trust and that sense of security.

This trust leads to a deep sense of joy and peace. David's heart is glad, and his soul is at rest (v. 9). He knows that God will not abandon him, even in death. This assurance brings him great comfort and hope. What do you need to feel great comfort and hope?

The psalm concludes with a prophetic look toward the future. David speaks of the Lord being at his right hand, a symbol of divine favor and blessing. He anticipates a future filled with joy and eternal life in God's presence.

How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God, allowing God's love to bring joy and peace into your life?

 Music this week:

• I Have a Hope

• You Are My Strength

• I Need You More

• Seek Ye First

• Joyful, We Adore Thee

• Grace Alone

Who Will Truly Lead Us?

Audrey Barton, preaching

This Sunday, we may not know yet who our next national leaders will be. We will all be anxious; we will all continue to be anxious when the results are known. Even if our preferred candidates are chosen, the likelihood is high for a disrupting backlash or despairing resignation among those, on either side, who feel they are being left out.

But here's the thing: neither outcome will be the primary factor determining our well-being as individuals, a believing community, and a society. As this Psalm proclaims, God is the one who has the power, along with the attentive and liberative care, to protect us and provide what we need.

What does this mean, though, practically? How exactly does God act in our human affairs? We see the righteous all around the world still suffering. Please explore with me this Sunday, what might be the way for God to work redemptively in our national and local communities, regardless of who sits in power in Washington,

Based on Psalm 146

 Music this week:

• Lovely Noise

• Dream Small

• Heart of Worship

• My Soul Waits

• My Life is in You, Lord

• Jesus, You’re the Center of My Joy (Richard Smallwood)

Just Two Things. Well, Actually, Three.

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

This Sunday, we will gather in a spirit of remembrance and reflection, acknowledging the grief and loss that many of us have experienced in the past year. We will remember our loved ones who have passed away, including Doris Hamblin, a beloved member of our congregation. We will also honor the life of others such as Thelma Mothershed Wair, who has worshipped with us on Zoom and Facebook Live for the last four years, along with her sister and brother-in-law, Grace and Preston Davis. Thelma, who passed away on October 19, was not only Toni’s cousin but also a national treasure, known for her role as one of the Little Rock 9 who bravely desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

We will hold a moment of silent prayer as we prepare for the election on November 5. This is a time when we need to come together in prayer. First Christian Church will be a polling place, and I will be working as an election clerk at the Bay Church in Pittsburg. Please pray for all election workers and for a safe and peaceful election day. Please remember to vote if you have not done so already.

Our scripture for this week speaks for itself: "…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.... You shall love your neighbor as yourself! There is no other commandment greater than these."

What does this mean for us? We spent last month imagining together what God can do through our heads, hearts, and hands. This passage reminds us that first, we love God with everything we have and then share that love with our neighbors. There is a surprise in the commandment to love. Jesus reminds us that we need to love ourselves. Love God, Love neighbor. Love ourselves. I'll have a lot to say about that on Sunday.

Based on Mark 12:28-34

 Music this week:

• Hush

• Build My Life

• Open the Eyes of My Heart

• Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant

• Better is One Day

• Show Me Your Ways

Imagine Together: Dedicating Ourselves and Our Work to God

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

During September and October, we have examined the book of Nehemiah. In summary, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader and trusted servant of a Persian King during the exile. He was permitted to return to Jerusalem and take on the impossible task of rebuilding the walls and gates of the city. Rebuilding the walls symbolized the physical construction of the “building” and the spiritual formation of the faith community. Nehemiah was met with doubt, fear, and opposition almost from the beginning. However, despite all the challenges, Nehemiah and his people had faith in God and did what was impossible together. They completed the rebuilding of the walls and the gates in 52 days because the people had a mind to work, and they were committed to completing this work for their faith community.

In October, I invited us to “Imagine Together” what God can do through us as we use our heads, hands, and hearts to respond to God’s love for us and our church. I invited you to pray for our faith community, asking, “O God, how do you want to make yourself known at this time, in this community, through this church?”

This week is Commitment Sunday. We are invited to make our commitment to our church with our heads, hands, and hearts - our time, talent, and treasure. During worship, we will bring our commitment cards forward with our regular tithes and offerings. This is a time of celebration! We have an opportunity to give thanks for all God has done and will do in our lives, in our community, and through our church! We can continue to imagine together what God can do through us as we prepare for 2025.

Based on Nehemiah 12:27-30

Music this week:

• Totally Available

• Everyday

• Eagle’s Wings

• I Will Celebrate

• Called as Partners in Christ’s Service

• River of Mercy

Colossians 1:15-23
Imagine Together: A Sense of Awe

Audrey Barton, preaching

In the past few weeks, we have looked at how Nehemiah and the Israelites came together to rebuild Jerusalem as inspiration for our own ministry vision. They prayed hard, they worked really hard, stood their ground against opposition and ridicule, confronted injustice within their own ranks, and joined heads, hearts, hands, and a lot of money to accomplish amazing things.

This might leave us a bit overwhelmed. Is anyone tired just listening to all this? How do we find the wisdom, power, holiness, and gratitude to continue? The solidarity? The perseverance in faith?

There is a part of Colossians chapter 1 that is an awe-inspiring ode to the all-sufficiency of Christ. It was the author’s offering to those in that congregation who were tempted to supplement their life in Christ with other avenues to esteem, holiness, and protection from hostile forces. How might we also imagine our ministry lifted up by the riches we have in Christ?

Based on Colossians 1:15-23

Music this week:

• Hallelujah (your love is amazing)

• Because of Your Love

• I Could Sing of Your Love, Forever

• Holy Spirit Rain Down

• Offering (Third Day)

• Bread for the Journey

Imagine Together: God Transforms Our Hearts

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

Sometimes, when we read scripture, we realize it was written for a different time and culture. This week is one of those weeks. One of the harsh words Nehemiah says is that the people will not marry anyone outside of their race, religion, and culture. This was written when the people believed they were about to face extinction and wanted to ensure they could maintain their religion and culture. These are harsh words today, and I disagree with them for many reasons. I am sure many of you would disagree with them as well. So, why did I include it? I considered excluding that verse, but I would rather wrestle with how we understand God, God's love for us, God’s love of diversity, and our love for each other.

We now live in a time when many people believe one can love who they love and marry the person they love, regardless of race, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. In 1967, in Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court invalidated state laws that banned interracial marriage. Nearly fifty years later, in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court invalidated state laws that banned same sex marriage. We now understand that diversity is a gift, including diversity of thought. In our church, we celebrate the diversity of our members and friends. We celebrate the fact that all are welcome and that all really does mean ALL! When this congregation voted to become an Open and Affirming congregation in 1992, I am sure there was a lot of discussion and diversity of opinions. Still, God's love for all — God's unconditional love for everyone, transformed hearts. Imagine what will happen when we allow God to transform our hearts!

This text also contains a helpful message: the people gather to support the Temple's work and ministry. As we continue with our Stewardship focus, we are reminded that it takes our heads, hearts, and hands to imagine together what God can do with our offering. Your ongoing support of our mission and ministry helps to create a safe space for all to worship God.

Based on Nehemiah 10:1, 28-39

Music this week:

• There’s a Light

• Lord, I Give You My Heart

• Create in Me a Clean Heart

• Be Still

• Take My Life

• Come Share the Lord

Imagine Together: God Transforms Our Thoughts

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

This will be a busy Sunday in the life of our church!

First, we will begin our stewardship focus. I have changed the theme to "Imagine Together," and we will imagine our congregation, mission, and ministry in 2025. We will imagine the ways God's love transforms our lives through our heads, hearts, and hands. We will still ask the question, "O God, how do You want to make Yourself known at this time, in this community, through this church?" Let's imagine together!

Second, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday. An article about how it started and why we celebrate is found in this week’s Intersections, our church newsletter. Later, at 3 PM, we will honor and remember our furry friends with a Blessing of the Animals.

Finally, we continue in the Book of Nehemiah. In this chapter, the walls and the gates are completed in 52 miraculous days. The community was reorganizing after the Babylonian exile, and most of the people were no longer aware of the Law of Moses. Nehemiah and Ezra are ready to teach the people what the Law of Moses says. They reassure the people to have hope and look positively toward the future. They imagine together what their new community can be as they transform their habits and implement what they are learning.

Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better." Nehemiah's people do just that, and so can we! Let's imagine together what amazing things God is calling us to do!

Based on Nehemiah 8:1-9:38

 Music this week:

• Blessed Be Your Name

• Let Everything that Has Breath

• Come and Fill

• Glory, Glory Lord

• Be Thou My Vision

• Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ

God Transforms Our Head, Heart & Hands

Lyla Buck, Siena Buck & Aidan Tang, preaching

Nehemiah led the Jewish people to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. How could these people do all that in only 52 days? Clearly, it was a work of God. God brought them together, protected them, guided them, and gave them the strength to work together to finish the wall in record time. But if we stop there, we will have an incomplete picture of what really happened. In chapter 7, Nehemiah gives us a report of the number of people involved in the project and the amount of money they gave to the building project.

God worked through them — God transformed them from individual exiles into a community guided by their heads, hands, and hearts. This week, Lyla, Siena, and Aidan will share stories of when their heads, hearts, or hands were used for good in the world (or school or church).

As we begin our stewardship focus, it is important to note that Nehemiah's people had to work together and contribute money to the project's costs and expenses (their mission and ministry). Their giving was not just a financial contribution but a personal transformation that led to a stronger, more united community.

Let us join in "Building For Our Future with Head, Heart, and Hands!" I am grateful for our youngest Disciples, who will speak with us this Sunday!

Based on Nehemiah 7:1-5, 70-73

 Music this week:

• Every Move I Make

• Heart of Worship

• Sanctuary

• Give Thanks

• Step By Step

• El Shaddai

A God-Centered Disciple Faces Opposition

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

This week, I want to encourage you to read Nehemiah 4:1-6:19 because we will only focus on Nehemiah 6:1-19. Nehemiah 6 will make more sense to you if you read Chapters 4 and 5.

So, what is happening in these three chapters? In Chapter 4, Nehemiah faces ridicule from Sanballat and the others when they hear that he and the Jewish people are successfully rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Sanballat and Tobiah call the Jewish people insulting names and seem to encourage them to turn their backs on God. However, their plan did not succeed "because the people were eager to work" (Nehemiah 4:6). The people chose to work all day and all night, with half of the people standing guard to protect the builders and the families.

Chapter 5 demonstrates what can happen when projects take too long or communication is unclear. Internal unrest sets in, and Nehemiah uses his skills as a conflict mediator to bring people together to focus on the work.

Chapter 6 is my favorite of the three. Why? Because despite outside opposition and internal unrest, they worked together to finish the project. I laugh when I read this chapter because Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem all plot to stop Nehemiah and invite him to a meeting on the Plain of Ono. I know what the text says, but I read it as "Oh No!" How often do people try to invite us to come to the land of "Oh No!" How often do we tell ourselves we must be in the land of "Oh No!" Despite those who want to carry us to the land of Oh No, when we have a mind to work and are unified in God's plan, we can overcome any opposition.

Based on Nehemiah 4:1 - 6:19

 Music this week:

• I Have a Hope

• Build My Life

• You Are My Hiding Place

• Hungry (falling on my knees)

• Protector of My Soul

• Thy Word

A God-Centered Disciple Acts

Scripture: Nehemiah 2: 1-3:32

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

I encourage you to read Nehemiah 21-3:32 because only portions of it will be read during worship.

There are some key points I want to highlight as you read the passage for this week:

First, there are some influencers in the group. We know about influencers on social media or in entertainment. Are there influencers here at church? Are you one of them?

Second, Nehemiah is met with opposition almost as soon as he begins his journey. Some people do not want him to start this work and certainly do not want him to succeed. Are there people you know who try to dissuade you from taking on a project they do not think is worth your time or energy? Are there people who try to change your mind about something you might be passionate about? Or are you sometimes the discouraging person?

Third, everyone is invited and encouraged to help with the rebuilding project. Chapter 3 lists the people, sometimes their professions or family connections, and the part of the wall or gate they completed. Naming people is essential. It acknowledges the vast number of people needed to perform this incredible task; it is a way of sharing responsibility and empowers everyone.

Let us pray: O God, how do you want to make yourself known, at this time, in this community, through this church?

Music this week:

• Gather Us In

• Forever Reign

• You Are My Strength

• Live in Charity

• I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

• I Am the Light of the World

A God-Centered Disciple Prays

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

During the June congregational meeting, Jacob Perez and I discussed reimagining ourselves as First Christian Church in Concord, CA, in 2024 and beyond. Before I became your Pastor five years ago, you asked yourselves, "What would First Christian Church look like in five years?" You never imagined a pandemic, an economic crisis, a housing crisis, the impact drugs like fentanyl or methamphetamine would have on already vulnerable people. What you imagined has not come to pass, not because you weren't hopeful or faithful, but because the world changed before our eyes. How do we reimagine? How do we rebuild?

The Book of Nehemiah is about the restoration of Jerusalem and the people's persistence and resilience in the face of opposition. It also contains quite a few life lessons about stewardship and commitment. Everyone participates in the rebuilding. The project belongs to everyone-including us.

As we look at our congregation — some online, some in person — what must we do to rebuild? Beginning this week, we will study the Book of Nehemiah and think about our life together as a congregation and how we see our role in the community and the wider church. Jacob will be meeting with groups within the church, including the youth. We want to hear from everyone because this congregation is fantastic and, I hope, wants everyone in and around Concord to know about us.

The first chapter of Nehemiah begins with Nehemiah receiving word that the walls surrounding Jerusalem have been torn down and destroyed by fire. One of the first things Nehemiah does is to pray. Before taking on any big project, we need to bathe ourselves in prayer, asking God's guidance. How do our lives change when we pray before we act? How will our church be different if we were to pray about our future and what God is calling us to be and to do in 2024 and beyond?

Based on Nehemiah 1:1-11

 Music this week:

• Day by Day

• With You (Hillsong)

• O Lord, Hear My Prayer

• I Will Sing, Alleluia

• What A Friend We Have in Jesus

• Thirsty

From Our Doorstep to the Ends of the Earth

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

We are at the end of the series on Disciples History and Theology. The mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is “To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving, and serving from our doorsteps ‘to the ends of the earth.’ ”(Acts 1:8)

The Disciples’ webpage says: “We are a movement of more than 3,000 congregations in the United States and Canada, committed to sharing the limitless love of God throughout the world. We worship in over 17 languages in a variety of styles and settngs. We are related to 15 colleges and universities and 7 seminaries and divinity houses where new leaders are nurtured. Our 31 regions, 14 general ministries, and ministry partners throughout the world make it possible for us to love and serve our neighbors from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”

What does being a part of a global ministry that honors and respects the cultures, traditions, and people in their contexts mean? What does it mean to serve Christ from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth? This week, I will talk briefly about Global Ministries and how we can be witnesses of God’s love here in Concord.

Based on Acts 1:1-8

Music this week:

• We Come From the Spirit

• Let Your Glory Fall

• Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

• How Majestic is Your Name

• One Spirit of Love

• How Beautiful

Justice and Reconciliation

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

The Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is "To be a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality, and a passion for justice."
- Micah 6:8

First Christian Church Mission Statement: "We believe that everyone is an equal child of God who deserves deep and meaningful connections, a purpose-filled life, and love expressed through belonging, service, and justice."

What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, to love kindness, and to take God seriously. What does that look like for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)? And what does that look like for First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Concord, California?

What does it mean for First Christian Church to be a faithful, growing church? Part of what it means is that we, like the denomination, demonstrate true community. True community means we advocate for one another and those children of God we may never meet. True community means we deeply listen to one another and create a safe place for all.

We grow in our faith and spirituality through reading, talking, sharing, praying, and laughing toget her.

Watch for information about an Adult Spiritual Formation/Bible Study led by Minister-in-Training Audrey Barton that will start in the Fall!

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a complicated history regarding justice-seeking. However, we can do hard things. While each congregation sets its own way of being, as a denomination, we have named ourselves an Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciliation, Open and Affirming, and Green Chalice church. These are not the only things we celebrate or advocate for, but they say a lot about who we are and what is important to us.

This week, we will examine the denomination's vision and our mission statement as a congregation to see how well we live into the vision the prophet Micah set forth.

Based on Micah 6:1-8

Music this week:

• There’s a Light

• Live A Simple Life

• This is My Prayer

• What Does the Lord Require of You?

• Called as Partners in Christ’s Service

• River of Mercy