Friends Congregational Church

I Know What I Am | October 6, 2024 | Dan De Leon

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 5:27-29 titled “I Know What I Am" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon emphasizes the importance of embracing "guesthood" in faith, reflecting Jesus' role as a guest rather than a host at meals, and how this shapes Christian practice. It challenges believers to see themselves as guests at God's table, fostering humility, mutual care, and love for others rather than assuming the role of hosts. By living out this posture of guesthood, the sermon calls for Christians to reject exclusion and Christian nationalism, focusing instead on serving others and cultivating God’s kingdom on Earth.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

You Can’t Wear That | October 15, 2023 | Dan De Leon

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 22: 1-14 titled “You Can’t Wear That" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon explores the concept of authenticity in faith, emphasizing that outward appearances, like clothing, should not define one's relationship with God or others. It reflects on the importance of shedding pride, self-absorption, and societal constructs of hierarchy to "wear" humility, compassion, and grace, as we are all invited to be our true selves in the Kingdom of God. The message calls for the church community to be a transformative space that changes the world through love and understanding, supporting one another in vulnerability and unity.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2023.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Beautiful, Broken, Beloved | October 23, 2022 | Trent Williams

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 18:9-14, titled “Beautiful, Broken, Beloved" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon compares the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18, emphasizing how we often see ourselves as righteous, yet fall into hypocrisy. It warns against self-righteousness, particularly in today’s divisive culture, and highlights the tax collector’s humble acknowledgment of sin as a key to grace. The message explores how human beings are a mix of sinner and saint, broken but created in God's image, and calls for compassion toward ourselves and others as we navigate life’s imperfections, aiming for unity and love in a world that constantly pressures us to judge and divide.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Access Sunday | October 10, 2021 | Brooke Dooley

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 5:17-20, titled “Access Sunday" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon reflects on Access Sunday and the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities in church life and society. It highlights how the pandemic exacerbated isolation for people with disabilities and the ongoing need for accessibility and allyship. The sermon draws on the story of the paralyzed man in Luke, where his friends dismantle a roof to ensure he could reach Jesus, illustrating the importance of challenging barriers. The message emphasizes listening to marginalized voices and dismantling systems of exclusion while recognizing the complexity of healing as embracing the fullness of one’s identity, not erasing it.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2021.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Both/And | October 18, 2020 | Trent Williams

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 9:1-13, titled “Both/And" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon reflects on the experience of light and darkness, both physical and spiritual. It contrasts the artificial brightness of the modern world with the profound darkness experienced in the past. The sermon explores the story of Jesus' transfiguration and how the disciples were called not to fixate on the light but to follow it into action. Drawing on Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Mountaintop" speech, the message emphasizes that while spiritual highs are important, they must lead to service, justice, and faithfulness in everyday life.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2020.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Following the Imperfect Jesus | October 2, 2016 | Dan De Leon

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on John 14:15-24, titled “Following the Imperfect Jesus" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
This sermon challenges the idea of placing Jesus on an unreachable pedestal of moral purity, arguing that doing so lets Christians avoid the responsibility of following his example. It explores how Jesus' life, not as a flawless figure but as someone who lived imperfectly and compassionately, offers a model for us to act on God's commandments. The message encourages believers to live out the mercy and love of Jesus through tangible actions rather than mere reverence.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2016.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Reflections on World Communion Sunday | October 26, 2014 | Terry Dougherty, Meg Black, Michael Belcher, and Jess Wade

Members  Terry Dougherty, Meg Black, Michael Belcher, and Jess Wade deliver reflections on 1 Corinthians 11:23-26,  on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and World Communion Sunday.
 
A brief synopsis:
Reflections on World Communion Sunday highlight the importance of communion in fostering unity and belonging within the Christian community.
World Communion Sunday promotes Christian unity across denominations.
Communion is an act of worship and a means of grace for all believers.
The shared experience of communion connects us as God’s children, regardless of background.
Participation in communion invites hope and nurtures faith in individuals.
Children instinctively recognize the sacredness of communion, illustrating its universal appeal.
Paul emphasizes the significance of the Lord’s Supper in the life of the church.
Communion transcends cultural differences, bringing believers together around a common story.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2014.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

The Bridge Which Christ Had Built | September 29, 2024 | Brooke Dooley

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Genesis 32:24-32, titled “The Bridge Which Christ Had Built" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
Jacob's wrestling represents the human condition: grappling with guilt, uncertainty, fear, and the need for blessing. He emerges with a limp, a sign that encounters with God or deep inner conflict leave us changed, marked by our experiences but blessed with new understanding and purpose. Similarly, renowned theologian Jürgen Moltmann, after confronting the horrors of World War II and the guilt of his nation’s actions, found healing and hope in Christ’s grace, ultimately becoming a voice for reconciliation and peace.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Access Sunday - Psalm 19 | October 8, 2023 | Brooke Dooley

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Psalm 19: 1-14, titled “Access Sunday - Psalm 19" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
 
A brief synopsis:
Rev. Dooley highlights how traditional narratives about healing can sometimes marginalize disabled individuals, emphasizing the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and community.
They call for a reimagining of religious spaces where disabled people are not only invited but also essential to the expression of God's creation. By referencing various theologians, activists, and personal experiences, Rev. Dooley encourages embracing diversity in all its forms, while also acknowledging the emotional complexities of living with disabilities.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2023.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org

Confirmation Service | October 16, 2022

Reflecting on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, we observe our 2022 Confirmation Service.
 
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022.
 
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org