Friends Congregational Church
We are Friends Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in College Station, Texas. The engaging messages offered from the pulpit of this progressive Christian community are preached by the church’s pastors and insightful guests.
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Episodes
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 2 Corinthians 11:16-31, titled “Paying Faithful Attention to Foolishness" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
Through the story of Desmond Tutu and the young person at the rainbow fair, the message conveys how acts of kindness, even if they appear foolish, have the power to deeply affirm and transform lives. The sermon emphasizes paying faithful attention to what seems foolish at first glance, because within that "foolishness" can lie divine wisdom, compassion, and true gospel living.
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
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 8:22-38, titled “The Value of Believing in Yourself" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
Following Jesus means embracing sacrifice, servanthood, and sometimes suffering. Even when we struggle to believe in ourselves, God always believes in us. The call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus is a call to live authentically, not in pursuit of worldly success, but in service to one another and in faithful witness to God’s love for all people. The church, as the body of Christ, is meant to reflect that inclusivity and love in action, offering a space where all can believe in themselves and in the transformative power of God’s grace.
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
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 18:1-8, titled “The Power of Persistent Love" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
While justice and healing don’t always follow our expectations or timelines, persistence in love and community is key. Sometimes, the process of persisting itself — whether through prayer, advocacy, or simply being present — is transformative. Even when outcomes seem uncertain, the act of staying in relationship with each other and with God brings hope and healing.
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2019.
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Philippians 4:1-9, titled “I Fail Every Day" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
The heart of the sermon is about embracing covenantal living, being a people who come back to the table even when it’s hard. Whether it’s the divisions in the early church or the divisions of today, Paul’s message to rejoice is not a superficial happiness but a deep, abiding joy in the transformative work of community, where love triumphs over the idols of the world.
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2017.
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 1 Timothy 6-19, titled “The Saving of Life Above All Else" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
Rev. Dr. De Leon intertwines the teachings of the New Testament with contemporary social justice issues, particularly racism and the cumulative effect of Black death in America, specifically the recent tragedies of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott.
The message is that the essence of true Christian faith—like the central tenets of Judaism and Islam—prioritizes the saving of life, above all religious and social conventions. This is seen as the real "good news" in contrast to interpretations of scripture that uphold oppressive systems. The emphasis is on solidarity, justice, and love as foundational to a faith that liberates all people.
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
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 10:2-16, titled “Rephrase the Question" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
Rev. Dr. De Leon brings a fresh and powerful lens to the Gospel story by emphasizing the overarching theme of inclusiveness and restorative justice. Rev. Dr. De Leon challenges the legalistic interpretations of ancient texts, where the focus was often on punitive exclusion, particularly in matters of divorce and adultery. Through the lens of love and respect for human dignity, it critiques not only the ancient practices but also how contemporary society might still reflect exclusionary and unjust norms.
Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2015.
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Exodus 33:12-23, titled “The Innocent Longing and Meddlesome Obsessing of Moses" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
A brief synopsis:
Rev. Dr. De Leon reflects on Moses' childlike longing to understand God's ways, emphasizing that as adults, we often share this desire for certainty but must ultimately trust in God's mystery. He draws parallels between Moses and the innocence of children, highlighting how children look up to adults and long to learn from them, and reminds us that we all have an inner child who seeks approval and guidance. The core message is that love is the most important lesson—it's how we reflect God's ways in the world, teaching both ourselves and others through action rather than seeking absolute knowledge.
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
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Exodus 25:1-9, titled “Building the Future Together" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 21:23-32, titled “What Gives You the Right?" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
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
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 17: 11-19, titled “Be the One Who Gave Thanks" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
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