July 12, 2021
“Sheep Without a Shepherd” – Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, July 11, 2021. "The good news is not only that Jesus was attentive to his disciples then, he is attentive to us now. He sees what is pushing and pulling at us as we go throughout our day. He knows what will happen if we fall into the trap of working too hard or trying too hard to fix ourselves without attending to our souls and our spiritual and emotional needs. When we do not stop to think, to ponder, to wonder, to pay attention to pray, Jesus says, 'Come away to a deserted place and rest a while.'"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/sheep-without-a-shepherd/
July 6, 2021
“A Rose from Concrete” – Mark 6:1-6
Sermon by The Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, July 4, 2021. "The townspeople looked at Jesus as a rose that grew from concrete: 'Who does he think he is? He was born of us; he grew up here with us. Nobody amounts to anything from here.' Tupac would reply, 'You wouldn’t ask why the rose that grew from concrete had damaged petals. On the contrary, we would celebrate its tenacity. We would love its will to reach the sun!'"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/a-rose-from-concrete/
June 28, 2021
“Life Restored” – Mark 5:21-43
Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, June 27, 2021. "Today, we are urged to consider where Christ’s healing meets us. Where is his mercy bringing grace? How is his love mending the broken? Who is he calling beloved? Where are you in this story? The healing, the restoration doesn’t always mean the cure. But it does always mean relationship, wholeness, shalom. Christ’s kingdom is breaking in―wait for it, watch for it, and be bold to seek after it."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/life-restored/
June 21, 2021
“Play” – Genesis 2:1-3, Matthew 18:1-4
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 20, 2021. "In a sense, we come into worship to play. We leave behind the judgement, expectations and supervision of the other six days and we playact. As God’s children, we practice the skills of association by imagining and acting out what it might mean to live the rest of the week as God’s adults in the world."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/play/
June 14, 2021
“Faith in the Ordinary” – Mark 4:26-34
Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, June 13, 2021. "The kingdom is like a very small seed, often overlooked, unremarkable. It appears in the parts of your life that are not the things you’re most proud of―but when it comes, it takes over everything. When you know you’re forgiven and you’re loved, when you can live with the joy that is knowledge and faith in God’s grace, unmerited grace, it changes everything."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/faith-in-the-ordinary/
June 7, 2021
“Outside” – Proverbs 6:6-11, 30:24-33
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 6, 2021. "I imagine that the beginning wisdom of such an informed life would know that to live well is to live in harmony with what else needs the same air to breathe, water to drink, and land on which to live. We would learn to be grateful for what sustains us, and to care for what is needed to sustain those to come. We would accept limits to life, but then explore opportunities within those limits. We would see the need to be good neighbors even to other species."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/outside/
June 4, 2021
“Night of Unknowing” – John 3:1-21
Sermon by The Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, May 30, 2021. "Friends, this is the faith of unknowing. The ability to sit in the dark, reach out a hand, and be lead. This is the faith of unknowing we are called to, and the hand we are to reach for is Jesus Christ’s, the hand of God."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/night-of-unknowing/
May 24, 2021
“Storms” – Mark 4:35-41
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Pentecost, May 23, 2021. "There are two ways to hear this passage: on its own or as part of a story. To hear this passage on its own, with no idea of what just happened or what is about to happen, is to hear a stand-alone story of a miracle and a call to faith. . . . However, in looking at this passage as part of the larger story Mark tells, I wonder what this passage is saying to us when we realize that Jesus can not only lead us out of storms but also into them? . . . Maybe in asking, 'Have you no faith?' Jesus is saying, 'I am sorry we are in this storm and the way is rough, but don’t you understand that we are where God needs us to be?'"
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/storms/
May 17, 2021
“Sent” – John 17:6-19
Sermon by The Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, May 16, 2021. "As you respond to God’s calling and sending, as you encounter struggles in this crazy world in which we are to love and serve, as you wrestle with your own faults and failures and questions of faith, as you stand up and witness to the truth of the gospel, embodying the very union of God and Jesus, remember Jesus prays for you. Just as he prayed for the disciples, Jesus still prays for you."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/sent/
May 12, 2021
“Eulogy” – Philippians 3:1-11
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, May 9, 2021. "If we know that God can work something good even in our flawed hearts and lives, then we can find real purpose simply in seeking to reflect God’s goodness to others for their sake. Whatever we do, it will be flawed, but maybe when we selflessly live so good can come to others, we will be able to share something far more valuable than what can be found in a résumé: the love of God."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/eulogy/
