Second on the Mount

“Whenever you pray...” – Matthew 6:1-18Introduction to the Lenten sermon series, "Pray Then In This Way."
Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from February 23, 2020. This Lent, we are exploring the depth and meaning of the Lord's Prayer. "I invite you to join us in making space in your life these forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday to savor this ancient prayer. Read it. Recite it. Pray it. And be so bold as to mean it, each and every word."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/pray-then-in-this-way-whenever-you-pray/
 

“Maturity” – Deuteronomy 30:15-20, I Corinthians 3:1-9
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from February 16, 2020, with special introduction and post-sermon interview. "Neither Moses nor Jesus want us always to jump so quickly to our own personal Assurance of Pardon and the affirmation that 'All will be well.' Their love for their people doesn't keep them from making clear that good and evil have consequences."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/maturity/ 

“Repairer of the Breach” – Isaiah 58:1-12
Sermon by The Rev. Rachel C. Thompson from February 9, 2020. "Isaiah’s words are this beautiful reminder that at the center of the Gospel is the truth that through the love of God we belong to each other. I can’t separate my personal wellbeing from yours because the love of God breaks down all barriers, all divisions. The love of God builds up and redeems and restores–and calls us all to do the same."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/repairer-of-the-breach/

“Youth Sunday Sermons 2020” – Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 13-14; Exodus 13:17-22
Sermons by graduating seniors Lauren Daniel and Kayla Mutter from Youth Sunday, February 2, 2020. Our Youth Group theme for the year is “20/20: Be Thou My Vision.” We have spent the year learning how to look at the world, our relationships and ourselves through God’s perspective. We have celebrated that in God’s sight we are all beloved and made in the image of God.

“Why Do You Look Up?” – Acts 1:6-11
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson and The Rev. Rachel C. Thompson from Mission Build Kick-Off Sunday on January 26, 2020. "Jesus is telling the disciples that to be his body in the world, their vision and heart has to go where his vision and heart goes. It has to go beyond those who we know, those we love, those who live where we live and those who are just like us or on our side... So let's go... That's where we'll find Jesus."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/why-do-you-look-up/ 

“Of God” – Galatians 5:16-26
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from January 19, 2020. "But in the middle of it all, Paul left us with this cut-to-the-chase reminder: There are ways we treat each other in the middle of it all that are of God and some that are not."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/of-god-galatians/
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" (ST. DENIO) by Walter Chalmers Smith, Public Domain.

“Get Up and Go” – Acts 9:1-20
Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from January 12, 2020. "God is moving in new directions all the time. And if you want to keep up with God, you have to keep open to where God’s Spirit may be heading."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/get-up-and-go/

“A Tradition Both Heavy and Light” – I Samuel 3:1-10
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Confirmation Sunday, January 5, 2020. "We want these young people to feel the weight of a faith tradition because they will be sheep led to cultural slaughter without having some grounding and inherited wisdom.  But we also want them to have the kind of relationship with God where they can recognize God’s fresh voice, and then say, 'Speak, for I am listening.'"
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/a-tradition-both-heavy-and-light/

“Christmas Plans” – Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from December 22, 2019. "The Christmas Season of planning is based on stories of plans being changed. ...I suggest that there are three things that can and should mess up our plans and disrupt our lives... joy, vision and faith."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/christmas-plans/

“Embodied” – Luke 1:39-56
Sermon written by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link and delivered by The Rev. Rachel C. Thompson on December 15, 2019. "Mary knew the power a song could hold. Singing doesn’t just help us to name things, it draws us into the reality we voice. God has promised to change the world, and in singing these promises we enter into that work."
Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/embodied/