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  • Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. Moya Harris

    Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. Moya Harris
    2026/08/10
    In this week's sermon, Rev. Moya Harris shares a powerful message on becoming a good ancestor, emphasizing the importance of blessing the next generation, recognizing the Spirit in others, and the ongoing fight for justice and faithfulness in a challenging world.

    This week's text: Luke 1:26-45
    26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

    Takeaways
    • Good ancestors plant seeds of blessing for future generations even without seeing the harvest.
    • Black women are under attack in many spheres, yet their spiritual and community leadership remains vital.
    • Mary and Elizabeth exemplify how women can work together across generations to fulfill God's plan.
    • Every act of love, mentorship, and faithfulness contributes to becoming a good ancestor.
    • We are called to love boldly, bless others, and leave a legacy of faith and justice.
    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Opening Prayer
    03:01 Scripture Reading and Context of Luke 1
    04:50 The Call to Become a Good Ancestor
    08:54 The Attacks on Black Women in Society and Church
    11:03 The Significance of Generations and Biblical Examples
    12:54 Mary and Elizabeth: Models of Courage and Blessing
    15:59 The Power of Blessing Future Generations
    17:24 Lessons for Elders and Young People
    21:58 The Call to Love, Lead, and Leave a Legacy
    23:54 Invitation to Community and Church Membership
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    25 分
  • Tenth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

    Tenth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV
    2026/08/03
    In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the themes of hunger, compassion, and community through the biblical stories of Herod, John the Baptist, and Jesus, emphasizing how faith and action can transform scarcity into abundance.

    This week's scripture - Matthew 14:13-21
    13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.


    Takeaways
    • Hunger is a unifying and scarlet thread in biblical narratives.
    • Herod's hunger for power leads to violence and bloodshed.
    • Jesus' compassion moves him to feed and heal the people.
    • The miracle of feeding the 5000 challenges scarcity mindset.
    • We are called to share our resources and combat systemic hunger.
    • Jesus' solitude reminds us of the need for spiritual renewal.
    • Faith requires action, not just prayer, to address real needs.
    • The systemic hunger in society is rooted in exploitation and greed.
    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction: The Theme of Hunger in Matthew 14
    02:05 Herod's Hunger for Power and Its Consequences
    08:54 The Feast and the Blood: Herod's Party and Violence
    13:00 Jesus' Hunger for Solitude and Connection
    18:58 Jesus' Compassion and the Miracle of Feeding
    24:05 Resources, Scarcity, and the Call to Share
    26:07 Living in a Wilderness: God Provides in Scarcity
    27:42 The Little Bird and the Worm: God's Provision in Nature
    30:07 The Feast in the Wilderness: Trusting God's Abundance
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    34 分
  • Ninth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

    Ninth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV
    2026/07/28
    In this week's sermon Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the profound meaning of the parable of the mustard seed, emphasizing that God's kingdom often manifests in small, everyday acts and humble beginnings. This reflection challenges us to see God's work in the small things and partner with divine purpose in our lives.


    This week's scripture Matthew 13:31-32
    31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

    Key Topics
    The parable of the mustard seed and its spiritual significance
    Misinterpretations of the parable influenced by American capitalism and imperialism
    The kingdom of God is present now, in small and tangible ways
    The importance of partnering with God to bring about justice and peace
    The kingdom of God is small, but its impact is profound and far-reaching
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    30 分
  • Young Adult Sunday 2026 - Rev. Keila Mumphord

    Young Adult Sunday 2026 - Rev. Keila Mumphord
    2026/07/22
    In his week's sermon, Rev. Keila Mumphord explores the profound message of individual worth and collective unity through biblical insights and the story of Encanto, emphasizing that our true value lies in who we are, not just our gifts.


    This week's scripture 1 Corinthians 12:14-21
    14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

    Key Topics
    • The metaphor of the body in 1 Corinthians 12
    • The importance of diverse gifts for community health
    • Lessons from Encanto about self-worth and gifts
    • The danger of comparison and self-doubt
    • The role of marginalized voices in the church
    • Healing and reconciliation through inclusion
    • The significance of intergenerational wisdom
    • The value of individual uniqueness in collective success
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    14 分
  • Church Anniversary 2026 - Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crumpton

    Church Anniversary 2026 - Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crumpton
    2026/07/13
    This week celebrating our 188th anniversary, Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crumpton shares a powerful sermon on God's love, faithfulness, and the importance of building bridges of faith through prayer, reflection, and action. She explores how life's challenges and systemic injustices call us to trust in God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.

    This week's scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
    For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

    Takeaways
    • Building spiritual bridges requires intentional prayer and reflection.
    • Trust in God's ability to do more than we can ask or imagine.
    • Moments of crisis are opportunities for divine intervention and growth.
    • Community support and intercession are vital for resilience.
    • Remembering past victories strengthens faith for future challenges.
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    38 分
  • Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

    Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV
    2026/07/06
    In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV reflects on the power of words, tools, and collective action in shaping justice and community on the day after America's 250th celebration.

    This week's scripture: John 1:1-4
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

    Key Topics
    • The significance of words as divine tools
    • The historical misuse of words and power
    • The importance of building, fixing, tearing down in community
    • The role of faith and collective action in justice
    • The critique of American history and ideals

    Chapters
    00:00 Scriptural Reflections and Teachings
    03:03 The Power of Words in Preaching
    25:54 Building, Fixing, and Tearing Down Systems
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    30 分
  • Fifth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. Dr. Elliott Robinson

    Fifth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. Dr. Elliott Robinson
    2026/06/30
    In this week's sermon, Rev. Dr. Elliott Robinson explores the power of persistent faith and activism through the parable of the persistent widow, emphasizing the importance of bothering systems for justice and trusting God's power.

    This week's scripture - Luke 18:1-8
    Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

    Takeaways
    • Persistent prayer and faith can shift even the most unjust systems.
    • Trust in God's power is essential in the fight for justice.
    • Bothering systems is a divine act that can lead to change.
    • The widow's persistence demonstrates unwavering faith.
    • God's justice is swift for those who cry out day and night.
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    33 分
  • Father's Day 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

    Father's Day 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV
    2026/06/24
    In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the profound message of Jesus in Matthew 10, emphasizing the internal work of spiritual surgery. He discusses how the 'sword' Jesus wields is a metaphor for internal transformation, cutting away self-deception, fear, and inadequacy to foster true peace and authenticity.


    This week's text: Matthew 10:34-36
    34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
    and a daughter against her mother,
    and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
    36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

    Takeaways
    • Jesus' use of the sword symbolizes internal spiritual surgery.
    • External peace does not address internal turmoil.
    • Self-deception, fear, and inadequacy hinder true peace.
    • Relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential for healing.
    • Internal peace requires confronting and cutting away inner falsehoods.
    • Fear can be a helpful response but should not control us.
    • The Spirit of Christ provides anesthesia during spiritual surgery.
    • Healing is a process that involves internal work, not just external circumstances.
    • Our internal battles are the first front in our spiritual journey.
    • Embracing internal transformation leads to genuine peace and wholeness.
    Chapters
    00:00 The Value of Acknowledgment and Fearlessness
    00:59 Understanding the Sword of Christ
    10:55 Internal Surgery: The Need for Healing
    20:46 Cutting Away Self-Deception, Fear, and Inadequacy
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    27 分