Mark Niethammer preaches on God’s love. God's healing presence appears in unexpected places—transforming wilderness into blooming gardens and making broken people whole, even amid our world's persistent pain and struggle. This Advent season calls us to advocate for forgiveness, peace, and justice, trusting that God meets our challenges with words of love, wholeness, and restoration. Just as Isaiah envisioned the desert blossoming, peace can flourish in the most unlikely circumstances when we open ourselves to God's transforming grace.

Preaching text: Isaiah 35:1-7

Katy Warren preaches on time. Prolonged waiting can cause our hope and optimism to dwindle, especially when days pass without visible change and peace feels distant. Actively looking for signs of hope and celebrating even the smallest progress as "branches of hope" can shift our perspective. Whether we're waiting for healing, strength, or unfulfilled dreams, searching for these signs of hope allows us to live in a sacred time and maintain our faith that something is about to happen. Hope is action.

Preaching text: Isaiah 11:1-10

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on hope. Advent calls us to let our dreams of God's future actively shape our present lives. Like backward design, we can start with Isaiah's vision of peace and work backwards to today, asking what steps we might take this week, even today, to move toward that dream. Though the vision seems idealistic or even inconceivable, these Advent days remind us that seemingly impossible things become possible with God. When we imagine it, we can begin to live it.

Preaching text: Isaiah 2:1-5

Mark Niethammer preaches on the reign of Christ. When evil seems loudest, faithful followers show up together, bearing witness that evil will not prevail. The reign of Christ becomes visible when we gather, especially in challenging times, advocating for the voiceless and reminding ourselves that God is in control. Though our presence may feel small, it matters—because love, mercy, and forgiveness will ultimately rule the day.

Preaching text: Luke 23:26-27, 33-43

Katy Warren preaches on persistence. We all get stuck in patterns—making progress, then feeling like we're starting over. Never grow tired of doing good. We show up not just for ourselves, but for something larger. We give our time, abilities, money, and comfort for others—even people we'll never meet. At the heart of our faith is a simple call: take care of one another. Make sure everyone has what they need. Because everyone matters. Everyone counts. Everyone is part of the whole.

Preaching text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Paul, Sylvanus, and Timothy close their letter to the Jesus community at Thessaloniki by addressing divisive interpretations of the end times through the everyday, familiar setting of the community's shared meal.

Preaching text: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.

Mark Niethammer preaches on joy. Joy is found when we stop focusing on ourselves and instead concern ourselves with others. In these challenging times, we need a new narrative to guide our lives, and joy is part of the answer. Joy helps us see the world differently and look past ourselves to the needs of others. Generous people are full of joy.

Preaching text: John 21: 1-14

The final chapter of John's gospel demonstrates the power of forgiveness and renewal , as the same disciple who failed and fled in the face of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion gains the opportunity to respond more faithfully and receives the gifts and graces to extend the gospel throughout the community.

Preaching text: John 21:1-18

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.