Speaker: Rev. CJ Valenti

Today we give thanks for the saints who have gone before us, for the saints still among us, and for the saints of God still to come. We give thanks for the examples of faithful living that the saints have given us as they navigated the stormy waters of life, and also for the faithful…

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. As we celebrate Reformation Sunday, we embrace the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting…

This Sunday we begin on a worship series about faith and finances. In our gospel text, Jesus tells us to give Cesar what is Cesar’s and God what is God’s. This is a sneaky proposal considering God created the whole universe, us included. While we have many things vying for our attention and finances in…

On this last Sunday of Creation, we celebrate St. Francis and his love for all creatures – goats, sea monsters, birds, honey bees, badgers, sheep and of course the furry companions we live with.  Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 104:1a, 18-31; Matthew 25: 31-46 

This week we celebrate the importance of the forest. Trees are an essential part of the ecosystem. Trees are rooted in an underground network providing stability to the environment around them and connection to neighboring plants and trees. Above ground, they provide us with clean air to breathe, shade on a hot day, a source…

On this second Sunday celebrating creation, we remember the land. Adam in Hebrew means mudman, and so from the beginning of scripture we are reminded we come from the earth. From the land, we are fed. From the land, all life flourishes. In scripture lessons we hear stories about ownership – who owns the land,…

Welcome to the wilderness! This week we embark on a four week celebration of Creation alongside the global church. Whether we are in the depths of the urban jungle or lost on the Appalachian trail – God promises to be with us in the wilderness and feed us along the way. Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 16: 1-10; Matthew…

Another week full of identity questions – God reveals Godself in a burning bush and Jesus describes what the Messiah is here to do. In each story, God reminds us that God shows up in places of suffering and promises this will not be our full story. As Paul reminds us we are called to…

This week we blessed our backpacks and celebrated our vocations. God gives each of us unique gifts that are needed in the world. By showing up as our full selves, the spirit of God is also made visible. Just as Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom, we too, are asked to lift up…

Today we are reminded nothing is permanent. Joseph is reconciled to his brothers in a powerful and surprising way. In our gospel story, a conversation with a desperate mother changes Jesus’ mind. In worship, we are reminded of the transforming power of forgiveness. Together as a community, we ask for forgiveness, we are offered forgiveness and challenged…