June 21st marks the 4th Sunday after Pentecost. This week, in the sermon series, "The Wrestler", Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " God is Greater (The G.O.A.T.) " will focus on Isaiah 40:28-31 and John 1:6-12, 29. Notes from the Bench This Sunday, we welcome guest organist Johnson Joseph Jeyakumar, who will share his own arrangements of The Love of God is Greater Far, and How Great Thou Art. These beloved hymns remind us of God's immeasurable love, Christ's saving grace, and the

"Born Grabbing" June 14th marks the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost. This week, in the sermon series, "The Wrestler", Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " The Lie That Changed Everything " will focus on Gen. 27:1–40. We are capable of becoming someone we are not in order to take something that isn’t ours — and the worst part is that it works, at least for a while. God does not erase the consequences of Jacob’s deception. But the promise made before Jacob was born is not revoked by what J

"Born Grabbing" June 7th marks the 2nd Sunday after the Pentecost. This week, in the sermon series, "The Wrestler", Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " Born Grabbing " will focus on Genesis 25:19-34. We come into the world reaching — for security, for advantage, for more than our share — convinced that if we grab the right thing, we’ll finally feel like enough. God names the grabber before he has done anything to deserve it, and plants the promise in him anyway — not because of who

Trinity Sunday Hymn Sing May 31st marks Trininty Sunday. This week, we celebrate Trinity Sunday by studying Matthew 28:16-20. A selection of hymns honoring God, Our Creator; Christ, Our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, Our Sustainer will be the musical focus for our Hymn Sing Worship Service. The Arts in Worship “Revealing God’s grace through our eyes and ears.” Last week the church was ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit. We celebrated Pen

Pentecost: The Ultimate Surprise Party / Aldersgate Day / UM Heritage Sunday May 24th marks the Pentecost. This week, in the sermon series "Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "The Ultimate Surprise Party" will focus on Acts 2:1-21. All the astonishing events in Acts (and in the church since) can be traced back to this one surprising moment. The Arts in Worship “Revealing God’s grace through our eyes and ears.” T

The 7th Sunday of Easter / Mother's Day May 17th marks the 7th Sunday of Easter. This week, in the sermon series "Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "An Ironic Escape" will focus on Acts 16:16-34. Sometimes those who seem free are truly enslaved, and those who seem to be in chains are truly liberated. The Arts in Worship “Revealing God’s grace through our eyes and ears.” For the past seven weeks, the season of

The 6th Sunday of Easter / Mother's Day May 10th marks the 6th Sunday of Easter. This week, in the sermon series "Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "An Amazing Detour" will focus on Acts 16:9-15. The power of conversion is still God's building block to change the world one person at a time! Notes from the Bench This Sunday, we celebrate An Amazing Detour alongside Mother’s Day, reflecting on Acts 16:9–15, where Paul’s journey takes an unexpecte

The 5th Sunday of Easter May 3rd marks the 5th Sunday of Easter. This week, in the sermon series "Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "An Astonishing Imitation" will focus on Acts 9:36-43. By imitating Christ, we become more like him and bring other people's attention to his glory. Notes from the Bench This Sunday’s organ music highlights two pillars of the repertoire, offering both expressive depth and vibrant energy. The prelude is the Fugue fr

Native American Ministries Sunday April 26th marks the 4th Sunday of Easter. This week, we have a special guest preacher Rev. Tweedy Navarrete "Native American Ministries Sunday". Notes from the Bench Today, we celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday, honoring the rich heritage, faith, and musical voices of Indigenous communities. We are grateful to welcome guest pastor Tweedy Navarrete, whose presence deepens this observance. Our gathering hymn, Amazing Grace, is sung in

The 3rd Sunday of Easter April 19th marks the 3rd Sunday of Easter. This week, in the sermon series " Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "A Surprising Friendship" will focus on Acts 9:1-20. God often brings us the surprising gift of friendships we never expected. Ananias and Saul were natural enemies. They were headed for a collision course, not a bromance. Saul had stood guard over the execution of Stephen, the first Christian martyr and one of

The 2nd Sunday of Easter April 12th marks the 2nd Sunday of Easter. This week, in the sermon series " Surprise! The Unexpected Acts of God" Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "A Surprising Turnaround" will focus on Acts 5:27-32. The resurrection can spark changes in our beliefs and behavior that surprise even ourselves. What a turnaround! From running away from the cross to standing in the temple courts telling the story of the resurrection. Peter has been surprised by God for so l

Easter Sunday April 5th marks Easter Sunday. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When Mary Magdalene Met Jesus " will focus on Matthew 28:1-10. In the gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is the first to meet the resurrected Christ. Christ reveals himself to her by calling out her name, lifting her out of despair and towards wonder. Ultimately, however, Christ does not allow Mary Magdalene to stay where she is. He calls h

Palm Sunday March 29th marks Palm Sunday. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When Jerusalem Met Jesus " will focus on Matthew 21:1-11. After several weeks in John, this story from Matthew can feel brief and half-finished. Yet Matthew reveals a city in turmoil, half-exultant at Jesus’ approach, half-terrified. Jerusalem meets Jesus with a parade, but quickly turns against him as the week progresses, with “hosanna” t

The 5th Sunday in Lent March 22nd marks the 5th Sunday in Lent. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When Mary and Martha Met Jesus " will focus on John 11:1-45. This is clearly not the first time Mary and Martha met Jesus; scripture recounts that he loved the entire family and was loved by them. Yet Martha and Mary endure the heartbreak of trusting someone who disappoints them; he does not come when their brother is

The 4th Sunday in Lent March 15th marks the 4th Sunday in Lent. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When a Blind Man Met Jesus " will focus on John 9:1-41 . This story begins with a meeting between a blind man and Jesus, although it quickly spirals to include different factions of his community. For the blind man, however, all the theological questions and entrapments are of little use; the salient point is that Je

The 3rd Sunday in Lent March 8th marks the 3rd Sunday in Lent. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When the Samaritan Woman Met Jesus " will focus on John 4:5-42. The Samaritan woman, by all rights, should never have spoken to Jesus. She was a woman, and a member of a despised “heretical” branch of Judaism. Yet their conversation is the longest one recorded in scripture. As she is willing to tell the truth about her

The 2nd Sunday in Lent March 1st marks the 2nd Sunday in Lent. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When Nicodemus Met Jesus " will focus on Matthew JOhn 3:1-17. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader, goes seeking Jesus at night, with questions that reveal a searching soul. Although Nicodemus has built his faith around having the right answers, Jesus opens up a more expansive world to him, where his entry into eternal lif

The 1st Sunday in Lent February 22nd marks the 1st Sunday in Lent. This week, in the sermon series " Face to Face & Heart to Heart," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When Satan Met Jesus " will focus on Matthew 4:1-11. Every year, the RCL begins the season of Lent with the story of Jesus in the wilderness, led by the Spirit but tempted by Satan. Satan’s provocations attempt to drive a wedge between Jesus and the Father who’s will he was sent to do. Yet all of Satan’s questions

The Feast of the Transfiguration February 15th marks the feast of the Transfiguration. This week, in the sermon series " When You See Jesus Clearly," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " When You See Jesus Clearly " will focus on Matthew 17:1-9. On a mountaintop, three disciples witnessed Jesus blazing with divine glory. Peter wanted to build shelters and stay there, celebrating what God had done. But God interrupted: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Because Jesus wasn't st

The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany February 8th marks the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. This week, in the sermon series " I Can See Clearly Now," Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon " You Are Saltier Thank You Think " will focus on Matthew 5:13-20. Notes from the Bench Today’s service is framed by music of the French Romantic symphonic organ tradition, performed by our guest organist Yun Wei Yu. The prelude, Cantabile by Alexandre Guilmant (1837–1911), offers a lyrical, singing