The sanctuary will be open for limited in-person worship in addition to our online worship. Remember, our protocols (click here) are for limited numbers and masks and social distancing.
Note: The Zoom Meeting Password is embedded in the above link.
If you prefer to join our Zoom service by phone, dial: +1 929 436 2866 US
Meeting ID: 210 215 6335
Meeting Password (for dial-in): Contact the church office during office hours.
What Hallmark Doesn’t Know about Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30
Sunday, January 30, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Both passages show the fierceness of love. Love doesn’t serve the self, it serves others. It doesn’t always make us feel happy.
Service Bulletin: January 30, 2022
Hymns:
Hymn #215: “What Wondrous Love Is This”
Popular Hymn: “Love Is the Answer” by Todd Rundgren
When God Calls
Isaiah 6:1-8; Luke 5:1-11
Sunday, February 6, 2022 @ 9:45 AM (Communion)
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The call of God upon us does not make us comfortable. It overwhelms us and leads us to lives of service.
Forgotten Sermons
Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 6:17-26
Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Not all sermons are remembered. Some, perhaps, we would rather forget. Are these two included in our list of forgotten sermons?
Lord, Have Mercy
Genesis 45:3-11,15; Luke 6:27-38
Sunday, February 20, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
We are called to be merciful, as God is merciful, who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. By practicing mercy, we manifest the energy of God in the world.
The Future of Humanity
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36
Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday, February 27, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Both passages speak of a transformed humanity, marked by a quality of transparency, of splendor. Our destiny is to see through the density of our material existence into the spiritual dimensions which shine through for those with eyes to see.
Addition by Subtraction
Luke 4:1-13
Sunday, March 6, 2022 @ 9:45 AM (Communion)
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Jesus, like all humans, did battle with the self and its desire for preservation. He had the courage to let self go in order to find God within. Addition by subtraction.
Mindset
Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
Sunday, March 13, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Even for people of faith there is a temptation to live by the mindset of the world. Our call is to transcend such an orientation and to develop a capacity to live with a very different mindset.
What Does God Expect
Isaiah 55:1-9; Luke 13:1-9
Sunday, March 20, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
As Jesus looked around, he did not see the kind of fruit produced in people’s lives that he expected. The religion of his day wasn’t transforming hearts. What kind of fruit is God expecting from us?
Our Part in God’s Work
2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Sunday, March 27, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Jesus and Paul make clear that the work of God is for reconciliation of all things and people. Are we to have a hand in this work? How are we doing?
Love’s Math
John 12:1-8
Sunday, April 3, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
As Mary shows, love is extravagant and doesn’t fit well into spreadsheets. How does love’s extravagance inform our discipleship?
Stones’ Concert
Luke 19:28-40; Philippians 2:5-11
Passion Sunday, April 10, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The Pharisees were into crowd control as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Jesus assured them that if the crowd was made quiet, a concert from stones would break forth. Sometimes, it appears, God is in favor of noise.
R.I.P., Death
1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12
Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The human lineage has lived under the sway of death since Adam, since the beginning. Christ has ushered in a new era of resurrection and with it a new trajectory to the human story.
Getting Used to Resurrection
Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31
Sunday, April 24, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The Resurrection so explodes our rational minds, that we don’t know what to do with it. In various ways, we hold onto the old and resist the implications of the new.
Nothing Is Wasted
John 21:1-19
Sunday, May 1, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
In his third resurrection appearance, Jesus restores Peter’s inner woundedness. Nothing is wasted in the spiritual life, even our failures.
Jesus’ Mantle
Acts 9:36-43; John 10:22-30
Sunday, May 8, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Peter begins to take on the mantle of Jesus, to perform the same kind of miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus’ work is being passed on. In us too?
The Renewal of Earth
Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Sunday, May 15, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
God is making all thinks new, including the human heart. A new era is dawning, awaiting new human consciousness to enable it to take root.
Our Far Aim
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29
Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
These passages give us a glimpse of where our evolutionary journey is headed, ultimately. Our job is to keep this ultimate aim in mind as we try to live into this aim more fully.
The Power of Dreams
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26
Sunday, May 29, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
These dreams of oneness and completion in Christ created energy for their fulfillment. Can we catch the energy of these dreams for ourselves?
When the World Becomes Holy
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
At Pentecost, the Spirit moves through all people of all nations, genders, ages, and positions in life. God speaks to and through all. Therefore, all is holy, and the world will never be the same.
Getting in the Flow
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; John 16:12-15
Trinity Sunday, June 12, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The Greek word for God comes from another word for flow. God is flow. The doctrine of the Trinity helps us to stop thinking about God as an object, and to think of God as a verb, as a flow of creativity and healing in which we participate.
Defined by Love
Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39
Sunday, June 19, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
In Galatians, we are told that we are God’s children. In Luke, we read of a man whom Jesus heals from his possession by the identities and energies of the culture. We are not defined by any human culture. We are defined by God’s love for us.
Jesus’ Definition of Freedom
Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62
Sunday, June 26, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Both readings make clear that Jesus’ definition o freedom is freedom from self-identification and freedom for sharing in the love of God.
Guest preacher
Sunday, July 10, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Guest preacher
Sunday, July 3, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Learning What Is Ours to Do
Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42
Sunday, July 17, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Our vision is limited to our immediate responsibilities, and we miss the spiritual dimension, which is central, foundational, and majestic. If we can begin to see the spiritual, not only may we become less frantic, but also more clear about what is truly our to do.
Persistent Seekers
Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 11:1-13
Sunday, July 24, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
There is much more to our lives than meets the eye. Hints of the eternal echo within. Jesus encourages us to become persistent seekers for this unnamable reality.
True Treasure
Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21
Sunday, July 31, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
We are seduced by low-hanging fruit, material wealth. The pursuit of such produces some rotten fruit. Looking for treasure leads to a new self.
Inner Wealth
Luke 12:32-40
Sunday, August 7, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
How valuable would it be to discover an inner capacity enabling one to experience connection to Source in each moment? How much effort would one exert for such a treasure?
Inner Flame
Jeremiah 23:23-29; Luke 12:49-56
Sunday, August 14, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Jeremiah makes a distinction between those who prophesy the deceit of their own hearts and those who speak God’s word. God’s word is like a fire, burning away the attachment to narrative self, so that something of God may come through.
Removing the Weight of Self
Isaiah 58:9b-14; Luke 13:10-17
Sunday, August 21, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The weight of self-preoccupation keeps us from experiencing the richness o true life which is available to us. In the insight of Meister Eckhart we can experience addition by subtraction – the subtraction of self-obsession.
Wisdom Jesus
Proverbs 25:6-7; Luke 14:1, 7-14
Sunday, August 28, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Wisdom is paradoxical. It knows that as one lets go of self, something much more valuable will be discovered.
Life’s True Purpose
Luke 14:25-33
Sunday, September 4, 2022 @ 9:45 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Most of us do not see the true purpose of our lives, which is to pour out our lives, ourselves in love, as God does.
Blessed Grace
1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10
Sunday, September 11, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Only those who see the futility of the ego’s program for happiness discover the joy of the experience of grace.
Bringing Your Soul to Work
Amos 8:4-7; Luke 16:1-13
Sunday, September 18, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
In perhaps his most enigmatic parable, Jesus recognizes the mixed motives involved in making our way in the world. For those on a spiritual journey, the call is to learn how to bring our soul into all our dealings.
The Easy Trap
Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Luke 16:19-31
Sunday, September 25, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The trap of the lure of wealth and ease is heart disease – hardness of heart. Doctor Jesus offers the cure – compassion.
In Service of Life
Psalm 137; Luke 17:5-10
Sunday, October 2, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Jesus’ teaching does not land well on our privileged ears. Yet he knew that we only find life when we see ourselves as servants of life.
Knowing God
2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19
Sunday, October 9, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
The human journey is so troubled if we seek to make ourselves our own god. A true knowledge of God changes everything.
Fierce Faith
Genesis 32:22-31; Luke 18:1-8
Sunday, October 16, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Don’t give up on life of the soul. Get in there and fight for it. The fight will bear fruit.
When Down Becomes Up
Joel 2:23-32; Luke 18:9-14
Sunday, October 23, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
In biblical logic, exile is followed by restoration, humiliation by exaltation. Take heart!
Have Faith
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Luke 19:1-10
Sunday, October 30, 2022 @ 9:15 AM
Rev. John W. Monroe III
Yes, much is not right with the world, but if we learn to live by faith, joy will break through.