Ankeny UCC

A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology

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A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Insomnia in Gethsemane

March 28, 2021
Entering Holy Week, Jesus is up all night struggling to face our final fear: certain death. What do we discover about ourselves in his anxious hours?
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 14:32-42
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Bodies and Betrayal

March 21, 2021
The work of reconciliation begins with recognizing the discomfort that comes from recognizing that the stories we have told ourselves about the world, and ourselves, do not match up with…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 14:13-26
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Doing What We Can

March 14, 2021
In moments of urgent need, we do what we can. If that means anointing one about to die, we do that. If that means giving to the poor, we do…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 14:3-9
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

The Meanings of Mercy

February 21, 2021
When Bartimaeus calls out "Jesus, son of David, have mercy!", he understands Jesus better than the disciples. He then asks Jesus to help him see. He understands why he is…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 10:46-52
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

The Eyes of A Child

February 14, 2021
Jesus tells us to welcome children in our midst, and also to learn from their minds and examples. What are their lessons?
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 10:13-16
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Five, Five Hundred, Five Thousand

February 7, 2021
Jesus reminds me that we never truly stand alone, but that in the power of community relationships, we can build the abundant world of God.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 6:30-44
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Paralyzed by Sin

January 24, 2021

Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 2:1-12
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Christ Beyond Our Walls

January 17, 2021
One striking part of Jesus's ministry was the way he refused to show the fullness of who he was before the time was ripe. Perhaps he did not want people…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 1:29-39
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Who is Righteous?

January 10, 2021
As Mark tells the story, the Pharisees in Levi's house assume that the people Jesus is eating with are not righteous. Jesus turns it around and questions their authority to…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 1:16-20, Mark 2:13-17, Mark 2:13-19
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Resurrection Signs

April 12, 2020
In this Easter season, when we see death around us, and perhaps wonder when we, too, may leave our caves, we remember the natural fear and trembling that accompanied Jesus's…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 16:1-8
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Crowded Processions

April 5, 2020
Maybe Pilate was coming in by the other road, encouraging Judeans to show their loyalty to the Empire. Maybe he wasn't. Jesus's entry on a colt shows the humility God…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 11:1-8
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

The Apocalypse Every Year

March 29, 2020
Jesus predicts the sovereign realm of God will come in the lifetimes of the people among him. What if he is preparing all of us for all the upheavals of…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 13:1-8, Mark 13:24-37
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

God Whom We Love

March 22, 2020
We are reminded by the story that follows Jesus laying out the greatest commandment what power we have to love God will all our hearts. Sometimes, we miss the sacrifice…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 12:28-44
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Tending the Garden

March 15, 2020
We're showing our love by not spreading germs. In Jesus's terms, we're trying to figure out how to tend God's vineyard together. Sometimes, it's easy to forget this work until…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 12:1-12
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

But I Don’t Want to be Last

March 1, 2020

Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 10:17-31
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

The Shame of Christ

February 23, 2020
It's important that Jesus's transfiguration comes only after he warns Peter not to be ashamed of his impending death. We are reminded that it is easy to promote Christ when…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 8:27-9:8
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

You Should Definitely Wash Your Hands

February 16, 2020
Sometimes, leaders say things that are good ideas, but don't necessarily bring us closer to God. Sometimes we have good ideas that don't bring us closer to God. Sometimes we…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 7:1-23
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

The Head on the Platter

February 9, 2020
John the Baptist's death shows us the lengths to which those in power will go to suppress criticism. The way we tell the story shows how they also often evade…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 6:1-29
Service Type: Sunday Worship

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