Ankeny UCC

A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology

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A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Gifts of Holy Fire

May 31, 2020
We always must remember how many gifts of the spirit are dedicated to listening and communicating. In the midst of an oppression that is the legacy of a country founded…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Heavenly Arguments

May 24, 2020
In a more theological sermon, we examine Paul's arguments about resurrection and ask whether the argument he makes reflects our lived experience. After all, there are many different ways to…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

And Now Abideth

May 17, 2020
Through a mirror, dimly, we see the world. So often, our reactions to others are reflections of how we see ourselves. Paul reminds us that we need to grow into…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Caring in the Name of Christ

May 10, 2020
Paul complaining about division in Christianity is a little funny to careful readers, but his warning to avoid tribalism in our thinking is sound.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Exploring the Meaning of Christ

May 3, 2020
Sometimes in Christianity, the only meaning of Jesus that is said to be important is his death. But Jesus lived and embodied life, and rose again, and meaning may be…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Like Christ We Rise

April 26, 2020
In the culmination of three weeks where we asked, "What Next?" we see that, empowered by the holy spirit, disciples like we can step outside our comfort zones and heal…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 3:1-10
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Church Identity 2020, Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20), Plague Year

Welcoming What’s Next

April 19, 2020
The message in Acts 1 is clear: Jesus was not conquered in death, and it's on us to take his message and mission into the world. And since we aren't…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 1:1-10
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
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

The Demons Inside

February 2, 2020
Jesus's adventures among the Gerasenes warn us that pushing our demons out of sight do not make them any less potent. Only when we exorcise them from ourselves and reconcile…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 5:1-20
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

A Furtive Touch

January 26, 2020
We are all embodied--we do not exist apart from our bodies, their strengths and their weaknesses. Each of us has a different experience in the world because of our bodies,…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 5:21-43
Service Type: Sunday Worship

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