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

Lydia’s Encouraging Baptism

May 23, 2021
Lydia, who ran into Paul on a business trip, saw in the message of Christ an opportunity to change her life by risking her reputation and providing Paul a place…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 16:11-15
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

It’s Always the People

May 16, 2021
Peter's vision completes the work God is doing with the early church in the wake of Jesus's resurrection. This time, God reminds us that no matter what direction the church…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 10
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Indulging in Power

May 9, 2021
We often talk about Saul's "Damascus Road" conversion. But of course, his mind, heart, and actions don't change on the Damascus Road. For that, he needs to be subject to…
Passage: Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-9
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Unexpected Acts in Ethiopia

May 2, 2021
The story of the early church is one of unlearning assumptions and learning the power of the Holy Spirit. When Philip ran into the Ethiopian eunuch on the road, the…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 8:26-40
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Foundations of Love

April 25, 2021
In this somewhat idealized vision of the early church, we see what the Holy Spirit can do when the church is trying to build something together. In the midst of…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 8:4-5, 26-40
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

The Birth of the Church

April 18, 2021
On the birthday of the church, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples a gift that helped them overcome their fear, build relationships, and leave a place of familiarity.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 2:1-12
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Being Witnesses

April 11, 2021
The first chapter of Acts reminds us that Jesus's time on earth ended, but that the church went on. In the wake of Easter, what will we do to bring…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Acts 1:1-11
Service Type: Sunday Worship
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

Message More Than Form

March 7, 2021
In these linked stories from Jesus's ministry in Jerusalem, we see the message: preaching sacrifice for others while using their sacrifice for your own ends is the opposite of holiness.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 11:15-19, Mark 12:38-44
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

In Despair, Words of Hope

February 28, 2021
The Psalmist reminds us that the first step toward reconciliation and the work of building God's world together is repenting of our sin. In America, to build the nation we…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Psalm 130
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

The Ground’s Too Rocky By Far

January 31, 2021
Jesus reminds us that what may be clear to us may not be clear to others. But even as we work to tell stories that others understand, we need to…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 4:1-20
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

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