Ankeny UCC

A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology

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A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology
Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

The Day of the Saints

November 6, 2022
On All Saints, we remember the hopes we have of a future beyond our understanding, and in which the final barriers between God and ourselves are removed. And we pause…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Isaiah 25:1,4a,6-10a
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

What Are You Afraid Of?

September 18, 2022
Hebrews 2 illustrates what it means that Jesus was fully human, and why it was important that he was.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Hebrews 2:10-15
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

Saints Gasping for Breath

November 1, 2020
We are in the midst of a worsening pandemic. On this All Saints' Day, we recall that Joseph asked that his bones be transported back to Canaan in the Exodus,…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Exodus 13:17-22
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)

Healing What?

January 12, 2020
In this week's reading, Jesus heals a body, tries to heal society, and heals a spiritual rift. Some readings of this text suggest that our bodily injury is caused by…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Mark 2:1-20
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 2 (2019-20)

Mountain Climbing, Ankeny Style

December 8, 2019
Isaiah's words to the Israelite refugees in Babylon brings the comfort that in the midst of suffering, in the midst of tremendous loss, people and governments may change, what is…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Isaiah 40:1-11
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 1 (2018-19)

The Distant Promise

December 2, 2018
Habakkuk preaches into a world in which defeat is certain. When all is hopeless, and suffering is guaranteed, we must embrace the God who suffers with us and connects us…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 1 (2018-19)

Remember What is Good

November 11, 2018
On the centennial of Armistice Day, we remember all the losses of war, and celebrate that God does not demand the sacrifices of our children.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Micah 6:6-8
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 1 (2018-19)

A Prophet in Israel

November 4, 2018
On All Saints' Day, we look to the story of Naaman to remember that God is the God of all people. We remember that unexpected servants and saints  reveal themselves…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 2 Kings 5:1-15
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Generosity 2018

Abundant Love

August 26, 2018
One of the things that keeps us from being generous with our money is our sense that if only we act well, we won't die. Jesus reminds us that we…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Luke 12:13-34
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 4, Speaking Christian

Righteous Justice

March 11, 2018
What is right action? What is righteousness? In the midst of Jesus's trial, we see people representing the power in Jerusalem all around him, afraid to take ownership of their…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: John 18:28-40
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Lighting the Darkness

December 24, 2017
Jesus's birth always reminds us that in darkness, in places we don't think matter, in the shadows cast by the bright lights to which we are all drawn, there is…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Luke 2:1-20
Service Type: Christmas
Narrative Lectionary Year 2

Saints in Division

November 1, 2015
On All Saints Day, we remember all the people in our lives who have died. The fear of death makes us do funny things, so perhaps the greatest gift Jesus…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Kings 12:1-19
Service Type: Sunday Worship

Service Times

K-5 Christian Ed: 9:15 am
6-9 Christian Ed: 12:00 pm
In-person and Online Worship: 10:30 am

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