As we embark on our Lenten practice and Study of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, we ask ourselves, "what is the center of our faith?" In a world where faith is…
We choose the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where we came from. As we look at America today, let's look at our past and recognize truths…
As we welcome new members into Ankeny UCC, we look to Paul's outreach to followers of John the Baptist and understand how the diversity of our faith journeys changes us…
In the midst of darkness, when we receive joy, we are called to share it. Maybe it will change someone else's life the way Mary changed Elizabeth's life!
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…
What unifies the stories of the Death of John the Baptist, the Feeding of the 5,000, and Jesus walking on water? Jesus's response to the palpable fear of his disciples:…
Jesus's Baptism by John reminds us of the sign of hope Noah received after the flood, and prepares us for Jesus's servant leadership at the time of death. But it…
John's Gospel is all about telling what we see. The corollary is to listen when people tell us what they see. That's different from our disagreements over the implications of…
Luke's story shows us that working to change oppression comes at a cost. There are always powerful objections. Do Good Anyway. Work for Love rather than Hate, and break down…
On Transfiguration, we think about how we are changed by seeing who Jesus is, and also wonder what people see when they look at us.
Our filters often get in the way of seeing what is in front of us. Our assumptions about how the world has been keep us from seeing what might happen…
Luke may not have a story about the Magi, but Jesus was still revealed in a time and place: John's sermon about not standing on your national identity, but doing…
On the Sunday after Christmas, the most dedicated parishioners are rewarded with three different reactions to the news of Jesus's revelation and invited to join in our reactions, too.
