Ankeny UCC

A Welcoming Church Family Exploring Progressive Christian Theology

  • Home
    • Meet the Clergy and Staff
    • Contact us
    • News
  • Christian Education
    • Sunday School Registration
  • I wonder….
    • The Great Emergence (Easter 2022)
    • Ankeny UCC Google Calendar
    • Mere Christianity (Spring 2022)
    • EmmanuALE!
    • Speaking Christian (Spring 2018)
    • Life Together (January-February 2017)
    • Between the World and Me (Oct 2015)
  • Serving
  • Sermons
  • Prep Preschool
  • Log in
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, Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

Graceful Responses

August 28, 2022
Romans 12 contains Paul's illustration of what he thinks it looks like to embody the grace we have received, leaving us with some of his most famous and memorable turns…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Romans 12:9-21
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

Parking Insecurities

August 21, 2022
The dichotomy of insecurity and inspiration that came into Jersualem's royal household serves as a model for our reactions to disruption throughout our lives--including in the national parks.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: 1 Samuel 17:55-18:9
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Church Identity 2022, Plague Year

Welcoming Questioning

April 24, 2022
The story of Thomas's encounter with the risen Christ shows us not only what our own reactions to good news can often look like, but the hope that there is…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: John 20:19-31
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

Resurrection in All Its Forms

April 17, 2022
Christ is Risen! In a new body that reminds us resurrection is not restoration, but the beginning of something new.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: John 20:1-18
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Plague Year, Shine Curriculum

Divine Retribution

October 25, 2020
The final escape from Egypt by the Israelites came at a terrible cost. The scripture tells us that the cost is not what should be celebrated, but the escape. Every…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Exodus 12:11-27
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
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)

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 1 (2018-19)

Rising Up

April 21, 2019
The empty cross gives us the freedom to imagine new worlds, create new hopes, and live with the presence of Christ among us to build God's sovereign realm together. It…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Matthew 28:1-10
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

Violence-Conquering Love

April 1, 2018
In Christ's death, we see his humanity. In his Resurrection, we see that our identities are not centered in violence, but in the love of God. Christ's story, and ours,…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: John 20:1-18
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Insiders and Outsiders 2017, Narrative Lectionary Year 3

You Don’t Need to Be Told

April 16, 2017
Listen to the personal testimony of those whose experiences are different from your own. It might be miraculous.
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Luke 24:1-12
Service Type: Sunday Worship
Insiders and Outsiders 2017, Narrative Lectionary Year 3

Shouting Stones

April 9, 2017
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…
Preacher : Nathan Willard
Passage: Luke 19:28-48
Service Type: Sunday Worship

Posts navigation

1 2 Next

Service Times

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

Online Offering Plate
Instant Church Directory

Sermon topics

AMOS Challenge change Christmas church community Conflict creation David Death Fear Forgiveness God Holy Spirit Hope Immigration Isaiah Jesus John John the Baptist joy Justice LGBTQ listening Love Matthew Mercy Moses Narrative oppression Paul Peace power racism Reconciliation refugees Resurrection Sovereign Realm of God Stewardship Stories Suffering Transformation Violence Welcome women


Ankeny UCC
602 SE Delaware Avenue
Ankeny, IA 50023

515-964-4647

Copyright © 2023 Ankeny UCC.

Church WordPress Theme by themehall.com