Finding Room In Our Soul

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | November 1, 2020 Micah 6: 6-8 & Matthew 5: 1-12 A few years ago, I was doing some last-minute grocery shopping on the day before Christmas. I rode my bike to the big grocery store that has everything. The store was packed with people. I picked up…

Do You Want to Be Friends

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 25, 2020 Matthew 22: 34-46 There are times in life when we experience something that clearly defines for us what might be termed, ‘the way it is.’ Like a dose of reality served up in one easy package. These experiences are as varied as human experience….

Cultural Reference Points

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 18, 2020 Matthew 22: 15-22 Because of my work, I’ve lived in different places with different cultures. America is a big country with regional differences. I grew up in Portland, Oregon. At the time I thought that was just normal, but now it seems to me…

Think About It

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 11, 2020 Philippians 4: 1-9 A few days ago I filled out my absentee ballot, then took it to City Hall and dropped it off. I feel like I need to get politics out of my head. That’s not so easy when there is so much…

World Communion Sunday Homily

Sermon by Pastor Bill Chadwick | October 4, 2020 Who are we and what are we doing here this morning as we come to the Table?  Preachers are called to preach and teach about the sacraments.  For Presbyterians, that’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  It always strikes me as ironic, when I begin down the…

Standing on His Shoulders

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 27, 2020 Matthew 21: 23-32 My first job ever working for a church was as church custodian. I was in seminary at the time, learning about ministry. I also learned about ministry from cleaning a church.  The church was in St. Paul. Every summer the church…

“’Not Fair!’ (Thank God): Or ‘More Than a Fish Tale”

Sermon by Pastor Bill Chadwick | September 20, 2020 Reflections on the Book of Jonah Some background: The book of Jonah, like the book of Job, is clearly a parable, a teaching tool, not a record of actual events.  It was probably written during the fifth or fourth century before Jesus.  This is shortly after…

As Much As It Takes

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John Mann | September 13, 2020 Matthew 18: 21-35 It doesn’t take long in life before somebody does you wrong. Somewhere along the journey of life someone will sin against you; someone will incur a debt; someone will trespass on your boundaries.  It could be a small irritation, or it could…

Love Lifted Me

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John Mann | September 6, 2020 1st Corinthians 13 When I lived in Glasgow, I learned to drink tea. It would be rude not to.  But there are different kinds of tea. One kind is the simple cup of tea. In Glasgow, if someone offers you a cup of tea, it…

Traveling in Jesus Class

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John Mann | August 30, 2020 Matthew 16: 21-28 One time we took a train to London. We had two seats reserved in the “quiet car.” The quiet car is one in which people are not supposed to talk on the phone or use electronic equipment to the annoyance of other…