Tuning In

"So... 1968 was the peak of a season of great unrest in our country.

There was a lot going on: the Vietnam war was raging, there had been protests happening for years, the civil rights movement had protests going on for years.

And it came to a head on April 4th, 1968, when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated... in the wake of King's death, there were more turbulent demonstrations, particularly black activists who were protesting police violence. There was a shootout in Oakland... this kind of thing was happening throughout the country. 

And it was an election year. There were campaigns going on. So, it probably feels very resonant for us..." 

....This week we start a series called "Listen," asking how we can hear God amid everything else in our lives. Starting with the present day, we go back to 1968 and then back to the time of the Roman Empire, when Jesus gives us the story of a good shepherd whose sheep hear his voice.

Early Roman image of Jesus as a good shepherd.

Early Roman image of Jesus as a good shepherd.

But what can we learn from sheep about hearing from God in the midst of chaos? Listen in (or read the notes!) to find out, below:

Tuning In
Leah Martens

Love Serves

"I'm going to share with you a meme that came up multiple times in my facebook group this week. Perhaps you saw it: 

blessed-are-all-lives-jesus.jpg

Obviously this is a response to the conversation over #blacklivesmatter versus all lives matter. How do we interact with that? If Jesus was here today in this conversation, what would his response be?  

...But Jesus didn't tweet. Social media wasn't a thing in the first century. What was a thing was going to hear somebody in person. He preached, that was his version of communication..." 

And yet Jesus preached as much with actions as with words. In our final talk on living the love, listen in (or read the notes) for a practical example from Jesus about how "love serves" in the midst of inequality:

Love Serves
Leah Martens

Love Includes

We're continuing our series on "Live the Love." showing specific ways that Jesus reached out and loved others--and ways in which we can connect with people as well.

This week, guest speaker Lydia Suh shares with us how "Love Includes": 

Love Includes
Lydia Suh

And Leah speaks about the racial reconciliation still to be done, in light of this week's events: 

A Word on Race Relations
Leah Martens

 

Cultivate Sanity

This week Leah talked about cultivating a better relationship with time. If you'd like to tune in, just watch the slideshow with audio, download an mp3, or read the typed sermon notes below. Presented on May 29, 2016, this is the fourth in our series called "Cultivate." 

Cultivate Sanity
Leah Martens

Download sermon notes here

Cultivate Generosity

This week Leah presented on cultivating generosity with our money and our time. View the audio slideshow, listen to mp3 audio, or read the typed sermon notes below. Presented on May 22, 2016, this is the third in our series called "Cultivate." 

Cultivate Generosity
Leah Martens

Download sermon notes here

Cultivate a Soft Heart

This week Liz Milner presented on cultivating soft-heartedness. View the audio slideshow, listen to mp3 audio, or read the typed sermon notes below. Presented on May 15, 2016, this is the second in our series called "Cultivate." 

Cultivate a Soft Heart
Liz Milner

If you prefer to read, check out Liz' sermon notes here!

Cultivate Self-Awareness: An Introduction

Below you'll find an audio slideshow, audio alone, and sermon notes from Leah's teaching on self-awareness, presented on May 8th, 2016.  Feel free to listen, download, and read the notes. This is the first in our new series, Cultivate!

Cultivate Self-Awareness
Leah Martens

Find sermon notes here. And a bonus! A short video explaining "Rose, Bud, Thorn" is below: 

Beauty In Creation

The following is audio with images, plain audio, and notes from the teaching given by Leah on April 17, 2016.  Feel free to listen online, download, or read the notes.  This teaching is the fourth in our series, "In Search of Beauty."

Beauty in Creation
Leah Martens

Download sermon notes here.

Beauty in Justice

The following is plain audio, and notes from the teaching given by Leah on April 10, 2016.  Feel free to listen online, download, or read the notes.  This teaching is the third in our series, "In Search of Beauty."

The audio below follows on the Sesame Street clip from above -- watch and listen to enjoy!

Beauty in Justice
Leah Martens

Download sermon notes here.

Beauty In Resurrection

The following is audio with images, plain audio, and notes from the teaching given by Leah on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016.  Feel free to listen online, download, or read the notes.  This teaching is the first in our series, "In Search of Beauty."

Life In Your 40s (You Die and then You Live)

The following is audio with images, plain audio, and notes from the teaching given by Leah on February 28, 2016.  Feel free to listen online, download, or read the notes.  This teaching is the fourth in our winter series, "Find Your Calling."