Peter’s Journey (and Cooper’s Too)
New Testament Reading—Luke 9: 1-9 (This sermon is largely adapted from Peter Jenkin’s book A Walk Across America. Quotation marks indicate direct quotes from the book.) Hello, my name is
Continue readingUnexpected Graces
New Testament Reading—Acts 10: 24-36 Hebrew Scripture Reading—Deuteronomy 10: 16-22 After having removed my shoes and socks outside the Chamundi Temple in Mysore, the dirty wetness of the stones underneath
Continue readingTrip to India: A Letter from the Pastor
Dear Church Family and Friends, On June 3rd, I board a plane to India where I will spend three weeks. I have been invited to lecture for two of those
Continue readingKeep It Funky
New Testament Reading–Acts 2:1-21 A play starring Lynn Degerstedt as the Announcer and Rev. Brooks Berndt as Peter, “The Rock.” Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, you knew them in the sixties
Continue readingKeep It Funky: A Rock Star from the 60s Visits First Congregational UCC
On Sunday, we received a visit from a 60s Rock and Roll star. As our announcer Lynn Degerstedt explained, “He’s the one who put rock into rock and roll.” The
Continue readingGardening and the Promise of New Life: A Letter from the Pastor
Dear Church Family and Friends, In a poem entitled “The Garden,” Frances Livingston tells of one man’s path to new life. The man “had slaved away his early youth in
Continue readingGod’s Will for Every Child
New Testament Reading—John 17: 10-19 In his book A Language Older than Words, author Derrick Jensen tells of two trips he has made that I believe shine a light on
Continue readingA Leaky Ark: A Play
Hebrew Scripture Reading—Genesis 8: 6-11 Staging Notes: Two high school students sit on different sides of the stage. Each sits in front of a table with a lap top computer
Continue readingLate Night Moms
New Testament Reading—2 Timothy 1: 1-7 How many of you out there are experts on what it means to be a mother? Raise your hands. In other words, how many
Continue readingDECLINE TO SIGN
DECLINE TO SIGN REFERENDUM 71 Our Washington State lawmakers took an important step toward equality when they overwhelmingly voted to expand Washington’s domestic partnership law this year and give registered
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