(Sunday, January 24 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Ephesians 4:25-32

Hymns: Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven; Inspired by Love and Anger; Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

Sermon: “Angry Enough to Die” by Rev. James Reisner

We all know the beginning of the Book of Jonah – the whale and all that. The end of the book is a good read, too. When Jonah preaches “Repent or Die” in the streets of Ninevah the people believe him. They repent. And so God relents, and does not destroy the city. This makes Jonah angry – angry enough to die. He had preached destruction and now he wants to see it. He wants to be vindicated.

(Sunday, January 10 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-18; John 1:43-50

Hymns: My Lord! What a Morning; I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me; Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing

Service Preview (Online):

This Sunday we will be celebrating the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recommitting ourselves to the work of racial justice during these difficult times. Our worship will include two opportunities for small breakout discussions, first on the scriptures and then on our reactions to policing and white supremacy. There will also be an opportunity to take action in support of police reform during the current Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis.

(Sunday, January 10 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39; Mark 1:4-11

Hymns: All Creatures of Our God and KingShall We Gather at the RiverHow Firm a Foundation

Sermon: “Secure in Life’s Alarms” by Rev. James Reisner

The first Sunday after Epiphany is traditionally called The Baptism of our Lord. The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is another act of revealing (or epiphany) of who Jesus is. In Mark’s Gospel, the story of the baptism ends with a descending dove, and a voice resounding from heaven and declaring, “You are my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased.”

(Sunday, January 3 At 11 AM, Ephiphany Communion Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Matthew 2:1-12

Hymns: We Three Kings of Orient Are; What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright; Sing of God Made Manifest

Sermon: “Wiser” by Rev. James Reisner

The Magi unwittingly bring Herod into the story of their pilgrimage to Bethlehem. While their motives are pure and their devotion enduring, the Magi’s naïvete regarding the intentions of the political powers leads to the atrocity of the slaughter of the innocents. Later, Jesus would teach his disciples to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. Part of being a follower of a star, or a rabbi, is gaining in wisdom as we travel along. Can we become wiser as to the ways of the world without succumbing to the temptations of lesser gods and baser instincts?

(Sunday, December 27 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40

Hymns: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Go, Tell It on the Mountain; Away in the Manger; Good Christian Friends Rejoice

Sermon: “The Fullness of Time” by Rev. James Reisner

“We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine [One] takes place unceasingly, but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to the Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture? This, then, is the fullness of time: When the [Incarnate One] is begotten in us.” --Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)

(Thursday, December 24 At 5 PM, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Hymns: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Away in the Manger; Joy to the World; Silent Night

Christmas Meditation: “From Bedlam to Bethlehem” by Jim Reisner

TPPC celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, with familiar songs, anthems, and the telling of the Christmas story.

(Sunday, December 20 At 11 AM, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-11; Philippians 4:4-7

Hymns: Angels, from the Realms of Glory; O Come All Ye Faithful; O Little Town of Bethlehem; The First Noel; Go Tell it on the Mountain; Angels We Have Heard on High; Joy To The World; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

The Word: “An Interactive Christmas Pageant” by Norman Allen

Our sermon this Sunday will come in the form of a Christmas Pageant. Our church school will retell the Christmas story through a pageant written for a Zoom format. Come and hear the old, old story in a new, new way. This will be fun.

Also, TPPC will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Thursday, December 24th at 5 pm.

(Sunday, December 13 At 11 AM, Third Sunday of Advent,Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-11; Philippians 4:4-7

Hymns: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates; Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming; ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

Sermon: “Joy in the Age of COVID-19” by Rev. James Reisner

“At its heart Christianity is joy; and laughter and freedom and the reaching out of arms are the essence of it. Joy is a mystery because it can happen anywhere, anytime, even under the most unpromising circumstances, even in the midst of suffering, with tears in its eyes.”

--Frederick Buechner

(Sunday, December 6 At 11 AM, Second Sunday of Advent, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8

Hymns: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus; Comfort, Comfort Now My People; Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

Sermon: “Comfort Food” by Rev. James Reisner

“Comfort, comfort, my people” proclaims the prophet, Isaiah. These are the first words of what is known as Second Isaiah which starts at the 40th chapter of his prophecy. Isaiah is declaring that to the people, after years of bitter exile in Babylon, that they are finally going home.

(Sunday, November 29 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37

Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; The Days Are Surely Coming; People, Look East

Sermon: “Apocalypse Now” by Rev. James Reisner

The language of apocalypse has been always hard for first-world Christians to access. Maybe the many extraordinary events of 2020 gives us insight into what these strange texts mean.

(Sunday, November 22 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Luke 17:1-9

Hymns: We Gather Together; Let All Things Now Living; Now Thank We All Our God

Sermon: “Thanksgiving” by Rev. James Reisner

Memory is at the heart of Thanksgiving. When I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner I am always aware of Thanksgivings past. I can visualize my parents and grandparents, my uncles and aunts, those with whom I once sat at table who are gone.

In this most unusual year, many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving in a different way, apart from family and friends. As we sit at smaller tables this year, let us remember other years and larger tables and give thanks for the people with whom we have shared the feast which is this life.

(Sunday, November 15 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Selections from Job chapters 38 & 42; Mark 8:34-38

Hymns: Gather Us In; Take up Your Cross, the Savior Said; We Give Thee but Thine Own; Take My Life

Sermon: “The Art of Losing Graciously” by Rev. James Reisner

The Bible is filled with people who contend with God. Jacob wrestles with an angel in the night. Job argues against his harsh circumstances and asserts his righteousness before God. The Psalmist often laments her condition and pleads to God for redress of her complaints.

In the Bible, and in our faith, it is appropriate to contend with God. We are allowed our complaints, and God counts them as prayers. Yet, the end and aim of all our wrestling with God is to lose.

(Sunday, November 8 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Amos 5:14-15,21-24; Mark 4:34-41

Hymns: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Sermon: “The Storm Outside; the Storm Within” by Rev. James Reisner

We have all been tossed to and fro this week with the changing landscape of the election. God is both dynamic and constant amidst all the many changes of this life. One thing I know about God is that God has the capacity to still the storm in my own heart.

(Sunday, November 1 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-7, 18-24; Matthews 5:1-12

Hymns: The Church’s One Foundation; When Memory Fades; For All the Saints

Sermon: “Blessed” by Rev. James Reisner

“When we can reach beyond our fears to the One who loves us with a love that was there before we were born and will be there after we die; then oppression, persecution, even death will be unable to take our freedom,” wrote Henri Nouwen. No matter what happens this coming Tuesday, we still belong to God.

(Sunday, October 25 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1-4; Romans 1:16-17, 3:19-24

Hymns: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art; Our God, Our Help in Ages Past; A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Sermon: “What's Your Motivation” by Rev. Jim Reisner

One of the theological principles of our Reformed tradition is the doctrine of total depravity. That sounds kind of bleak, doesn’t it? What it means is that we are all screwed up. We’re all screwed up but God loves us anyway. The upside of all this is that since there is nothing we can do to affect our own salvation, then the only response is gratitude.

You can do a whole lot worse than if your purpose in life is gratitude.

Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. (live-streaming)

Scripture: Leviticus 19 (selections); Luke 10:38-42

Hymns: God is Calling through the Whisper; For All the Faithful Women; The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound

Sermon: Happiness Isn’t a Room without a Roof

In the well-known story, the sisters, Mary and Martha, welcome Jesus under their roof. Hospitality is an important and time-honored practice in both the Hebrew and Greek scriptures. The heat and rugged terrain of the Middle East took its toll on travelers. How longed-for was a roof or a tent that could offer some relief from the noonday heat in a weary land.

(Sunday, October 11 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 2; Matthew 5:38-48

Hymns: Lord, I Want to Be a Christian; Why Do Nations Rage Together; In an Age of Twisted Values

Sermon: “Praying for Pharaoh” by Rev. Jim Reisner

I have had several conversations lately about how hard it is to pray right now. Our anger and outrage make it hard to pray for people who are doing harm to the poor and the refugee families. How do we pray for the oppressor? How do we pray for Pharaoh?

(Sunday, October 4th at 11 AM, World Communion Sunday Service, St. Francis of Assisi Day, Live-Streamed on Zoom)

This Sunday is also Invitation to Dream Sunday for our Capital Campaign.

Scripture: Isaiah 58:4-13; Ephesians 3:14-21

Hymns: O For a World; Bread of the World, In Mercy Broken; In Christ There is No East or West

Service Preview (Online):

Sermon:  “An Invitation to Dream” by Rev. James Reisner

When the nation of Judah returned to Jerusalem after years of captivity in Babylon, they began to rebuild their devastated cities.

The restoration of Israel was about rebuilding walls, yes, but even more so, it was about restoring justice, decency, humanity, joy, faith, hope, love. A commitment to rebuilding our roof is all about everything that happens under that roof.

(Sunday, September 20 at 11 AM, Live-Streamed on Zoom)

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15; John 6:31-41

Hymns: Morning Has Broken; Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak; Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

Service Preview (Online):

Sermon:  “Manna from Heaven” by Rev. James Reisner

“And the whole congregation of Israelites complained.” (Exodus 16:2)