(Sunday, June 13 At 10 AM, Hybrid Worship Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21; Revelation 21:1-7

Hymns: Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty; Every Time I Feel the Spirit; The Church of Christ in Every Age

Sermon: “Something New: Permission to Experiment” by Rev. Jim Reisner

The church is as good at resisting change as any institution. Christians who want to stay set in their old ways will often quote scripture: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “God’s Word doesn’t change so we shouldn’t either.” What they fail to see is that in scripture God is always changing, always on the move, always adapting to circumstances. And when God does something new in scripture, God’s favorite tool in the toolbox is forgiveness. Old wounds and grudges are erased, and God once again “makes all things new.”

(Sunday, June 6 At 10 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: I Samuel 8:4-20; Mark 3:19b-27

Hymns: Holy! Holy! Holy!; In an Age of Twisted Values; Rejoice, the Lord is King!

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Sermon: “Something Old: the Authoritarian Instinct” by Rev. Jim Reisner

Our text from First Samuel tells of when Israel asks for a king. The old prophet warns the people of all the suffering and servitude they will experience under the rule of a king, but the people nonetheless persist in their desire for an earthly ruler. Then God says to Samuel, “Let them have what they want.”

(Sunday, May 30 At 10 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

This Sunday is our annual Memorial Day weekend "Worship on the Steps," which isn't on the steps even in the years we meet in person. We'll gather on the virtual steps by Zoom. We invite you to take your computer or phone into your garden and we'll sit together. Please join us and come prepared to share.

(Sunday, May 23 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13; John 14:15-16,18-19,25-27

Hymns: Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us; Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song; We Are One in the Spirit

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Sermon: “In a Fearful and Broken World” by Rev. Jim Reisner

At the table of the Last Supper, Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them orphaned or desolate. He tells them that God will send to them the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Comforter. The Day of Pentecost when the Spirit appeared as wind and fire is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. What God promises over and over again is God’s presence. We experience that presence as the Holy Spirit.

(Sunday, May 9 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 15:9-17

Hymns: New Songs of Celebration Render; We Rejoice to Be God's Chosen; For the Healing of the Nations

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Sermon: “Chosen” by Rev. Jim Reisner

Our text from the Gospel of John includes the most Presbyterian thing Jesus ever said: “You did not choose me but I chose you” (John 15:16). We Presbyterians are sometimes referred to as the "Frozen Chosen." Our belief is that we come into relationship with God not out of anything we can do, or out of any sense of our own goodness, but only through God’s grace. The Christian life is not about doing what we can do to get to heaven; the essence of the Christian life is responding to God’s grace with a gratitude that expresses itself (to paraphrase the prophet, Micah) in acts of justice, kindness, and humility.

(Sunday, May 2 At 11 AM, Communion Sunday, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: I John 4:7-15; John 15:1-9

Hymns: Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me; Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

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Sermon: “ The Dude Abides” by Rev. Jim Reisner

Jesus says to his disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

The word "abide" appears no less that 15 times in our two scripture lessons this Sunday. It has multiple meanings: remain, stay; or live, dwell; or last, endure, continue. The image that Jesus uses is a branch attached to a vine that receives its nourishment from the vine.

(Sunday, April 25 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 23, John 10:7-16

Hymns: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

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Sermon: “By Hook or by Crook” by Rev. Jim Reisner

The fourth Sunday in Eastertide is referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday because the Gospel scripture lesson is always from the 10th chapter of John where Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

(Sunday, April 18 At 11 AM, Earth Day, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-10,15; Romans 8:18-28

Hymns: All Creatures of Our God and King; Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works; God of the Fertile Fields

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Sermon: “Earth Shall Be Fair” by Rev. Jim Reisner

God had more than humanity in mind in the work of redemption. Paul recognized this when he wrote, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now” awaiting redemption.

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

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-3; Luke 24:11-35

Hymns: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain; Because You Live, O Christ; Thine Is the Glory

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Sermon: “When Did We See You?” by Rev. Jim Reisner

Where is God? That’s an age-old question that seems more appropriate than ever. Amidst a world pandemic, school shootings, racial strife, social injustice, crushing poverty, and unending wars, where is God, indeed?

(Sunday, April 4 At 11 AM, Easter Sunday, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17; Mark 16:1-8

Hymns: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today; The Day of Resurrection; The Strife Is O’er

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Sermon: “Is That It?” by Rev. Jim Reisner

The conclusion of Mark’s Gospel is startling and abrupt. It seems to cut off in mid-sentence. We are left with the women at the tomb running away and remaining silent because they are afraid. Is this any way to end a Gospel?

(Sunday, March 28 At 11 AM, Palm Sunday, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Mark 11:1-11

Hymns: We Are Marching in the Light of God; All Glory, Laud and Honor; Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

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Sermon: “Hosanna!” by Rev. Jim Reisner

When Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he is a lit torch entering a firecracker factory – an explosion is inevitable. Jesus evokes images of the Passover, the prophecy of Zechariah, and the Maccabean revolt, all of which speak of political liberation from an oppressive force. No wonder that merely days later the people turn on him when Jesus preaches the power of love and not the love of power. Jesus is proclaiming liberation from an oppressive foe, but his enemy is far greater than Rome.

(Sunday, March 21 At 11 AM, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 3:1-17

Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus; My Song Is Love Unknown; O Jesus, I Have Promised

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Sermon: “We want to see Jesus” by Rev. Carolyn Tilley

“When we 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, the oppression, persecution, and even death will be unable to take our freedom. Once we have come to the deep inner knowledge – a knowledge more of the heart than the mind – that we are born out of love and will die into love, that every part of our being is deeply rooted in love, and that this love is our true Father and Mother, then all forms of evil, illness, and death lose their final power over us”

Henri Nouwen, Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring

(Sunday, March 14 At 11 AM, Fourth Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:1-17

Hymns: What Wondrous Love is This; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; Lift High the Cross

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Sermon:  “Nick at Night” by Rev. James Reisner

“We are on the road to heaven already if today we walk with God. For eternal life is not a possession conferred at death, it is a present endowment. We live it now, and continue it through death. And that is why belief in life to come should only increase our commitment to life now and here.” -- William Sloane Coffin

(Sunday, March 7 At 11 AM, Third Sunday of Lent, Communion, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-20; John 2:13-22

Hymns: God the Sculptor of the Mountains; Bread Was Broken, Words Were Spoken; In the Cross of Christ I Glory

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Sermon:  “Disorderly Conduct” by Rev. James Reisner

In the Gospel of John, the cleansing of the temple occurs at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, not on the evening of Palm Sunday as it does in the other three gospels. Another difference unique to John is that he does not accuse the moneychangers of defrauding the people. John sees the whole system of temple sacrifice as corrupt. The ritual formalisms have become more important than the essence of faith in God – the love of God and neighbor. We always need to keep in front of ourselves the question of whether our religion is getting in the way of our relationship to God.

(Sunday, February 28 At 11 AM, Second Sunday of Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-12; Mark 8:31-38

Hymns: Beneath the Cross of Jesus; Take Up Your Cross; Christ of the Upward Way

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Sermon:  “I Been ‘Buked” by Rev. James Reisner

“Take up your cross,” Jesus says, “and follow me … For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

(Sunday, February 21 At 11 AM, First Sunday in Lent, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-10; Mark 1:9-15

Hymns: Great is thy faithfulness; Just a Closer Walk with Thee; God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us

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Sermon:  “The Year Lent Never Went Away” by Rev. James Reisner

Do we really need to be reminded of our mortality this Lent when death is all around us? Do we really need to give something up for Lent when so much has already been taken away from us?

And yet here we are entering a season of solemn self-examination and spiritual discipline. As we set out on our journey, let us remember that our destiny is the joy of Easter sunrise and the victory of life over all that would destroy us.

(Sunday, February 14 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: II Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9

Hymns: God Is Here; Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

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Sermon:  “Love Changes Everything” by Rev. James Reisner

Jesus goes up a mountain with three of his closest disciples. There he is transfigured – the Greek word is "metamorphosized." His appearance is radically transformed into bright light. A voice descends from heaven saying, “This is my beloved. Listen to him.”

(Sunday, February 7 At 11 AM, Communion Service, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31; Mark 1:29-39

Hymns: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise; The Church of Christ in Every Age; God of Grace and God of Glory

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Sermon: “Let Us Go On” by Rev. James Reisner

Jesus began his ministry in his hometown. As word got out, a great crowd gathered seeking healing and eager to hear from this new prophet. Jesus went out to a quiet place at night to seek some solitude and rest. Peter and the others found him and summoned him to return home, but Jesus said, “Let us go on.” They set out for other towns in the region.

(Sunday, January 31 At 11 AM, Live-Streamed On Zoom)

Scripture: I Kings 3:5-15; Mark 1:21-28

Hymns: All Beautiful the March of Days; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; I Want to Be a Christian

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Sermon: “What Have You to Do with Us, Jesus?” by Rev. James Reisner

In the first public act of his ministry, according to Mark, Jesus goes to the synagogue on the sabbath in Capernaum. There, an unclean spirit who is possessing a young man with epilepsy cries out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus?” In other words, "Leave me alone."