Given by Rev. Madison Shockley March 27, 2022 Our readings today are part of the hidden gospels. The question most people don't ask is who edited the Bible. This editing was a historical process over several centuries. There are many writings that were not included that still represent traditional Christian expressions. Today we ask the [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley June 27, 2021 The passage today is about touch and ultimately, power. The woman was not allowed to touch or be touched as she was unclean. Having been through this pandemic, we too have been denied the ability to touch or be touched. The woman in the story takes back [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley June 20, 2021 Today we celebrate Father's Day and the return to in-person services. June is also Pride Month. Our reading talks about David and Jonathan feeling like their souls were bound to each other. Their love was greater than the love of women. This was a love story. When [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley April 11, 2021 Luke continues the story of Jesus after the events of the crucifixion. The movement grows until it reaches the capital of the known world, Rome. Resurrection is a temporary state. Jesus does not come back from the dead to resume his life but just manifests for a [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley August 16, 2020 This is a week that women made history. Paul wrote about women leaders in the early church. In this reading, Paul is asking that Phoebe be accepted and treated as an equal. Unfortunately, women are still barred from holding leadership positions in many churches today. What happened [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley on June 5, 2020 This is the audio of Rev. Shockley's speech during a Black Lives Matter protest in Carlsbad. It took 8 minutes and 46 seconds for George Floyd to die. Why does this keep happening? Over the past 400 years, we had many opportunities to make a choice. [...]
Given by Rev. Madison Shockley May 17, 202 During these times, the world needs compassionate Christianity. Few turn to 1 Peter due to its conservative patriarchal perspective. The writers had turned away from the wide acceptance preached by Jesus and the first generation Christians. Gone were the revolutionary thoughts of equality. The early church was [...]
Given by Anna Runion on September 30, 2018 Due to recent events, the topic of sexual assault is on the fore-front of our minds. Most people have been touched by this, either personally or through friends/family. We are a community that cannot remain silent. We seek justice. While we are tempted to rage against the [...]
Given By Rev Madison Shockley on June 3 2018 Today's reading talks about going against the norms of society. To understand this reading, we must understand what was going on in Corinth during this time. Paul had established a Christian community in this bustling trade city. His vision was that this movement was for everyone, [...]
Given By Rev. Madison Shockley March 11 , 2018 Today's reading comes from the gospel of Thomas. It is one of the earlier Christian documents but was not discovered until 1945. We had only hints of its existence. Thomas traveled to the east and settled in the area of Edessa where he wrote a collection [...]
https://vimeo.com/218740464 Given By Rev. Madison Shockley May 14, 2017 Today's reading from Genesis tells the story of Cain and Abel. From this passage comes the phrase, "my brother's keeper." This phrase has shaped our culture. It touches on what it means to be in human community, to live together. Unfortunately, some have used this passage's [...]
Today's sermon by Neal Washburn comes to us from the Gospel of Luke, a parable within a story. Jesus is talking to a group of individuals who felt righteous but felt contempt for others. Jesus tells them the parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector
On this Coming Out Sunday, the reading reminds us of the conflicts Jesus had with the religious authorities. He challenged them about how they lead the community. Jesus sought to not only expand the social and religious boundaries but also break them down
Today is World Communion Sunday. This is a way to show solidarity with our fellow Christians as we focus on the sacrament of Communion which binds us together. It is one of only two sacraments recognized by the Protestant church.
The inspiration for today's sermon comes from two different readings, Amos 6 and Luke 16. One is from the prophet Amos and the other is a parable from Jesus. Both passages warns that those who find comfort in this life may find the next life more difficult. To those who are rich yet take no notice of the poor, this is a dire warning.
Spike Lee has inspired the title of this week's sermon. The reading from Philemon offers a unique perspective on race relations today. Although it is short, Rev. Shockley considers the letter from Paul to Philemon to be the most personal historical document of the New Testament. This letter deals with the question of slavery. Today, slavery is considered in most places of the world to be a crime. Back in Paul's time, it was a common practice. In order to properly understand this letter, we must understand who is writing it and who is receiving it.
