by Stacey Hilliard | Oct 29, 2023 | Sermons
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that mirrors the Christian celebrations of All Saints and All Souls on Nov. 1 and 2. I use the word “mirror” intentionally, because Día de los Muertos encourages us to look at the same thing (remembering those who have died) from a different angle. While our remembrances are typically serious and somber, the Mexican tradition is joyful and fun. Death is the ultimate monster. What can we learn from this celebration by our southern neighbors? Speaking of neighbors, the music that precedes this sermon was written and performed by one of our neighbors, Randall Kromm. You can hear more of Randall’s music on his website,https://www.randallkromm.com
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by Stacey Hilliard | Oct 22, 2023 | Sermons
Legend has it that Alexander the Great constructed gates at the border of his empire to keep the “monster races” out. How do people of faith deal with the monsters created by society through racism, xenophobia, ableism, and other kinds of difference?
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by Stacey Hilliard | Oct 15, 2023 | Sermons
This week’s monsters are real—that is, they are (or were) real creatures. What they have in common is their tendency to kill, and often eat, human beings. They are the apex predators of our world. Many are already extinct, and more are critically endangered. Can we learn to share a planet with creatures who see humans as prey? What happens if we don’t? What does the Bible have to say about it?
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by Stacey Hilliard | Oct 8, 2023 | Sermons
Welcome to the first Sunday of Faith in an Age of Monsters! What does faith look like in monstrous times? Monster storms, terrorism, pandemics, disasters, mass shootings, genocide. How do we live our faith in an age of monsters? Jesus, King Solomon, and JRR Tolkien will weigh in on the big picture.
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by Stacey Hilliard | Sep 24, 2023 | Sermons
Today we visit Noah and his floating zoo. Why exactly do we think the drowning of almost all life on the planet is a children’s story? Was there actually a flood? Is there a broader lesson we can learn from this story? (Hint: Yes, there is)
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by Stacey Hilliard | Sep 10, 2023 | Sermons
We’re going to jump over the story of the Great Flood for now and take a look at that last of the “pre-history” stories the Bible gives us. The story is usually called the Tower of Babel and is found in Genesis 11. Why is God so upset with people who are just trying to build a city with a tower? What’s wrong with speaking the same language? The story isn’t complicated to read; but what truth(s) could it possibly hold for us today?
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