The Contemporary UCC & DOC

Sermon for Trinity Sunday
June 4, 2023

You just heard something from the very end of Matthew’s gospel called The Great Commission. These words were spoken by Jesus after the resurrection as he was preparing the disciples for the future. There are several places we can point to in the scriptures where the disciples became apostles; that is, where Jesus’ followers became official emissaries of the Kingdom of God. And this is one of them, for Jesus said:

Trinity Sunday

June 4, 2023

CALL TO WORSHIP
Holy are you, Source and Creator of all things:
We praise you for your gift of life.
Holy are you, Son and Redeemer of all things:
We thank you for your gift of grace.
Holy are you, Spirit and Sustainer of all things:
We bear witness to your truth and worship your holy Name, Ever Three and Ever One.

—Presbyterian Church in Canada (alt.)

The Spirit Is...

Sermon for the Day of Pentecost
May 28, 2023

Most of you probably don’t pay much attention, but next week is a church holiday. The First Sunday after Pentecost every year is celebrated as Trinity Sunday (or, more properly, the Feast of the Holy Trinity). The word Trinity, of course, is never mentioned in the Bible, and the Trinity is only formally named in one verse—it’s in Matthew 28, and we’ll hear that passage next week, even though it won’t really be the subject of my sermon.

Day of Pentecost

May 28, 2023

CALL TO WORSHIP
O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.

The Cosmic Christ

Sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension
May 21, 2023

On Ash Wednesday every year, forty days before Easter (actually a little more, because Sundays aren’t counted as days of Lent), Christians begin their preparation for the celebration of the resurrection by being reminded of our mortality. We receive ashes in the sign of the cross as we hear these words: Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

Ascension

May 18 (or 21), 2023

CALL TO WORSHIP
Clap your hands, O people; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
Sing praises to God, sing praises. 

God has gone up with a shout.
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
For the Lord Most High is awesome, a great King over all the earth.
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.