Perinton Presbyterian Church | Sermons and Conversations

Sermon Podcast | Why December 25th? | Rev. Laura Fry

Recorded on Sunday, 07/12/26 | Scripture Readings: Colossians 1:15-20 | Most people know December 25 as Christmas, but few know why that date was chosen. The answer is not rooted in pagan strategy but in a deep theological connection between creation, Passover, and the life of Jesus Christ. Early Christians recognized that the date of Jesus' conception aligned with the date of His crucifixion, both tied to the season of Passover. Nine months after March 25 brings us to December 25. Two independent streams of early Christianity arrived at this same conclusion, pointing to a God who designed the entire arc of salvation with intention. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, in Christ all things hold together. The birth of Jesus was not a seasonal event but a moment woven into the fabric of history from the very beginning of creation. | This sermon is the 3rd in our Summer Sermon Series: Singing Our Faith | PPC Members were invited to recommend their favorite hymns. This week's favorite hymns were "What Child Is This?" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." Listen to these hymns and more on our Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0A5aMxXsmGUsHxWt3HJedx?si=KF1X3UcpSOq8cgT1BIKEXg | Find out more about our church at perintonpres.org

Sermon Podcast | Free Indeed | Rev. Laura Fry

Recorded on Sunday, 07/05/26 | Scripture Readings: John 8:36, Galations 5:13-15 | Freedom is one of the most celebrated ideals in American life, but the Bible calls us to a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. In John 8:36, Jesus promises that those He sets free are truly free, and that freedom begins with confessing sin and walking in His ways. The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians not to use their freedom as an excuse for self-indulgence, but instead to use it to serve one another in love. True freedom is not the absence of limits. It is the presence of love, and it is only in Christ that we can be free indeed. | Find out more about our church at perintonpres.org

Sermon Podcast | Loving Our Neighbors | Rev. Laura Fry and Ken Pitcher

Recorded on Sunday, 06/28/26 | Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 10:17-19 | God's heart for the displaced and vulnerable is woven throughout Scripture, and caring for strangers is not optional for followers of Christ. Deuteronomy 10 reveals that God Himself loves foreigners, provides for them, and calls His people to do the same. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 understood that they were strangers passing through this world, and that spiritual posture shapes how we treat those who are literally searching for a place to belong. With roughly 120 million people displaced globally, the need has never been more urgent. Jesus expanded our understanding of neighbor through the story of the Good Samaritan, and He Himself experienced displacement as a refugee infant in Egypt. The local church is uniquely positioned to respond with welcome, advocacy, and genuine relationship. We love because He first loved us, and we welcome because we have been welcomed. | Find out more about our church at perintonpres.org

Sermon Podcast | This is Our Father's World | Pastor Mark McDaniel

Recorded on Sunday, 06/21/26 | Scripture Readings: Jonah 1:1-17, Matthew 1:18-25 | Guest Pastor Mark McDaniel shared his message with us. Joseph and Jonah represent two very different responses to God's call. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, responded with quiet, faithful obedience every time God directed him, even when the path was costly or unexpected. Jonah, on the other hand, ran in the opposite direction, was swallowed by a great fish, and even after obeying, argued with God over His mercy toward the people of Nineveh. Most of us want to be like Joseph, but if we are honest, we often find ourselves more like Jonah. The good news is that God remains faithful through our resistance, our doubt, and our imperfect obedience. Our stories are not finished, and God is still calling. | This sermon is the 2nd in our Summer Sermon Series: Singing Our Faith | PPC Members were invited to recommend their favorite hymns. This week's favorite hymns were "It Is Well With My Soul," "In the Garden" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Listen to these hymns and more on our Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ExSUNg7S0XXsQNyhqaCko?si=B4-zPNwXTa6sZbHdzwiMkQ | Find out more about our church at perintonpres.org

Sermon Podcast | Trusting God, No Matter What | Rev. Laura Fry

Recorded on Sunday, 06/14/26 | Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19 | The prophet Habakkuk faced a crisis of faith when God's promises seemed broken and his world was falling apart. Rather than offering polite prayers, Habakkuk brought his raw, honest complaints directly to God, questioning divine silence in the face of injustice. God responded not with rebuke but with reassurance, promising that justice would come and revealing that divine work was happening behind the scenes. Habakkuk's journey teaches us that angry prayer is acceptable, that God can handle our doubts, and that mature faith chooses to trust God's character over circumstances. Even when life's "fig trees" fail to blossom, we can find strength in God's faithfulness and rejoice in His unchanging nature. | This sermon is the 1st in our Summer Sermon Series: Singing Our Faith | PPC Members were invited to recommend their their favorite hymns. This week's favorite hymns were "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and "Trust and Obey." Listen to these hymns and more on our Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3WJg1u5wCFRKI0QsrWIBhF?si=V76NIOBQRRyKhyT43a-VBA | Find out more about our church at perintonpres.org