When God Tells a Joke - The Rev. Mike Angell

The Body of Death, The Beloved Community-Angel Nalubega

On the weekend of America’s 250th anniversary, Angel Nalubega reflects on Paul’s confession that we often know what is right yet fail to do it. Naming the realities of nationalism, racism, and exclusion, this sermon calls Christians to solidarity with the vulnerable, receiving grace together and becoming Christ’s beloved community.

Costly Grace & New Life in Baptism - The Rev. Lee Lowery

Exploring Paul’s letter to the Romans, this sermon wrestles with grace, sin, and transformation. It contrasts “cheap grace” with costly grace that calls us to follow Christ. Baptism is not symbolic alone but a new identity—reminding us we are loved, redeemed, and invited into a life of purpose and possibility. 00:00 Opening & Introduction 00:45 Context: Paul, Rome, and Early Church Tensions 03:15 Jews, Gentiles, and Leadership Conflict 05:30 The Law as a Gift of Grace 07:00 “If Grace Abounds, Should We Sin?” 08:30 Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace (Bonhoeffer) 11:30 Baptism as Transformation, Not Symbol 13:30 The Struggle with Sin After Baptism 15:30 Exodus Imagery & New Life in Christ 17:30 What Baptism Really Means 19:30 Identity, Commitment, and Belonging 21:30 The $100 Bill Illustration: Our Inherent Worth 23:00 Living as Beloved People 24:15 Closing Prayer

When God Tells a Joke - The Rev. Mike Angell

In a time marked by division and exhaustion, this reflection turns to an unexpected place for hope: laughter. From Genesis to the Pride parade to Jesus’ sending of the disciples, it argues that making space for one another through conversation may be how God continues to do the impossible in our midst.

Unsettled by God -The Rev. Mike Angell

In a moment shaped by fear, division, and questions about who belongs, this sermon explores how God unsettles our settled assumptions and invites us into a wider, deeper way of living together. Drawing from the story of Abraham leaving Haran and Jesus sitting at table with a tax collector, this reflection asks a simple but urgent question: who will you be?

Pride Sermon: Do Not Settle - The Rev. Mike Angell

In this Pride sermon, The Rev. Mike Angell reflects on the church’s history of both harm and courage, lifting up the witness of Pauli Murray and the faithful resistance of local communities. The message is clear: welcome is not something the church gets credit for, but something it is called to live into. The work ahead is making sure every LGBTQ+ person, and every child, knows they are created in the image and likeness of God, beloved and fully included.