Pentecost Sunday 2026 - Rev. Thomas A. Brackeen, Jr.

Father's Day 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the profound message of Jesus in Matthew 10, emphasizing the internal work of spiritual surgery. He discusses how the 'sword' Jesus wields is a metaphor for internal transformation, cutting away self-deception, fear, and inadequacy to foster true peace and authenticity. This week's text: Matthew 10:34-36 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Takeaways * Jesus' use of the sword symbolizes internal spiritual surgery. * External peace does not address internal turmoil. * Self-deception, fear, and inadequacy hinder true peace. * Relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential for healing. * Internal peace requires confronting and cutting away inner falsehoods. * Fear can be a helpful response but should not control us. * The Spirit of Christ provides anesthesia during spiritual surgery. * Healing is a process that involves internal work, not just external circumstances. * Our internal battles are the first front in our spiritual journey. * Embracing internal transformation leads to genuine peace and wholeness. Chapters 00:00 The Value of Acknowledgment and Fearlessness 00:59 Understanding the Sword of Christ 10:55 Internal Surgery: The Need for Healing 20:46 Cutting Away Self-Deception, Fear, and Inadequacy

Youth Annual Day 2026 - Rev. Nicole Stratchan

In this week's sermon, Rev. Nicole Stratchan explores the power of rejoicing, inclusion, and faith through the lens of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts, emphasizing how faith and community can be more inclusive and joyful. She reflects on her personal journey, biblical insights, and the importance of metacognition in faith. This week's text: Acts 8:26-39 26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,     and like a lamb silent before its shearer,         so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.     Who can describe his generation?         For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. Takeaways * Rejoicing requires authenticity and being real with oneself. * Sports culture creates environments of inclusion and joy that churches can learn from. * The biblical story of the eunuch challenges us to rethink notions of race, gender, and access. * Metacognition is essential for spiritual growth and understanding. * Church environments should foster space for joy, inclusion, and authenticity.

Immigration Ministry Annual Day 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

In this week's sermon Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the biblical story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, emphasizing themes of divine initiation, boundary-breaking conversations, and God's inclusive love. It challenges us to recognize divine encounters in everyday life and to extend love beyond religious and cultural boundaries.  This weeks text: John 4:6-10 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Takeaways * Conversations at wells are as old as human thirst and symbolize divine encounters. * Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman breaks social, racial, and religious boundaries. * God initiates divine conversations, and humans are often unaware of divine presence. * Recognizing who is asking us for a drink can transform our understanding of divine interaction. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:04 Conversations at the Well: Historical Context 00:57 The Samaritan Woman: Breaking Boundaries 06:30 God's Desire for Connection: Betrothal Themes 12:53 Rule-Breaking Conversations: Expanding Our Horizons 16:43 Divine Initiation: The Thirst for Connection 19:14 Human Ignorance: Recognizing the Divine in Our Lives 24:48 Call to Action: Embracing Deeper Relationships

Trinity Sunday 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the profound metaphor of the well from John 4, emphasizing our collective and individual thirst for connection, peace, and spiritual renewal. He highlights the humanity of Jesus, the importance of seeking living water, and the divine thirst for human relationship. This week's scripture: John 4:6-14 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”

Pentecost Sunday 2026 - Rev. Thomas A. Brackeen, Jr.

In this week's sermon, Rev. Thomas A. Brackeen, Jr. explores the significance of Pentecost in the context of contemporary social and political challenges, emphasizing community, diversity, and active faith. This week's text: Acts 2:1-8, 12-13 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” Key Topics * Pentecost's historical significance and diversity * The black church's relationship with Pentecost * Pentecost as a call for justice and community * The role of community and gathering in spiritual movement Chapters 00:00 The Need for the Spirit 00:33 Celebrating Pentecost in the Black Church 03:19 Pentecost in Perilous Times 08:42 Diversity and the Spirit of Pentecost 13:19 Community and Connection 18:14 Rediscovering Voices 22:28 Pentecost as a Movement 24:43 The Call to Action