Fifth Sunday of Easter 2026 - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

Church Anniversary 2026 - Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crumpton

This week celebrating our 188th anniversary, Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crumpton shares a powerful sermon on God's love, faithfulness, and the importance of building bridges of faith through prayer, reflection, and action. She explores how life's challenges and systemic injustices call us to trust in God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. This week's scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit  and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Takeaways * Building spiritual bridges requires intentional prayer and reflection. * Trust in God's ability to do more than we can ask or imagine. * Moments of crisis are opportunities for divine intervention and growth. * Community support and intercession are vital for resilience. * Remembering past victories strengthens faith for future challenges.

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. William H. Lamar IV

In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV reflects on the power of words, tools, and collective action in shaping justice and community on the day after America's 250th celebration. This week's scripture: John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. Key Topics * The significance of words as divine tools * The historical misuse of words and power * The importance of building, fixing, tearing down in community * The role of faith and collective action in justice * The critique of American history and ideals Chapters 00:00 Scriptural Reflections and Teachings 03:03 The Power of Words in Preaching 25:54 Building, Fixing, and Tearing Down Systems

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. Dr. Elliott Robinson

In this week's sermon, Rev. Dr. Elliott Robinson explores the power of persistent faith and activism through the parable of the persistent widow, emphasizing the importance of bothering systems for justice and trusting God's power. This week's scripture - Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Takeaways * Persistent prayer and faith can shift even the most unjust systems. * Trust in God's power is essential in the fight for justice. * Bothering systems is a divine act that can lead to change. * The widow's persistence demonstrates unwavering faith. * God's justice is swift for those who cry out day and night.

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.