First Presbyterian Church Of San Anselmo

Mark 1:4-11: Our most important name, our most important identity, is that we are God's Beloveds. This identity doesn't belong only to a few people, or only to the baptized. It belongs to everybody. The Church's calling is to make space for a greater swath of humanity, recognizing each and every person as God’s beloved, and recognizing the redemptive power of real relationships.

Luke 1:26-38: Mary said "yes" to God. Will we? God approaches us daily, maybe multiple times a day. Can we recognize God within us, asking us to become God-bearers, asking us to bring Christ to a hurting, and broken world? Can we let God grow in us; can we “let it be”? Like Mary, we fear; God reassures us and tells us what will be required. We doubt; God points us to past experiences and helps us to trust. If we say yes, finally we are able to bring into the world, with God’s grace, something new.

Luke 1:46b-55: In the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, Mary's song, which we know as the Magnificat, describes the hopes, dreams and visions not only of humanity but of God FOR humanity. It tells us what God wants, not just for some, but for all.

Mark 13:24-37: On the first Sunday in Advent, apocalyptic literature wakes us to what is going on in the world around us, invites us to lament, calls us to keep alert and repent - to turn around and move in the direction of God, who comes to us, as we are, where we are.

Matthew 25:31-46: This sermon explores the radical hospitality to which we are called as followers of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:6-13: Paul desperately wants the Corinthians to contribute to the needs of the Jerusalem church. He seems to promise they will benefit if the give. Is this true? Yes, and no. While "the prosperity gospel" (material rewards for faith) is magical thinking, generosity does in fact give us joy and even a larger sense of health and well-being.

Matthew 23:1-12: The parable of the ten bridesmaids reminds us that the Church still waits for the fulfillment of God's kingdom. How shall we wait? The oil points to practices that no one else can do for us that help us prepare for the long haul, the "slow kingdom coming." These practices add up to "Keep awake." At First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, we also know that the best way to wait is to serve in Christ's name.

Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 34:1-10, 22: The psalmist told his own story of God's activity in his life because we all need that hope and encouragement. This All Saints' Sunday sermon explores the ways our own stories offer that hope and encouragement to others. We are blessed to be a blessing to others whatever our stories.

Matthew 22:15-22: Jesus silences the religious leaders trying to trick him by reminding them that while it's fine to pay taxes, we bear God's image, we belong to God, and we are to give God nothing less that our whole heart, mind, soul and strength.

Matthew 21:33-46: Jesus tells this difficult parable to call the religious leaders to account for their failure to care for the people. We, too, are called to speak truth to power when our leaders fail to make the life, liberty, safety and just treatment of the people a priority.

Matthew 21:23-32: Jesus tells the parable of the two sons to illustrate that there is no authority without integrity - that in addition to talking the talk, we need to walk the walk. The Church forfeits its authority when it forgets this.

Matthew 20:1-16: The parable of the workers in the vineyard seems unfair, and Jesus says the Kingdom of God is just like that. What Jesus is doing is introducing a new model: Rather than "That's not fair!" and "I didn't get enough" and "I should get what I deserve," Jesus introduces God's economy: lavish grace for all who deserve it and for all who do not.

Matthew 18:21-35: Forgiveness is hard, but it is unavoidable if we want to be in relationship, and the refusal to forgive is its own punishment. We are the ones who suffer if we fail to forgive. However, no one can "command" us to forgive; it doesn't work that way, because like love, forgiveness must be chosen. Perhaps what we might do it accept God's forgiveness, and let that unimaginable grace help us turn towards mercy.

Matthew 18:15-20: Matthew's deep concern is authentic Christian community, which takes work: collaboration, humility, compromise, patience, cooperation and showing up. It is worth it. Christian community promises that Jesus is there in the midst of us, so that we have the strength, spirit and resilience to do God's kingdom work.

1 Corinthians 12:4-12, 27: Each year on the Sunday before Labor Day, three church members describe how they live out their calling as Christ's disciples in the workplace or in their "vocation." Our three speakers today were Cheryl Prowell, Senior Water Resource Control Engineer at California Regional Water Quality Control Board; Daniel Ferreira, Baker, M. H. Bread and Butter; Jo Gross, Spiritual Director.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Through 3 personal encounters, guest preacher Nick Morris illustrates three points: Don't believe everything you think; those you believe you are helping are likely helping you as well; love from the heart, not the head.

Mark 8:34-37 and 1 Corinthians 13: Although 1 Corinthians 13 is often thought to be a romantic passage, read at weddings, it describes the disciplined practice of cross-carrying love to which Jesus calls us. "Take up your cross" means "Do the hard work of love, even when it's painful, and even when hating is easier."

Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 5:5-10: The Rev. Bentley Stewart, guest preacher, issues a wake-up call, noting the way the chant of white supremacists in Charlottesville, VA, "Blood and soil!" is both a slogan of the Third Reich and a phrase that points to all our conflicts over the eons. Humanity has fought and shed blood over land and religion for thousands of years. The challenge as God's people is to live into the peace with justice to which God calls us.

John 14:9-14, 25-27; Philippians 2:5-8: This sermon explores how Jesus' ministry was "doing love." He assured us that not only is it our ministry as well, but that we'd receive the Holy Spirit to help us to live into that ministry. As the Body of Christ, we are tasked with doing his work in the world, which means "doing love."