WORSHIP SERIES

FEBRUARY 22 - APRIL 5, 2026

Lent is a time of reflection, and there’s nothing like a pilgrimage to conjure that up. Making intentional journeys has been a ritual of humankind across time and traditions. Inspired by passages in the Judeo-Christian scriptures that talk about the journeys, roads, and pathways of life, during Lent, we will make our way together through this season. The popular and poignant movie, The Way, about a father’s pilgrimage in honor of his late son on the famed Camino de Santiago in France and Spain, accompanies us as our modern-day inspiration to live the life we’ve been given to the fullest. Join us for a beautiful Lent season along The Way.

February 22 - Ash Wednesday: "The Wandering Way"

March 1 - 1st Sunday of Lent: "The High Way"

March 8 - 2nd Sunday of Lent: "The Way Around"

March 15 - 3rd Sunday of Lent: "The Way Home"

March 22 - 4th Sunday of Lent: "The Free Way"

March 29 - 5th Sunday of Lent: "The Other Way"

April 5 - Palm Sunday: "Make Your Way"

April 12 - Easter Sunday: "They Found Him on The Way"

MARCH 9 - APRIL 20, 2025

Lent is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. This season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers. We encourage

you to notice the dichotomies that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This Lent, we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.

March 9 - 1st Sunday of Lent: "Stranger & Neighbor"

March 16 - 2nd Sunday of Lent: "Faith & Works"

March 23 - 3rd Sunday of Lent: "Rest & Growth"

March 30 - 4th Sunday of Lent: "Lost & Found"

April 6 - 5th Sunday of Lent: "Righteousness & Mercy"

April 13 - Palm Sunday: "Shouting & Silence"

April 20 - Easter Sunday: "Grief & Hope"

OCTOBER 5-26, 2025

Awe is a profound emotional response that can significantly impact our

well-being and perception of the world. Awe often arises from experiences

that transcend our usual understanding, such as viewing vast landscapes,

listening to powerful music, encountering extraordinary acts of kindness,

or feeling heightened devotion and a Divine Presence connecting us all. To

be a “Purveyor of Awe” is to be intentional about curating a life of spiritual

depth. This has implications not only for one’s own life but also as

motivation to tend to the well-being of others. Let us approach this season

with awe.

October 5 - "Outreach"

October 12 - "Church Life"

October 19 - "Education"

October 26 - "Worship & Pastoral Care"

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 21, 2025

Every Advent, we light candles, sing carols, and pray for Christ’s coming because we believe God entered a frightened world to bring good news. We hold onto hope because we believe that Christ did come—that’s the promise of the season. Our hope is not flimsy or fleeting. It’s gritty, resilient, and can endure—no matter what we fear or face. This season, let us insist on hope and trust that good news is greater than fear.

November 30 - "In the time of Herod, we long for God to break in."

December 7 - "When we're running out of hope, God is at work."

December 14 - "Even in our fear, we are called forward.

December 21 - "When you're afraid, give me your hand."

December 24 - "Good news is louder than fear."

December 28 - "Let fear fuel a fire for justice."

FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 31, 2024

Lent is often known as a time of giving something up in order to make room in our lives for spiritual pursuits. Rather than just “giving up” in Lent, the scriptures ask us to consider all that Jesus is “up to” and all that he asks us to be up to in his name. Instead of bemoaning what we can’t do, or used to do, in a culture where “measuring up” to external standards seems impossible, this Lent we will celebrate the small things that we can do right now to respond to God's call in our place, for our time. 

February 14 - Ash Wednesday: "Store Up"

February 18 - 1st Sunday of Lent: "Come Up"

February 25 - 2nd Sunday of Lent: "Take Up"

March 3 - 3rd Sunday of Lent: "Raise Up"

March 10 - 4th Sunday of Lent: "Light Up"

March 17 - 5th Sunday of Lent: "Lift Up"

March 24 - Palm Sunday: "Sit Up"

March 29 - Good Friday: "UpEnded"

March 31 - Easter Sunday: "Look Up"

DECEMBER 1-22, 2024

What happened on the journey between Nazareth and Bethlehem? The Bible offers very little detail about the 90 or so miles that Mary and Joseph had to travel on their way to be counted. We know though that Mary not only carried the knowledge of something very special, she carried a child so wonderful that even his unborn cousin lept with joy at the promise of his birth.

December 1 - It must begin with love.

December 8 - Peace is worth fighting for.

December 15 - Holding out for hope

December 22 - There'll be joy!

DECEMBER 3  - 31, 2023

Advent can be filled with worry about finding the perfect Christmas gifts. Deep down we want people in our lives to know they are special and that we love them. But sometimes we overlook the greatest gift of all… our very presence. Our spiritual ancestors were also worried — often about survival in the midst of political occupation. And the response of the scriptures is “the Holy Living One is with you.” Like a shepherd who never leaves the flock, we are held close. This season, we are invited to be the gift of presence for our loved ones, for our communities, for those who need it most.

December 3 – "The Gift of Being Present with Hope"

December 10 – "The Gift of Being Present with Peace"

December 17 – "The Gift of Being Present with Joy"

December 24 – "The Gift of Being Present with Love"

December 31 - "The Gift of Being Present with Assurance"

FEBRUARY 22 - APRIL 9, 2023 

The Christian scriptures offer many images of where love, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, and healing can REALLY be found. And it is not in the “usual” places. Isn’t it as true of us today as it was of the scriptural authors? Don’t we often look for wholeness and happiness in places that offer only temporary “good feelings” and satisfaction? Lent is a wonderfully reflective time to reassess where we are searching for meaning and purpose. We’ll move through stories of Jesus to find out who offers the “real deal.”

February 22 (Ash Wednesday) – Looking for Love

February 26 – Look for the Resister

March 5 – Look for the Helper

March 12 – Look for the Thirst-Quencher

March 19 - Look for the Shepherd

March 26 – Look for the Liberator

April 2 (Palm Sunday ) - Look for the Unexpected

April 7 (Good Friday) - Love Looks for Us

April 9 (Easter Sunday) - Love Wins

NOVEMBER 28  - DECEMBER 26, 2021

The pandemic has laid bare, and widened, economic disparity locally and globally. As we enter the Advent season,  how can our churches become houses where the Holy will be born anew–offering respite, sustenance and care, opening the doors ever wider to those seeking shelter from the onslaught of life? No one church can do it all, but each can do something. As we study the biblical prophets that call us to care for our neighbors and “make room in the inn,” the lonely and frightening spaces within us are filled with the light of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

November 28 – Making Room

December 5 – A Place at the Table

December 12 – How Much is Enough?

December 19 – A Room with a View

December 24 – The Inn

December 26 – Dwelling 

JUNE 20 - JULY 11, 2021 

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MAY 30 – JUNE 13, 2021 

As we work our way toward one of the most significant moments in our church’s history, founding pastor, Marsha J. Moors-Charles shares words of challenge and inspiration with hopes of leaving a congregation that is excited about its future. In this series she encourages us to always remember our beginning, but always look forward with great expectation as a church that lives and serves in radical love and affirmation.

May 30 – The Blessings of Stepping Into the Unknown
June 6 – Making Room for Diverse Paths to God
June 13 – Shoes to Fill – Keep it Movin’

FEBRUARY 21 – MARCH 28, 2021

Beach glass begins as something whole and yet discarded. As it is tumbled by the sea, it is broken and polished until it becomes a treasured “mineral gem.” We do not embrace that suffering is necessary or God-given, but that suffering is a part of life. When pain comes and brokenness enters our lives, Jesus reaches out to touch and remind us of the Treasure that we all are–worthy of new life in the midst of hopelessness. In a year when pandemic has wreaked havoc on our world, we begin by affirming our journey to physical health. 

February 21 – 1st Sunday of Lent: Treasure, our physical health
February 28 – 2nd Sunday of Lent: Safe Keeping, our community and economic health
March 7 – 3rd Sunday of Lent: Stories, our mental health
March 14 – 4th Sunday of Lent: Different Pictures, our intellectual health
March 21 – 5th Sunday of Lent: Restoration, environmental health
March 28 – Palm Sunday: Holy, Wholly, our integrated health

NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 24, 2020

The history of humanity is fraught with pain – especially the pain that comes accompanied by fear and leads to oppression and violence of one people against another. This is the world into with Jesus was born and through which his teachings would challenge and call for transformation. This Advent and Christmas, let us fill the night with music and light and affirm and act on the reasons why we can still “believe even when” we are discouraged.

November 29 – I Believe in the Sun: Hope for Tomorrow
December 6 – I Believe in Love: Daring Right Relationship
December 13 – I Believe in God: Ode to Joy
December 20 – I Believe in the Light: Illuminating Peace
December 24 – We Believe, Even Now

 SEPTEMBER 13 - NOVEMBER 1, 2020

The year 2020 has been exceptional in a lot of ways - most of them presenting real challenges to our faith, not only in God, but in our fellow citizens. With much of what we believed to be true about ourselves, our religious beliefs, our neighbors, and even our own family members, suddenly uprooted, and with our confidence in government at a dramatic low, now is the perfect time to turn our faces and our hearts toward things that are sure and true. In times like these, we must be intentional about finding calm.

September 13 – Be Still, I've Got It
September 20 – Something New
September 27 – Don't Worry

October 4– Bring It

October 11– Next?!

October 18– Breathe

October 25– I Wonder of Peter Could Swim

November 1– Elections

AUGUST 16 – SEPTEMBER 6, 2020

Bridges are made to span space and make connection. Sometimes the bridge provides the only safe way across dangerous terrain, a busy highway, or treacherous waters. There are a good number of lessons to be learned from the bridge. Join us as we take the journey across together and take a look at the Theology from the Bridge.

August 16 – Bridge Walking
August 23 – Bridge Talking
August 30 – Bridge Detours
September 6 – Bridge Crossing

FEBRUARY 26 – APRIL 5, 2020

The events of Christ’s Passion, which take place during the last week of Jesus’ life, often don’t receive enough time in our worship and study. These stories are important to our faith journey and our identity as followers of Jesus. And yet we often move too quickly from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday with little time to take in the dramatic story of that last week. Throughout the six weeks of Lent we will “freeze-frame” moments in Holy Week so we might put ourselves in the picture, thereby “Entering the Passion of Jesus.” How might taking a closer look at the ancient story open us to deeper conviction for our role in its ongoing message? Inspired by Amy-Jill Levine’s book by the same name. 

February 26 – Preparing the Canvas
March 1 – The Parade: Risking Reputation
March 8 – The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
March 15 – Teachings: Risking Challenge
March 22 – The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
March 26 – The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
April 5 – The Garden: Risking Temptation

DECEMBER 1 – 29, 2019

“Joy to the World,” a beloved Christmas classic, turns 300 this year. Composer Isaac Watt’s interpretation of Psalm 98 invites us to sing a “new song”–and it is a powerful cosmic performance of all creation being renewed and freed. Rather than “joy” being yet another word for “happiness,” we will discover that the depths of joy can be found especially in the midst of suffering, the work of justice, and the presence of compassion–all part of the coming of Jesus to this world and a message the world still so desperately needs.

December 1 – Prepare Him Room: Hopeful Joy
December 8 – Repeat the Sounding Joy: Loving Joy
December 15 – Make the Blessings Known: Unabashed Joy
December 22 – Make the Nations Prove: Peaceful Joy
December 24 – The Lord is Come: Incarnate Joy
December 29 – Wonders of His Love: Compassionate Joy

JULY 28 – SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

It’s said sometimes that life can be hit or miss. Sometimes we score, sometimes we don’t. And for some, the misses seem to outnumber the hits. During this series, we will examine some of the most interesting characters and lessons in the Bible and how some of those “misses” became transformative moments in the ancient community, and more importantly, how they might transform us as well.

July 28 – Mis-placed
August 4 – Mis-taken
August 11 – Mis-givings
August 18 – Mis-understanding
August 25 – Mis-fortune
September 1 – Mis-judged
September 9 – Mis-used

APRIL 28 – JUNE 9, 2019

Sometimes it’s a big moment, a tragedy, or a life-changing circumstance that causes us to question our faith. Sometimes it’s the common, everyday things that get in our way. This series will take a look at the feelings, the relationships and the forces that can get between us and our faith.

April 28 – When Religion Blocks Our Faith
May 7 – When Politics Blocks Our Faith
May 12 – When We Block Our Own Faith
May 19 – When Family & Relationships Blocks Our Faith
May 26 – When Feelings and Emotions Block Our Faith
June 2 –  What Now?
June 9 – Releasing our Faith

JANUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019

God created the heavens and the earth… and called it all good! 

We spend too much time being “driven” rather than “drawn in.” We focus on what we “should” do rather than what we feel excited and compelled to do in our lives, in this world. During this series, we will connect with our inherent creativity and nurture this foundational aspect of being human, giving us renewed energy for passionate work, delightful play, and creative problem solving to make this world a better place for all.

January 6 – Special Guest Rev. Chad Abbott
January 13 – Dream, part 1
January 20 – Dream, part 2
January 27 – Hover
February 3 – Risk
February 10 – Listen
February 17 – Re-integrate
February 24 – Resting

DECEMBER 2 – 30, 2018

This year is the 200th anniversary of the debut of “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

This hymn has become the best-loved worship moment of many Christians–even those who only come to church once a year. Something mystical occurs as we light our candles and sing the hope of “all is calm, all is bright”–peace and light for the world. This worship series will celebrate the carol’s message over the entire season of Advent and highlight its call for our lives that can guide us all year long.

December 2 – Sleep in Peace / Peace
December 9 – Glories Stream / Joy
December 16 – Redeeming Grace / Love
December 23 – Let Us Sing / Hope
December 24 – Calm and Bright
December 30 – Is Born

AUGUST 12 – SEPTEMBER 9, 2018

We can learn a lot from the rebel Jonah. We will step back a bit and observe who he is, where he was from, and how he found himself a begrudging participant in God’s plan.

August 12 – Outrunning God
August 19 – Regrouping
August 26 – When They Won’t Listen
September 2 – Disagreement with God
September 9 – Misunderstanding God’s Intentions

FEBRUARY 1 – MARCH 25, 2018

Have you ever misplaced your phone–which is on vibrate of course–and then asked someone to call it? We get really still and really quiet. Our ears perk up in all directions in order to be ready to hear that little buzz. It is a quieting down and high alert all at the same time. This Lent we will quiet things down and heighten our attention to the “still, small voice” of God and our own True Self. Listening through prayer as well as meditation on holy texts is an ancient Lenten practice. Come and rest, come and listen. 

February 18 – Finding Your Cave: Listening Spaces
February 25 – Finding Your Breath: Listening to our Bodies
March 4 – Finding a Word: Listening to the Texts
March 11 – Finding Your Power: Listening for Healing
March 18 – Finding Your Mystic: Listening Beyond the Voices
March 25 – Finding Your Purpose – Listening to Your Heart

DECEMBER 3 – 24, 2017

The angels that appear in the story of Jesus’ birth would have been very comfortable in our world of tweets and hashtags. Their messages were often short and to the point–their favorite line being #DoNotBeAfraid. As we look at the stories of these winged messengers to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds and their reactions to them, we will contemplate what messages we can offer that will counteract a culture of fear and bring #morehope, #morepeace, #morejoy, and #morelove to the world.

December 3 – Make Ready a People: #MoreHope
December 10 – Nothing is Impossible: #MorePeace
December 17 – Do Not Be Afraid: #MoreJoy
December 24 – This Will be a Sign: #MoreLove

AUGUST 13 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

Have you ever found yourself in a place of desperation? Have you found yourself calling out to God in the heat of the moment? Let’s talk about it.

August 13 – Chaos… or not?
August 20 – Changing Shoes
August 27 – Two Drunken Goat
September 3 – Tossed Away
September 10 – Taking the Heat

MARCH 5 – APRIL 9, 2017

Lent is a time of reminding ourselves who we are called to be in this world. Our Lenten series is inspired by Amos, a prophet whose message is thatGod calls us to let “justice roll down like waters.” Worship without justice is not acceptable, rather our songs must move us to action on behalf of the oppressed. Through the powerful music of Mark Miller and the remembrance of our rituals of baptism (the origins of Lent), this season will offer us reflection and renewed inspiration to let our voices be tuned to the heart of the Gospel–proclaiming God’s love for all people. What prejudices are we challenged to “give up” as a Lent practice of abstinence, and further, how are we willing to “give” of ourselves for the sake of the world? 

March 5 – Child of God: Naming Each One
March 12 – How Long: Renouncing Evil
March 19 – I Dream of a Church: Christ’s Representatives
March 26 – I Choose Love – Communities of Forgiveness
April 2 – God Has Work for Us To Do: Faithful Disciples
April 9 – The Day is Coming – We Are One

NOVEMBER 27 – DECEMBER 25, 2016

This Advent/Christmas series will take a look at how living in God’s economy of grace and justice is the antithesis of the life-threatening addiction to money, success, exclusion and looking out for ourselves. The chimes of the clock-tower bells in Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” provide a wake-up call for Ebenezer Scrooge and turn him from his resentment, fear and isolation. Just as God’s presence was born anew into this world, we too can be born anew, woken up and redeemed into renewed life, joy, passion, generosity, humility and love. 

November 27 – Bah Humbug! Making Change

December 4 – The Remembrance of Christmas Past: Hope From Heartbreak
December 11 – The Life of Christmas Present: Look Upon Me
December 18 – The Hope of Christmas Future: Death-Defying Acts
December 25 – God Bless Us-Every One! 

SEPTEMBER 4 – OCTOBER 30, 2016
Are you a risk taker? Do you walk on the edge of danger and adventure? Sometimes living on the edge means big results one way or the other. This series keeps us there with big expectations for success.

September 4 – The Edge of Possibilities
September 11 – The Edge of Indecision
September 18 – The Edge of Privilege
September 25 – The Edge of Belief
October 2 – The Edge of Intentionality
October 9 – The Edge of Despair
October 16 – The Edge of Change
October 23 – The Edge of Revelation
October 30 – The Edge of Transformation

APRIL 3 – MAY 15, 2016

The subtitle of this series could be “When in Doubt, Read the Instructions!” Jesus’ time with his disciples was short. But from the beginning he began to prepare them to continue his ministry once he was no longer with them. This Easter season we will encounter teachings of Jesus that end up coming in handy as the early church struggles and thrives… ultimately handing on the instructions to us. What will we do with them? 

April 3 – Stay, Witness
April 10 – Touch, Heal
April 17 – Beware, Don’t Worry
April 24 – Don’t Argue, Don’t Disagree
May 1 – Love, the Main Thing
May 8 – Live, Now and Forever
May 15 – Beginning the Sabbatical

JANUARY 3 – FEBRUARY 7, 2016

If Jesus had lived in our day, the risk assessment folks would surely have rejected his application for life insurance. Time and again, he put himself in positions of risk–saying things that rubbed the rulers the wrong way, eating with people not fit for good company, and putting himself in harm’s way as he rubbed elbows with the sick and unclean. It seems the message was that the reign of God requires a bit of risky business. Are we willing to take risks for love and justice? What price do we pay by playing it safe? 

January 3 – The Cat’s Out of the Bag
January 10 – Not so Nice and Neat
January 17 – Try as We Might
January 24 – Not So Untouchable
January 31 – Not Quite the Hometown Hero
February 7 – Let Your Light Shine

NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 27, 2015

Sometimes when we try to describe God, we use the word “light.” God’s presence often brings light to dark situations. This series explores and celebrates that light. Based on the song written by Pastor Marsha J. Moors-Charles.

November 29 – The Light Begins
December 6 – The Light Transforms
December 13 – The Light Sustains
December 20 – The Light Embraces
December 27 – Celebrating the Light

SEPTEMBER 6 – OCTOBER 25, 2015

If you’re a fan of musical theatre you’ll absolutely love this series! We explore some of Broadway’s most celebrated musicals, gleaning deeper meaning and profound lessons of resilience and faith.

September 6 – Rent
September 13 – Les Miserables
September 20 – Wizard of Oz
September 27 – Wicked
October 4 – A Chorus Line
October 11 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
October 18 – Lion King
October 25 – Dreamgirls

JUNE 7 – JULY 19, 2015

Sometimes our limitations seem bigger than God. Who does God love? Who does God embrace? This season invites us to open our hearts to love as God does and cherish as God cherishes.

June 7 – Bigger Than Us!
June 14 – Bigger Than Our Imagination
June 21 – Bigger Than Our Nation
June 28 – Bigger Than Our Prejudices
July 5 – Bigger Than the Church
July 12 – Bigger Than Our Pain
July 19 – Bigger Than Our Circle

FEBRUARY 22 – MARCH 29, 2015

It’s easy to sit. It’s easy to watch as everyone else makes the effort to get up, step up and raise up. The goal of this series is to encourage you to be up to something good.

February 22 – Come Up
March 1 – Start Up
March 8 – Raise Up
March 15 – Light Up
March 22 – Lift Up
March 29 – Sit Up