Sunday Teachings - Sanctuary Community Church

6/1/25 Adey deconstructs how the Bible writers describe women (and men), and she offers a compelling alternative.

5/25/25 David considers how a health unity might be achieved, a unity that embraces diversity and equity and does not engage in scapegoating.

5/18/25 Tom looks at the role revelation - seeing - plays in personal and societal transformation.

5/11/25 Adey looks to Job to gain wisdom on facing suffering + Athena Eilers reads "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.

5/4/25 David invites Jen Brown to read Wendell Berry's poem "Do Not Be Ashamed" (June, 1967) and follows it with a story where Jesus channels clarity and courage. We're invited to do likewise.

4/27/25 Tom looks at the post-resurrection stories of Jesus and the timeless feeling of peace that accompanies them.

4/20/25 Adey celebrates Easter with a look at Jesus' resurrection story and the joy that comes after mourning.

4/13/25 David wraps our Lent teaching series with a look at collective action in the New Testament and in the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956.

4/6/25 Tom reflects on Jesus' expectation of death as a model for us today.

3/30/25 Adey continues our Lent series on "Collective Soul Care" by looking at how Jesus brings us together and calls us to care for one another.

3/23/25 Tom looks at Jesus' ethic of celebration as an act of collective protest.

3/16/25 Amy Kraber continues our Collective Soul Care teaching series by looking at how God uses nature to nurture and provide for us.

3/9/25 David kicks off our Lent teaching series on "Collective Soul Care" with a story from Kings that reminds us to not overlook small acts of redemption.

3/2/25 Adey looks at the story of Jacob wrestling with God and its implications for us today.

2/23/25 Tom looks at Jesus' lack of claim to any kingship and its implications for today.

2/16/25 David looks at how Jesus avoids being used as a mascot and the implications for us today.

2/9/25 Adey leans into life-affirming spiritual practices, trusting and hoping in the God of all comfort.

2/2/25 Tom challenges the classic interpretation of Elijah slaying the prophets of Baal and the politics of retribution. The text - along with Jesus - points to an alternative way.

1/26/25 Guest Chris McMillan offers guidance on navigating these troubled times by looking at the letter to the Ephesians and the instruction to "put on the full armor of God."

1/19/25 David looks at a story where Jesus subverts the causal relationship between sin and affliction, bringing freedom from blame.

1/12/25 Adey looks at Daniel for inspiration and modeling on how to resist oppressive laws and policies.

1/5/24 Tom invites us to find our true selves as Jesus finds his true self, located in the divine.

12/22/24 Adey looks at the story of the angels' announcement to the shepherds and shares some stories that resonate.

12/15/24 Guest preacher Chris Hoklotubbe reflects on themes of finding joy in darkness in the Christmas story.

12/8/24 David reflects on the 2nd Sunday of Advent theme of peace, looking at the story of the magi bringing their gifts to Jesus. Clara Reynen also shares about re-purposing propaganda posters for new paper.

12/1/24 Tom kicks off Advent looking at the Bible story of Anna and Simeon, two elderly people who could perceive God's presence.

11/24/24 Adey reflects on the story of Jesus and Nicodemus, and the invitation to be "born again," to live in the light.

11/17/24 Tom looks at Psalm 23 as a model for finding God in these tumultuous times.

11/10/24 Post-election Sunday. Adey opens and closes with some reflections as well as room for prayer. Onyx Angus shares a poem. David leads an exercise in writing a Lament. Tom draws parallels to the book of Ecclesiastes.

11/3/24 Reflecting on Jeremiah, David names some aspects of prophetic imagination worth imitating as we consider hopes and fears related to the election.

10/27/24 Adey reflects on a healing story from the Bible and then shares reflections from a few Sanctuary members about their experiences of disability, pain, or chronic illness.

10/20/24 David looks at Jesus' response to a family squabble and how it provides a model for God's stance towards human conflict.

10/13/24 Guest preacher Chris McMillan explores the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and how it relates to our own lives today.

10/6/24 Tom looks at the transformation of Peter and how it invites us to tell our whole story.

9/29/24 Amy Kraber preaches at our all ages worship service about the parable of the mustard seed.

9/22/24 In this abbreviated message during our Hands On Faith Sunday, Adey preaches from Isaiah 58 which shows God's emphasis on justice and action rather than empty spiritual practices.

9/15/24 Adey looks at change in the Apostle Paul as a model for us today.

9/8/24 David takes up the common theme in the Bible of "singing a new song" and how that applies to us today. He shares the story of Dave Grohl from Nirvana and the Foo Fighters as a model for facing suffering, experiencing transformation, and coming on out on the other side with new songs.

9/1/24 Tom reflects on the role of music in singing at Sanctuary.

8/25/24 Adey and Tom reflect on 25 years of Sanctuary: the surprise, the joy, the laughter, and the transformation it has brought.

8/18/24 David looks at the story of the anointing of King David and how God prioritizes the heart—the rich interior of every person.

8/11/24 Tom looks at Jesus' use of parables as an entry point into an entirely different kind of existence.

8/4/24 Adey looks at the story of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane and offers a compassionate lens on the sleeping disciples.

7/28/24 David gets into that Olympic spirit and looks at the classic competition between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. Elijah wins the contest, but then he tragically becomes just like his enemies and resorts to violence.

7/21/24 Tom reflects on the good news that Jesus taught in parables.

7/14/24 After a rousing game of Simon Says, David looks at God's gift of authority. He draws two examples of good authority from the story of Jesus turning water into wine.

7/7/24 Adey considers how we might respond when someone we respect gives bad advice. She uses a compelling example from the book of Ezra.

6/30/24 In our all ages service, Sanctuary's Kids Ministry Assistant, Amy Kraber, shares her love of rocks and how it connects with God's gifts of awe and wonder.

6/23/24 David compares Ecclesiastes to Colossians to identify the difference between languishing and flourishing.

6/16/24 James Tutson reflects on how anger might be useful in liberation. He looks at one of Jesus' interactions with the religious leaders of his day.

6/9/24 Tom looks at a few of Jesus' teachings and how he always chooses compassion rather than sacrifice.