University Presbyterian Church Austin

What mortals see just comes around again and again and again. But what does God see? The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from 1 Samuel 16:1-13, March 22, 2020, the 4th Sunday in Lent.

Signs at our sanctuary today are part of our public witness. For the sake of our neighbors and all creation, for the sake of the Gospel. We are staying home. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from John 4:5-15, Sunday, March 15, 2020, the 3rd Sunday in Lent.

As soon as we start believing one party, one candidate, a chosen one, can give us the power we need to do good, somebody else is driving. And it’s not Jesus. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 4:1-11, Sunday, March 1, 2020, Lent I.

To a church that says to women, to LGBTQIA+, trans and gender-queer folx, I'm not sure we're ready, the gospel says: Christ is risen. Fully here. Ready or not. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Exodus 24:12-18 and Matthew 17:1-9, Sunday, February 23, 2020.

The road is long and time is short. Jesus says, I'll take the scrolls to guide us. But they can't do the work. I need you, too. YOU are the light of the world. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 5:13-20, Sunday, February 9, 2020.

We are in relationship with God for the long haul, protected from greed and easy answers. No matter what you've done before, you can join in repairing the world. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Micah 6, Sunday, February 2, 2020.

Scripture and worship offer profound witness to God's presence; we also know witnesses cloaked in flesh and blood. Let us seek to bear witness to each other. The Reverend Karen Greif preaches from Isaiah 9 1-7, January 26, 2019.

God’s children, above all, are fragile. Because we are called to allow the sadness of the world to pierce our hearts and take hold of us and it does not let us go. The Reverend Rykie Marx, Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK), preaches from Isaiah 40 and 40, Sunday, January 19, 2020.

Jesus' baptism is a story of restorations, of old hands put to new use, a story of reclamations, of redemptions, of old life made new in the waters of grace. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 3:13-17, Sunday, January 12, 2020.

Real power needs no constant reminding of its power, can kneel in the presence of the divine, can yield itself to the whims of stars. And the star stays fixed. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 2:1-12 on Epiphany Sunday, January 5, 2020.

The real Christmas miracle is that we are moved to live into Mary's prophetic words by responding to Empire—when we are met with Herod and find a way to feed the people anyway. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Matthew 2:13-23 the first Sunday of Advent, December 29, 2019.

Truth is, the Gospel smells terrible, because it happens in the real world. It starts by turning off the incense, so we can smell the real world just as it is. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 1:5-13, the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2019

John the Baptist has bad taste. He eats bad food. He dresses is bad clothing. He is not fashionable. He is not acceptable. Yet, this is where the Gospel begins. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Mark 1:1-8 the second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019.

Touch helps us remember that we are human, that we can feel warmth, that we are a part of humankind, and that we claim to be siblings in Christ. No matter what. The Reverend Krystal Leedy introduces our approach to Advent through our senses, Sunday, December 1, 2019. Text is Luke 1:24-45.

For the sake of God's people, God persistently seeks the ends of justice and righteousness, using every instrument at God's disposal. Even politics. On Reign of Christ Sunday, the Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Jeremiah 23:1-6.

People are going to lie to you, Paul says, just because they are liars. But remember, as Christians together, it takes two to lie. You don’t have to listen. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Sunday, November 17, 2019.

Our charge and benediction: This is a simple game. Love God. And love one another. On this hangs all the law and the prophets, and everything. Just make pitch. The Reverend Matt Gaventa concludes our sermon series "Rooted in Worship" preaching about the charge and benediction, from Matthew 22:34-40. Sunday, November 10, 2019

When we all join in prayer together, the temporal distinctions between past, present and future, alive on earth and alive in God, all fall away. The Reverend John Leedy preaches on the Prayers of the People, All Saints' Sunday, November 3, 2019. Ephesians 6:18; John 17:1-11, 20-24

Boldly saying what we believe only matters if we leave this place and show that belief to the world. Seminary Intern Savannah Demuynck continues our "Rooted in Worship" series with a sermon on the Affirmation of Faith, Sunday, October 27, 2019.

For many, our Sunday morning bundle is the most expensive way of getting in the door. But God is doing a new thing. Our challenge? Recognize church where it happens. Jeremiah 31:27-34. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches about announcements in our continuing sermon series "Rooted in Worship," Sunday, October 20, 2019.

In the presence of the God who created all things with joy, who moves through all things with grace, who shares in all things with abundance, we don’t really make an offering of our money. We just release it. The Reverend Matt Gaventa continues our sermon series "Rooted in Worship" preaching from 2 Corinthians 9, Sunday, October 13, 2019.

The table is at the center, but we come as guests, as strangers in between the world and the kingdom of God. God puts a meal in our hands, then we get back on the bus. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Ruth 1:1-17, continuing the sermon series "Rooted in Worship." Sunday, October 6, 2019.

When we think we don’t know how to sing, when we can’t find the words, or the tune, or the breath, or the will, Paul’s gospel word is this: the Spirit intercedes. Romans 8:26-27 The Reverend Dr. Paul Hooker and Dean Eric Wall preach on the hymn as prayer, continuing the sermon series "Rooted in Worship" Sunday, September 29, 2019.

There is powerful witness when preachers get stumped. Then, the Spirit conveys to us the unimaginable vastness of God’s power, grace,and love for the the world. The Reverend Matt Gaventa on preaching, from 1 Corinthinans 15, in our sermon series "Rooted in Worship." Sunday, September 22, 2019.

We have been carrying the Bible with us in some form for as long as we have been worshiping this God.We love this book so much that sometimes it gets in the way. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Psalm 119:33-40, Sunday, September 19, 2019. "Rooted in Worship" Sermon Series

Peace can speak to the wind and waves, can silence the noise in our hearts and mind. Once you let go of anxiety, worry, and chaos, peace has got to show up. Guest preacher the Reverend Shanea Leonard continues our "Rooted in Worship" series on Passing the Peace, Sunday, September 8, 2019.

Martha, grieving, acknowledges where where her hope is placed. Recognizing our dependence on God reminds us we are to carry hope into a world bathed in grief. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches on the Prayer of Confession. Text is John 11:17-27, Sunday, September 1, 2019.

We set aside one day in the week to proclaim this Gospel: that we are not the bricks we make. We are children of God. No matter what. The Reverend Matt Gaventa begins our sermon series "Rooted in Worship" with the Call to Worship. Text is Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Sunday, August 25, 2019.

A great cloud of witnesses reminds us that we too can endure the the extraordinary brokenness of our age. That would be the whole sermon. But then I looked up. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Sunday, August 18, 2019.

They say patience is a virtue. But maybe we all need a little impatience. A little righteous impatience. A little holy impatience. Especially now. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 12:32-40, Sunday, August 11, 2019.

When we learn about God, especially in the person of Jesus Christ, we learn what it means to be fully human. So, we teach the prayer we were taught by our God. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Luke 11:1-13, Sunday, July 28, 2019.

At Christ’s feet, we decide we will not join in that tempting competition to own the truth, but will instead strive to follow the One that *is* the Truth. Austin Seminary Intern Jeannie Corbitt preaches from Luke 10:38-42, Sunday, July 21, 2019.

When we gather to worship God, the stakes are unimaginably high, yet we blithely invoke the power and presence of the one who created all things. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Amos 7:7-17, Sunday, July 14, 2019.

It takes someone to open the door in response to the Good News. If hospitality is truly an uncompromising standard, if all are welcome, then we’d better mean it. Pastor Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 10:1-11, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

When we ordain ministers, elders, and deacons, we don't segregate the hands that bless. We pass the mantle not in the former way, but as a story for all people across all barriers that the world tries to put in God’s path. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Kings I and II, Sunday, June 30, 2019.

Divine power is transformative power. Because we were created in the image of God, by the Logos of God, that transformative power also resides within us. Parish Associate Karen Greif preaches from I Kings and Luke, Sunday, June 23, 2019.

At Pentecost, far-flung pilgrims get to be fully themselves, known, recognized, heard, at home, included fully in the wonderful frenetic cacophony of the Spirit. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Acts 2:1-21, Sunday, June 9, 2019.

It doesn't matter if we like the hymns we sing. What matters is what God is doing with our songs. God may very well be shaking the foundations of the earth. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Acts 16:16-34, the 7th Sunday of Easter, June 2, 2019.

We avoid peacemaking, fearing our neighbors and loved ones will disagree. But in shalom—the safety and wholeness of all in body, mind, and estate—God calls us to lean into conflict to reach the goal of peace. Reverend John Leedy preaches from John 14:23-29, Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Stories let us get out of our own way so the Holy Spirit can move through us and the world. It is through story that we know the life and witness of Jesus Christ. Austin Seminary Intern Savannah Demuynck preaches from Acts 11:1-18, Sunday, May 19, 2019.

For many of us, work is where we’re supposed to figure out who we are. But the good news for the over-worked, over-stressed, under-slept world is that God loves us, no matter what. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Acts 9:36-43, Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Not every sheep is here. Some are lost on the mountainside, terrified, alone. Some are in the valley of the shadow of death. And we go find them and speak words of truth and hope, so they see us as a place where resurrection can happen. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from John 21:1-19 Sunday, May 5, 2019.

Compared to the crucifixion, Easter morning is surprisingly quiet. The Easter Gospel is that in the midst of quiet, ordinary everyday things, God brings resurrection. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 24:1-1 April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday.

On Palm Sunday, the world breathes death, and instead we choose Hosannas. Don’t we know better? Like the crowd of disciples on the Jerusalem road, we do. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 19:28-40 on Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019.

Despite his skepticism and profound disaffection, Nineveh turns in part because Jonah puts one foot in front of the other and steps out anyway. And you don’t do that without some kernel of hope. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Jonah Chapter 3, the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 31, 2019.

Are we being commanded to turn around? We might want to take a break from running, sit with Elijah in the cave and refine our listening skills, so we can hear God speaking in the silence, and in whispers. The Reverend Dr. Cynthia Rigby preaches from 1 Kings 19, Sunday, March 24, 2019.

Ten short commandments, cut into the rock, chiseled against the stone, over and over. You can memorize them in about 20 minutes. But maybe it takes 40 days to carve them deep enough to last. The Reverend Matt Gaventa urges us to learn as he preaches from Exodus 24 Sunday, March 17, 2019.

The story of Noah is about trusting God, and the instructions God gives us. It’s about going on a journey we can’t control, trusting the equipment God provides. The Reverend Matt Gaventa begins our Lenten journey with Noah, the flood and the ark Sunday, March 10, 2019.

Why did God show us such power on the mountaintop? Maybe the transfiguration, the revelation that brought us into community, was not for us, but to build up others. Maybe rather than building dwelling places, it was an occasion for burning down the house. Guest preacher the Reverend Brian Ellison delivers a word of challenge Transfiguration Sunday, March 3, 2019.

The faces of our enemies are already with us. We are called to love them, do good for them, bless them, pray for them in creative ways. This is our work of the people. To love and pray and do good and bless. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Luke 6:27-38, Sunday, February 24, 2019

The Gospel of the Sermon on the Plain is that the stuff we thought was a blessing has trapped us, blinded us. Woe is us. Jesus wants us to see with new eyes. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preached from Luke 6:17-26, Sunday, February 17, 2019.