Bethel Community Sermons

Becky Wong shares about her pilgrimage to Wadi Foquin in 2018, and how her relationship with a small rural village in Palestine has inspired her commitment to solidarity and justice for all God's children.

Becky Luoh shares about her passion for making, and the joy that comes from both embodying and practicing our collective call to be creative, just like our Creator. During her sharing, she presented various creative projects from both our church maker's group and her family in the past year, including items such as a mushroom hat, a museum of insects, shibori and ice dyed pieces, handwoven baskets, paper collages, and more. How might we all find joy as we reclaim our practice of creativity? What might we all adopt a practice of creativity in our lives?

Heidi Chen shares about her passion for building with straw as a concrete expression of cultivating shalom. How does straw bale construction help us cultivate a reciprocal relationship with nature? How might it expand our imagination for what might is possible as we remember our place in the community of creation?To view slides from Heidi’s presentation, please click here.

Manny Solorzano-Lee continues our "Passions of the People" by sharing about his passion for Nicaraguan history. By interweaving his own family's journey along with the story of the Nicaraguan Revolution and Church history, he reminds us of the enduring voice of prophetic Christianity while reminding us that the past always informs how to live faithfully in the present.

Jada West kicks off our "Passions of the People" series by sharing about their work with Camp Ten Trees, a residential camp in Washington State that provides supportive and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and children from queer families. They share about what their camp experience has taught them about loving in action and how to meet people not just where they are in this moment, but in their continual evolution.For more on Camp Ten Trees, check out their website: https://camptentrees.org/

Pastor Michael concludes our "Queering Scripture" sermon series for us by reflecting on the disruptive faith of the paralyzed man and the four friends, who aren't afraid to interrupt Jesus for the things they desperately need. What houses do we need to be willing to disrupt in order to ensure that all our friends have access to the presence of Jesus? And how might we live in the truth that we are worthy to be carried by our friends in times of need?

Guest preacher, Rev. Alicia T. Crosby, preaches us from 2 Corinthians 10 by reminding us that we each are the weapons God uses to tear down strongholds and to set people free. How might we- in the diversity of our bodies and our stories- model new possibilities and usher in a world where all people can walk in the fullness of who Creator made them to be?

Guest preacher, Rev. Remi Shores, reflects on Matthew 10:32-42 and the Jesus following-movement as a queer and disruptive presence to the peace of Rome. Through tender storytelling and insightful cultural and scriptural exposition, they remind us that the Jesus following-movement was a queer and disruptive presence to the peace of Rome, and that the peace of Jesus does not always make our life more safe, but instead brings a sword.How might we faithfully choose to welcome all our queer kin- even when it's costly- knowing that to welcome them is to welcome the very presence of Jesus into our lives?

Guest preacher, Micah Melody Taberner, reflects on the story of Genesis 32:24-31 through the lens of trans identities and the power of new names. How might the wrestling experienced by trans Christians provide a model for all of us, on what it means to co-create our identities with God?

Pastor Erina kicks off our Pride Month summer series by queering the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, and affirming God's radical welcome for those who disrupt binaries and social conventions. How might we continue to hold onto the radical legacy of queer, trans, and nonbinary ancestors who sought God even when it seemed impossible?

Pastor Erina looks back at 7 years of revitalization, sharing some snapshots of God's growth and transformation, while also looking ahead at some of the vulnerabilities and opportunities our community is facing. How might the promise of the Spirit, poured out on all, guide us into a new season of co-creation and collaboration as a church?To see the slides she shared during her sermon, including photos, click HERE.

Guest Preacher Brandi Miller preaches for Pentecost Sunday, sharing about how the Spirit’s work at Pentecost points to both the ancient and the new movements of the Spirit in our midst, granting freedom, presence, and intimacy to us in the midst of our becoming. How might we heed the call to "look for the ruach" and notice the Spirit's movements all around us, as close to us as our breath?

Pastor Erina preaches for Ascension Sunday on the ways that Christ’s ascension frees us from nationalistic desires and visions. How might Christ’s ascension lead us away from allegiances to human empires, borders, and kings and toward a life as witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit?

Pastor Michael continues our Eastertide sermon by preaching from John 14 about the community of love shared in the Triune God and among creation. How might we find encouragement from the perichoretic energy of our God as we remember that Jesus does not leave us as orphans, and all are welcomed in?

Pastor Erina continues our Eastertide series by preaching from John 14 and reflecting on Jesus’ encouragement to his disciples in the midst of disorientation and departures. She challenges some common misinterpretations of John 14:2 and John 14:6 and invites us to consider how to inhabit a faith of many dwelling places, built upon expansive communion rather than boundaried containers.

Pastor Michael continues our Eastertide sermon series by preaching on the men on the road to Emmaus, focusing specifically on the experiences of their hearts burning at the telling of God's story. How might we also continue to engage the story of God and find ourselves within it? How might we experience our hearts burning in these times, especially as we cling to the hope of resurrection?

We enter into the Eastertide season by hearing community testimonies about the ways we are experiencing, practicing, and bearing witness to resurrection.

Pastor Erina preaches on Easter Sunday on the earth-shaking moment of resurrection, and all that is changed by it. How might we be called- like the women- to go and proclaim resurrection, holding both fear and joy? How might be woven into a long legacy of those who’ve proclaimed resurrection before us?To see all of the historical quotes shared in our “cord of collective witness,” check out the images here.

Pastor Michael preaches on Palm Sunday from Mark 11, on how Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem highlights the conflict between two different kinds of marches- one that embodies Divine love and desire, and the other that enacts imperial control and surveillance. As we enter into Holy Week, how might we be invited to continue walking the liberating path of Jesus?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series by preaching from Amos 8, which condemns the impulses toward multitasking on the Sabbath. How might we continue to embrace the way of Sabbath as a gift, rather than choosing the way of Pharoah which calls us to do more, be more, and produce more? How might we continue understanding the economic implications of the Sabbath, in conjunction with the spiritual ones?

Guest preacher, Rev. Lynice Pinkard preaches for us from Isaiah 56:3-8 by presenting two different ways of organizing the world: the logic of death systems which always closes doors, and the logic of God's kin-dom which always makes room. How might we join ourselves to Sabbath's call to widen the circle of belonging, as an act of resistance to Empire's impulse to shrink it?

Pastor Michael continues our Lenten series by preaching on the Sabbath as creation's expression of universal dignity- for all people as well as the land and all creatures. How might returning to the Sabbath allow us to resist exploitation as we remember the restless among us?

Guest preacher Jonathan Walton continues our Lenten series on Sabbath, by reflecting on the ways that the Sabbath frees us from anxiety and invites us into the presence and proximity of God.

Pastor Erina kicks off a new Lenten series titled "Sabbath as Resistance" by exploring God's vision for rest in Genesis 2:1-3. How might the divine actions of completing, resting, and sanctifying time guide our commitment to rhythms of rest? How might we reclaim the radical nature of Sabbath in this Lenten season?

Pastor Michael concludes our sermon series by reflecting on God’s vision of jubilee as a form of communal, sacred power cycling. He explores how jubilee is tied to return to ancestral homelands, forgiveness of debt, the release of indentured labor, and the resting of the land. How might this radical and subversive vision teach us how about the power of starting anew, in the face of failing empires?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series by reflecting on both the mystery and the abundance of community n the realm of God. How might we reclaim the revolutionary nature of friendship and "queer" our understanding of kinship, even in the face of empires that want to keep us divided and dominated?

Jazzy Johnson continues our sermon series by reflecting on the Eucharist. She explores the difference between communion and cannibalism, the mothering nature of Jesus's words- "Take and eat," and the call to continually return to the table. How might the communion table continue to nourish us to live fueled by life and not death, even in the face of Empire?

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series by reflecting on Jesus's invitation to abide with him from John 15. How might we learn to "stay for a while" in Christ's presence, even in the face of the pressures and anxieties of the world around us?

Pastor Erina kicks off a new sermon series by reflecting on the relationship between sacred texts and Empire, inviting us to consider the narratives we inhabit that either lead to oppression or liberation. How might we shift away from a posture of memorization to a posture of improvisation when it comes to Scripture, holding the "Yes-And" reality of God's revelation?

Pastor Erina preaches for Epiphanytide on Matthew 2:1-15, exploring the ways that Christ's birth reveals God's presence amidst a world of brutal tyrants and oppressive Empires. How might the Epiphany story invite us to worship a God of revelation, who is still speaking in our midst- even now? How might we continue to pay attention to that revelation, even when it comes in unexpected ways?

Pastor Michael preaches on the journey of the Magi and two questions they invite us to reflect on: "What in your life, or what in creation, is leading you into Creator’s presence? What is a lie of the Empire from which you would like to walk away?"

Pastor Erina introduces the Advent season and gives background on the book of Isaiah while facilitating a collective experience of "praying in color" using the words of Isaiah 2:1-5.NOTE: Due to the contemplative and interactive nature of our "praying in color" segment, there are long silences in the recording. Sermon recording listeners are invited and welcomed to participate on their own time.

Pastor Michael concludes our Revelation sermon series the way we started it- by returning to the call to worship as central to our life of faith and collective resistance.  How might we continue to find hope in Jesus, even in these challenging days?

Pastor Erina reflects on the letter to Laodicea and the trappings of wealth and power in our life with Jesus. How might material prosperity lead us to forsake our own spiritual poverty? How might Jesus want to free us from self-deception in order to pursue faithful and uncompromised witness?

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on Revelation by preaching on the letter to the church in Philadelphia and reflecting on the encouragement they receive for their faithfulness, even in the face of human exclusion. How might Jesus' words encourage those who have been shut out of community due to their obedience?

Guest preacher Nichola Torbett shares reflections from the letter to the church in Sardis, reminding us that where we focus our attention dictates what we move toward. How might we be called to adjust our gaze - away from the enactors of imperial violence and toward those who are being crucified by it?-----Nichola Torbett (they/she) is a white, queer, raised-working-class organizer, survivor, recovering addict, direct action trainer, teacher, abolitionist, and preacher in the radical Christian tradition. Politicized predominantly by Black- and Brown-led movement struggles of Oakland, California, they are a student of transformative justice, disability justice, and ancestral lineage healing (specializing in working with Euro-descended folks with ancestors who committed harm). Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of the Street, a training academy for love warriors, in 2009; Second Acts, a liturgical direct action affinity group, in 2014; and the Alternatives to Policing Project, organizing faith communities into abolitionist visions of community safety, in 2018. She is co-editor with Vahisha Hasan of Resipiscence: a Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy and was, for many years, a regular contributor to The Word Is Resistance, a podcast from SURJ-Faith and SURJ-Action. She has contributed to GEEZ Magazine, Liturgy That Matters from enfleshed, The Yoke, and the recent book Building Up a New World. They currently serve as associate director of Kirkridge Retreat & Study Center.

Pastor Michael continues our sermon series by looking at the letter to the church in Thyatira and both problematizing the imagery of Jezebel and also calling us to reject the shaming and labeling practices of Empire. How might we continue to hold on to the promise of Jesus, who will make things right, even in the midst of our violent and divided world?

Pastor Erina returns to our sermon series on Revelation, reflecting on the letter to the church in Pergamum and the warning it provides to us about compromised faith. How might we resist the pull towards accommodating ourselves to popular cultural practices for social and economic gain? How might we follow in Jesus' footsteps and remain steadfast in our faith?

Pastor Erina takes a break from our Revelation sermon series and concludes our All-Church Retreat by reflecting on what it means to live as a church that is planted in our purpose by living as our true selves. How might we bring glory to God and participate in God's mission by being fully who we were created to be?

In his sermon, Pastor Michael acknowledges the church in Smyrna as a model of faithful resistance to empire through loyalty to Jesus. We're invited to trust the risen Jesus who understands oppression firsthand and continues to be present in all seasons, bringing comfort and courage. How can our community say no to systems of oppression and yes to Jesus' vision of abundance? How can our holy non-compliance become acts of worship?

Pastor Erina emphasizes that even in pursuing justice and good works, the church must not abandon love as its highest calling. Love requires seeing the image of God in every person and expressing itself through simple, intentional acts and practicing generosity, vulnerability, and communion. These acts of love serve as our guide and compass, pointing us back to our humanity and reminding us of our loving Creator. Love demands intentionality, requires sacrifice, and invites vulnerability. How can we answer the call to return to love together as a community?

Pastor Michael continues our series on the book of Revelation, where John’s vision unveils Jesus as both human and divine, speaking freedom and saying, “Do not be afraid.” We’re invited to trust Christ’s presence even in our fear. Pastor Michael points to our community’s faithfulness as a witness to love and freedom in Christ. How does remembering these stories nourish us in worship? How might we notice Christ’s nearness amid fear?

Our church's Theologian-in-Residence, Barnabas Lin, kicks off our Revelation sermon series by helping frame how we might understand the form and the function of Revelation, as a book of reflective insight rather than predictive foresight. He also helps us understand the central theme of worship in Revelation and invites us to reclaim our worship as political, as we figure out what resistant worship might sound like.

Pastor Erina concludes our Passions of the People series by preaching from 1 Corinthians 12, and what it means to live as the body of Christ. She exhorts us to move out of a season of "survival mode" into a more rich and abundant expression of the whole church body, bringing our gifts to co-create the table together.

Jay Lee continues our "Passions of the People" series by sharing about his intersecting passions for early childhood and the Christian call to radical care and generosity. By sharing his own vocational and faith journey, he invites us to consider the direct call to redistribute our resources to care for those in need. For more about the non-profit he started, please check out: https://www.sharingplease.org/

Dr. Katherine Nasol shares about her passion for radical and courageous care, as both an embodiment of their lived experiences and an expression of their commitment to liberatory theologies. As we continue to live in a world that exploits and devalues care work, how might we move towards worlds of radical and courageous care that addresses both interpersonal needs as well as structural violence?

Guest speaker Ginny Prince shares about the church and disability. Interweaving personal story, Biblical vision, and political history, Ginny invites us to consider the history of ableism in the church while offering concrete invitations toward greater accessibility, welcome, and liberation for all.

Dr. Stephanie Robillard continues our sermon series and shares with us about her commitment to abolition as both a political vision and a broader set of habits, practices, and mindsets that are connected to God's vision of shalom. How might we continue to transform our heads and hearts to move toward a world without prisons and carceral systems?

David Luoh continues our summer series by sharing about his work as a Pixar sets supervisor and the beauty of human stories. He shares about storytelling as a way of growing human empathy and deepening understanding, while encouraging us to stay curious about others' stories- especially those different from our own.

Pastor Erina kicks off our summer series by sharing an exhortation from Galatians 6 to not grow weary of doing good and to keep sowing what is right and true. She also shares some updates on some of the critical work of our church in this season, and what doing good together might look like in the days to come.