Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike

Some weeks feel like too much. The news. The heartbreak. The weight of it all. From senseless gun violence to growing division, many of us are wondering how to keep going, where to turn, and whether hope still has a place.This week’s episode offers space to sit with it all. To lament what’s broken. To remember the world we’re still dreaming of. To honor our anger without letting it consume us. And to cling to hope, not because it’s easy—but because it’s necessary.For anyone feeling discouraged, angry, or just plain tired—this one is for you. And please, continue to hold the victims, families and the Minneapolis community in heart and prayer in this difficult time as they reel from a mass shooting that killed 2 young kids, and injured countless others.  Peace, healing and hope be with them in this time... Show Note - See the photo referenced of woman running to the school here

This week on Sunday Sermons, we’re not sugarcoating it.From defrocked mega-church pastors to Bible-wielding culture warriors, a whole lot of Christianity is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Again.But right in the middle of that mess, we baptized two kids. And it reminded me — baptism was never meant to be a religious loophole or a spiritual status symbol. It’s not a ticket to heaven or a shield from accountability.It’s a calling.A commitment.A chance to live a life rooted in compassion, justice, and love — not fear, shame, or control.So let’s talk about what baptism really is, what it’s absolutely not, and why reclaiming it might just be part of saving the soul of the church.Tune in. Reflect. Share.  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and pass this along to someone who needs to hear it.  

What do forgiveness, humility, and a goldfish have in common?  Turns out, quite a lot.This week’s message, a throwback sermon from a few years ago, is inspired by the unlikely wisdom of Ted Lasso — a coach who reminds us that kindness matters, curiosity beats judgment, and sometimes, the holiest thing you can do is let it go.Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, this one will speak to your soul.This sermon first aired in 2023, right when the world needed a little more kindness, a little more hope, and maybe… a little more Lasso. It’s still just as relevant today.So enjoy this throwback sermon episode and please, head to either the Faith UCC Dunedin Facebook or YouTube page to see the powerful ‘Pulpit Talk’ from Faith UCC member Ellery Albrecht-Subia from this past Sunday.  You don’t want to miss this one! And please remember to share, subscribe, like and rate the podcast.  Your support is so appreciated!   

When God Meets You in the Mess, things happen – things change. Some seasons of life feel like a fight you never signed up for. You’re tired. You’re unsure when it started, and you can’t see when it will end.But what if the struggle you’re in isn’t here to break you — but to grow you?What if it’s the very place God meets you, wrestles with you, and blesses you in ways you don’t yet see?This week’s episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is rooted in one of Scripture’s most powerful stories — Jacob wrestling all night at the riverbank — and what it has to teach us about fear, transformation, and God’s relentless presence in our own dark nights of the soul.

This week’s episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike starts with a question from psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais, shared on The Rich Roll Podcast -“What are you in the process of becoming?”It’s the kind of question that stops you in your tracks — because it’s not just about goals or dreams. It’s about who we are, and who we’re becoming — both as individuals and as a spiritual community making some big decisions around going to solar energy.At Faith UCC, we’ve been on a long journey of becoming. Now we’re asking if the next step is becoming a church that leads with action — one that cares for creation not just in words, but in real, tangible ways.This episode invites reflection, imagination, and bold hope — for your own lifeand for the future we can build together.  

This week on Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike we gather around a story: A war. A man haunted by what he did. A teacher who saw his pain and said: "You can begin again."This week, we’ll talk about what it means to let go—not just of the past, but of the stories we tell ourselves: about guilt, about who we think we are, about what can or can’t change.We’ll pour the sand of our Mandala, each grain a prayer, a release, a possibility. We’ll open ourselves to starting over—not once, but as many times as it takes. We'll learn from wise teachers – '“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” – Thich Nhat Hanh“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – JesusSo if your soul needs space to breathe, if your spirit is carrying too much, tune in today. Let’s breathe together. Let go together. And start again.

You know the story - The Good Samaritan. It's one of the most well-known parables Jesus ever told—so familiar, in fact, that we sometimes forget just how shocking, radical, and disruptive it was to his first audience. And honestly? It still is. Because it calls out the hypocrisy of religion without compassion, and it redefines what it means to be a “neighbor.” It's not about proximity, or shared beliefs—it’s about action. About 'doing' love, not just feeling it. In this episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike, we’re not just revisiting the parable—we’re seeing where it’s alive today. In war zones. In flooded towns. In everyday people who stop, help, heal, and hope. And we'll ask the question Jesus asked: "Who became the neighbor?" And maybe even more importantly—are we?Thanks for tuning in. Please remember to subscribe, share and rate the podcast if you enjoyed it!

Socrates, Jesus, Thomas Jefferson, and LBJ walk into a bar...Sounds like the setup to a joke, right?But it’s not.  It’s the foundation for tomorrow’s sermon (minus the bar) about faith, politics, conscience, and power—and what happens when the church starts playing campaign manager.This week, we’re talking about the fall of the Johnson Amendment, the cracks forming in the wall between church and state, and what Socrates, Jesus, and Jefferson might say to us right now.Why did Socrates choose death over compromising his beliefs?  What did Jesus really mean when he said, “Render unto Caesar…”?  Why did Jefferson fight to build a wall between religion and government?And what does it all mean now that pastors can legally endorse political candidates from the pulpit?  Let’s get into all of this and more on Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike.... 

This isn’t your typical 4th of July sermon. This one might make you a bit angry.In a week that exposed the deep cracks in our country’s soul — from cruel immigration policies to brutal budget cuts masked as reform — we’re asking: why do we claim to be a “Christian nation” when our actions scream the opposite?This episode wrestles with the grief, anger, and betrayal many of us feel in these times, and offers a fierce reminder: faith doesn’t look away from injustice. It speaks up. It shows up. It resists.If your heart is heavy and your hope feels shaky, you’re not alone. Let’s stand in the truth together — and remember that the work still matters. The dream still lives. And the light? It’s ours to carry. Welcome to Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike. 

What happens when grief meets courage — and calls us to act?In this episode of Sunday Sermons, we’re getting real about what’s happening in our country right now — families being torn apart, faith being twisted to justify harm, and communities left grieving. You’ll hear stories that are hard but important, and we’ll talk about what it means to face the truth, feel the grief, and still choose hope. This one’s about speaking up, imagining better, and not losing sight of what really matters. Thanks for being here!

As Pride Month ends, and Pastor Mike is on vacation, well we’re revisiting a throwback sermon — set at a Pride Festival, sparked by a cardboard sign, and centered on one of the most weaponized stories in the Bible: Sodom and Gomorrah. Spoiler: it’s not about what you were told.In this episode, we unpack what Jesus actually said (or didn’t say) about homosexuality, why context matters, and how we reclaim Scripture from shame and fear. If you’ve ever questioned the “clobber verses” or carried church trauma — this one’s for you. Welcome to Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike.

This week on Sunday Sermons, we reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth—not just as a celebration, but as a confrontation with delay, denial, and the unfinished work of liberation.Inspired by Amanda Gorman’s piercing words—“the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always justice”—and the relentless spirit of Opal Lee, this sermon calls us to remember the 2.5-year silence after the Emancipation Proclamation... and what it still says about justice today.If you’ve ever wondered what faith has to do with freedom, or how we move from performative peace to real progress, this episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is for you.(Note - I am currently on vacation, so this is a throwback sermon from June 16th, 2024)

What can a 17-foot statue carved from discarded marble teach us about resilience, courage, and spiritual grit? In this episode of Sunday Serkons, we explore the story behind Michelangelo’s iconic David—not just as a masterpiece of art, but as a mirror for our own lives. With the story of David and Goliath as our backdrop, we dive into what it means to face life’s giants with steady eyes and a quiet fire.Whether you're standing before a challenge, wrestling with self-doubt, or simply trying to find your footing in a chaotic world—this episode invites you to reclaim your gaze, your courage, and your hope.Tune in, reflect, and maybe leave with a little more fire in your heart and strength in your step.

When protestors showed up with Bible verses and hate-filled signs, they picked the wrong church. In this Pride Month kickoff episode, we set the record straight on what scripture actually says — and doesn’t say — about love, identity, and inclusion. If you’ve ever been hurt by weaponized religion or wondered how to respond to spiritual bigotry, this one’s for you. Welcome to Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike!

110 years ago, one of the darkest battles in human history unfolded in the fields of Ypres. Amidst the horror of chemical warfare and overwhelming loss, something unexpected began to grow — poppies. In this Memorial Day episode, we reflect on the Second Battle of Ypres in relation to the poem In Flanders Fields, and what it means for beauty, peace, and resilience to emerge from devastation. This isn’t just a history lesson — it’s a meditation on hope, memory, and the sacred power of rising again.Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is a weekly podcast weaving together history, scripture, and the human spirit. Hosted with heart and clarity, each episode offers a soul-stirring message grounded in real events, timeless truths, and honest reflection. From ancient prophets to modern-day heroes, from quiet grief to bold hope — this is where faith meets the world we live in. Whether you're listening on a morning walk, in the car or in the middle of a long week, Sunday Sermons is here to remind you: light still breaks through. And sometimes, even the scorched earth blooms again. 

In this episode of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike, we explore the deep spiritual power of impermanence through the story of a Buddhist sand mandala created in Minneapolis—and the ancient wisdom it holds for our lives today. From the silence of the Buddha’s flower sermon to the delicate beauty of colored sand swept away, Pastor Mike reflects on what it truly means to let go, and how embracing change can bring healing, freedom, and peace.

Think Mother’s Day started with Hallmark? Think again. This week on Sunday Sermons, we go back to the real—and frankly pretty badass—origins of Mother’s Day. It started with women organizing for peace, public health, and justice… not mimosa-fueled brunches. From Mother Jarvis’s fight against infant mortality to Anna Jarvis’s epic battle *against* the holiday she started (yep), this episode is part history lesson, part reality check, and all heart. Thanks for tuning in to another epidote of Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike!

This week's Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike is a fun one as we join the 'May the Fourth Be With You' celebration and explore the power of storytelling through the lens of that famous series Star Wars. In this episode you will meet some creative advertisers, the famed Mythologist Joseph Campbell, George Lucas and hear the Magnificat from the Gospel of Luke like you never have before - it's out of this world! Stick around for some rich reflection questions after the sermon as well. Big thanks to Carolyn Wong-Stark and Michael Stark for the musical intro piece to the sermon and some very scary breathing! If you would like to see the video that music comes from, or the entire service, it is well worth the visit to the FaithUCCDunedin FaceBook or YouTube pages to view. And finally don't forget - it's Conclave week! We'll no doubt talk about that next week. Thanks for listening to Sunday Sermons!

Today's episode is a tribute to Pope Francis as a practitioner of THE best of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We will explore that night he was announced with those famous words "Habemus Papam," the history behind the name Francis and what it meant that he chose to be the first Pope in history to name himself after the gentle St. Francis from the 12th century. Today's episode also includes a bonus segment about the upcoming Conclave to select the next Pope - a fascinating process! We have a little fun with it in this episode. Note: towards the end of the sermon, I refer to two photos - one of Pope Francis washing the feet of 10 men and 2 women on Maundy Thursday in 2013 and a photo of Pope Francis embracing a man named Vinicio Riva. Both of these images can be easily found online with a simple search. I hope you enjoy today's Sunday Sermon with Pastor Mike!

In today's episode of Sunday Sermons, recorded on Easter Sunday, live at Faith United Church of Christ, in Dunedin, FL, we will be discussing whether Easter is holy or hokey. Hokey means 'phony' and it sure seems in this day and age that a lot of Christianity falls into that camp, with beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus being more important than living a life based on his words. Well, bring on Matthew 25 - The Sheep and The Goats - and let us explore what this ancient parable has to say about that through the lens of Easter beliefs and one of the greatest sermons of all time preached in 1984 by Pastor Tony Campolo. Stick around for a few reflection questions following the sermon and ponder how this message touches your life or your faith. Thanks for being here - your presence and listening ear is appreciated!

Our Sunday Sermon this week focuses on Palm Sunday, the gateway to Holy Week, and as Pastor Mike will contend, is THE most important day of the Christian year. Find out why in today's sermon as we explore the incredible courage of Jesus in challenging the evils of his day - and how we can draw that same courage to tackle the issues in our own.

Today on Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike we explore the power of community to be a source of hope in these hard times. According to author and teacher Margaret Wheatley: "There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." We will delve into that kind of community today. We will also compare the eerily familiar times we find ourselves living through with that of the Prophet Amos, who spoke those beautiful words about letting 'justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' And in the end we will search for hope... something we desperately need right now.

This week's episode of Sunday Sermons w/Pastor Mike is a theologically progressive examination of the question - given the current political and theological form of Christianity today - can I (can you) continue to call yourself a Christian? Christianity has always been an obviously historically constructed paradigm, flittered down to us today through centuries of interpretation and cultural nuances. No where is this more obvious than the Nicene Creed, that statement of absolute faith many of us grew up repeating weekly and often without any critical thinking. But does any of this work in this modern day and age? And given the "Christian" climate today, is that title something you still hold to? I give my answer today on Sunday Sermons.

Check out the sermon preached by Pastor Mike on Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 on the theme of The Journey. We all have them - in good times and not-so-good times as they ebb and flow and change throughout the seasons of our lives. Based on the scripture text from Luke of Jesus in the Wilderness, we will explore our own journeys and where we find ourselves in life right now. Are you on the mountaintop? Or are you in the wilderness? Or maybe a little bit of both... Explore the journey today with this Sunday Sermon.

These days are hard. if you are not the four-letter kind of person that starts with M and ends with A, well life feels really hard right now. A word I hear a lot from people is despair. But despair is intolerant of hope. Therefore we cannot despair, but must choose hope, joy and peace in our lives. Taking a cue from the Apostle Paul, this sermon calls us to recognize the realities of life, but to avoid falling into despair and instead striving to continue to build exactly the kind of world we want - one of inclusion, welcome, love, peace and joy.This episode was preached on March 2nd - but has been re-recorded, along with several reflection questions added at the end. Enjoy and check back weekly for more Sunday Sermons with Pastor Mike.