The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 10:17-31 titled “Wow!" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Jesus’ call to the man to give up his wealth is not just about individual sacrifice, but about empowering others and building a more just and inclusive community. Through the lens of…

Kyle Riley, our member in discernment, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 22: 15-22, titled “Taxes and Tithing" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon emphasizes the profound connection between faith and finances, using the biblical story of paying taxes to Caesar as a starting point. It reflects on the powe…

The Rev. Nikki Stahl, guest preacher, delivers a message reflecting on 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, titled “Memorable Love" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Memory preserves the essence of relationships, both with loved ones and with Jesus. In Communion, we are asked to remember Jesus's life and teachings, especially in the …

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on James 1:17-27, titled “Give Generously" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: The nature of giving is an essential aspect of God's character and the human experience. Every generous act of giving originates from God. True religion, according to J…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 9:14-33, titled “This I Believe" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: The sermon reflects on faith as a blend of belief and doubt, highlighting the transformative power of kindness, compassion, and small acts of love in our world. Welcome t…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 22:34-46, titled “Reformed and Reforming" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Love—love for God and neighbor—stands at the core of Jesus' teachings, as described in the Gospel of Matthew. The Rev. De Leon challenges the tendency toward ce…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Genesis 33:1-11, titled “Reconciling a Misogynistic Mess" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: In this sermon, the Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon explores the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, emphasizing themes of reconciliation over judgment. He highlight…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, Robin Miller and David Manuel share a Sacred Conversation on the Occasion of Access Sunday reflecting on Mark 10:35-45, on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preach…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 23:1-12, titled “Sibling Mutuality" on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from humility and serving one another, rather than seeking titles and recognition. He invites us to see each other as siblings…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 5:27-29 titled “I Know What I Am" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon emphasizes the importance of embracing "guesthood" in faith, reflecting Jesus' role as a guest rather than a host at meals, and how this shapes Christian practice…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 22: 1-14 titled “You Can’t Wear That" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon explores the concept of authenticity in faith, emphasizing that outward appearances, like clothing, should not define one's relationship with God or others…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 18:9-14, titled “Beautiful, Broken, Beloved" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon compares the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18, emphasizing how we often see ourselves as righteous, yet fall into hypocrisy. It warns agai…

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 5:17-20, titled “Access Sunday" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon reflects on Access Sunday and the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities in church life and society. It highlights how the pandemic exacerbated isola…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 9:1-13, titled “Both/And" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon reflects on the experience of light and darkness, both physical and spiritual. It contrasts the artificial brightness of the modern world with the profound darkness exp…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on John 14:15-24, titled “Following the Imperfect Jesus" on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: This sermon challenges the idea of placing Jesus on an unreachable pedestal of moral purity, arguing that doing so lets Christians avoid the responsibility of …

Members Terry Dougherty, Meg Black, Michael Belcher, and Jess Wade deliver reflections on 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and World Communion Sunday. A brief synopsis: Reflections on World Communion Sunday highlight the importance of communion in fostering unity and belonging within the Christian community. World Com…

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Genesis 32:24-32, titled “The Bridge Which Christ Had Built" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Jacob's wrestling represents the human condition: grappling with guilt, uncertainty, fear, and the need for blessing. He emerges with a limp, a sign t…

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Psalm 19: 1-14, titled “Access Sunday - Psalm 19" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Rev. Dooley highlights how traditional narratives about healing can sometimes marginalize disabled individuals, emphasizing the importance of accessibility, incl…

Reflecting on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, we observe our 2022 Confirmation Service. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022. For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.org…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 2 Corinthians 11:16-31, titled “Paying Faithful Attention to Foolishness" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Through the story of Desmond Tutu and the young person at the rainbow fair, the message conveys how acts of kindness, even if they appear …

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 8:22-38, titled “The Value of Believing in Yourself" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Following Jesus means embracing sacrifice, servanthood, and sometimes suffering. Even when we struggle to believe in ourselves, God always believes in us.…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 18:1-8, titled “The Power of Persistent Love" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: While justice and healing don’t always follow our expectations or timelines, persistence in love and community is key. Sometimes, the process of persisting its…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Philippians 4:1-9, titled “I Fail Every Day" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: The heart of the sermon is about embracing covenantal living, being a people who come back to the table even when it’s hard. Whether it’s the divisions in the early ch…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 1 Timothy 6-19, titled “The Saving of Life Above All Else" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Rev. Dr. De Leon intertwines the teachings of the New Testament with contemporary social justice issues, particularly racism and the cumulative effect of…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 10:2-16, titled “Rephrase the Question" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Rev. Dr. De Leon brings a fresh and powerful lens to the Gospel story by emphasizing the overarching theme of inclusiveness and restorative justice. Rev. Dr. De Leon c…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Exodus 33:12-23, titled “The Innocent Longing and Meddlesome Obsessing of Moses" on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. A brief synopsis: Rev. Dr. De Leon reflects on Moses' childlike longing to understand God's ways, emphasizing that as adults, we often share this des…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Exodus 25:1-9, titled “Building the Future Together" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.orgAf pastor4x

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 21:23-32, titled “What Gives You the Right?" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2023. For more information abo…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 17: 11-19, titled “Be the One Who Gave Thanks" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022. For more information abou…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on John 8:31-38, titled “Proficiency in the Language of Jesus" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2021. For more informat…

Felipe Hinojosa, Lay Member, delivers a message reflecting on Acts 2:42-46 on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2020. For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 17:11-19, titled “Accessing the Heart of God" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2019. For more information about…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 9:30-37, titled “Salvation is a Splash of Cold Water" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2018. For more informati…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, titled “Waking Up In Between a Memory and a Dream" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2017.…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 1 Timothy 2:1-7, titled “Who Is Everyone?" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2016. For more information about our chu…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22, titled “The Great Reversal: From Assimilation to Celebration" on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally prea…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Genesis 22:1-14, titled “Laughter: Hope’s Last Weapon in the Holocaust" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.orgAf pastor4x

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 20:1-16, titled “A Faithful Response to Unfairness" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2023. For more informa…

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 10:13-16, Inclusive Bible titled “Food for the Soul" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022. For more informat…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on John 8:21-30, titled “Think Different" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2021. For more information about our chur…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 7:24-37, titled “Little Cynics and a Great God" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2020. For more information ab…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 2 Timothy 1:1-14, titled “United by Jesus' Example" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2019. For more information abo…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 8:27-38, titled “Who Do You Say that Jesus Is?" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2018. For more information ab…

The Rev. Dr. Irie Session, guest preacher, delivers a message reflecting on Philippians 2:3-11, titled “When You Just Don't Want To" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2017. For more information …

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on 1 Timothy 1:12-17, titled “It's a Bad Habit" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2016. For more information about our …

The Rev. Darryl Kistler, guest preacher, delivers a message reflecting on Mark 9:30-37, titled “Welcome to the Jungle" on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, in honor of Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon's 10th anniversary serving Friends Congregational Church (UCC)! Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's prod…

The Rev. Trent Williams, our Executive Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Luke 18:1-8, titled “Nevertheless, We Persist" on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. For more information about our church and our mission, please visit friends-ucc.orgAf pastor4x

The Rev. Brooke Dooley, our Associate Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 18:21-35, titled “The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant" on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2023. For more in…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on Matthew 5:21-26, titled “Forward Together" on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2022. For more information about our chur…

The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, our Senior Pastor, delivers a message reflecting on John 7:53 - 8:11, titled “The Aim of Liberation" on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Welcome to an archival episode, as we have recorded sermons that predate our podcast's production! Please enjoy this sermon originally preached in 2021. For more information about ou…