Words I. – Black and Blue Lives Matter Introduction Baton Rouge. Falcon Heights. Dallas. By now, we’ve read the posts, and probably watched the videos, perhaps most reluctantly, as I have. Our hearts have been broken, torn open, rent asunder, and we are in pain – of sorrow, despair, anger, rage. The images come before … Continue reading Sermon: July 10, 2016 – “Peacemaking in our Time”
March 27, 2016 Kristina Spaude and Matt Alspaugh Kristina Spaude – Redemption in All Things My grandfather – my father’s father – always seemed to me a fairly gruff man, even when he was being kind and gentle. In his eulogy, my cousin described him as being like a steel-coated marshmallow. I think I would have … Continue reading Sermon: Mar 27, 2016 – “Life That Maketh All Things New”
February 28, 2016 Rev. Matt Alspaugh Words on Desire Many years ago I was involved in putting together a legal document to form a small business partnership. A lawyer prepared the papers, and after I read them, I turned to him and said, “this seems so negative — it’s all about the bad things that … Continue reading Sermon: Feb 28 – “Clinging, Craving, Grasping, Suffering”
February 21, 2016 Kristina Spaude and Matt Alspaugh Homily – Kristina I applied to graduate school for a third time in the fall of 2009. I had submitted materials to the University of Akron and was accepted. After months of discernment about what I was actually going to do with my life, including the longest … Continue reading Homilies: Feb 21 – “Longing for Wholeness: Addiction and Spirituality”
Valentine’s Day Happy Valentines Day! This is one of those holidays that we ought to pay attention to, for it has a delicious, sensual past. As with many of our favorite holidays — Christmas, Easter, Halloween — we can trace origins back at least to the Romans, where everything was different, only the date stayed … Continue reading Sermon: Feb 14 – “Sex, Death, and the Evolution of Life”
It starts with the people you love, and the subtle, unconscious messages they give you. It continues with the society you live in and the hidden aspects of this society. It continues with the things you do perhaps unconsciously, that you look back on, with embarrassment or with shame. Things you may not be able … Continue reading Homily: Jan 31, 2016 – “Racism and Other Things I’m Tired of Talking About”
Introduction Even though this is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, we are not talking about King’s work or legacy today. You can join me this afternoon, for an interfaith community worship service celebrating Martin Luther King, at Third Baptist Church. As one of few participants from a non-Christian-identified church, I have been asked to … Continue reading Sermon: Jan 17 – “Healthy Churches, Sick Churches”
January 3, 2016 Rev. Matt Alspaugh Part 1 – Ordinary Confessions Introduction The theme for this month is Resistance, a powerful theme that seems to break two ways. There’s personal resistance – refusing to change, avoiding something new, such as my perennial resistance to writing New Years Resolutions. Then there’s communal resistance, in particular for … Continue reading Sermon: Jan 3 – “Confessions of the Ordinary Kind”
Dec. 27, 2015 Matt Alspaugh Introduction Tis the season! Of returns and exchanges, for some of us. For others, lamenting the gifts we expected but did not receive. For others still, it’s the time to be thinking about regifting possibilities. There’s lots of advice out there about regifting — advice that is undoubtedly hard earned. … Continue reading Sermon: Dec 27, 2015 – “Expected and Unexpected Gifts”
Homily – Calling Back the Light Dec. 20, 2015 Matt Alspaugh Eight years ago almost to this day, I hit a particularly difficult time in my life. Without going into the details, my whole future was suddenly in question. I sank into a pit of despair, unable to talk with anyone about the situation. But … Continue reading Sermon: Dec 20, 2015 – Solstice – “Calling Back the Light”
