In this episode of Peace of the City , we reflect on Trinity Sunday, Pentecost, Pride Month, and Father’s Day through a sermon titled Let Us Make Space . Rev. Jason Storbakken invites us into the paradox of honoring fatherhood while challenging patriarchy, exploring the mystery of the Trinity not as rigid doctrine, but as divine friendship and relational love. Drawing from John 16:12–15, the sermon affirms a Spirit who continues to speak and a God who parents without domination. Through themes o...
Jun 16, 2025•20 min
On this Pentecost Sunday—also the second Sunday of Pride Month—Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken invites us into the fire and fullness of the Spirit. Tracing the roots of Pentecost back to Shavuot and moving through Acts 2 and the prophecy of Joel, this sermon proclaims a radically inclusive vision of church and Spirit. What does it mean that God’s Spirit is poured out on all flesh ? What does it look like when queer teens, trans prophets, and nonbinary mystics receive divine fire? And how can we be a c...
Jun 09, 2025•16 min
In this episode of Peace of the City , Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken preaches from John 14:23–29, exploring the promise of Christ’s peace: “not as the world gives.” Titled God’s Home , this sermon invites us to imagine a God who does not demand perfection but chooses to dwell with us—in love, in truth, and in peace. Jason contrasts the world’s transactional, performative peace with the liberating, abiding peace of Abba. Drawing from trauma-informed chaplaincy and nonviolent practice, he asks: What k...
May 26, 2025•15 min
In this episode of Peace of the City , we welcome Dr. Ashley Moyse, Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics, McDonald Scholar, and Director of the Columbia Character Cooperatives. Drawing from his work at Columbia’s medical school and his research at Oxford, Dr. Moyse reflects on the view from the 14th floor—where the city’s pain becomes quiet, abstract, and dangerously distant. Preaching on Revelation and the Gospel of John, he reminds us that God's dwelling is not above but among us. This is no ...
May 20, 2025•11 min
In Part 2 (of 2) of our series on John 20, we return to the locked room where Jesus appears not in triumph, but in tenderness. This Mother’s Day, we reflect on Thomas—the twin, the questioner, the one who names what so many of us carry: Unless I touch the wounds, I cannot believe. But Jesus does not shame him. Instead, Christ invites him—invites us—into the liminal space where wounds meet grace. Through Thomas’s story, and through the witness of all who mother from their own woundedness, we glim...
May 12, 2025•16 min
In this first part of a two-part message from John 20, Pastor Jason invites us to breathe deeply and draw near to the sacred. Through the lens of Scripture and spirit, we explore breath as both a physiological and theological gift—infused with divine presence from creation to resurrection. In a world often marked by fear and fragmentation, this episode reminds us that Jesus meets us behind locked doors, breathing peace and the Holy Spirit into our weary lungs. How close must we be to feel the Sp...
May 05, 2025•12 min
🎙️ Easter Sunday: Holy Disruption Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship – April 20, 2025 Christ is risen—and nothing will ever be the same. In this Easter Sunday message titled “Holy Disruption,” Rev. Dr. Jason Storbakken invites us to reflect on resurrection not as a tidy conclusion, but as a bold and unsettling beginning. We re-member the wounded body of Jesus, the brokenness of our world, and the fragility within our own faith communities. And yet, we dare to believe: resurrection begins with what ...
Apr 21, 2025•11 min
What does it mean to seek the peace of the city —not just for the city, but within it? In this short reflection from Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, one member, Eric Kanagy, shares his personal journey of faith, family, and community in New York City. He speaks candidly about the challenges of building lasting relationships in a city of 9 million, the quiet grounding found at places like Camp Deer Park and Menno House, and the unexpected gift of a child’s phrase— touching boundaries —as a metaph...
Apr 16, 2025•4 min
In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Jason Storbakken reflects on the radical act of Jesus entering Jerusalem—not on a warhorse, but on a donkey. It was a deliberate move of humility, vulnerability, and resistance without violence. Set against the backdrop of empire, crucifixion, and fear, the crowd’s cry of “Hosanna!” was not just praise—it was a plea for liberation. What does it mean to follow Jesus today through vulnerable resistance? How do we confront systems of domination—not with retaliati...
Apr 14, 2025•14 min
🎙️ Episode Title : Heroes of the Radical Reformation: Felix Manz and the Birth of Anabaptism 🎧 Guest Speaker : Jason Landsel, graphic novelist In this special episode of Peace of the City , guest speaker and graphic novelist Jason Landsel , a member of the Bruderhof community, shares a powerful presentation from his ongoing trilogy Heroes of the Radical Reformation . Speaking at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, Jason brings to life the dramatic story of Felix Manz , cofounder of the Anabaptist ...
Apr 07, 2025•27 min
🎧 Episode Title: Costly Peace Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; Matthew 5:9 Featuring the witness of Felix Manz In this sermon titled Costly Peace , we return from retreat refreshed by the Spirit and re-enter a world aching with injustice. Drawing from Paul’s call to the ministry of reconciliation, the teachings of Jesus, and the radical witness of Anabaptist martyr Felix Manz, this episode challenges us to reject cheap peace—the kind that ignores suffering—and instead embrace the hard, holy wo...
Mar 30, 2025•13 min
Danielle Williams, guest speaker at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship. Danielle joined @connect_nyc in 2021 as a community educator. In her capacity at CONNECT Faith, Danielle collaborates with New York City’s diverse faith communities to create and strengthen their response to gender and family violence. She has a passion or empowering diverse faith communities to live into their values of social justice and transforming the world. Prior to CONNECT, Danielle spent many years as an inter-faith-base...
Mar 13, 2024•17 min
A message from guest speaker, Rev. Katrina Foster, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church (Greenpoint).
Jan 04, 2024•16 min
Guest speaker, Nekeisha Alayna Alexis, intercultural coordinator at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Mark 10:17-27 (the rich young ruler)
Nov 27, 2023•25 min
A message from Paul Ryneski. https://neosoul.com/religion/queer-black-music/
Jun 12, 2023•16 min
A message from Hans Smucker, MMF member. John 20:19-31
Apr 17, 2023•9 min
A message from Laura Lacombe, Princeton Theological Seminary intern at Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship. There is a 5-minute musical interlude where participants are invited to use crayons, colored pencils, etc. to color and draw. This interlude was kept in this episode, so consider grabbing some crayons and paper before the sermons starts! The disciples came up to Jesus with the question, “Who is the greatest in the kindom of heaven?” Jesus called for a little child to come and stand among them. ...
Mar 20, 2023•16 min
Guest speaker, Sara Wolcott's message on decolonization, land acknowledgments, and deeper spiritual truths. To learn more about her work, visit: https://www.sequoiasamanvaya.com/
Mar 14, 2023•22 min
Special guest, Juan Carlos Ruiz, shares about his work and ministry among the recent wave of migrants into NYC. To learn more about his work, visit: https://goodshepherdbayridge.space/
Feb 27, 2023•19 min
A special message from Hyacinth Stevens, Bishop in Lancaster Mennonite Conference and Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee East Coast. Matthew 26:36-46; Romans 12:2
Feb 27, 2023•21 min
Edgar Hayes, guest speaker, shares about the preparing for a child, and about preparing for the Christ child. Note: the sound quality is poor on this episode due to a tech challenge. Advent 3
Dec 12, 2022•13 min
A message from special guest speaker, Sarah Augustine (Pueblo, Tewa), founder and cochair of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and the executive director of a Dispute Resolution Center in central Washington state. She is author of "The Land Is Not Empty, Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery." For more information on the Coalitionto Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, visit this link .
Nov 27, 2022•19 min
Luke 18:9-14 Min. Laura Lacombe, intern, Princeton Theological Seminary
Oct 24, 2022•15 min
Luke 16:1-13 A message from Pastor Jason Storbakken
Sep 26, 2022•14 min
Pastor Jason preaches a message rooted in Jesus' teachings from Luke 11:1-13. Jesus' teaches his disciples to persist, and particularly to persist in seeking God's Spirit.
Jul 25, 2022•13 min
Pastor Jason Storbakken shares a message from Matthew 5:43-48. "Jesus said, 'You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the ...
Jul 04, 2022•16 min
Message by Pastor Jason Storbakken 1 Kings 17-19
Jun 20, 2022•21 min
Message by Jason Storbakken Song by Mory Ortman www.manhattanmennonite.org
May 16, 2022•18 min
John 21 Message by Pastor Jason Storbakken
May 02, 2022•14 min
A reflection rooted in the Beatitudes that moves through warring in the Bible (as well as warring today, and the warring that often happens within persons and relationships). #antiviolence
Mar 07, 2022•17 min
