Christine Sine teaches us about where Jesus was most likely born, how the Inn we traditionally invoke probably wasn't what we consider an Inn at all. She reminds us of the Mennonite tradition of radical hospitality and encourages us into Chalking our doors as a blessing for all who enter our homes and to consider who we might be excluding from those homes and blessings. Sermon begins at minute marker 5:42 Matthew 2: 1-12 Resources Blessing, instructions and image of door chalking Image by Alexan...
Jan 07, 2024•24 min
Rita and Janet lead us through reflections for the Christmas season on angels and being angels. Sermon begins at minute marker 7:05 Mark 1.1-20 Resources Image: Photo by Julia Kadel on Unsplash Hymn: 266 Where is this Stupendous Stranger. Text: Christopher Smart Hymns and Spiritual Songs ..., 1765, alt. Music: © 1989 Joan Fyock Norris. Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-726929. All rights reserved....
Dec 31, 2023•20 min
Pastor Megan contemplates modern day child prophets and the purposefulness of God coming embodied as a lowly infant. She shares the story of young girls from our community acting on their convictions and their callings. Sermon begins at minute marker 6:12 Luke 1.5-25, 57-80 Image: by Anastasia Shuraeva on pexels Hymn: Hymn 223 - Bless’d Be the God of Israel. Text: based on Luke 1:68-79; Michael A. Perry (England), © 1973 Hope Publishing Co. Music: George J. Webb (USA), 1830; The Odeon, 1837. Per...
Dec 24, 2023•23 min
“All of the people shouted with praise to God because the foundation of God’s house had been laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and heads of families, who had seen the first house, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this house, although many others shouted loudly with joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, because the people rejoiced very loudly. The sound was heard at a great distance.” Old and young, joy and sorr...
Dec 17, 2023•20 min
Jeremiah pens some of the most beautiful words of hope to his community. But those hope-filled words are smack in the middle of horrors. Pan back even just a few verses, and one can see that Jeremiah is writing from prison, where his people are under siege by the Babylonian Empire, their towns and cities are ravaged, homes and even palaces are in rubble, and the streets are filled with corpses. sigh. What does hope even mean in the context of such devastation and sorrow in Jeremiah’s world and i...
Dec 03, 2023•25 min
When the Very Good King Josiah is informed that a long lost scroll has been found in the dusty corner of a closet, he rends his garments in mourning for himself and for his people. Despite his commitment to just labor practices, and the narrator’s assurance that he did what was right in God’s eyes, the rediscovered scroll of Deuteronomy makes clear that he and his people had been called to an even more radical life of justice-seeking. How might this story speak into our own desire to walk (toget...
Nov 26, 2023•27 min
The prophet Isaiah writes poetry: to express deep love between God and God’s beloveds, to convey heartache, to cleverly and poignantly pierce through word play, to evoke hope and catalyze action, to faithfully proclaim the truest nature of God. If poetry is good enough for Isaiah, pastor Megan suggests, it might just be good enough for us. We hear of sacred love, heartbreak, longing, and conviction from poets Jane Kenyon, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marwan Makhoul, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Lucille Clifto...
Nov 19, 2023•23 min
Tom Sine encourages us to create neighborhood empowerment projects that young generations could join in, without requiring church attendance or membership. He talks about the value of examining Pew Research profiles of generations in order to predict action areas of common interest. His challenge to us is to think about the future like city planners. Sermon begins at minute marker 3:42 Matthew 13:31-32 Resources Image: Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash Hymn: 573, Strong, Peaceful Man of Gallilee. Te...
Nov 12, 2023•15 min
Much could be said of the exaggerated and hyperbolic showmanship of this contest Elijah sets up between himself and the prophets of Baal. But step back from the spectacle, and I want to know why the people remembered this story, told it over and over, and eventually wrote it down? Might it have to do with the quiet way that Elijah calls the people to remember who (and whose) they are. “Come closer," he says. Then, in their near presence, he silently rebuilds an altar, lays 12 stones for 12 tribe...
Nov 05, 2023•22 min
Amidst political maneuvers, power grabs, conditional allegiances, threats, oppression, and terrible advice, a king is crowned and a kingdom divided. And precisely NOone comes out looking like a saint. We too live in violent and divided times, and while Mennonites haven’t traditionally recognized the big “S” Saints of other Christian traditions, following in the Way of Jesus does mean seeking to live as a good ancestor for those who will come after. On this All Hallowed Souls and Saints Sunday, w...
Oct 29, 2023•29 min
Is God a megalomaniac who needs our praise? Or do we praise God because WE need it? And what about those of us who struggle with “praise” given our religious histories? Or those of us who quite simply value being thoughtful, critical, reasonable, and intelligent creatures not prone to the frenetic religious fanaticism we might associate with “praise” of God? Even if we can find our way to a meaningful and reclaimed practice of praising God, how on earth are we meant to do this - or even consider...
Oct 22, 2023•22 min
Christine Sine explores a variety of practices to increase our experience of gratitude. In this overstimulating, stressful world gratitude is an active way to push back on the negative and highlight the positive. This service ended in a St Francis Day blessing for our animals, those that God brings into our life and we sometimes forget to regard with gratitude. Sermon begins at minute marker 6:08 2 Corinthians 9.6-15 Resources Brother David Steindl-Rast - A Good Day - A video on gratitude. https...
Oct 08, 2023•24 min
A whole bevy of women choose to creatively subvert the powers of death, risking their own lives, for the sake of choosing life. Shiprah and Puah - the midwives who bravely deliver life in defiance of the king, Jochabed - the mother and master basket-weaver who becomes a nursemaid to her own child, a sister protectrix who craftily executes a brilliant family-saving plan, a daughter of a king who says yes to the babe before her, inextricably weaving her life with those whom her empire oppresses. T...
Oct 01, 2023•24 min
Rita and Vija explore what it meant for Jacob, and for the disciples in the storm, to wrestle. How have other people struggled with their consciences, and their internal and external obstacles? How do you wrestle? Sermon begins at minute marker 8:18 Genesis 32.22-30, Luke 8.22-25 Resources Annie Dillard’s quote comes from her book Teaching a Stone to Talk Quote from Meister Eckhart: “The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God's eye are one eye, one ...
Sep 24, 2023•23 min
We have all laughed at and with Sarah for as long as we've heard the story. An 80 year old woman giving birth!?! Pastor Megan challenges us to consider laughter. What impossible things do we laugh at? An end to hunger? Reconciliation between settlers and indigenous peoples? A green and just economy? Healing for addiction? What have we laughed at that we should maybe consider a calling into impossible, great works of God? Sermon begins at minute marker 6:03 Genesis 18.1-15; 21:1-7 Image: Photo by...
Sep 17, 2023•25 min
Pastor Amy shares moments and memories of God's love and favor over the 18 years of her ministry at Seattle Mennonite. Sermon begins at 5:28 Luke 1.46-55, 4.14-22 Resources Pokemon and Christian discipleship Youth play super giant dutch blitz Image: Artwork by Amy Epp Hymn: 549, Be Thou My Vision. Irish Traditional Mary Elizabeth Byrne trans. Martin Shaw harmony. Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-726929. All rights reserved....
Sep 10, 2023•19 min
A Psalm of praise becomes a Psalm of lament as the City of Seattle cites and fines our congregation for the humans who have found refuge on our property after relentlessly being swept from public parks and lands. As our friend Rachael Weasley so poignantly sings, “How can our anger give life?” Of the many names for God, right now I need these most of all: God is Warrior Protectrix. God is shelter. God is good news for the poor. God is love. ~Pastor Megan Sermon begins at minute marker 6:02 Psalm...
Aug 06, 2023•27 min
Joy & Justice are the twin children of Jubilee. They go together like (love and marriage?) a horse and carriage… “You can’t have one without the other!” As we seek to be God’s Jubilee people for one another and the world, may we continuously form one another in the ways of joy and of justice. Sermon begins at minute marker 4:12 Psalm 146 Resources “ Ella’s Song ,” written by Bernice Johnson Reagon in honor of her mentor, Ella Baker ; performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock. “We who believe in...
Jul 30, 2023•19 min
“I implore you to exercise your power to help a friend (me!) to end this war. It matters to me.” When Sue spoke these words to a room full of Mennonites gathered to learn more about the (forgotten) Korean War near the 70 year anniversary of armistice, which paused the fighting but kept the war alive, Pastor Megan knew she’d been called in. She had been called in to bear witness to Sue’s bold truth-telling and to act in solidarity with her friend. What’s next? We will figure that out together, be...
Jul 09, 2023•27 min
Join us as Bob Pauw uses stories from Luke and Acts to illuminate stories of the people he has known in his work. He shares his heartfelt conviction that he has been blessed to walk with a living Jesus. Bob is an immigration lawyer who works with the least of these and finds it a blessing to walk with them. Sermon begins at minute marker 5:44 Luke 4:14-20; Luke 5:1-11; Luke 8:42-48; Luke 23:32-43; Acts 3:1-10 Image: Photo by ATC Comm Photo on pexels Hymn: English text © 1982, Willard F. Jabusch....
Jul 02, 2023•32 min
The early Jesus Way community held resources in common and - in that sharing - were able to meet the needs of all. The book of Acts reports that the Holy One daily added to the numbers of this early Jesus Way community “those who were being saved”. Which causes us to wonder: Saved FROM what? And saved TO or FOR what? Sermon begins at minute marker 5:21 Matthew 15.29–39, Acts 2.43–47 Resources A Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church (Year W): A Multi-Gospel Single-Year Lectionary , Wilda C. Gaf...
Jun 18, 2023•24 min
The Canaanite woman calls out Jesus for his exclusion and abusive language. He responds by changing his mind, offering her the healing that she seeks for her daughter. Throughout history, it has been the brave souls who make themselves vulnerable by calling out people in power who have changed minds and opened hearts to be more just and loving. How will we respond when we are called out? Who are the voices that need to be heard? Sermon begins at marker 4:38 Matthew 15:21–28 Resources Bernie Sand...
Jun 11, 2023•21 min
The Holy Spirit disrupts our plans, and she beautifully disrupted the sermon plan this morning! When honored guests from the Palouse tribe spoke so powerfully to us during our time of welcome and gathering, Pastor Megan knew the sermon had to shift. We heard how the Holy Spirit blesses our diversities, and grants understanding. The Holy Spirit draws us out of our comfort zones and empowers us to act a little strange. The Holy Spirit compels us to bridge gaps and transgress boundaries established...
May 28, 2023•19 min
Place-based watershed discipleship and the spiritual practice of reverence deepen our experience of kinship with all creation. Pastor Megan shares stories of learning to know mountains, learning to know neighbors and neighborhood, and learning to know our foremothers in the faith. To get more specific: she learns to love the contours of the Olympic Mountain range, the many neighbors who walk along 125th in Lake City, and the tent-making mother of teachers in Acts, Priscilla. In each of these cas...
May 22, 2023•25 min
Many of us are becoming comfortable with Mothering imagery for God - so long as that imagery is tender and comforting and caring. But what about a Mother who curses, judges and chastises. The feminine of God is as diverse and expansive as the other gendered understandings of the Divine. Deuteronomy's curse text warns the people of God that to not follow God's law will have dire consequences. We human parents know what it is to warn our children that bad choices lead to bad outcomes and we are ma...
May 14, 2023•18 min
The message of Resurrection, remembered in this Easter season, is a message of apocalyptic proportions. The Good News of the community of Love springs to life and begins to spread as Dustin begins to say goodbye. Sermon begins at minute marker 6:03 John 5:25-29; Acts 5:12–16; 2 Corinthians 4:13–15 Hymn: 478, I Come with Joy. Music: American traditional (USA), Southern Harmony, 1854, alt. Text: Brian Wren (England), 1968, rev. 1993, © 1971, rev. 1995 Hope Publishing Company Permission to podcast ...
May 09, 2023•19 min
Sarah Augustine, our Just Peace Climate Justice speaker, discusses the uses and failures of Capitalism and calls us to engage in an Indigenous cosmology that prioritizes Community Wellbeing over individuals and profit. She deftly contrasts a world view that demands continued growth and increasing consumption against the basic reality that we exist in a closed system of mutual dependence. Sarah speaks clearly about the ways we are willing to sacrifice human life, particularly Indigenous lives, in...
Apr 30, 2023•32 min
Pastor Megan inhabits the story found in John's gospel, of Mary Magdalene (Mary, THE Magdala; Mary the Tower) coming to the garden to find an empty tomb. Enter the story with her, listen for two bits of good news, and wonder where YOU are in this story... Sermon begins at minute marker 6:00 John 20.1-18 Resources “ Mary the Tower ” - a sermon by Pastor Megan, drawing on the research of Elizabeth Schrader, with much sermonic credit to Diana Butler Bass. (follow the link for those footnotes) Image...
Apr 09, 2023•26 min
John 3:16 is much loved by many & much detested by many others. This Laetare Sunday, Dustin looks beyond verse 16 to find a way to rejoice it. Sermon begins at minute marker 7:20 Song of Solomon 4.7-16; Psalm 135.1-16; 1 John 4.7-12; John 3.11-17 Resources A Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church (Year W): A Multi-Gospel Single-Year Lectionary , Wilda C. Gafney, Church Publishing Incorporated, 2021. Finding Fred Podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-finding-fred-91432380/ Baker, Elna...
Mar 19, 2023•29 min
We are still in the Garden, beginning to see movement towards the Table. What does this origin story say about gender, and culture, and danger? If we start with Jesus, what do we see about that first curse and the real danger? Join Megan as she discusses the story and the wisdom brought by rabbis through Midrash and learn about the way things are, danger, and First Tears. Sermon begins at minute marker 8:23 Genesis 3:8-21; Mark 13:14-22 Resources Photo by Kevin Toval on pexels https://www.pexels...
Mar 12, 2023•29 min
