SUNDAY SERMONS

AUDIO

Words For The Beginning:
Rejoice In God | Emily Wright

What does joy look like? Is it a baby that smiles at their parent. Or maybe the face of a football fan when their team wins a big game. Or does joy look like a couple who shares a dance after 40 years of marriage? When Mary really “gets” that she is going to give birth to the Savior of the World, she literally leaps with joy. Come and join us this Sunday if you want to experience this joy of the Lord.

Words For The Beginning: We Can’t Go Alone | Stacy Ikard

Advent reminds us that we are created for community; created for life together and life with God. Learn from the story of Ruth and Mary the true meaning of Emmanuel.

Words From the Beginning:
You Are a Blessing | Emily Wright

Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. This year our Advent sermons and worship will emphasize the words we need to hear again and again as we begin new seasons. Join us to be reminded of the truths that always carry us into God’s future. May these words of belovedness and hope help us to begin again in the love of God.

Rooted and Reaching: Care and Compassion
Stephen Finkel

Scripture tells and shows us time and time again that God’s compassion for humanity is central to God’s heart. But how does God’s compassion look? How does it stand apart from kindness and other fruits of the Spirit? In Stephen's sermon we explore this topic through the story of Jeremiah.

Rooted And Reaching | Emily Wright

Five years ago, Pastor Emily attended a gala in Austin, where a stranger recognized WHPC as "mission-focused," sparking both pride and reflection. Rooted in service, worship, education, and love, WHPC has a legacy of outreach, from supporting refugee families to providing a safe haven for those in need. Drawing from the parable of the mustard seed, the church is called to continue reaching out, offering rest and new life to a divided world. As WHPC celebrates 150 years, its community is encouraged to remain “Rooted and Reaching” in Christ, sustaining its mission to serve and transform lives.

Stay at the Table: At the Table of Goodness and Mercy (All Saints) | Stacy Ikard

Join us for meaningful remembrance worship as we celebrate our loved ones and church members who have died and now live eternally with Christ.

Stay at the Table: At the Table with the Pharisees
Emily Wright

This week, our text tells the story from Luke of Jesus as a guest in an unnamed Pharisee’s home. Despite the stir Jesus created, he still got invited over for dinner! What Jesus received was anything but a welcome. Who are we in this story? Come and put yourself at the table.

Stay at the Table: At the Table with the Syrophoenician Woman | Emily Wright

If you could choose one person to NOT be at your table for dinner, who would it be? Our story this week is one where Jesus finds himself with an unlikely dinner guest. Jesus’ first response reveals his full humanity as he speaks an insult to this person. But Jesus’ second response reveals his full divinity as he offers grace and healing without measure. Let’s dive in together.

Stay At the Table: At the Table With Sinners
Emily Wright

Have you been cheering for your football team this fall? Are there certain fans you just cannot stand? Americans are passionate about football and sometimes this causes divisions, arguments, and boos from the crowds on and off the fields. These battles are a small indicator of our greater cultural tension around difference. In this sermon we all are challenged to "Stay at the Table" to lean in to our differences and find how we can be one in Christ.

World Communion Sunday
Bound By Bread: One in Christ | Kevin Ireland

At our Lord’s table we are united in Christ and with each other. This Sunday we kick-off a timely sermon series, “Stay at the Table.” Join with Christian siblings around the world as we celebrate our oneness on World Communion Sunday.

Wrestling With God: Jacob | Emily Wright

Wrestling With God: Jonah | Emily Wright

Jonah is famous for the story about a person who gets swallowed by a whale. But there is so much more to this tiny little four-chapter book. Jonah wrestles with God from start to finish. In this sermon we are going to peek in to the final chapter and see where this wrestling match leaves Jonah and also, where it often leaves us.

Wrestling With God: Paul | Emily Wright

"I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind." This is the Apostle Paul speaking about his wrestling between living for the flesh or living for the spirit. These are the hidden wrestling matches within our minds and hearts. Join us as we wrestle together and discover what sets us free from this battle.

Wrestling With God: Job | Emily Wright

The story of Job painstakingly models for us what wrestling with God is like. It also provides a heartbreaking example of how our great God is approachable, no matter our questioning, anger, confusion and doubts. Join us just as you are, bringing all that you wrestle with, before a loving and present God.

Sinners' Dinner: Levi's Party For Jesus
Kevin Ireland & Stacy Ikard

Faith Builders: The Building Block of Belonging
Emily Wright

Pastor Emily's sermon "The Building Block of Belonging" emphasizes the importance of belonging within the church community, noting that while not everyone may feel they belong, Jesus prayed for unity among believers. She highlights that each person is uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to contribute to the church through gifts, services, and activities, which are essential for fostering a sense of belonging. Pastor Emily encourages the congregation to reflect on their role within the church and to help others discover their place in the body of Christ.

Faith Builders: The Building Block of SERVICE
Emily Wright

“I am called to work in God’s kingdom, and I am equipped to do that work.” Following Jesus means serving. In this sermon, we get to peek into a conversation between a mom, her two sons, and her desire to make them the greatest children ever. No surprise, Jesus shares with her a unique way for them to be the greatest.

Faith Builders: The Building Block of KNOWING
STACY IKARD

Faith is built through lifelong learning. There is always more to learn about God, scripture and our place in God’s story. In Stacy's sermon we will watch Phillip in the book of Acts guide an Ethiopian man to knowledge of salvation in Christ.

Faith Builders: The Building Block of Hope
Emily Wright

We often give lip service to the phrase “God is always with you.” There are many times when it does not feel like God is close. If God was close, wouldn’t it feel/look/seem not as hopeless? Today we come alongside two disciples, one named Cleopas, as they walk with sad hearts soon after the crucifixion. For them, hope had died. Discover how this was the farthest thing from the truth for them, and how we have hope as a promise from Jesus.

Voices From the Wilderness: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Emily Wright

Grace is easy to preach about. Unless we add certain adjectives to the front. “Cheap” grace is when we take the price at which grace came for granted. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a 20th-century theologian who understood the cost of grace. In this sermon, Pastor Emily leads us as we explore the cost of discipleship for us today.

Voices From the Wilderness: When Did We See You? Rachel Finken

APTS intern Rachel Finken uses the teachings of Gustavo Gutierrez, Peruvian priest and theologian, to study Jesus’s story of the goats and the sheep and how it challenges us to a new vision of Christ’s love at work in the world.

Voices From the Wilderness: God’s People Everywhere Stephen Finkel

William Seymour had a way of going about “Church" that was completely unique in his time. In the early 1900s, the very segregated church kept to themselves. Through his understanding of the Holy Spirit, William created a church movement that still lives on to this day. What was his understanding? That the church dwells in the people of Christ and not in buildings. In Pastor Stephen's sermon we dive into the idea of an embodied church, living faithfully as God’s church in our day-to-day lives.

Voices From the Wilderness: Desert Mothers and Fathers | Emily Wright

Whether fleeing persecution or prosecution, thousands of people fled to the deserts of Egypt in the 3th through 5th centuries to seek something bigger, maybe smaller, maybe safer, or maybe riskier. People heard of the “word from God” that the monks were sharing with those who came, and so they went, desperate for guidance, respite, and wisdom. It was the ancient desert mothers and fathers they went to hear from. In Pastor Emily's sermon we hear from them as well.

Voices From the Wilderness: Going Home -
Gregory of Nyssa | Kevin Ireland

Pastor Kevin delves into the profound teachings of Gregory of Nyssa on eternal life. Discover how the ancient wisdom of our revered Church Fathers (and Mothers) can illuminate our modern spiritual journey as we explore Gregory and his sister Macrina’s insights on the soul’s endless pursuit of divine love and the transformative power of faith.

Voices From the Wilderness: Sojourner Truth

In this sermon we will listen for the voice of an illiterate itinerant preacher named Sojourner Truth. Truth was born in 1797, married and birthed 5 children all while a slave. We will learn of her amazing and courageous life and how she was able to put on the clothes of Christ speaking truth in love.

Voices From the Wilderness: On the Threshold of Everything (St. Francis)

Threshold moments are holy moments when God calls us to decide – when we are summoned toward sacrifice and compassion.  God is always calling us into the great adventure of deeper faith

Voices From the Wilderness: Rodger Nishioka

Young people are a vital part of our church family, but are their voices being heard? This week, we explore how to create a space where children and young adults feel welcome to participate in worship. Jesus himself said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them." Emily Wright highlights Rodger Nishioka in this week's installment of Voices of the Wilderness.

Voices From the Wilderness: Evelyn Underhill
PASTOR EMILY WRIGHT

This summer, we're exploring inspiring voices who found faith in challenging times. Our first spotlight is Evelyn Underhill, a scholar who urged Christians to integrate faith into everyday life. Just like the Athenians who worshipped "unknown gods," we often separate our spiritual and practical lives. But the truth is, God is already present in everything we do. So let's embrace faith in all aspects of our lives!

The Story of Amazing Grace | Emily Wright

It is the most well-known and beloved hymn of all time, Amazing Grace, written in 1777 by John Newton. The story behind the song is truly one of amazing grace being found. Let us worship our God of Amazing Grace.

Speed Bumps: Don't Worry | Stephen Finkel

Change is an inevitable part of the Christian life, and as a resurrected people, we are continually being transformed in and through Christ. Stephen encourages us to rejoice in the Lord, pray with humility, and trust in God's unchanging nature, even in the midst of uncertainty and transition. For the graduating students, Stephen reminds them that the gifts and relationships God has given them are meant to be used to bring healing, hope, and peace to the world. The church community is rooting for them, praying for them, and sending them with the peace of Christ, which they claim and know through their weekly worship of God.

The Speed Bump to Embrace | Stacy Ikard

Don't fear getting older! Growing older is a gift from God! Challenges like loss build character and compassion. You gain wisdom and time to grow closer to God. Embrace your age and share the love of Christ with the world. Stacy preaches "The Speed Bump To Embrace".

Speed Bumps: The Rocky Road of Relationships
Emily Wright

Whether it is bumps in a marriage or a friendship, all relationships go through rocky roads. Our Bible is filled with more stories of rocky roads than smooth ones! But scripture also has such incredible wisdom for how we can face this speed bump with faith. In this sermon we will explore what type of clothes we need to put on each day as we pursue godly relationships.

Speed Bumps: What's the Plan? | KEVIN IRELAND

Join Pastor Kevin as he shares a heartfelt sermon on navigating life's challenges and discovering God's plan amidst uncertainty. Drawing from personal experiences and scripture, Pastor Kevin offers hope and encouragement for those facing career transitions, failures, and moments of doubt. If you're seeking guidance and reassurance in life's journey, don't miss this inspiring message of faith and resilience. Watch now for a message of hope and encouragement.

Speed Bumps: When the Road Ends | Emily Wright

Feeling lost after losing a loved one? You're not alone. Loss can feel overwhelming and like the end of the road. The story of Naomi and Ruth from the Book of Ruth are an example. Naomi experiences deep grief after losing her husband and sons. Despite Naomi's despair, her daughter-in-law Ruth chooses to stay with her. Ruth's loyalty and companionship are a source of comfort for Naomi. Be a "Ruth" for someone grieving & let our church family be your "Ruth" too.

Speed Bumps: Health and Humanity | Emily Wright

Life's hardships, like health struggles, are seen as "speed bumps" that slow us down. The story of Jesus healing the blind man shows that God can use difficulties to reveal himself to us. Even a simple "Lord, I believe" is enough faith, because Jesus sees and accepts us no matter what.

Sent To Share | Ezequiel Herrera

EasteR - God Is Doing a New Thing

Just like the incredible transformation of a caterpillar, God brings new beginnings even in our darkest times. The women finding the empty tomb and the disciples' disbelief is an example. Even though all evidence pointed towards death, Jesus was resurrected. We also focus on Peter who, despite not fully understanding, still gets up and runs to the tomb. Just like Peter, we can hold onto hope and believe that God can bring new beginnings in our lives.

6Th Sunday of Lent -
Wandering Heart: LAY YOUR CLOAK DOWN

Pastor Emily's sermon on Palm Sunday offers a unique perspective, presenting a first-person narrative from the apostle Peter, vividly recounting his experiences with Jesus. Peter reflects on the complexity of life's priorities, contrasting his initial certainty with newfound understanding. Through Peter's reminiscences, congregants are transported to pivotal moments, such as Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and wealth. As Peter describes the symbolic act of laying down cloaks for Jesus, the sermon culminates in a powerful message about true worship and the sacrificial surrender of worldly status.

5th Sunday of Lent -
Wandering Heart: TEACH ME

4th Sunday of Lent -
Wandering Heart: I’m FIXED UPON IT

We all live hectic lives weighed down by worldly concerns. Jesus tells Peter to put aside earthly things and set himself upon divine things. That was hard for Peter and it’s no easier for us. In the fourth week of our Wandering Heart Lenten series, Pastor Kevin encourages us to let down that which we do not need to carry and to cling to the heavenly truths - that we are loved and claimed by God regardless of our success or failure.

3RD Sunday of Lent -
Wandering Heart: Praise the Mount

Pastor Emily's sermon focuses on the importance of questioning and understanding one's faith in stable times, not just during crises. She begins by reflecting on the 96th Academy Awards and a powerful short film called "The After," emphasizing the profound impact of personal experiences. The sermon delves into Matthew 16:13-20, where Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Pastor Emily highlights Jesus teaching the disciples to own their faith and make it personal. She encourages the congregation to consider their own experiences of Jesus and boldly affirm their beliefs, drawing on a section from the PCUSA's statement of faith. Ultimately, she emphasizes the significance of sharing one's faith stories for greater understanding, tolerance, and appreciation of differences.

2ND Sunday of Lent -
Wandering Heart: RESCUE ME FROM DANGER

Pastor Emily Wright begins by highlighting the widespread influence of a young YouTuber, Mr. Beast, who tests various products, including one that claims to make items waterproof. Drawing a parallel to the iconic biblical story of Jesus walking on water, Pastor Emily emphasizes a crucial but often overlooked detail: Jesus approached the disciples in the midst of a storm. Exploring the narrative where Peter walks on water towards Jesus but begins to sink due to fear, she underscores that faith is not a simplistic binary of belief or unbelief, certainty or doubt. Instead, she encourages the congregation to understand that even in life's storms, Jesus walks towards us, offering hope, and our faith journey is not defined by the absence of challenges. The sermon concludes with the reassurance that, despite doubts, Jesus is ever-present, reaching out to lift us up in the storm.

1st Sunday of Lent - Wandering Heart: Jesus Sought Me

In this sermon delivered by Pastor Stephen Finkel, we embark on the Lenten journey focusing on the life and faith of the apostle Peter, one of Jesus' most prominent disciples. The sermon explores Peter's wavering yet steadfast pursuit of God, drawing parallels between his experiences and the challenges faced by believers today. The scripture reading from Luke 5:1-11 recounts the moment when Jesus calls Peter to follow him, demonstrating that Jesus seeks out individuals right where they are, regardless of imperfections. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus calls imperfect people and invites them to take faithful steps in their journey of faith. Through a personal anecdote, Pastor Stephen shares his own experience of being sought out by someone who demonstrated the love of Jesus, highlighting the transformative power of such encounters. We are encouraged to remember moments when Jesus sought them out and to extend the same love to others, embracing imperfection as God's chosen and called. The sermon concludes with a call to love people with the love of God, meeting them right where they are.

New Year, New Way to Live: New STRENGTH

Pastor Emily's sermon explores the pursuit of strength, both physical and spiritual, drawing parallels between gaining muscle strength through creatine, weight lifting, and a high-protein diet and cultivating emotional strength through resilience, patience, and endurance. It introduces Ephesians 6, highlighting the call to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand against spiritual forces of evil. She reflects on the symbolic armor described in Ephesians, drawing comparisons with Isaiah's context. The need for a different kind of strength against cosmic evil is emphasized, transcending the limitations of flesh and blood. She challenges the notion of seeking strength from tangible sources and urges the church to embrace spiritual armor for collective strength against evil. It introduces the idea of praying in the spirit as a secret weapon and calls for communal prayer, particularly focusing on those battling mental illness. The conclusion summarizes Ephesians' guidance for a new life in Christ, emphasizing new strength built in community and sustained by the Spirit.

New Year, New Way to Live: New WISDOM

In Ephesians 5:15-21, the focus is on making wise choices in the coming year. The passage advises readers to be intentional in their lives, paying attention to how they live and making the most of their time. The importance of being filled with the Spirit is emphasized, contrasting it with the potential pitfalls of excessive drinking. The call to be careful and filled with the Spirit is portrayed as not solely personal but also as a communal endeavor, reflecting the interconnected nature of the Christian community. The concept of mutual submission, a revolutionary idea in the 1st-century context, is introduced as an essential element in relationships within the community. This mutual submission is framed not as an obligation to others but as an act of reverence for Christ, emphasizing the overarching theme that wise living is deeply connected to imitating Christ's love and sacrifice. The three key directives for living wisely are summarized as being careful, filled with the Spirit, and subject to one another, with the reminder that who we are should align with how we live.

New Year, New Way to Live: New RULES

Join us on a transformative journey through the words of the Apostle Paul in this insightful sermon, "New Rules for Living: Words, Wisdom, and Unity in Christ." 

In the fourth week of our focus on the letter to the Ephesians, Pastor Kevin explores Paul's guidance to the church as they navigate the challenges of their new life in Christ. As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard – to be imitators of God, loving as Christ loved us.

As we unpack Ephesians, we encounter Paul's practical and relevant instructions for living as a united body in Christ. The sermon addresses the power of our words and the impact they have on our relationships, identity, and even our health. Scientific insights and personal anecdotes blend seamlessly to reinforce the truth that positive words inspire action and transformation.

The sermon doesn't shy away from the reality of disagreements within the Church. Acknowledging the challenges of expressing differing opinions, the speaker shares a profound realization about the potential limitations of Thumper's Rule. The importance of courageous conversations, active listening, and empathizing with one another is emphasized, drawing parallels with the session's engagement with Preferred Path facilitator Kerry Pollard.

The message concludes with a powerful prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our words, that they may be instruments of inspiration, healing, and comfort. Ultimately, the sermon encourages us to strive for unity in the Spirit, imitating God in humility, gentleness, and love.

Don't miss this thought-provoking sermon that challenges us to live out our new identity in Christ with grace, compassion, and unity.

New Year, New Way to Live: New Love

In Ephesians 3, the author, the apostle Paul, writes a letter to a community of Christians in Ephesus. Unlike individual-focused letters, this addresses a group navigating their faith in a culture challenging traditional norms. The passage, Ephesians 3:14-21, presents Paul's prayer for the community, emphasizing strength through the Spirit, being rooted in love, and experiencing the fullness of God. Drawing on the metaphor of building projects in Ephesus, Paul connects their daily lives to their faith, stressing the importance of a strong foundation in the church. The prayer reflects Paul's understanding of the audience's context and encourages them to be rooted well, like plants thriving in rocky soil, by making space for the roots of love to grow. The overarching message is the significance of Christian community, emphasizing relationships and mutual support as the foundation for a fulfilled and abundant life in Christ.

New Year, New Way To Live: New Peace

In Pastor Emily Wright's sermon on Ephesians 2, she explores the concept of "frenemies" and applies it to the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the Ephesian church. Drawing parallels between historical events and the Ephesian context, she emphasizes the need for finding common ground among Christians, especially when faced with differences in beliefs and practices. The sermon highlights Paul's message in Ephesians 2, where he addresses the division between circumcised Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles. Pastor Emily underscores the importance of Christ's sacrifice in breaking down the walls of judgment and exclusion, emphasizing the transformative power of peace. She challenges Christians to let go of bitterness and anger, promoting unity for the common good, even with those who may hold different views within the Christian community. The sermon concludes with a powerful personal story that illustrates the impact of shared humanity and empathy among diverse individuals.

New Year, New Way To Live

Christmas Eve - How Does a Weary World Rejoice?
We Make Room

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Last week, Pastor Stacy prompted the congregation to create an advent playlist based on songs representing the circumstances of their lives. This week's theme focused on assigning songs to members of the staff. For example, Brian, the organist, received "Under Pressure" due to his busy schedule, and Pastor Stephen battling allergies got "I Want To Break Free." The sermon then transitions to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her theme song, the Magnificat. The passage is read, and the congregation is encouraged to imagine Mary singing, not with extreme emotions but in the middle of excitement and weariness. Mary's song emphasizes trusting in God as the active and alive Savior, recounting past deeds and holding onto God's promises for the future. The congregation is urged to sing of God's saving love that is always at work, remembering past blessings and trusting in God's promises, concluding with a call to rejoice in the Lord's day.