​Associate Pastor Rev. Dr. Eileen Altman preached about Zechariah’s questioning of the angel Gabriel and subsequent nine months of contemplative silence during Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist, followed by his beautiful Benedictus prophecy when the baby was born and he confirmed Elizabeth’s decision to name the child John. “We’re called to show others the way and nurture the next generation,” Pastor Eileen said. “Not just to be successful or comfortable, but to be a prophetic voice to lead then to the way of peace.”

Pastor Dave preached about the Laborers in the Vineyard, noting “When we focus on ourselves and what we get, it’s really hard to be grateful.

Gratitude comes when we try to lift each other up”

​Whatever you have to offer, however small, however meager, matters. We give until it matters to us, and to the world. Whoever you overlook, whoever you undervalue, whoever you look down on, God sees and celebrates their value and what they have to offer.

​Pastor Dave preached on Ezekiel 37, “the story of “The Valley of Dry Bones”. The gospel’s message is to look death in the eye and say “you have no power over me”. New life is always possible. The darkest most hopeless place is a place where God still has power and possibility and hope.

Pastor Dave’s sermon challenged congregants to consider the benefits of what money can do, the challenges of what money keeps us from doing, and the drawbacks of what money does to us.

“Money makes it hard to be a good person, to be close to God. You can’t serve two masters — God and money. Money makes us think we’re better than others or makes those who have less feel less than. Turn money into a sacrament; every time you think about money, try also to think about God.”​