God’s Acre on the Go

In Matthew 26:36–46, Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane as the weight of betrayal, violence, and uncertainty closes in. Rather than clinging to certainty or escaping fear, Jesus prays a prayer of surrender: “Not my will, but yours be done.” This message reflects on Gethsemane—whose name means “olive press”—as a place where pressure reveals what is most precious. Drawing on Proverbs 3:5–6, we are invited to trust God beyond our o...

In Luke 10:25–37, Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question about eternal life by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that challenges how we define “neighbor.” This message explores the fences we build to protect ourselves and how those same boundaries can limit our compassion, growth, and joy. Through personal reflection and Jesus’ own example of crossing cultural and social lines, we’re reminded that faith is lived beyo...

What are you doing with your “one wild and precious life”? This week’s message draws inspiration from Mary Oliver’s famous question and Jesus’ parable in Luke 6:46–49. Jesus warns that listening alone isn’t enough—only when we act on his words do we build lives with solid foundations. The sermon challenges us to move beyond performative faith into real obedience. It reflects on justice, compassion, and action as essential to Christ...

The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is often remembered for its violence and tragedy—the first act of fratricide, a chilling question of moral evasion, and divine judgment. But this week’s sermon invites us to look deeper: What if this awful story also lays the groundwork for a better one?

Through this message, we explore how Jesus responds to Cain’s ancient question—“Am I my brother’s keeper?”—by teaching us to love our neighb...

This special Epiphany episode explores what it means to find God’s light in the midst of life’s darkness. Rev. Chapin Garner begins with the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1–12, who follow a star during a dark and dangerous time—“in the time of King Herod.” Their journey is a model for anyone searching for light in uncertain seasons.

We’re then joined by guest speaker Ashley Tedford, who shares her inspiring testimony of losing h...

Every year, Jesus' family went to Jerusalem for Passover. Every year.

That repeated phrase in Luke 2:41–52 sets the tone for this story—not one of crisis, but of rhythm and trust. But amid that faithful rhythm, something unexpected happens: Jesus stays behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph, believing him to be safe among the caravan, realize he is missing. After three days of searching, they find him—not afraid, not lost, but sitti...

In this moving Christmas Eve sermon, Rev. Chapin Garner explores the often-overlooked line in Luke’s nativity: “There was no room for them in the inn.” With tenderness and clarity, he unpacks the deeper meaning behind the absence of hospitality and how it foreshadows the life and ministry of Jesus—who was repeatedly rejected by the world he came to save.

Far from a sentimental retelling, this message invites listeners to reflect on...

In this heartwarming Christmas Eve message, Rev. Chapin Garner invites us to rediscover the joy at the heart of the season—not through shopping, stress, or sentimentality, but through generosity inspired by Jesus. The message centers on the real-life story of Issa Kassissieh, Jerusalem’s own Santa Claus, who embodies the joy of Christ by giving freely to children of all faiths in the Holy Land.

With scripture from Luke 2:8–14, wher...

In this Christmas Sunday message based on Luke 1:39–56, we pause amid the holiday rush to ask: What gift can we give the One who gave us everything? Drawing from the joyful meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, and the bold beauty of Mary’s Magnificat, we explore how love, attention, and simple gratitude are the greatest gifts we can offer God. From ancient songs of praise to unexpected modern-day expressions of faith, this sermon invites...

In this Advent message, we look at the life of Joseph—the quiet man in the nativity story whose whole world gets turned upside down. From broken dreams to divine detours, Joseph is invited into God’s Plan "C"—an unexpected path that leads to greater joy and deeper purpose.

This sermon invites us to reconsider what it means when life doesn’t go according to plan. Drawing from Matthew 1:18–25, we’re reminded that God rarely works thr...

Eliana Cañas Parra draws us into the heart of Advent peace by recounting the Christmas Truce of 1914, when enemies in World War I briefly laid down arms to sing, share meals, and recognize each other’s humanity. This fleeting moment of Shalom offers a glimpse of what God's peace can look like even in the darkest places.

Psalm 122 is a prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem here is not just a city — it’s a vision of the wo...

In this week’s message, we enter the wilderness—the place where things fall apart, where life feels uncertain, and where wild things roar. But as Mark 1:1–5 reminds us, the good news begins in the wild. It’s in that uncomfortable space where John the Baptist appears, calling people to repent, confess, and prepare the way of the Lord.

Drawing parallels to Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, this sermon reflects on how God of...

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Chapin explores the ancient words of Psalm 8, a song of awe and wonder that celebrates both God’s majesty and our astonishing role in the universe. From the stars overhead to the fragile cry of an infant, the psalm reminds us that though we are small, we are deeply loved and entrusted with great responsibility.

With stories from the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving and personal reflections on what it ...

In John 21:15–17, the risen Jesus meets his disciples on the shore after a long night of fishing. Over a charcoal fire, he cooks breakfast and restores Peter — not with a lecture, but with love. Before he ever commands, “Feed my sheep,” he first feeds them. Grace before commission; love before labor. In this message, Kelly Antonson reflects on what it means to embody Jesus’ love language: acts of service. Our love for Christ isn’t ...

In this message based on Genesis 32:22–33, Chapin reflects on Jacob’s long night of wrestling at the River Jabbok—a struggle that transformed him from a fugitive into a man of faith. Jacob’s limp became his blessing, a mark of someone who chose engagement over escape.

Drawing from his recent journey to the West Bank with Frank Lyon and Eric Dupee, Chapin connects Jacob’s encounter with God to our own calling to stay engaged in a di...

In this sermon from Matthew 14:22–33, we encounter the familiar story of Jesus walking on water — a miracle recorded in three of the four Gospels. But what if we read this story not as a rebuke of Peter’s doubt, but as a celebration of his faith-filled risk? Rev. Dr. Stephen Chapin Garner reflects on his own experiences as a lifelong “lake guy,” drawing parallels between teaching others to water ski and Jesus encouraging Peter to s...

In this message, Chapin reflects on Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see” from John 1:35–42. From a front porch in West Virginia to a hospice bedside in New Canaan, from the hills of El Salvador to the embattled Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, this sermon traces how presence—not productivity—is often the most powerful way we love and serve others.

The name Emmanuel means “God with us,” and this message reminds us that w...

In this episode, we reflect on Luke 8:40–48, where Jesus is surrounded by pressing needs — Jairus pleading for his daughter’s life, a woman reaching for healing after twelve years of suffering, and a crowd pulling at him from every side. In the midst of the chaos, Jesus notices the touch of faith, declaring, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

This story reminds us that compassion always costs something, but in t...

When Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23–27, he didn’t just demonstrate his divine authority—he raised questions that still challenge us today. This sermon reflects on Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”, not as a rebuke, but as encouragement. Jesus, a “lake guy,” found rest and trust on the water—and even in a storm, he trusted his friends at the helm. With insight into boating, lakeside...