Central United Methodist Church (Arlington, Virginia) Sermon Podcast

Singing Our Faith: The Still Center

 Scripture: 1 Kings 19:8–16

This week at Central UMC, we turned to the story of the prophet Elijah—a man who stood against injustice, called down fire from heaven, and then found himself hiding in a cave, burnt out and afraid. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah flees to Mount Horeb, the same sacred ground where Moses once met God, and there, in the quiet, he encounters the divine—not in the wind, earthquake, or...

🎶 Faith That Sings: Songs of Heaven and Resistance

 Scripture: Hebrews 11:1–16

This week at Central UMC, we turned to the stirring words of Hebrews 11—a chapter sometimes called the “Hall of Faith”—to reflect on the kind of belief that doesn’t just survive adversity but sings through it. Through the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, and others, we were reminded that faith is not wishful thinking—it is confident assurance. It's t...

🕊️ Sent and Still: A Taizé-Inspired Service

Scripture: Luke 10:1–11

This week’s worship service at Central UMC took a contemplative turn as we explored the rhythms and spiritual practices of the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic movement in France devoted to prayer, simplicity, and reconciliation. Pastor Sarah introduced us to the story of Taizé’s founding, its daily rhythms of prayer and reflection, and the spirit of unity th...

Tending the Flame

 Scripture: Leviticus 6:8–13

In this week's message, Pastor Sarah draws from the rarely-visited book of Leviticus to uncover profound truths hidden within ancient temple rituals. Centering on the command to keep a continuous fire burning on the altar, the sermon invites us to reflect on the fire of God’s presence in our own lives—how it burns, how it flickers, and how we are called to tend it daily.

We explore t...

Praying at the River

 Scripture: Acts 16:13–15

In this week’s message, Pastor Sarah takes us to the riverside in Acts 16, where Paul meets Lydia—a bold and generous woman whose open heart and courageous faith helped birth the first church in Philippi. Drawing from personal stories of outdoor baptisms and the unexpected grace that flows in those holy moments, we explore how prayer, like music, often happens best in community and in rh...

Improvising Prayers

 Scripture: Romans 8:22–27

Sometimes prayer begins not with words, but with sighs too deep for words. In this week’s message, Pastor Sarah shares a powerful experience of communal prayer in South Korea and reflects on the Spirit’s ability to speak through our groans, our longing, and even our silence.

Drawing from Romans 8 and Psalm 40, we explore the deep connection between lament and hope, silence and song, struc...

Singing Our Faith

Scripture: Colossians 3:12–16

What we sing shapes what we believe. As we begin our new worship series, Singing Our Faith, Pastor Sarah invites us to reflect on how music forms us—individually and as a church community.

This week’s message explores the connection between worship and formation through the lens of Colossians 3, where Paul calls us to live in compassion, love, and unity—and to “teach and warn each other ...

Journey: The Places We Will Go
Scripture: Acts 10:34–36

Some transformations lead us far from where we started. When the Holy Spirit moves, we may find ourselves crossing borders, breaking assumptions, and joining in a love that is bigger than we imagined.

In this week’s sermon, Pastor Sarah shares the story of Peter’s awakening to the expansive grace of God. What began as a personal revelation became a world-changing proclamati...

Fly: Daring New Heights
Scripture: Mark 2:1–5

Some transformations only happen when we’re willing to take risks—when we dare to go higher, dig deeper, and break through the barriers in our way.

In this week’s sermon, Pastor Sarah reflects on the bold faith of four friends who refused to let a crowded house keep them from bringing someone they loved to Jesus. They climbed the roof, tore it open, and made space for healing. ...

"Let Go: Leaving Behind What We Don’t Need"
Scripture: Exodus 16

On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember not just those we’ve lost, but the quiet grief that comes with change — even good change. In Exodus 16, the Israelites are no longer enslaved, but freedom brings uncertainty. They miss Egypt — not the cruelty, but the comfort and predictability of what they knew.

This week’s message explores what it means to let g...

Sermon preached on 2025-05-18 by Rev. Sarah Harrison-McQueen
Matthew 16:13–20
Common English Bible

In this moving sermon, Pastor Sarah reflects on the moment Jesus renames Simon as Peter—the rock—showing how Christ sees who we are becoming, not just who we’ve been. Like a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly, we are invited to step into the fullness of our God-given identity. This message calls us to trust the Spirit’s...