Jesus' baptism is where Christian community begins. The community Jesus creates comes about because of non-anxious invitation. Inviting people to see Jesus is not a popularity contest or a numbers game where we measure victory by budgets, attendance, or other measures. As we claim and remember our baptismal promises, we also claim and remember our call to be community.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
The scripture reading was from John 1:29–51.
Join us as we celebrate Epiphany, when the magi journeyed to see Jesus, and receive our Star Words. The prophet Isaiah preaches to people in exile a word of hope. Even as they walk in thick darkness, he tells them that nations will come to their light. How did Isaiah's prophecy come true in the story of the magi? How does it come true in our world?
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on January 4, 2026.
The scripture readings were from Isaiah 60:1–6 and John 1:1–14.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on Sunday, December 28.
The reading was from Matthew 2:13–23.
In a dream, Joseph received a startling message from God turned his world upside down, and Joseph's faithfulness in responding to God's dream, changed the world. We rejoice for all who hear God's dreams and respond with faith instead of fear.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Matthew 1:18–25.
Last Friday, Calvary's oldest member, Louise Takeuchi, passed away peacefully at the age of 100. Louise lived a storied life, traversing 20th century history from a childhood in Fresno to an adolescence in a WWII Japanese internment camp to finally finding a home with Calvary. Today we're re-releasing our oral history episode featuring Louise as a tribute to her trademark positivity, resilience, and grace.
Happy Third Sunday of Advent!
The sermon was delivered on December 14, 2025 by Rev. Marci A. Glass.
The readings were from Luke 1:46b-55 & Isaiah 35:1-10.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Repentance is part of the work of preparation – and both activities have individual and collective elements. As crowds come to John for baptism, their repentance becomes a community event. Preparing the path of God also requires communities to engage in peace, love, and justice.ADVENT 2025: SOON AND VERY SOONThis Advent, we acknowledge our need for radical hope. The scriptures from this season encourage us to prepare for God's best, yet it sometimes feels like we are living in the “worst of times.” Can we hold fast to the promise that “soon and very soon” we are going to see the hope, peace, joy, and love of God manifest in our lives and int the world? Soon and very soon, friends, soon and very soon. This Advent, we wait with hope.
The scripture reading was from Matthew 3:1–12.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” But when? There is no holy itinerary for God’s arrival — no day or hour, no platform or gate. In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches us that if we want to live good and meaningful lives, we must keep awake: stay alert, attentive, expectant. God’s ever-dawning presence is always on the verge.
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, November 29, 2025 by Rev. Victor Floyd.
The scripture readings were from Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 24:36–44.
ADVENT 2025: SOON AND VERY SOONThis Advent, we acknowledge our need for radical hope. The scriptures from this season encourage us to prepare for God's best, yet it sometimes feels like we are living in the “worst of times.” Can we hold fast to the promise that “soon and very soon” we are going to see the hope, peace, joy, and love of God manifest in our lives and int the world? Soon and very soon, friends, soon and very soon. This Advent, we wait with hope.
The Bible has a tendency to compare us to sheep. In the 23rd Psalm, it is a good comparison because God is the shepherd and God's pretty good at the shepherding business, leading us to still waters. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that sometimes human shepherds let God's flock down. How can we be helpful shepherds, filled with compassion for God’s flock?
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on November 23, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Jeremiah 23:1–6
Amos was a small-town shepherd when God called him to be a prophet for justice. This relatively unknown "nobody" spoke boldly to those in power, railing against their policies and systems that favored profit over people. Join Amos on his quest for a fair and equitable society where justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann H. Lee on Sunday November 16, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24.
Elijah is a very relatable prophet. He has moments of great faithfulness, and moments where his fear gets in the way and his hope dissolves into despair. How does God respond to Elijah, and to us, in those moments when we forget just how great God's faithfulness really is.
This sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, November 10, 2025.
The scripture reading was from 1 Kings 19:1–18.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Matthew 5:14-16.
We must learn to let our spirits dance with God, even in the thick of this world’s confusion—with Halloween costumes, deep questions, and all the rest. Come ready for joy, mystery and a holy mash-up where darkness becomes the very place where God does her best work.
This sermon was delivered on Sunday, October 26, by Rev. Victor Floyd.
The scripture reading was from 1 Kings 5:1–5; 8:1–13.
In an age of rising nationalism and executive power that feeds on our fear so it can take over, God offers us a new orientation. God looks to our hearts to guide our actions in the world.
The scripture reading from 1 Samuel 15 verses 34–35, 16 verses 1–13.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, October 19, 2025.
This story from Exodus 16 contains one of the best-known miracles in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible: when Moses and the people have no food to eat in the wilderness, God sends the miracle of manna to be their daily bread. The people eat that manna for the next forty years, as God sustains them throughout their wilderness journey. What might manna look like for us, when we find ourselves in our own wilderness seasons?
The sermon was delivered by guest preacher Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence on World Communion Sunday, October 5, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Exodus 16:10–21, 35
Perhaps it was destiny, child, that drew Moses toward that burning bush. There he learns God's name. Let's remove everything that separates us from holy ground and listen together for a new divine revelation.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Victor Floyd on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Exodus 2:23–25; 3:1–15; 4:10–17.
Do you remember your dreams? There are mornings we wake up and wish we could return to the narrative of our dreams, even as the details fade away. No matter how hard we try, we just can’t return to that particular dream story. It would be easier to grab hold of a cloud or catch a shadow.There are mornings we wake up and thank the good Lord is was just a dream. There are some scenarios we play out in our dreams that we couldn’t bear in real life.How do we dream together what God is dreaming for the church? Let's dream together.
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The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
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The scripture readings were from Genesis 27:1–4, 15-23 and Genesis 28:10-17.
The horrifying story of the binding of Isaac by his father Abraham is rightfully troubling to modern readers. Perhaps back then and still today, it challenges us to ask: "What have we sacrificed on the altar of religion, believing it was the 'right thing to do?'" Join us on Sunday as we grapple with one of the most challenging stories in scripture.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Joann Lee on Sunday, September 15, 2025.
The scripture reading was from Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14.
You watch a video of the scripture reading/sermon at https://youtu.be/_p0V6Cjb_3U
As we begin a new program year, we'll start at the very beginning. In the Book of Genesis, God creates the world. Humanity one of God's many and marvelous creations. How does our createdness inform our life together in community, with each other, with the other acts of God's creation?
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci Glass on September 7, 2025.
The reading was from Genesis 1:1—2:4a.
An end-of-the-summer musical extravaganza! Let's worship God in a joyful and challenging service of "Lessons & Show Tunes" with biblical Wisdom as our guide.
Readings from Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 2:1–6, Psalm 133, Ecclesiastes 9:7-9, and Proverbs 27:17.
Songs:
"You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen
“Prayer” from Come From Away
“With So Little to Be Sure Of” from Anyone Can Whistle
“For Good” from Wicked