Seekers recognizes that any member of the community may be called upon by God to give us the Word, and thus we have an open pulpit with a different preacher each week. Sermons preached at Seekers, as well as sermons preached by Seekers at other churches or events, are posted here, beginning with the most recent.
Click here for an archive of our sermons.
Feel free to use what is helpful from these sermons. We only ask that when substantial portions are abstracted or used in a written work, please credit Seekers Church and the author, and cite the URL.
“The Poison River” by Anna Gilcher
March 13, 2016
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume…
In her book The Call to the Soul, Marjory Bankson describes the six-part cycle of call, with the first three elements of the cycle on one side of the poison river, and the second three parts on the other. As you know, the poison river separates “inspiration from application”; it is the barrier between the inner, private side of call and the manifestation of that call in the outer world. Crossing the poison river requires courage, faith, and trust. And it requires a guide.
A Sermon for Lent by Margreta Silverstone
March 6, 2016
Fourth Sunday in Lent
In the season of Lent, the scripture passages today allow us to reflect with the early church on the gift that is Jesus among us. The passages allow us to hear a story of a different type of family than the family we may have experienced growing up. The passages connect us to a people who initially did not see themselves as a unified people and had to experience over forty years of traveling together to emerge with some sense of togetherness. And, while not read today, the Psalms also mark our own need.
Word from the Potter’s House by Tim Kumfer
February 28, 2016
Third Sunday in Lent
I want to thank you for the invitation to again be with you today and share some of what we are learning and working with at The Potter’s House. This Wednesday we celebrate one year of being re-opened in the new space. Preparing for this message has given me an opportunity to reflect on this past year, which I can honestly say has been both the most rewarding and challenging year of my life. This week I took a day away from the shop to catch my breath, to try to catch up to everything that’s developed over the past year, and where I believe we are being led as a mission. This small ‘a’ anniversary has also given me pause to remember and celebrate all those hands that have carried and cared for us. We would not be where we are, would likely no longer be at all, apart from the thick webs of solidarity we are spun in with Seekers Church. So thank you for that ongoing relationality that sustains us as an organization and nurtures me as I attempt to provide leadership to it.
Worshipping in the Style of Taizé
February 21, 2016
Second Sunday in Lent
Several times each year, Seekers Church takes time out from its regular preaching schedule for a service of chant, prayer and reflection modeled on the worship of the Taizé Community in France. This Sunday was one such time. Repeating the chants together until they die away into the silence provides rest for our world-weary spirits as well as an opportunity for individual reflection on our faith journeys. As we joined in spirit with the monks at Taizé, we were nourished by their faithfulness as well as by their music.
I Am Not Alone – A Sermon for the Interfaith Sacred Conversation
February 14, 2016
First Sunday in Lent
The Interfaith Sacred Conversation on Race & Diversity is primarily built on the relationship of Seekers Church and Covenant Christian Community, and began in May 2008 in order to understand differences and build community across all boundaries. For our third annual joint worshiping communities worship service we built on our common interest with issues of the criminal justice system and invited Rabbi Charles “Chuck” Feinberg, Executive Director of IAHR (Interfaith Action for Human Rights, http://interfaithactionhr.org ) and a formerly incarcerated member of IAHR’s Board to bring the Word. The following is an amalgam of a spiritual autobiography that Rabbi Feinberg wrote about his rabbinical journey and what he delivered extemporaneously about IAHR.