Today in worship we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Christ followers after his ascent to heaven. Pastor Julie preaches the message The Unprejudiced Spirit, based on Acts 2:1-21. Accompanying scripture passages are Romans 8:14-17 and John 14:8-17, 25-27. We also dedicate to God Jermaine Ricardo Kittrell.
World Pride Sunday, June 1, 2025 | Outsiders Like Us
Today in worship, we celebrate Pride Sunday, honoring the beauty and dignity of all God's children. Pastor Julie preaches the message “Outsiders Like Us” from Acts 15:1-11. Accompanying scripture passages are Genesis 17:1-14 and Matthew 22:34-40. Worship includes communion.
This year holds special significance as Washington, DC hosts World Pride, welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from around the globe to our city.
Sunday, May 25, 2025 | Love Surprises: As I Have Loved You
As I Have Loved You | John 13:31-35 | May 25, 2025 | The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Today, Pastor Julie will continue the Easter sermon series with the sermon, As I Have Loved You based on John 13:31-35. In this familiar passage, Jesus says to his disciples, “A new commandment I give to you—that you love one another…By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Accompanying scripture texts are Psalm 148 and Revelation 21:1-6.
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | Love Surprises: Being Led Where We Don’t Want to Go
Today, Pastor Julie will continue the Easter sermon series with the sermon, “Being Led Where We Don’t Want to Go,” based on John 21:15-19. Accompanying scripture texts are Isaiah 48:12-13, 16-17 and Philippians 4:10-14.
Love empowers us to open ourselves to situations we dread. In following Jesus, there is the active way and the passive way. Both ways are necessary; both require courage. Sooner or later, each of us will be called to the passive way of discipleship, of being led into situations we’d just as soon avoid. Jesus modeled both ways for us.
Sunday, May 11, 2025 | Love Surprises: On Earth as it is in Heaven
This Sunday, Pastor Eric will continue the Easter sermon series with the sermon, “On Earth as it is in Heaven,” based on Revelation 7:9-17. Accompanying scripture texts are Psalm 23 and John 10:22-30.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The Gospel reading focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and the vision in Revelation shows a great crowd from every nation standing before the throne of the Lamb. In these passages, we are reminded that Jesus welcomes all people to follow him. The love of Christ is for everyone.
Sunday, May 4, 2025 | Love Surprises: Breakfast Time
Today, Pastor Julie continues her Easter sermon series with the sermon,“Breakfast Time,” based on John 21:1-14, in which the risen Christ appears to the disciples and invites them to join him for breakfast on the beach—the first meal of their new life together. New beginnings are Jesus' specialty. Accompanying scripture texts are Psalm 30:1-5, 11-12 and Revelation 5:11-14.
We will also celebrate communion in worship, collect a benevolence offering, and welcome a number of guests—former ministers and staff members as well as denominational and community partners, including members of the National Children's Chorus.
Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Love Surprises: In the Middle
Today, Pastor Julie will begin a new sermon series, “Love Surprises.” This week’s sermon, “In the Middle,” is based on John 20:19-31, in which Jesus appears to the disciples and Thomas after the resurrection. In this passage, and in life, Christ comes and stands in the middle of everything we experience—loneliness, elation, grief, stress, etc. Accompanying scripture texts are Psalm 150 and Revelation 1:4-8.
Sunday, April 20, 2025 | Easter Sunday | Everything in Between: Grief and Hope
Today, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection with the flowered cross; the music of choir, organ, and brass; communion; and a message of hope from Pastor Julie. Pastor Julie will conclude the Lenten sermon series with the Easter message, Everything In Between Grief and Hope based on Luke 24:1-12. Accompanying text is Acts 10:34-43.
Easter Sunday is meant to be jubilant and joyful—a chance to begin again in a weary world. And yet, for too many, grief can feel like a heavy weight tugging at our hearts. For too many, shame encroaches if we can’t find our way to joy. This Easter, we are invited to make space for grief and joy, mourning and hope—for all these feelings can coexist.
No matter how you arrive this Easter morning—whether steeped in grief, stunned in disbelief, or running in the direction of hope—resurrection is for you. This story is for you.
Friday, April 18, 2025 | Good Friday | Service of Silence and Sorrow
Remember and reflect on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion in this “Service of Silence and Shadows” led by our choir and readers from the congregation. The sanctuary moves from light to darkness as we mark Christ’s suffering and death.
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | Palm Sunday | Everything in Between: Shouting and Silence
Today, Pastor Julie preaches the message, Everything in Between: Shouting and Silence from Luke 19:29-40. Accompanying text is Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29.
Jesus embodies divine silence as he rides the colt through the cloaks and crowds. This event marks a pivotal turning point as Jesus enters the holy in-between of his final days before he departs from this world. His entry marks the beginning of the end. Did his silence helped steady and prepare him for what was to come? Did the praise from the disciples gave him strength?
Have you ever experienced divine silence, or silence that restored you in some way? Have you ever felt fortified by shouts and praise?
Sunday, April 6, 2025 | Pastor Eric Preaching | Everything in Between: Compassion and Justice
This Sunday, we celebrate communion and collect a benevolence offering in worship, and fellowship together at our First Sunday potluck after worship. Pastor Eric will preach the message, Everything in Between: Compassion and Justice from Luke 19:1-10. The accompanying Scripture text is Psalm 126.
The Luke 19 passage is the familiar story of Zacchaeus, and the crowds who grumble at Jesus’ self-invitation to stay with Zacchaeus. Their desire for justice isn’t without cause. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus has extorted money and acted in collusion with the empire, using his position to oppress his own people. It is important to call out oppression and seek justice, and yet, Jesus offers compassion. That compassion then begets more compassion as Zacchaeus, unprompted, offers to return what he took, and then some.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | Fourth Sunday in Lent | Everything in Between: Lost and Found
Today Pastor Julie preached the message, Lost and Found, from Luke 15:1-7. Accompanying Scripture text is Psalm 32.
Herding sheep is a never-ending task. As soon as one is found, another may go missing. Our lives have a similar ebb and flow—in one moment we might feel like we have it all together, and in the next, we’re struggling to survive. But no matter how “lost” we feel, the Good Shepherd is on watch.
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | Third Sunday in Lent | Everything in Between: Rest and Growth
This Sunday, Pastor Julie will preach the message “Everything in Between: Rest and Growth" based on Luke 13:6-9. Accompanying scripture text is Psalm 63:1-8.
The gardener in the vineyard knows the fig tree needs rest, nutrients, and time—and it also needs to produce fruit. Both things are true, which is also true for us. If we are always striving for more growth without taking time to rest, we will burn out. But if we are only ever resting, we won’t bear fruit or grow. The fig tree also teaches us that the in between time—of nurture before fruit—can be where transformation begins.
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | Second Sunday in Lent | Everything in Between: Faith and Works
The story of Mary and Martha often seems to create a divide between “spiritual” types and “practical” types, between thinkers and doers, and between contemplatives and activists—as if the faithful must choose one over the other. But what if prayer and action depend on one another to make sense in the world? Today’s story from Luke 10 is about more than just a spat over who’s going to get supper on the table. Accompanying scripture text is Psalm 23.
Sunday, March 9, 2025 | First Sunday in Lent | Everything in Between: Stranger & Neighbor
This Sunday, March 9, we continue the journey through Lent that began on Ash Wednesday.
Our Lenten theme, “Everything In Between,” will invite us to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. We will explore supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” These ideas often seem to oppose one another.
However, as we explore these concepts within the scriptures, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between.
Today, Pastor Julie will preach the message “Everything in Between: Stranger and Neighbor.” The sermon text will be Luke 10:25-37 and the accompanying scripture passage will be Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | Ash Wednesday | 6:30 PM
Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent. We hosted two 30-minute Ash Wednesday services at 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | Ash Wednesday | 12:30 PM
Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent. We hosted two 30-minute Ash Wednesday services at 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | A Liberation Story | Transfiguration Sunday
Transfiguration is one of those five-syllable stained-glass words that only gets trotted out every once in a while in Sunday School or on Jeopardy. But the account of Jesus on the mountain with some disciples and Moses and Elijah, two rock stars of the Hebrew faith, is a story brimming with mystery, hope, and freedom.
Today Pastor Julie preaches the message, “A Liberation Story,” from Luke 9:28-36. Accompanying scripture passages are Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:2. We share communion together and collect a benevolence offering.
Sunday, February 23, 2025 | Encountering the Holy: Action
Today in worship, Pastor Julie completes a three-week sermon series, Encountering the Holy, based on Isaiah 6:1-8. Each week in worship we read a different translation of that passage. Today, we will hear the Isaiah 6 text from The Inclusive Bible.
Accompanying scripture passages are 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 and Luke 6:27-38.
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | Encountering the Holy: Repentance
This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie continued a three-week sermon series, Encountering the Holy, based on Isaiah 6:1-8. Each week in worship we will read a different translation of that passage. This Sunday, we will hear the Isaiah 6 text from the NRSVue (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition). Accompanying scripture passages are Luke 6:17-26 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-20.