Noblesville First Sermons
Noblesville First UMC
Noblesville First is an inclusive faith community that embraces all persons with no exceptions! Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Learn more at noblesvillefirst.com.
Episodes
Only God Can Judge Me | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
"Only God can judge me." The irony is that we usually reach for those words when it feels like we'e being judged by everybody except God. Judged for a decision we made. Judged for something in our past. Judged for how we parent, how we live, what we believe, who we love, or who we are becoming. And if we’re honest, we haven't only been on the receiving end of judgment. We’ve given it too. We make assumptions. We form opinions. We decide we know someone’s motives without ever knowing their story. Sometimes we call it discernment. Sometimes we call it “just telling the truth.” But judgment can come so naturally that we rarely stop to ask whether we were ever given the authority to make it in the first place. The exact words “Only God can judge me” may not appear in the Bible, but Scripture has plenty to say about judgment—about God’s role, our role, and the difference between the two. In a world where everyone seems ready to render a verdict on somebody else, perhaps we need to remember who is actually qualified to hold the gavel—and what it means to follow Jesus in the way we see one another.
Spare the Rod | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Throughout Scripture, we encounter a God who is constantly forming people—teaching, correcting, redirecting, encouraging, forgiving, and calling them forward. God’s grace welcomes us as we are, but that same grace keeps working on us so that we can become more loving, more faithful, more compassionate, and more like Christ. So, what does it look like to help someone grow in love? Not simply to control behavior. Not to produce perfect people. But to nurture lives in which faith, wisdom, compassion, courage, and responsibility can take root. And perhaps while we’re asking that question about the people we love; God might turn the question toward us: Where are You still trying to grow me?
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves | Dr. Rev. Jevon Caldwell-Gross
“God helps those who help themselves” It sounds biblical, doesn’t it? Maybe because we’ve heard it so many times. We use it to encourage responsibility, perseverance, and action. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with doing what we can with what God has given us. There’s just one problem: The Bible never actually says it. In fact, the Bible repeatedly introduces us to people who reach moments when they cannot help themselves. They don’t have enough strength, enough wisdom, enough resources, or enough answers. And maybe you know something about those moments too. The diagnosis you cannot change. The grief you cannot hurry. The relationship you cannot repair by yourself. The door you cannot force open. The burden you have finally admitted is too heavy to carry alone. The psalmist asks, “Where does my help come from?” and answers, “My help comes from the Lord.” (Psalm 121:1–2) Notice what the psalmist doesn’t say: My help comes when I finally prove I can't handle this myself. Because sometimes faith looks like taking the next step. And sometimes faith looks like finally admitting, “God, I need help.” Maybe that is the invitation for us. Before we work harder, fix more, or try again, take a moment to name before God the place where we need help. We don’t have to solve it. Just bring it honestly to God.
God Needed Another Angel | Rev. Brittany Stephans
One of the gifts of being the church is that we get to practice this kind of ministry for one another. We celebrate together. We grieve together. We eat together. We pray together. We check on each other. And sometimes we simply sit beside one another and remind each other that none of us are in this alone. We encourage you with a simple invitations this week: pay attention to the people around you. Who might appreciate a phone call, a quick text, an invitation to coffee, or simply the reminder that someone is thinking about them? You don’t have to have all the answers or know exactly what to say. Sometimes one of the simplest ways we share the love of Christ is simply by being present for one another.
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Do you remember playing the game Telephone? Everyone sits in a circle. One person whispers a message into the ear of the person beside them, who whispers it to the next person, and around the circle it goes. By the time the message reaches the last person, everyone is waiting to hear what they say. And almost every time, the final message sounds nothing like the original. One word gets changed. Somebody mishears something. And before you know it, what was actually said and what everyone thinks was said are two completely different things. The same thing can happen with scripture. We hear something from a parent or grandparent. A pastor says something in a sermon. Somebody posts a quote online with a Bible verse underneath it. We hear it enough times, from enough people, that eventually we stop asking, “Is that actually what Scripture says?” We just pass it along. So what does it mean when God says "Cleanliness is Next to Godliness." Let's see what God has to say!
Connect Four | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
God has a way of placing people in our lives whose faith strengthens our own—people who pray when we don’t have the words, believe when our faith feels shaky, and remind us that we don’t have to navigate life’s twists and turns alone. This week, we’ll reflect on the people who have shaped our faith, strengthened us, and helped us keep going, while also considering who might need that same kind of connection from us. Because faith isn’t a solo journey; God often changes our lives through the people God connects us to. As we worship together, we’ll explore how we can be that source of encouragement, hope, and community for one another.
Jenga | Rev. Brittany Stephan
Sometimes, things fall apart. Life can feel like a game of Jenga—one unexpected twist, one difficult moment, and suddenly everything we thought was steady comes crashing down. But the good news is that God meets us in the rubble, and we don’t have to rebuild alone. Let's discover how with God and one another, what has fallen apart can be rebuilt—and that even in the mess, God is still with us.
Clue | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Sometimes faith feels a little like a game of Clue. We’re always looking for the signs. Watching for the nudges. Trying to put the pieces together and figure out: Where is God in this? Where is God moving? What is God doing that I might be missing? The clues are all around us. God is at work. And church, we get to be part of it. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep loving our neighbors. And let’s keep following the clues of grace wherever God leads us next.
Sorry | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Because “I’m sorry” may be two of the shortest words in the English language, but they can also be two of the hardest to say. Saying sorry requires us to admit that we didn’t get it right. That our words landed harder than we intended. That our actions affected somebody besides ourselves. And sometimes we would much rather explain, defend, justify—or point out what they did first! But as followers of Jesus, we are called to take seriously the ways we live, love, forgive, and seek reconciliation with one another. And that means sometimes learning how to say—and mean—“I’m sorry.”
Candy Land | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
This journey of life is rarely a straight path. There are unexpected detours, difficult assignments, changing friendships, moments of triumph, and moments when we wonder if we'll ever find our footing again. This series, we'll begin with Candy Land. It may sound like a lighthearted game, but when we view it through the story of Ruth and Naomi, we discover a powerful reminder that even when life takes unexpected turns, God never abandons us on the journey.
Water Speaks | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Water echoes the faith experiences of countless people in the Bible, but if we listen carefully, it also echoes our own. It reminds us that God is always moving, always renewing, always leading us somewhere deeper. We conclude our Take Me to the Water series by standing with Jesus at the Jordan River as he is baptized. Together we'll discover why the sinless Son of God entered those waters and what his baptism reveals about our own.
Stepping Out | Rev. Brittany Stephan
Peter often gets remembered for sinking. But before he sank, he did something that no one else in the boat was willing to do. He stepped out. The familiar boat represented safety, certainty, and comfort. The water represented uncertainty. It was risky. It was unfamiliar. And yet, when Jesus called, Peter discovered that faith isn't about having all the answers. Starting something new can feel a little like stepping out of the boat. Yet throughout Scripture, God rarely asks people to remain where they are comfortable. Again and again, God calls ordinary people to trust, to move, and to discover that God's faithfulness is already waiting on the other side of their obedience. The same is true for each of us. Perhaps your "boat" is a routine you've grown comfortable with. Maybe it's a fear that's kept you from serving, joining a small group, inviting a friend to church, or trying something new. Maybe your next faithful step is simply saying "yes" to where God is leading. Perhaps Faith Lab is one expression of that "yes." It's our congregation choosing to invest in the next generation. We want our children and youth to know that faith is something they can experience, question, practice, and grow into alongside a community that loves them.
Parting the Way | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Life places all kinds of barriers in our path. Some are obvious—a difficult diagnosis, a broken relationship, financial uncertainty, or grief that feels overwhelming. Others are quieter: fear, doubt, disappointment, or simply wondering what comes next. We often pray for God to remove every obstacle. But throughout Scripture, God doesn't always eliminate the barriers. Instead, God faithfully leads us through them. For our hope has never been in having an easy path; our hope is in the One who knows the way. Discover how trusting God through life's barriers can lead us to places of hope, peace, and joy that we could never reach on our own.
Thirsty | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
When we are truly thirsty, nothing satisfies quite like water. It refreshes, restores, and gives us life. Perhaps that's why God so often uses water to teach us the deeper truths of our faith throughout scripture. God parts the waters of the Red Sea to create a way forward for a people who felt trapped. Water gushes from a rock to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus meets a weary woman beside a well and offers her living water that satisfies the deepest thirst of the human soul. And in the waters of baptism, we remember that we are claimed, cleansed, and made new by the grace of Christ.
Caring for Others | Rev. Mary Eileen Spence
This week, we celebrate the gift of Christian community and the calling to care for one another. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to be a family of faith that shows up with compassion, shares one another's burdens, celebrates one another's joys, and reflects God's love through acts of kindness and service. Together, we'll explore how caring for one another strengthens our faith, builds deeper relationships, and becomes a powerful witness to God's love in the world.
Widen the Table | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Scripture reminds us that we are one body with many parts, each uniquely gifted for God's purposes. The beauty of the Church has never been found in our sameness but in our shared mission. When people with different stories come together around Jesus, God's kingdom becomes visible. We must think about Jesus' ministry and how He continually drew in people who had been labeled, limited or pushed to the margins. The Church was never meant to be a gathering place for people who all look alike, think alike, or have life all figured out. It is a place where every person can encounter the transforming love of Christ.
Serve Your Neighbor | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
We were never meant to do life alone. In a world that often celebrates independence, faith reminds us of the incredible strength found in community. When someone walks beside us, encourages us, prays for us, serves us, and reminds us that we are loved, we discover courage and hope we never knew we had. As we continue our Sealed with Hope series, we'll explore the many ways our church serves and supports others—and how acts of compassion transform both those who give and those who receive. Join us as we discover how, together, we can soar to new heights through the power of God's love and community.
Why We Sing | Rev. Brittany Stephan
Music has a unique way of shaping faith and carrying us through life’s most meaningful moments. Certain songs become woven into our spiritual journeys, giving voice to prayers when words are hard to find, offering comfort in difficult seasons, and reminding us of God’s presence when life feels uncertain. This is why Paul’s words in Colossians continue to resonate with the church today. He encourages believers to teach and encourage one another through “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,” reminding us that singing is more than a part of worship—it is one of the ways God speaks to us, forms us, and unites us as the body of Christ. Every week at Noblesville First, music helps nurture faith across generations, whether through the choir’s anthem, a beloved congregational hymn, or children learning songs that will stay with them for years to come. God’s people have always sung because songs carry faith from one generation to the next. They remind us who God is, give us hope when life feels heavy, and help us discover that we are part of a much larger story. As a community sealed with hope, may we continue lifting our voices together and passing that hope on to those who will sing after us.
The Future is Now | Rev. Brittany Stephan
It is important that we continue to help children and youth discover that they are loved by God, valued by the church, and capable of making a difference right now. They are not just the future of the church. They are an important part of the church today. Their faith, questions, and enthusiasm strengthen our congregation and help shape who we are together.
Prayer of Blessing | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
In this sermon, we will meet a man named Jabez, who prays that kind of prayer. And we’ll be reminded that God hears all of our prayers. Even the ones that aren’t proofread or polished. The ones prayed through tears, fear, frustration, and trembling faith. Because thanks be to God, perfection has never been a requirement for prayer. Just a willingness to open our hearts before God. Lord, hear our prayers. Hear us when our words are polished and when they fall apart. Meet us in our desperation, our fear, our hope, and our need. Remind us that no prayer is too small, too messy, or too broken for Your love to reach. In Jesus’ name we pray- Amen.
Prayer for Surrender | Rev. Brittney Stephan
A Prayer for Pentecost Spirit of the Living God, we’ve carried much too long, Holding burdens in trembling hands though we were made for song. We’ve worn exhaustion like armor, built walls around what’s inside, Yet deep within these weary souls, Your Spirit longs to rise. Give us the courage to surrender, to open clenched hands wide, To trust Your Spirit’s leading more than all the ways we hide. Release what keeps us bound, so we can finally breathe, And let Your holy presence shape the people we can be. For too long we’ve held our breath through grief and fear and pain, Forgetting that Your Spirit still brings life to us again. Let’s breathe in holy wonder and exhale what we can’t control, So the presence of Your Spirit moves freely through our souls. Help us breathe more deeply and be filled with sacred flame, The breath that formed creation and called the earth by name. It stirred dry bones to life and filled the Upper Room with fire, Yet still revives the weary heart with hope that reaches higher. In this Pentecost season, awaken us once more, Until the songs within us are all with one accord. Set our hearts to worship; for You, O God, we sing, With every voice touched by Your Spirit echoing freedom’s ring.
Praying for Our Nation | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
True prayer moves us beyond ourselves. It lifts our eyes from “my life,” “my problems,” and “my people,” and teaches us to see all people as beloved children of God. Explore what it means to pray faithfully, boldly, and compassionately—for our nation and God’s people throughout the world. Because prayer does not shrink our vision. It expands it.
Motherhood: The Unbroken Prayer | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Prayer plays an important role in our lives, and it applies to everyone. Because the truth is, we all need it. Think about what you and those around you have gone through: trauma, illness, disappointment, addiction, betrayal, fear, grief—we can fill in the blank with whatever life has thrown our way. Prayer is our lifeline. It equips us to persevere through our deepest sorrows and to receive our greatest joys. For Mother's Day, we give you “A Mother’s Prayer” and reflect on how this unique role shapes both our prayer lives and the lives of children. Holy, loving, and mothering God, be with us and our families as we seek you. Deepen our trust and faith as we raise up the next generation as mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, spiritual mothers, aunts, and friends. We trust in your love and care for children and place them in your hands with faith. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
All Creatures Praise | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Scripture tells us that all creation praises the Lord. Worship isn't confined to a building or a schedule. It is happening all around us. The zebras, the birds, the wind—they all participate in a kind of worship that is natural, constant, and unforced. And so are we invited to join. As we come to the close of our All Creatures Great and Small series, we reflect on this beautiful truth: worship is bigger than us. It is a chorus that includes all God has made.
Living Water | Rev. Amber Good
Water is necessary for life on Earth, so it’s no surprise Scripture is filled with momentous encounters and sacred imagery centered around it. Wells become places of unexpected meeting, rivers become places of cleansing, and “living water” becomes a promise of renewal. Isaiah speaks of God pouring water on thirsty land and pouring the Spirit upon the people reminding us that creation itself is a vessel of God’s grace. The movement of water on Earth can mirror the movement of the Spirit in our lives. In this way, God’s creation and our faith journey are inseparably intertwined, each revealing the other’s depth and beauty.
A Collective Call to Creation | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Stewardship isn't just about having something - it's about caring for it, even when it's messy, inconvenient, or less exciting than we imagined. In Genesis, God entrusts creation to us, not so we can simply enjoy it, but so we can tend it with love and responsibility. As we continue this series, we'll explore what it means to truly care for the creation God has placed in our hands.
The Earth Is the Lord's | Rev. Brittney Stephan
Psalm 24 begins with a simple but powerful truth: the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. Everything. Not just the parts we build or manage. Not just the spaces we occupy. But the birds singing before sunrise. The trees just beginning to bud. The soil, the sky, the creatures we notice and the ones we don't. It all belongs to God.
Thankfulness | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
When Easter arrives, our response can only be one thing: Thankfulness. Thankfulness is the natural overflow of a heart that remembers. We remember a Savior who loves us in spite of us. A God who didn’t turn away from our brokenness, but stepped into it. A King who chose a cross. A Redeemer who laid down His life so we could experience abundant, eternal life. This is why the message never grows old. It echoes across generations, across cultures, across time—and still carries the same power: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ WILL come again.
Accountability | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross
In our faith, sometimes Jesus slows us down or corrects us so we can see more clearly. His accountability is love in action—shaping us into stronger disciples and better teammates. As we move towards Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we invite you to consider: How is God calling you to accountability right now? What do you need to see more clearly so you can get back in the game of faith? Explore this theme of Accountability as our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross, Director of Church Revitalization and New Church Development of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church preaches.
Servanthood | Rev. Brittney Stephan
that celebrates being seen, Jesus calls us to serve. In a culture that rewards standing out, Jesus calls us to lift others up. Servanthood is about choosing to show up, to support, to give, and to care, even when no one is keeping score. As a church, that is who we are called to be. Each of us has something to offer. Each of us has a role to play. And when we live that way, something powerful happens, not just in worship, but in the way we care for one another and our community.
Unity | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Scripture reminds us of this truth in Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Unity is where strength grows. Unity is where teams thrive. And unity is where God’s presence moves in powerful ways. In the church, we may not all wear the same jersey, serve in the same role, or stand in the same place—but we are still on the same team. We are called to build each other up, carry one another, and pursue unity together.
Passion | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
When we're passionate about Jesus, it begins to affect the way we live. We want to spend time with Him. We want to know His Word. We talk about Him. We share what He's doing in our lives. Through Passion, faith stops being something we occasionally observe and becomes something we actively live. The apostle Paul captured this kind of passion in Romans 12:11: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” That word zeal speaks of passion—an enthusiasm that doesn’t fade when life gets busy or difficult. It’s the kind of passion that keeps us pursuing God, loving others, and living out our faith every day.
Humility | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Being on God’s team doesn’t mean we’re the stars of the show. It means we grow through challenge, trust through pressure, and remember that every gift we have has been given.
Love Never Fails | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Love sacrifices. It gives. It shows up. We love this way because Jesus first loved us. He gave sacrificially—offering his time, his compassion, his very life—so that we might know love. When we pledge to the ministries of the church, we are choosing to participate in that same self-giving love.
The Resilience of Love | Rev. Brittney Stephan
Our faith calls us to courageous love. To love is to risk disappointment. To love is to keep going when it would be easier to quit. To love is to cheer for someone else's success. The Olympic flame burns brightly for a season, but Christ’s love burns continually. May we train our hearts daily in that kind of love. A love that is steady, hopeful, and strong enough to endure.
What Love Is Not | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
In a world that often feels rushed and harsh, we are reminded that love can be steady, attentive, and faithful. Love shows up over time—in daily practices that shape who we are, what we value, and how we care for one another. This kind of love forms us not only in our homes, but also as a church family, calling us to live with intention, compassion, and trust. This sermon continues reflecting on love as we explore the theme, “What Love Is Not.” Together, we will seek God’s wisdom as we grow into an inclusive community that embodies the love of Christ—open, generous, and grounded in grace, with no exceptions.
The Character of Love | Rev. Brittney Stephan
In a time when division feels loud and fatigue runs deep, we believe love remains God’s most transformative force. This series will invite us to reflect on how love shapes how we speak, how we listen, how we disagree, and how we care for one another within our families, our church, and our wider community. Whether you’re feeling hopeful, worn down, or somewhere in between, this series is for you. Come as you are, and be reminded that God’s love meets us where we are and calls us to live that love out loud.
Becoming Beloved Community | Rev. Annetra Jones
Fresh starts are like that. They are not just inspiring words or shared quotes. They are lived out in community, sustained by love in action. Without that love, even our best intentions stall. Justice becomes theory. Hope becomes a slogan. This message will invite us to imagine what a fresh start looks like when faith moves us beyond intention and into service to God and neighbor. And over the weekend we’ll help build that beloved community through a series of community events.
A Fresh Start | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Maybe you walked into January with motivation, good intentions, and a mental list of things you were finally going to get right - and then life intervened. Plans fell apart. Schedules unraveled. The fresh start already feels a little upside down. If that’s you, you’re not alone. Scripture says, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Clay jars aren’t polished or permanent. They’re fragile. They chip. They crack. And yet God chooses them on purpose—so divine strength is what people notice, not our perfection. In the new year, this is a lesson to be learned: that a broken jar or frame doesn’t erase the beauty of what it was meant to hold. If anything, it tells a more honest story: that hope isn’t found in everything going according to plan, but in Christ meeting us when things fall apart. We’ll keep reflecting on that as we continue our series called Fresh Start—not because new years makes life new, but because “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23). Join us for worship as we discover together that, with Christ, we can still have a good day—chipped and all.
Accept, Live In, And Reflect the Light | Rev. Marti Troyer
There is something about the turn of the calendar that stirs hope in us. A new year invites us to pause, take a deep breath, and imagine what might be possible. Even if nothing about our circumstances has changed overnight, January carries with it the promise of a fresh start. We often talk about fresh starts in terms of resolutions, what we want to do better, change, or finally get right this time around. While those intentions can be meaningful, the Christian understanding of a fresh start goes deeper. It is not rooted primarily in our willpower, but in God’s grace. Scripture is full of reminders that God delights in making things new. “See, I am doing a new thing,” God declares through the prophet Isaiah. The good news of the gospel is that new beginnings are not limited to January 1. God offers renewal again and again, every morning and every moment we turn back toward love, mercy, and hope.
Wonder to Wander | Rev. Mary Eileen Spence
The story of the three wise men is a journey that begins in wonder and leads to faithful wandering. Drawn by a mysterious star, the Magi leave certainty behind and step into a long, unknown road—trusting that God is at work even when the destination isn’t clear. Wonder to Wander invites us to explore how holy curiosity can move us from standing still to stepping out, discovering that God often meets us not when everything is mapped out, but while we are bravely on the way.
Wonder to Hold | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
There is a kind of holy anticipation that settles into hearts every Christmas Eve—an energy that feels both reverent and joyful, quiet and alive all at once. It’s the joy of gathering again, year after year, to remember a story that never grows old. A story that still shines. Each year, as the flame is passed from candle to candle, person to person, pew to pew. One small light becomes many. The room slowly fills with a warm glow, and for a moment, everything else fades away. No rushing. No noise. Just light, song, and wonder. That simple act is a visual reminder of the miracle we celebrate: a God whose light cannot be contained. A God whose love spreads—not through force or spectacle, but through presence. Through humility. Through grace. The light of Christ moves the same way it always has—quietly, faithfully, from one life to another. It reaches us where we are, then invites us to carry it forward. What begins as a single flame becomes a shared brightness, stronger together than alone.
Wonder Into Witness | Rev. Brittney Stephans
When we hear in the story of the shepherds, we see that they were not expecting anything extraordinary. They were simply going about their work, living ordinary lives, when wonder broke in. Angels appeared. Good news was shared. And suddenly, they realized they were part of God’s story. But what mattered just as much was what came next. The shepherds did not stay in that moment of awe. They went and told others, returning to their lives changed, praising God and sharing what they had seen. Wonder led them to witness. This season is full of moments that invite a sense of wonder. Whether it is through music, familiar scriptures, candlelight, or quiet pauses we did not plan for. The question is what we do with them. Do we let them pass as fleeting feelings, or do we allow them to shape how we live and love? Like the shepherds, may we carry it with us into our conversations and our care for one another, bearing witness to the light that has come into the world.
Wonder to Acceptance | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
This Advent season invites us into wonder—yet wonder often leads us somewhere deeper: acceptance. In recent weeks, shifting weather patterns have disrupted our carefully laid plans. Meetings have been postponed, deadlines rearranged, events reshaped. We’ve checked our calendars only to discover that nature has rewritten them for us. But these interruptions carry a quiet wisdom. They remind us that life, like the weather, is not always predictable. There are moments in our faith journey when all we can do is accept. Not resignation—but holy surrender. A laying down of what we cannot control so that God may lift up what we cannot yet see. Advent is the perfect season for this surrender. We wait for Christ’s coming with hope, but also with the humility to admit that God’s timing, God’s movement, and God’s way often arrive differently than we expect. The shepherds were surprised. Mary and Joseph were redirected. The wise men were rerouted. Every story of Christ’s arrival begins with wonder, and then asks for acceptance. So what is God calling you to surrender? A burden too heavy? A timeline too rigid? A worry that has carved out space in your spirit? Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up—it means opening up. It means trusting that God is already at work, even in the disruptions.
Wonder to Silence | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Silence has a way of sharpening our vision. It slows us down enough to see what has been true all along but overlooked in the rush. It opens the door to wonder. In the hush of a dimly lit room, you remember, this is sacred. This is gift. And if silence can help us see our own children more clearly, how much more can it help us see God? This week, as we continue our Advent series Wonder, we turn to a man who learned the language of silence in a most unexpected way—Zachariah. His story begins with disbelief and muteness, but it unfolds into revelation, renewal, and awe. In the quiet, God was doing deep work in him, reshaping his heart to receive the miracle that was coming. As we enter this season, perhaps God is inviting us into a similar stillness. A silence that isn’t punishment but preparation. A quiet that positions us to notice, to understand, and to behold the wonder of what God is bringing to life in us.
Welcome to Wonder | Rev. Brittney Stephan
This week, we turn to one of Scripture's most tender and astonishing encounters, the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth. Both women, carrying miracles they never expected, greet one another with joy that seems to shake the very air around them. Elizabeth's child leaps in her womb. Mary bursts into praise. And in that quiet home, two women become witnesses to God’s impossible, hope-bearing work. Their story reminds us that wonder is not passive. It is active. It moves us. Wonder draws us closer to God and to one another. It widens our vision to see that even in uncertainty, God is weaving grace into our days.
Hands and Feet That Say Thank You | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
Gratitude is more than words, it's Hands and Feet in motion. Join us and begin considering even now: How might you put your gratitude into action this week? Whom can you bless? How can you show appreciation in a way that reflects God’s goodness?
Hands That Heal | Rev. Brittney Stephan
It’s easy to feel invisible in this world, but your presence, your hands, your feet, and your heart can change everything for someone. Every casserole you drop off, every quiet prayer, every card you send, every visit you make, and every moment spent listening echoes Christ’s healing love. As we step into a new season, maybe take a moment and ask, “How is God nudging me in this season? Where is Christ inviting me to show up?” Together, as a church rooted in compassion, we will keep walking through life’s ups and downs, trusting that Christ goes ahead of us, walks beside us, and lives within us. Healing will continue to unfold, one small act of faithfulness at a time.
Hands That Create | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
In Paris, sermons were preached not in words, but in beauty. From stained glass to carved stone, every work of art whispered the same truth — God is here. The artists who shaped and painted did more than create; they testified. And the same Spirit that inspired them moves through us today. In every meal prepared with love, every song sung, every act of kindness offered, we reveal the heart of God. This message invites us to see how our everyday creativity becomes worship — a way to preach without words and reflect the beauty of the Creator.
Blessed Are All The Saints | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross
All Saints Day is a sacred moment when we remember that the story of faith is still being written—through the lives and legacies of those who have gone before us, and through us who carry their light forward. In Hands and Feet, we’ll honor the Saints who have joined the Church Triumphant this year, speaking their names, lighting candles, and tolling bells to celebrate lives that continue to shape our community. Together, we’ll remember that we do not grieve alone, but as one body of Christ—sharing in both joy and sorrow, life and loss. As we light candles for those we’ve loved and lost, we proclaim once more that the light of Christ shines through every act of love and service, through every hand extended and every step taken in faith. Even in the face of death, we witness to the hope of eternal life—the light that no darkness can overcome.