Bethany UCC
Bethany UCC
Bethany UCC Chicago
Sermons and stories from Bethany United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL.
24.02.18. Sermon. Disenchanted: Hawthorn Tree
In her sermon this week, Pastor Rebecca preaches on the subject of superstitions or "enchanted realities", and the power they have to shape our more science-oriented world.
Feb 21, 2024
12 min
24.02.11. Sermon. Misstakes Were Made: Corrections
In her guest sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Alaina preached on the power of mistakes (or more specifically, the power of being vulnerable enough to admit to them). Often in Christian culture, we "conflate being without sin with being perfect". But Alaina points to examples of Jesus' humanity, moments where even he makes mistakes and learns from them. She reminds us that we have the opportunity to do the same.
Feb 15, 2024
20 min
24.02.04. Sermon. Misstakes Were Made: Good Things
In his sermon this week, Pastor Vince recounts an overly generous gift he recently received and the feelings of anxiety it brought him to accept it. He compares this experience to receiving the grace of God, and considers why we humans are often so weird about receiving good things.
Feb 7, 2024
11 min
24.01.28. Sermon. Misstakes Were Made: Confession
In her sermon this week, Pastor Rebecca challenges typical notions surrounding confession. She asserts that "feeling bad is not the mechanism on which change is made", and centers confession as a means of righting our relationship with God, and with others.
Jan 31, 2024
14 min
24.01.22. Sermon. Leap Of Faith: Déjà Vu
In this sermon, Pastor Vince Amlin describes the repetitive cycles in our lives that feel like déjà vu (the hardships we face with incredulousness, thinking: haven't I already fought this battle before?) Reflecting on such moments in his own life, Pastor Vince helps to give meaning to these repetitive cycles.
Jan 23, 2024
17 min
24.01.14. Sermon. Leap of Faith: Jumping With Purpose
In this sermon, guest preacher Xander King questions whether leaps of faith require an abstract faith in God, or if we might allow our morals and principles to lead us to God, telling us when it's time to leap.
Jan 18, 2024
9 min
24.01.07. Sermon. Leap Of Faith: Ready, Set, Go.
In our first sermon of 2024, Guest Preacher Johnny Buranosky recollects on his childhood and considers the many "leaps" he's taken in regards to life, faith and queerness.
Jan 11, 2024
14 min
23.12.17. Sermon. All That Glitters: Catching Butterflies
Pastor Rebecca preaches on the subject of happiness this week, thinking on when joy is a thing that comes passively, versus seeking it out with intention.
Dec 21, 2023
12 min
23.12.10. Sermon. Hollow Ways and Desire Paths
Pastor Vince used the metaphor of "desire paths" in this sermon to describe the repeated, well worn paths we walk to find our way to God.
Dec 12, 2023
15 min
23.12.3. Sermon. All That Glitters: Our Lady Of the O
Pastor Vince preached this Sunday, describing advent as a season where we can tell God what we really want, without holding back.
Dec 6, 2023
14 min
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