First-Plymouth Church's Podcast

In Matthew’s story of Jesus walking on the water, we find a brazen Peter challenging Jesus’ ability. Then Peter lets the wind erupt and impede on his ability to keep focus. We have so many distractions which can take us off center as we go through life. What’s your wind? This week, Pastor KJ Langlais will share some tunes to etch in your mind to remember how to stay focused.

Some religions seem to have very strange beliefs and yet they create very loving communities. Dr Jim Keck will lead us in an encounter with a very different form of Christianity that is both oddball and endearing. And along the way he will raise questions about how we judge one another and sadly continue to create enmity within our own heart.

There are moments in life when your view suddenly expands and you are swept up into a more majestic and sweeping sense of life. Dr. Jim Keck recently had an encounter with a bald eagle and this weekend his sermon will discuss the moment to consider the grand nature of life.

About 43% of new marriages in the United States will end in divorce. All of us know someone around us that has experienced the end of their marriage and we know the struggle and difficulty that it brings to all involved. Yet there are still a number of Christian traditions that claim divorce as contrary to God’s teaching. This week, Pastor Juan Carlos Huertas ends his series on "When the Bible Gets it Wrong" with a conversation about divorce, relationships, and the good news in the midst of it all.

Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas, is the Senior Pastor of Countryside UCC at the Tri-Faith Campus located in Omaha, NE. She is a fully ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) minister with more than 15 years of dedicated service to progressive faith and LGBTQIA+ communities, and is always working at the intersection of social justice, spirituality, and community building. Rev. Dr. Shultz-Thomas holds a Doctorate of Ministry degree in Biblical Proclamation from Emory University Candler School of Theology. In addition to her ministry, Rev. Dr. Shultz-Thomas has a background in non-profit work, most recently serving as the executive director for The ArtsCenter in Carrobo, NC.

The Bible is an ancient text that reflects and ancient culture. Often we easily take what it says without taking into consideration culture, context, and the nature of scripture. This week, Pastor Juan Carlos Huertas, dives into one of the texts that continues to fuel misogyny, classism, and oppression in many parts of Christianity. There is liberation here, if we pay attention.

It is difficult to acknowledge our shortcomings, mistakes, and weaknesses. It is also difficult to be accountable to a different way of life, to our desire to be agents of peace, reconciliation, and wholeness. This week Pastor Juan Carlos Huertas invites us into a conversation about our human mistakes, the way we fail each other and ourselves, and accountable community as a pathway to a more whole life.

Rules and laws guide, but at times need to be changed as the world changes. Our Christ sees the heart and soul, the reasons and needs. The Sabbath is not about a law, it is about a desire and time for renewal, reflection, reaching out to Christ which comes in many forms and times. What places of renewal and healing might you need in life? Join Pastor KJ Langlais online for worship this weekend!

In high school, Dr. Jim Keck would argue that THE WHO was the greatest band of all-time. He no longer has a dog in that fight, but still loves the existential quality of the question “Who are you?” Psalm 8 joins in that question by asking “What are human beings?” Join us for worship this Sunday as we explore what it is to be human and how our personalities create a stunning variety.

Join us in worship this weekend as we celebrate Pentecost! On Sunday, at both the 9:00am & 10:30am services, our Plymouth Choir and TE DEUM choirs will collaborate with bass, drums and piano in Robert Ray's Gospel Mass and Rollo Dillworth's "I Sing Because I'm Happy!" See you in worship!