First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo

Jesus is the Christ we follow into the suffering of the world, who raises us up into life.

Out of our fear, Jesus calls us to take courage, trust, and walk out into the storm – like Jesus, with Jesus – to sink and rise up again.

Forgiveness can come to life in many forms. Jesus encourages us that we can find (and extend) forgiveness in more ways than we think.

Jesus seeks out and calls Peter (and us) into relationship - into community that embodies good news for the poor, healing for every hurt, and freedom from every oppression.

In experiences that are beyond us, God is always bigger, always stronger, always moving the world toward justice, healing, and peace.

Embodying good news, Jesus heals, and takes on the powers, and takes a breath, and keeps on moving.

God is always calling us, always inviting us to pay attention, listen, and live.

What glad news of justice do you bring to the world?

On the wilderness road to freedom, God supports and sustains the weary. God encourages us to join the hard work of freedom with humility and mutuality, in ways that also help create some rest for the weary.

Jesus interrupts a world already in progress, and turns power on its head.

Simeon and Anna hold the Christ child and proclaim: This is God’s saving help come yet again, once for all – light and liberation for all people.

With folks all around the world, today is the day we tell the story: In the birth of the Christ, the fresh presence of God comes to life in the fullness of humanity.

Joy is “the fresh presence of God... the fresh action of God,” rising up from the steady and sure saving action of God across all time. Joy is God’s forever longing for human flourishing. In this sermon, we consider “joy because” of the goodness we experience in life, “joy notwithstanding” the challenges and sorrow of life, and “joy against” everything that seeks to harm human flourishing.

In a hurting world, Jesus invites us to keep watch for the Advent of God in every moment, as together we make the long journey toward joy.

Listen in as Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr preaches at First Pres San Anselmo.

Our experience of grace and gratitude is not in any way bound or determined or limited by circumstance. In Jesus Christ, God’s grace reaches us and embraces us even in the mire and the muck.

God’s New Creation comes to life, not just in the words we say and sing on Sunday, but in the life we live on Tuesday.

God embodies God’s love for the world in the communion of the saints, all of us embraced, drawn together in one Body.  All Saints Day gives us a moment to look back in gratitude, forward in hope, and present in the intention to live so that everyone can be free.

There is a place for you here if you come with questions- about Scripture, about community, about how to live well in the world.  There is a place for you here to learn and grow through questions.  

"In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Whoever you are, wherever you are, in the Body of Christ, there is a place for you... here.