Urban Village Church

12/22/24 | Rev Jonathan Grace | Advent: We sing stories of hope | Luke 1:46-55

This Sunday marked the fourth Sunday of Advent. We prepare our hearts to receive Christ as we focus on God's love. In our Scripture, Mary sings about a God of liberation who pulls the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. Mary sings a story of hope, one in which justice and joy are interwoven. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, may we also sing stories of hope, justice, and joy.

12/15/24 | Rev Jonathan Grace | Advent: We allow ourselves to be amazed | Luke 1:57-66

In the moment of affirming the promise, God restores us. How often do you allow yourself to be amazed? Wonder is all around us—can we recognize it? As we learn how to rejoice in a weary world, can we live in a way that allows amazement and wonder to surprise us often? In Psalm 126, those who expect to reap tears are granted a surprise: shouts of joy. Amazement is a balm for the weary.

12/8/24 | Rev Jonathan Grace | Advent: We find joy in connection | Luke 1:24-45

In community, our joy expands. When we can’t rejoice, we can carry each other’s joy. This week we continue our Advent worship by lighting the Hope and Peace candles, finding connection with each other, and by learning how God brings peace and joy in the midst of our weariness.

12/1/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Advent: We Acknowledge Our Weariness | Luke 1: 1-23

As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. We’ve had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. This is how we show up to Advent. We see how God brings joy in the midst of our weariness.

11/24/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: How Our Giving Changes the Community | Micah 6:6-8

The prophet Micah contrasts our expectations of sacrifice with the sacrifices that God actually calls for. Instead of vanity and punishment, God desires justice, kindness, and a relationship. This sermon explores why we think of sacrifice and giving to God as a painful experience, and contrast that with the joy that comes with giving.

11/17/24 | Rev. Pamela Lightsey | Stewardship: Why Giving Matters for the Church | Mark 12: 41-44

In this story, Jesus redefines how we think about giving and what God looks for in our tithing. We explore the understanding of abundance to God, and what it means to give out of poverty rather than wealth.

11/10/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: Tithing and Discipleship | Matthew 25: 14-30

The parable considers how fear and a scarcity mindset keep us from using our resources for God. This week we explored how to shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and how to actually engage with the world in faith that our resources will grow.

11/3/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: What Does the Bible Say about Giving? | 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15

We can never outgive God. It often feels like giving is a tough requirement, especially when we have limited resources. However, when we give we find that God takes our giving and creates abundance.

10/27/24 | Rev. Jonathan Grace | Stewardship: What We Give to the Church | Leviticus 27: 30

This Sunday we begin our Stewardship sermon, What We Give to the Church. We dive into Leviticus 27:30 as our Scripture reminds us that all things belong to God. Giving back to God is an acknowledgement of the righteousness, goodness, and the lordship of God over all creation. The need to give back also creates a just society in which serving God and keeping God’s commandments create a mindset of giving rather than greed. 

10/20/24 | Dr Pamela Lightsey | Rest Along the Way | Hebrews 4:1-10

This week we join Dr Pamela Lightsey. Our sermon series on Rest dives into Creation as not a one-time act. It is ongoing, though God rested on the seventh day. Similarly, our ability to produce this or that should not be an end goal by which we gauge when we can/should rest. Rest should be our vision for our everyday lives; part of our dreams for the best possible future. Rest is not an end goal but an ongoing reality.