Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor Sunday Sermons

13 Sep 2026 | Grace Upon Grace: Grace Steadies Us

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 19:12:06 +0000

The peace that passes understanding doesn’t ask us to minimize our grief, or our fear, or our anger, or the difficulty of what we’re carrying at any given time. What it does is it gives us a place to stand—or sometimes a piece of wreckage to cling to—while we move through it.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, learn where and when we meet in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-services/.

06 Sep 2026 | Grace Upon Grace: Grace Flows Through Us

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:44:41 +0000

Throughout Paul’s letters, he talks again and again about grace. It is the heart of his message. But what does grace look like for Christians living in ancient Rome, where life is dictated according to the logic of power and domination? This morning, we will explore Paul’s shortest letter, where he helps two Christians—one a slave and one a master—navigate their new life in Jesus, no longer as master and slave, but as brothers in Christ. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, learn where and when we meet in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-services/.

30 Aug 2026 | Grace Upon Grace: It Is Enough

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:37:23 +0000

NOTE: audio quality is degraded; a full transcript is included, below.

Using the story of Saul-turned-Paul, we start to unpack the beautiful concept of grace.

Alright, we are starting a new sermon series this morning that we are calling Grace upon Grace. And so we're going to be using some of the stories and writings of the Apostle Paul to guide us as we explore this theme. And so to start us out, I just want to ask, like, what do we mean when we talk about grace? We were at dinner with some friends last night at Corner Brewery, one of my non-church going friends, like, what are you preaching about? But she never asks. And I was like, uh, Grace. She's like, what does that even mean? It's like, you need to kind of go through it a little bit. I thought, that's a good place to start because there's a lot of things we mean when we talk about that word. So I don't usually spend too much time on definitions or etymology unless it's useful. But I think in this case it would be helpful for us to define because we use the word so many different ways in English. And just to get a little bit crunchy for just a second. For those of you for whom it's helpful, maybe you're a more visual learner. You might want to look at the notes that I've given you there. So most of the New Testament was written in Greek. The word we translate is grace, in Greek is Keras, and it just means free gift. So grace is a free gift. And you might recognize that from that word, we get some other words like charism, charisma and charismatic and so on. And so with charism, it's just a specific free gift from God for the benefit of the community, right? So what we call the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we did a sermon series on some of those back in April and May, but things like prophecy and teaching and leadership and so on, those are called charisms. So charismatics then are people who exercise these free gifts of the spirit. That's that little root word that we translate as grace is just a free gift. And the concept of grace in the New Testament is actually pulling from a couple of different Hebrew words or ideas. And you'll have to forgive my pronunciation because I don't do gutturals very well. But those two are chen and chesed. Chen is something like unearned goodwill or favor, unearned approval. And chesed means something close to faithful, loving kindness. Only it's a little bit bigger than that. It's like faithful, loving kindness that's cultivated for the sake of repairing the world. And so the New Testament concept of grace is combining these two Hebrew ideas, right? Mixing this absolute unearned approval of chen, with the faithful, loving kindness and the healing of the world that chesed, it's a free gift of God's approval of us and God's love for us, for all of creation. And it's a love that causes God to be generous to us, for our healing and for our benefit, you might say, for our salvation to make us whole, right? So like grace is grace is where it's at, right? That's the foundation of Christianity. And the man who first spoke extensively about God's grace for humans was the apostle, Paul. And we know his name wasn't originally Paul, it was Saul. And some of you know about Saul, but some of us here may not. And so what I would like to do is tell you part of his story this morning. So a long time ago, in a land far, far away. About the time when Jesus was a teenager, there was another Jewish boy who was being born in a port city on the Mediterranean coast in the Roman Empire, and that city was called Tarsus. And it's in what today is the country of Turkey. Really gorgeous coastline down there. And this boy's parents called him Saul. And it's likely that he came from a family of tentmakers, since that was his trade as he became an adult. And Saul was a devout child, and as he matured, he found himself drawn into a more rigorous stream of his faith. And so he traveled to Jerusalem, and he studied with a really well-known teacher named Gamaliel the Elder, who was the grandson of the great sage Hillel. And so Saul came to acquire some top credentials in rabbinical education, although he's never referred to as a rabbi, and I don't think he was officially one that we know of. But he was very well educated, and he grew increasingly zealous as he grew into adulthood. And so at the same time that he was coming of age, there was a sect of Judaism that was just emerging called "The Way." And The Way was centered around the teachings of a rabbi called Jesus. And so many people were starting to follow this way, and they were finding life through it. And that includes some of the great rabbinic teachers and some of the top Jewish Pharisees and leaders. But the sect was viewed by skepticism by some others, including by Saul. And some of them, like Saul, became radicalized in their fear of The Way. And they grew violent toward people who were following it. And I want to be like super-duper cautious here and how I describe what was happening, because I don't want it to be heard here as like Saul, the Jewish man versus the early Christians or the early followers, because that's not really what was happening. It was another decade or so before someone was even called a Christian, and even then, it wasn't a separate religion, right? This is an internal tension that was happening, and it's not a great parallel, but you might think of it like today with Christianity in the United States, right? We might have a small percentage of people who are like super fundies or nationalists who might be enticed to do violence to other Christians. But the majority landscape of Christianity is not that, right? And the same with Judaism in Saul's time. It's not a great parallel because it's a little more complicated of a situation. But just know Saul is not representative of all Judaism here, it's just that his is the story of being one of the super radicalized people. Does that make sense? Because that's the interesting, you know, his story is interesting. When we first meet him in the book of acts chapter seven, he's overseeing the stoning of a man who was really well respected in the community and was a follower of Jesus, whose name was Stephen. And his only crime was following The Way. And we're told that at this time Saul was a young man. And then we're told this in Acts 8. It says "That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen, and they made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house, dragging off both men and women. He committed them to prison." So after terrorizing the believers and the followers of this way in the city, he decided he was going to go after the people who had fled to try and get away. Right? These are the people who had moved their families to cities like Antioch and Damascus to escape this persecution. And so Saul decided first to go to Damascus, and he obtained some letters that would let him go and extract any Jews who were worshiping in the synagogues, who were also part of The Way. And so he was out to round up any and all followers of Jesus up in Damascus. This is in Acts 9, it says, "Now as he was going along and he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground. And he heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' And he asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up. Enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.' And the men who were traveling with him, they stood speechless because they heard the voice, but they saw no one. And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. And so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damaskus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank." And so he had this powerful mystical encounter that left him blinded and wondering what to make of what had just happened to him. And then while he wasn't able to see, he's gone into the city. There's another man in that same city. And that man's name is Ananias. He's over here praying. And as Ananias prayed, God told him about Saul. He told him where Saul was staying. And God asked Ananias to go and to visit Saul. But he was scared because this guy had a reputation and he had heard about this guy, and he'd heard about the terror that he had brought on so many people, probably even people Ananias knew personally. He'd probably been helping welcome some of these people into the city as well. And God told Ananias, don't be afraid. And so he went, and he visited Saul, and he found him unable to see. And so he laid hands on him, and he prayed for him. And it says that the scales fell from Saul's eyes. And we're told that his sight was immediately restored, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he emerged a changed man. And so really, Saul had two divine encounters, right? He had one on the road with the voice. And then he had the second one through his meeting with Ananias, who confirmed that God was indeed at work here, that this wasn't just like a little collective psychosis event that he'd experienced. The scales fell from his eyes, both literally and metaphorically. This experience just cracks Saul open like an egg. And you'd have this hard outer shell that was just, like, now totally shattered. It's just playing in an absolute mess all over the kitchen counter. Right. A lot of what he thought he had understood in his life, like what he thought was for sure understood, is now just in shambles. Okay, so this is a guy, he was like an Uber fundamentalist, right? He had a mystical experience with God. He came to realize that his quest for religious purity, right? His self-righteous actions of trying to persecute people who disagreed with him, that that quest had actually hurt the God that he'd been trying to serve. "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Now, I've worked with pastors over the years who have come to see their own life's work as profoundly damaging to people in certain areas of the ministry for different reasons, sometimes because they excluded women. Sometimes it was LGBTQ people. And by the time they come to me or to Ken, they are scared and they're sad and they're humbled and they've come to know, and I include myself in this because I know I have changed over the twenty-five years, right? We come to know God's grace for us and our human mistakes. And then I think that makes them better pastors, right? Because now there's humility in realizing that like false certainty and judgments can do a lot of damage to people. And this is how I see Saul. Right, he's one of these humbled leaders, only like he was actually killing people. Right? And dude, this is like a, this is up a level. I've lost some friends who have been killed for their faith and so Saul is more like the people who killed them. And he's more like the man who shot and killed my friend Bashir in Srinagar in 2006, or the man who shot and killed my friend Abdiwali near Garissa, Kenya in 2013. I spent Christmas Day, 2007 with Abdiwali all of his family and their kids in their homes. About three weeks ago, thirty-one Nigerian Christians were killed just because they're Christian. I was thinking about Saul and he's really more like the men who are overseeing things like that than the pastors reaching out to us, right? He was profoundly dangerous and violent on a level that's really hard for us to relate to, because we don't have that level of religious violence in our country. Thank God, and may it not be right. But his past deeply affected them and how he approached things pastorally. And you could just see his regret lingering through all of his writings. It really impacted his entire life. And so harming or harming others, we know it does violence to ourselves too. Right. And that needs tending and healing and that's what's going on with us. And because of this vision of Jesus that Saul had, of Jesus letting Saul know that his actions were actually hurting the heart of God. He completely changed his ways. And eventually he changed his name to Paul to reflect that transition, that transformation. So then as soon as he was able to, he made his way back to Jerusalem because he wanted to go and he wanted to meet with the leaders of the Jesus movement to apologize to them and to try to make things right and to join them. But understandably, they didn't want to have anything to do with him. They thought it was a trap. He had been so dangerous and so conniving that they were like, it would be just like this guy to try and work his way into the inner circle so that he could do damage. And so they said no. But there was a man called Barnabas. Barnabas is probably my favorite character in the Bible, aside from Jesus for many reasons. But Barnabas went to Saul and he made space for him to tell his story. And it just took time to listen to what was going on with him. And he believed him. And he was really open hearted, and he withheld judgment. And so he took him to the other leaders, and he advocated for Saul. And so Barnabas was the reason that Saul was eventually accepted by the leadership as being sincere. And then after that meeting that he had with the leaders, Saul went away for a few years to go to pray and to study over in Arabia and Syria. I kind of call this as deconstruction era, right? He had to kind of figure out like how to, how to like, sort of rethink about his faith in a way that was healthier. There's no indication that he planned to become a leader in the early Jesus movement. It seems like he just went off to live a quieter life out of the limelight. He's like, you know, a dog with a tail between his legs. And it's only after many years that his old friend and advocate, Barnabas, came to fetch him. And Barnabas had kept Paul in the back of his mind. He remembered him, and he went. And he brought him to Antioch to disciple him. He was like, come see what God's doing. We'll talk more about that in about three weeks. But I want us to understand about grace today, is that the man who first started putting this concept together theologically, deeply understood what it meant to receive the free, unearned favor and love of God. Alright, that he was a man who had been violent and self-righteous and overly zealous, who introduced so much terror into a community, and yet he was still considered a beloved son by God. Maybe a wayward son, but always worthy of love and belonging. And if you treat your kids and your grandkids and your nieces and nephews right, like no matter what kind of foolishness they get up to in this life, you're always going to love them, right? And that's a Dolly Parton song, "I will always love you." You will always long for a good relationship with those that you love. The theologian C Baxter Kruger, who says Grace invites us into the assurance that we are always God's beloved children. We're always welcome at the table. With God's people as well. We are always welcome in their homes or welcome in God's fellowship. We're welcome in the relationship of the Trinity. We are always welcomed to the spiritual inheritance that they promised to all humankind. He says that shame is the lie that replaces this true identity. Shame is the lie that replaces this true identity, and shame tells us we're not worthy of God's love and acceptance because of our own pain, or because of our own limitations. There's something about us, or something we've done or not done. But our deepest truth is that grace is always available to us. The free gift of God's love and presence and power in our lives. No matter how many times we mess up, no matter how many times we let ourselves or let other people down. I know Doctor Brené Brown has been everywhere in the last decade, right? You've probably heard at least some of what she said about things like shame and resilience, but I think it's worth repeating because it's so core to our well-being, right, her research. Research shows that the biggest thing that keeps people from moving forward in life and having meaningful connections with other people is shame. And shame is that feeling that we don't belong or we're not lovable because there's something inherently wrong with who we are, or because that we've acted in ways that make us feel shame, not guilt. Right? She always draws a little distinction there. Like guilt is actually usually a healthy response to doing something that hurts someone else, but shame is different. Guilt says, I did something bad. Shame says I am bad, right? And saying I am a bad person, we know was different than saying I am behaving badly. I know you parents teach your kids this all the time. You're not a bad kid who's making bad choices, right? But even when we know the difference between these things, it is hard to be free from shame stories because they come at us from all sides of our culture just seeping in, right? All of those not enough stories. You're not successful enough, you're not buff enough, you're not thin enough, you're not friendly enough. You don't have enough willpower to get clean. You don't have enough money or social skills or whatever it is, those shame voices in our heads. The Apostle Paul reminds us that there's a story with a deeper truth than these not enough stories that we tell ourselves. And the deeper truth is that God's grace covers this multitude of seeming limitations. It meets us in our darkest moments and our feelings of weakness and our feelings of inadequacy. And it reminds us of who we are and of whose we are, and that we are loved by God, our creator, and we are accepted. And this creator wants to meet us in our hardest moments with kindness, with generosity. And Paul's life changed completely when he received God's grace, because God's generosity doesn't leave us immobilized, right? God's grace creates movement and it creates freedom in our lives. It gives us the freedom to become different and to choose differently, and to repair what's been damaged, even when that takes a really long time. It gives us the freedom to participate in God's healing of the world. And as the late, great Dolly Parton, Our Lady of the holler, once said, if you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. Grace frees us from shame, and it helps us to stand back up and to walk a different path. Speaking of Dolly Parton, I was like, I got a stick her in this. I've already written the sermon. I was like, I gotta put her in a sermon on grace, right? If you want an example of a person who personifies grace, there we have it. That's why everybody loved her. I look at her and I think of that. That is a Christian woman right there. Right. She personified and reflected the grace of God that everybody she met, they knew that she didn't judge them because of anything about their background. She had this quiet confidence in her own identity and her belovedness by God. She was like, I know who I am, and she knew she had made mistakes, but she still knew very deep down who she was made to be. Right behind the scenes, she just meted out gifts to help repair the world and to empower other people to do that. So I didn't even know this because I barely on social media, but Rachel saw on Facebook that our Archbishop, Bishop Yvette Flunder, had posted right after Dolly died, that she actually gave TFAM a really significant donation some years back, which I didn't know. Right. Who would know? She's just like quietly doing this stuff, doling out her money. And I thought that was really cool. I also think it's interesting that after Dolly died, like her music awards were more like a footnote, even though like, wow, what an accomplished artist. Eleven Grammys, ten CMAs, a National Medal of Arts and so on. But what people talked about was her kindness and her character and her joy and her generosity and her forgiveness and her deep care for the working-class people and for people who live in poverty, and her ability to let people just be themselves around her. So find out who you are and do it on purpose, right? That is grace personified. Who am I made to be? And she's like, I just knew what I was supposed to do. I knew that God loved me, and I knew that I was supposed to go and be a singer and do this. So I know our belovedness in God and like, know who you are and go out and do it on purpose. Grace is the mercy of discovering that our life is way bigger than the worst thing we've done, and it's way larger than the worst thing that's happened to us. Amen. Right. Our failures and our traumas are real, and they can feel terrible, but they are not the final word in our life. They do not get to write the ending to our stories. There is always more story left to tell, because the grace of God is boundless and unceasing. And Saul turned Paul, he knows what it's like to look backwards at a complicated life. Right. He was puritanical and he was wrong. And he caused a lot of harm to a lot of people. And he was absolutely certain about things that he came to see differently. And yet when he looked back at his life, he wrote almost with astonishment in first Corinthians, "For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain." For Paul, as for all of us, grace meant that there could be a tomorrow that his younger self couldn't have imagined. And God pours grace into us imperfect vessels. And he somehow says, here, take this, carry this to the world instead. Amen. All right. We need to take a minute here just for some silence or guided meditation. But let's just take about a minute of silence. People make noise. Let's just make space for God to, um, just remind us of our belovedness. And if there's something that you're carrying that you're wanting to just take time to present before God, this is a great time to do that as well. So come Holy Spirit in this space.

Lord, we thank you that there's absolutely nothing that can separate us from your love. In that silence I was reminded of that passage that Paul wrote in Romans about how nothing, absolutely nothing can keep us from God; neither height or death or anything else in all of creation. Nothing we've done, nothing about who we are. We don't have to get to a certain place in our life for you to be ready to use us. Lord, we just thank you that you meet us in the immediacy of our everyday lives right where we're at. And God, I ask that you would just help us to experience that grace and that free love and that presence that you feel your love toward us, just as we go through our week this week. And I ask that you would open our hearts as you're teaching us about grace over these next few weeks. In Your name we pray, Amen.

23 Aug 2026 | Going Meta: Confession and Communion

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 20:26:10 +0000

Since the earliest days of the Christian movement, Jesus' followers have gathered together around scripture, song, and sacrament. While worship services vary in style and content, the practices of confession and communion have long remained a staple part of Christian worship. As we finish our series on the elements of worship, we will explore these two practices in detail to understand their importance and how they shape us as a community of faith.

16 Aug 2026 | Going Meta: Why We Sing

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 20:42:25 +0000

Every Sunday we sing words that come from different centuries and cultures and theological traditions. We sing the experiences of people beside us and people who died long before us. We try on metaphors. We borrow prayers. We carry one another's testimonies. And somewhere along the way, a song becomes ours without us even realizing it.

09 Aug 2026 | Going Meta: The Sunday Liturgy

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 21:03:31 +0000

We talk about the form and structure of our Sunday morning service to give us a better framework for why and how we worship the way we do.

26 Jul 2026 | Nothing Can Separate Us

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 21:00:57 +0000

Congregant Bruce Umpstead shares about how he came to a more inclusive faith, and the meaning he's found in practices like Lectio Divina.

19 Jul 2026 | Song of Songs: God Is Love

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:16:20 +0000

We inhabit a world filled with love and with possibilities for love: opportunities to meet one another with freedom and presence, to take one another’s joys and sufferings seriously, and to be changed through genuine relationship.

12 Jul 2026 | Song of Songs: Beauty Will Save the World

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:44:11 +0000

As we continue our sermon series on the Song of Songs, we will be considering the importance of beauty, how beauty leads us to wisdom and love, and how it might just save the world.

28 Jun 2026 | Song of Songs: Seasons of Love

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:20:09 +0000

To love creation is to recognize that the earth isn’t merely the stage on which our lives unfold but it’s a living community to which we belong. In order to care for the earth well, we have to fall in love with it.

21 Jun 2026 | Song of Songs: Flora & Fauna

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:25:18 +0000

This week we open a new sermon series where we're looking at the Song of Songs through an ecological lens to discover what it might have to say to us about our spirituality and our orientation to the Creation.

07 Jun 2026 | Pray & Act: A Gift of Leadership

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:34:54 +0000

Leadership is the Spirit-given work of helping a community live into its calling. Pastor Emily weaves in the voices of several people with a leadership gift to highlight some godly wisdom.

31 May 2026 | Pray & Act: A Gift of Faith

Sun, 31 May 2026 21:19:07 +0000

The gift of faith is the Spirit-given ability to trust deeply in God's presence and goodness, especially when circumstances make that trust difficult. We talk about how people with this gift become anchors for others.

24 May 2026 | Pray & Act: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Sun, 24 May 2026 20:37:00 +0000

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a central theme in the book of Acts. As followers of Jesus were busy debating who could be baptized into the community of faith, Pentecost provided a radical and, for some, unsettling answer: all who are seeking connection with God can be baptized into God's Holy Spirit. What began as a closed religious community was suddenly, by the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit, transformed into an ever-growing, ever-diversifying movement that continues to this day.

17 May 2026 | Pray & Act: Prophecy and Discernment of Spirits

Sun, 17 May 2026 23:01:18 +0000

We talk about what prophecy and discernment look like in practical terms, and how they work together to encourage us and provide wisdom.

10 May 2026 | The Quirkiest Gift—And the No-Nonsense God it Signifies

Sun, 10 May 2026 21:39:22 +0000

Sister Elena Guerra, Pope Leo XIII, Agnes Ozman, William Seymour, and Lucy Fallows: The Story Behind the re-emergence of the Spirit's quirkiest gift. (And a bonus: what Pope Leo XIV may be up to.)

03 May 2026 | Pray & Act: The Ministry of Healing

Sun, 03 May 2026 20:36:31 +0000

The Bible is full of stories about healing, especially the Gospels. For this reason, the expectation of divine healing has been a normal part of the church’s life. In this sermon, we will look at the story of Jesus and the blind man in John 9, and consider what it means to participate in God’s healing activity in the world through the church today.

26 Apr 2026 | Pray & Act: Hospitality & Generosity

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:07:59 +0000

Looking at the Book of Acts and the story of Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke, we talk about how the gifts of hospitality and generosity can be seen as Spirit-enabled disruptions of exclusion and scarcity.

Apr 19 2026 | Pray & Act: Holy Fire

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:02:17 +0000

We’re starting a new sermon series this morning on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We talk about how the stories between Easter and Pentecost point to a God whose Spirit is uncontained and moving in the world.

12 Apr 2026 | Faith Comes Softly

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:46:22 +0000

We talk about the Road to Emmaus, and the invitation is to keep walking on a journey of faith. To stay attentive. To remain open to the possibility that there is more happening than we might currently perceive.

05 Apr 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Resurrection Power

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:54:02 +0000

On this Easter Sunday, as we remember the story of Jesus’s resurrection together, it might be surprising to consider that Easter doesn’t take place outside of the wilderness. Easter happens right in the middle of it.

29 Mar 20206 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Testing, Testing

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:01:23 +0000

Wilderness tales often include tests of character in the Bible; it's probably clearest in Jesus’s story. In the wilderness God realized he could trust Jesus to use his authority and influence with integrity. The manifestation of this trust is illustrated in the Palm Sunday story, with Jesus riding a nursing donkey into the city.

22 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: What’s Mine to Carry?

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:37:34 +0000

We look further at the story of Elijah to help us navigate questions around burnout, rejuvenation, and discerning what's ours to carry and what's not ours to carry.

15 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Count the Ravens

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:13:49 +0000

Using the story of Elijah and the ravens, we talk about how God provides for us and sustains us in the hardest times of life.

08 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: God Was in This Place

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:57:45 +0000

The wilderness is a common image in scripture. It signifies the places in life where God feels absent and it seems like we’re alone. The story of Jacob offers us wisdom as we navigate those season of life. Rather than putting our heads down and pressing through, Jacob’s story tells us to keep our eyes open because we never know where we might find God at work.

01 Mar 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Survival Wisdom

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 21:27:56 +0000

Using the story of Joseph we talk about hard-won survival wisdom gained in the wilderness. The boy who had big dreams becomes a man who can manage a crisis.

22 Feb 2026 | Treasures From the Wilderness: Memory

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:10:03 +0000

We open our new sermon series and talk about how remembering God's faithfulness and other ways we get through hard times builds resilience.

15 Feb 2026 | The Cost of Discipleship: A Bonhoeffer Redux

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:46:14 +0000

In 1937, while leading a seminary declared illegal by the Nazis, the German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote one of his most famous books: The Cost of Discipleship. In the book, he describes two types of Christianity: one that preaches cheap grace and the other that preaches costly grace. He warns that “cheap grace is the mortal enemy of the church. Our struggle today is for costly grace.” This morning, we will consider what cheap grace looks like in our context and how we can practice costly grace.

08 Feb 2026 | Gideon: Trusting God

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:36:30 +0000

We look at the ending of the story, focusing on some of the comic elements, and talk about how the story of Gideon is trying to teach us that friendship with God is worthwhile.

01 Feb 2026 | Gideon: When God Waits On Us

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:40:37 +0000

Bishop Tim Wolfe teaches from the story of Gideon to encourage us that God can use us to change the world for the better. He highlights the verse that talks about how God waited on Gideon, just as God patiently waits on us.

25 Jan 2026 | God Lets Gideon Ask Questions

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 23:04:55 +0000

When it seems like everything is on fire and God has abandoned the world, Gideon’s story reminds us that we are not alone. God is with us, inviting us to live out our faith by partnering with God in working for righteous, peace, and justice in the world around us.

18 Jan 2026 | Gideon: Becoming God’s Friend

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:40:00 +0000

We open a three-part sermon series on friendship with God using the story of Gideon in Judges 6–7. Who does God say you are? What does it mean to build trust with God?

11 Jan 2026 | Nuance and Compassion: The Story of Ruth

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:03:47 +0000

We use the story of Ruth as scaffolding for talking about care and concern for immigrants.

Our message also includes a presentation by Amanda Schwartz, a staff attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, about the work they do to provide legal representation and advocacy for Michigan's low income immigrant communities.

04 Jan 2026 | Remembering Epiphany

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:44:31 +0000

The Christmas season ends on January 6th with the celebration of Epiphany. On this day we remember the story of Herod, an insecure king, who was visited by magi from the east with news of a new king who reigns with righteousness and justice. Herod may rule for a day, but the magi promise us that a new day is dawning. This is the good news of Epiphany.

21 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Shepherd Sentinels

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:37:52 +0000

The night Jesus was born, some shepherds were playing a role that would have been familiar to anyone shaped by the Hebrew Scriptures—the role of the watchmen. We talk about holding onto hope that love will win out in the end, even when it seems like it won't.

14 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Find Joy in the Waiting

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:31:00 +0000

From Board Member Lisa Ruby: Pivoting away from quiet anticipation to rejoicing and elation as we light the candle of joy.

07 Dec 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Warn the City

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 22:20:17 +0000

In the second week of Advent, as we continue our series on the legacy of the watchmen, we are invited to consider the story of Ezekiel the Prophet. Ezekiel was called by God to be watchmen for the house of Israel and to warn Jerusalem of coming disaster. But he was also a prophet of hope. Even in exile, amid the ruin and rubble of the once great City of Peace, he promises that God will be with the people and will one day bring them home again.

30 Nov 2025 | Keeping Watch: Watchmen Wait in the Night

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:30:40 +0000

It's the first week of Advent, the season when we wait in the darkness with hope that God's presence will break through. We talk about how the watchmen of Scripture provide a metaphor for the kind of waiting we're called to practice.

23 Nov 2025 | Thoughts on Gratitude

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 21:56:29 +0000

Using a story from the Gospel of Luke, we offer a few thoughts on gratitude this Thanksgiving week.

16 Nov 2025 | Sermon on the Mount: Which Story to Trust?

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 20:55:41 +0000

Today we reach the edge of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus brings everything to a choice. There are different ways to live. Which story will we trust? Which foundation do we want to build on?

09 Nov 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Judge Not

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:46:48 +0000

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to judge one another and not to get caught up worrying about other people’s issues when we have plenty of the things within ourselves we should be focused on. This simple command is the key to building and sustaining genuine community. Conflict is inevitable. Disagreements will arise. But when handled with grace and understanding, they can become an invitation into deeper and more genuine community.

02 Nov 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Don’t Worry ’Bout a Thing

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:37:17 +0000

We continue in our series on the Sermon on the Mount and then have a little chat about the church in lieu of our normal membership series.

26 Oct 2025 | Sermon on the Mount: The Lord’s Prayer

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 21:50:32 +0000

This week we take a closer look at The Lord's Prayer to help us better understand this prayer we say together each week and how it shapes our hearts.

19 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Spiritual Practices

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 22:28:38 +0000

The part of the SOTM we’re talking about today is about rivalry-reducing practices. These are spiritual practices that can help shape us to have the kind of character that helps us experience God more fully, and lets us live lives enacting restorative justice.

12 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Love Even Your Enemies

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:47:35 +0000

This week we continue our Sermon on the Mount series by considering two of Jesus’ most challenging teachings: nonviolence and enemy-love. We explore the logic behind these teachings and consider how they can apply to our world today. Are they impractical ideals, or do they offer us a compelling way forward in a world gripped with conflict and violence?

05 Oct 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Heart Stuff

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:19:45 +0000

We look at how Jesus diagnoses the things that most often trip humans up and keep us from being our best selves, and the practical advice he gives to help us.

28 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Salt, Light, Deeds

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 22:20:55 +0000

What does it mean for salt to “lose its taste”? We talk about the part of the Sermon on the Mount that encourages us to keep our "flavor," be light, and manifest that light in our communities.

21 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: The Beatitudes

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:35:59 +0000

Many people see the Beatitudes as high moral ideals we’re supposed to live up to, but that approach makes us focus on our own effort instead of God’s grace. We look at how Jesus uses a Wisdom word to help people see God at work in unexpected places.

14 Sep 2025 | Sermon On the Mount: Let Us Begin

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 23:47:34 +0000

Pastor Emily opens up a new series on the Sermon On the Mount by setting the stage for Jesus's most famous teaching. The Sermon on the Mount begins not with a list of “oughts” and “shoulds,” but with a vision—a vision of what it looks like when human life is re-ordered around God’s desire rather than rivalry, competition, fear, or shame.

07 Sep 2025 | The Theological Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 02:41:48 +0000

In Luke 14, Jesus responds to the crowds in a surprising way: If you want to be my disciple, be prepared to give up everything. What feels like a harsh reaction is actually an impassioned invitation: If you’re looking for the world to change for the better, come follow me. It won’t always be easy but it will certainly be worth it.

31 Aug 2025 | The Sacred Practice of Supported Struggle

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 21:29:47 +0000

From Guest Speaker Kim Robinson: Based in developmental science about how learning happens, I make connections between the process of learning and the process of working toward God’s good realm “on earth, as it is in heaven.”

24 Aug 2025 | What Can the Bible and History Teach Us About Money and Debt?

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 21:04:33 +0000

From Guest Speaker Tom Seiple: The Bible has a great deal to say about money and debt, mentioning money, wealth, and debt over 2,300 times. Given that frequency, these are clearly important topics, but money, wealth, and debt looked and functioned very differently in biblical times. Through the exploration of their anthropological origins, we can better assess true biblical values around money and debt.

17 Aug 2025 | Psalm 82: A Prayer of Resistance

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:26:54 +0000

How do we pray when it seems like the world around us has lost its way? Incorporating insights from indigenous teachers, we explore the world of Psalm 82 and learn what it means for Christians in America to pray this psalm with honesty and conviction. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, learn where and when we meet in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-services/

10 Aug 2025 | Masculinity in Crisis and the Reactionary Assault on Empathy

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:28:11 +0000

Best-selling Christian books to the contrary, cognitive and emotional empathy is the ethical heart of the teaching of Jesus and the Law of Moses. Pastor Emeritus Ken Wilson provides guidance for how to walk this out with loved ones who have muted their God-given capacity for empathy in our current cultural-political divide.

27 Jul 2025 | Tonight Your Soul is Required

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:47:56 +0000

From Special Guest Speaker Dr. David Gushee: Drawing from Luke 12:13–21, a family inheritance dispute is the occasion for a teaching moment.

Dr. Gushee has been a special friend to Blue Ocean over the years, and has written numerous books which have been very impactful in the Christian ethical community. His latest book is “The Moral Teachings of Jesus.”

13 Jul 2025 | Renewed Day by Day: Aging as a Spiritual Practice

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:48:55 +0000

From Guest Speaker Nancy Ogilvie: There’s no question that growing old can be a process of loss and diminishment; and when we embrace aging as a spiritual practice, we can turn the losses and challenges of physical aging into opportunities for spiritual growth. We can serve God by becoming elders in our communities, offering our wisdom and grace in a world that desperately needs us.

29 Jun 2025 | Men (and Masculinity) in Crisis: Surprising Aspects of Masculinity in the Bible

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:32:55 +0000

From Pastor Emeritus Ken Wilson—The manosphere is calling for a return to 1950s gender roles and masculinity. There are other options.

22 Jun 2025 | What Sheep Can Teach Ewe—from Farmers Reflecting on Sheep and Scripture

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 21:05:34 +0000

Emily and Javan have a flock of about 60 sheep, daily they teach them insights about themselves and God—enlightening the words of Scripture. Drawing from Ezekiel 34, they share some of these insights with ewe!

08 Jun 2025 | The Impact of a Trusted Adult

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 21:36:13 +0000

Guest speaker Lisa Ruby discusses the challenges of living, and especially growing up, in a society dominated by laws and punishments meant to control our behavior, and the invaluable role a trusted adult can play in a young person's life.

01 Jun 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Jesus the Dragon Slayer

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:31:26 +0000

We wrap up our series on the dragon theme in the Bible by talking about how Jesus gave us tools for fighting the Chaos Monster.

25 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Jael and the Ordinary People Who Slay the Dragon

Sun, 25 May 2025 20:31:19 +0000

We explore the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4 as a dragon-slaying story, and talk about the invitation for all of us to participate in the story of redemption by resisting evil.

18 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Moses and the Serpent King

Sun, 18 May 2025 21:43:34 +0000

We continue our series exploring the dragon-slaying stories in the Bible by revisiting the story of Exodus where Moses leads the Israelites to freedom while Pharaoh and his army are swept away by the sea.

11 May 2025 | Dragon Slayers: Variations on a Theme

Sun, 11 May 2025 20:46:08 +0000

This week we open up a sermon series where we talk about the dragon slaying stories in the Bible and what they're trying to communicate.

04 May 2025 | Welcome Pastor Daniel

Sun, 04 May 2025 22:14:06 +0000

Pastor Emily interviews our new Associate Pastor of Community Life, Daniel Reaume, so we can get to know him better.

27 Apr 2025 | Feed My Sheep

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 22:53:41 +0000

TFAM Bishop Tim Wolfe gives a word about the cost of following Jesus.

20 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Practicing Resurrection

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 21:57:04 +0000

Practicing resurrection means living as if the resurrection of Jesus already changes everything—how we treat others, how we spend our time, how we respond to suffering, how we imagine the world can and should be. It takes faith to live as if life wins, even when death still casts a long shadow.

13 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Embracing Joy and Celebration

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 21:25:29 +0000

We talk about joy and celebration as acts of resistance against despair. Shared joy rooted in memory and hope, is powerful. Celebration is a sign that the oppressed have not been broken.

06 Apr 2025 | Resilient Faith: Holding Space for Grief in the Beloved Community

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 22:40:21 +0000

The shortest verse in the Bible—Jesus Wept—is one of its most profound. It is a moment of deep humanity, a moment where grief meets love, and a moment that shows us what it means to be in true community with one another.

30 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Sabbath Rhythm

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:30:59 +0000

We talk about how practicing Sabbath isn't about adding to our load but about rhythm and trust and believing the care of your body and your soul isn’t something you have to earn.

23 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Communion—For a Sturdy, Resilient, and Convictional Faith

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 21:29:54 +0000

We look at the history and importance of Communion as a ritual meal that forms trails in the landscape of the body/soul.

16 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Baptism

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 21:34:56 +0000

We contrast the “yeast of Herod” with the “yeast of the kin-dom of God” and talk about how baptism symbolically aligns us with a story of hope, freedom, and love.

09 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Acts of Service

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 03:13:24 +0000

Using the story in John 2 about the miracle at Cana, we remember that, when the Spirit invites us to take action, we’re doing it with the abundance of God at our service, with the power of God at our backs, and with the presence of God at our sides.

02 Mar 2025 | Resilient Faith: Pilgrimage of the Heart

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 22:31:07 +0000

One of our spiritual tools is that we can make a pilgrimage of the heart where we can access Divine presence and peace. We talk about what it means to draw on this strength in these times.

23 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Discerning Our Role

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 01:32:27 +0000

We use the story of David blessing his son Solomon to build the temple to talk about discerning which roles are ours to take on, and which are not. Where is God calling us to step forward, and where are we called to hold back?

16 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Love with Abandon

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 01:29:48 +0000

Blue Ocean intern El Costanzo draws from the stories of David dancing in worship and of his friendship with Jonathan to talk about love that transcends categories.

09 Feb 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: The Cost of Corruption

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 22:14:02 +0000

We look at a story about King David that is both a warning and an invitation. It warns us of the dangers of unchecked power and the consequences of corruption. It also invites us to seek justice, to hold leaders accountable, and to work for a world where power is wielded for the good of all.

02 Feb 2025 | Custodians of Treasures

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:24 +0000

Emily and her sister Lindsay talk about the treasures of the church and how to navigate times such as the ones in which we live.

26 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Psalm of Courage

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 23:36:12 +0000

Pastor Emeritus Ken connects Jesus’s “fear not“ statements with Psalm 56, a psalm David wrote under intense duress.

19 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Character Under Pressure

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 22:02:40 +0000

Using stories about David, we talk about how our limits and character are tested when we meet adversity and pressure. What will we do? What kind of person do we want to be?

12 Jan 2025 | The Heart of the Matter: Have Faith & Be You

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:14:44 +0000

This morning we begin a new sermon series called “The Heart of the Matter” where we’re interacting with some of the stories about King David in the Hebrew Scriptures in order to reflect on what it means to live lives of integrity. This morning's story is about David and Goliath—what it means to be true to who you are and live courageous lives.

05 Jan 2025 | Epiphany: At Home In God

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 22:05:46 +0000

We look at the imagery of the nativity to talk about how Jesus is the new Eden—the new “home of delight,” in whom we find shelter, safety, and a place of rest.

22 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Love of God Transforms Us

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:19:09 +0000

As we move toward Christmas and the culmination of the season, we are reminded that love is a transformative power that shapes how we live, how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we respond to God’s assurances.

15 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Weary World Rejoices

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:06:53 +0000

For the third week of Advent, Blue Ocean intern El Costanzo preaches about how the announcement of joy of the birth of Jesus was not made in the courts of kings or in the temple of priests, but in the fields to humble shepherds. This is intentional. God comes to us where we are, in our work, our struggles, in our ordinary lives.

08 Dec 2024 | Advent: The Peace of God When Life is Busy

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 22:47:22 +0000

This second week of Advent we practice peace while waiting on the presence of God to show up more fully. Sometimes God’s peace enters into the chaos of our lives and re-arranges things a bit first, in order to bring us to a deeper, truer, longer-lasting peace.

01 Dec 2024 | The Practice of Advent—Hope

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 23:16:38 +0000

Guest speaker Dr. Kim Robinson opens our Advent sermon series talking about the practices of Advent and learning from marginalized voices.

24 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: Guardrails for Interpretation

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:16:04 +0000

We wrap up our series on reading the Bible by talking about some guardrails for interpretation.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of our current membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

17 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: Tools for Interpretation

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 22:13:59 +0000

This week we use the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den to illustrate the Fourfold Method of Bible Interpretation.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of our current membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

10 Nov 2024 | Reading the Bible: For Pleasure and Comfort

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:42:31 +0000

We start out our series on reading the Bible by embracing an enjoyment of the writings as literature. Many of us have been taught to read the Bible “seriously” instead of for pleasure, but learning to enjoy the stories and poetry on their own terms can help us to be more “serious” in our understanding of the Scripture’s depth and wisdom.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of our current membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

03 Nov 2024 | We Are Not Alone

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:48:13 +0000

When others struggle to feel God’s presence, we stand beside them because it is in relationship that we know God. No one is meant to do this alone. In a world that is so divided, let’s find a way to hold onto each other. To breathe more life into each other. Revolutionary love happens in the smallest moments.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of our current membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

27 Oct 2024 | Live At Peace With Others, As Much As You’re Able

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:29:43 +0000

Dr. David Gushee talks about the importance of liberal democracy and addresses the need for living with others in unity, as best we're able.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of our current membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

20 Oct 2024 | Why Blue Ocean?

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:03:38 +0000

Three different congregants share about their personal faith journey and why they've made Blue Ocean their church home.

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of the referenced membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

13 Oct 2024 | We Need Connection More Than We Need Answers

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:11:54 +0000

For our membership series, we explore getting outside ourselves to connect with others. Togetherness is the antidote to loneliness. We don't need to have all the answers or to rely on religious certainty, but instead, we can heed the command Jesus gave: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

For more information on membership, and to download a copy of the referenced membership booklet, visit a2blue.org/member-resources/.

06 Oct 2024 | Justice for the Poor: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 21:16:43 +0000

We use the Book of Ruth and the Proverbs to talk about care for the poor. Part of what it means to follow Jesus, part of what it means to be shaped by Christianity, is caring for those with less social power. Both within our community and outside of it.

29 Sep 2024 | The Heart and the Body: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 21:45:33 +0000

We talk about how healthy spirituality reduces shame, and we are welcome before God in all of our humanity.

22 Sep 2024 | Be Wary of Extremes: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 22:22:05 +0000

We talk about how the Proverbs caution us to be wary of extreme certainty, and wary of extremes in our thinking more generally. Many of the verses encourage us to be open to being challenged and adjusting our views—because, as sure as we feel about something, we might be wrong.

15 Sep 2024 | God Inspired, Human Approved: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:01:41 +0000

Pastor Emeritus, Ken Wilson, explores the wit and wisdom of Proverbs as field-tested advice from an oppressed people. Their experiences can help us navigate challenging situations, particularly as it applies to how we treat our enemies.

08 Sep 2024 | In Riddles: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 21:45:29 +0000

Today we explore the Proverbs as riddles. These riddle-type proverbs impart wisdom in witty or clever ways, just as Wisdom plays in the earth and delights in humankind.

01 Sep 2024 | Upsides & Downsides: The Ways of Wisdom

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:30:17 +0000

Proverbs says everything meaningful in life has both upsides and downsides. Perhaps the most meaningful parts of our lives are enabled by the seemingly mundane things we do, day in and day out—things that allow us to build a life that is full.

25 Aug 2024 | Character Matters: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 22:43:48 +0000

The writer David Brooks talks about résumé virtues and eulogy virtues. The Book of Proverbs is deeply concerned with eulogy virtues—with character. It offers some guidelines that we'll consider together.

18 Aug 2024 | Avoiding Unnecessary Drama: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 20:48:29 +0000

In the imagination of the Hebrew Scriptures, Wisdom is the fabric of the world. When we make wise choices, we have the wind at our back.

11 Aug 2024 | A Stitch In Time: The Ways of Wisdom

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 20:47:42 +0000

The catch all word for the stuff we learn that makes our lives work well is wisdom. We start a new sermon series this week on the earthy wisdom of the Proverbs and the timeless advice passed down from those who came before us.

28 Jul 2024 | Anchored In God’s Goodness: The Witness of Habakkuk

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 21:20:26 +0000

Habakkuk came to understand that living by faith meant that, even if he didn't understand God's ways or timing, he could rely on God’s character—Their wisdom, love, and reliability.

21 Jul 2024 | Getting It Right is More Important than Being Right

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 21:23:21 +0000

Guest speaker Lisa Ruby talks about how we can lead responsibly in ways that reflect God's good realm.

14 Jul 2024 | On Belonging: We Are the Many in One

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 21:10:41 +0000

Today, we explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians on belonging to one sacred body as many members in One. Remembering that we can only be as healthy or as happy as our least happy member.

30 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: Choose Life

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 21:47:05 +0000

This week we wrap up our sermon series on Original Blessing by summarizing what we've learned and looking at it in light of the Sermon on the Mount.

23 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: East of Eden

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 20:56:36 +0000

God’s desire is for us to both trust Them and show that we can be Trusted. We're invited to grow and mature, to become discerning of good and evil, to hold grey areas, and to choose wisely and freely as best we can in order to live into our Original Blessing.

16 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: A Beastly Reflection

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 21:06:40 +0000

We look at another Scriptural metaphor that can help us think about how to live lives that reflect goodness and integrity.

02 Jun 2024 | Oh Goodness: On Bears and Vampire Creatures

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 21:30:06 +0000

We look at how the Bible asks us if we're able to pick up the mandate of Original Blessing. Can we humans be trusted to care for ourselves and the people around us? The temptation not to do so is always lurking at our door.

Also includes a musical performance by special guests Andrew Jamieson, a pianist from City of Refuge in Oakland, CA, and Dr. Darnell Ishmel from Flint, both part of the TFAM community.

26 May 2024 | Oh Goodness! Return to Me and I Will Return to You

Mon, 27 May 2024 00:53:03 +0000

We dwell in a good God; a good God dwells in us. Today, we’ll explore how Original Blessing can help us turn away from the arrogance of thinking, “I don’t really matter.”

19 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: Water of Life

Sun, 19 May 2024 20:47:17 +0000

On this Pentecost Sunday we talk about the symbolism of the trees and water in Scripture, and how we're invited to drink from the Spirit to strengthen our souls and live out the message of Jesus.

12 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: A Garden of Delights

Sun, 12 May 2024 21:49:46 +0000

We look at the metaphor of the garden in Scripture to explore what it's saying about Original Blessing.

05 May 2024 | Oh Goodness: Death is Overcome

Sun, 05 May 2024 20:47:53 +0000

We talk about how the concept of Original Blessing is solving a different problem than Original Sin, which leads to a different gospel message. Instead of humans needing saving from God's wrath, Death is the Big Baddie of our collective story and God is the hero. From there, we can talk in a positive way about what it means to be Christian and how God wants us to thrive.

28 Apr 2024 | Oh Goodness! Original Sin Fails Us

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 02:38:04 +0000

This week we take a closer look at some of the history and shortcomings of Original Sin and why it fails us.

21 Apr 2024 | Oh Goodness: Our Incredible Potentiality

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:21:13 +0000

We're starting a new sermon series on Original Blessing and how this idea impacts how we see God, ourselves, and our role in the world.

14 Apr 2024 | On the Apostle Paul: Love Does No Harm

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:19:13 +0000

Today, we explore two versions of Paul too often used for harm. Then, we consider some new perspectives on Paul, which can transform the meaning of his words. As he writes in his Letter to the Romans, “Love does no harm to your neighbor.” (13:10)

07 Apr 2024 | Safety from Harm

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:29:46 +0000

Pastor Ken explores the first three books of the old testament—Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus—to highlight the foundations of harm alleviation in scripture.

31 Mar 2024 | Easter: A Time to Embrace New Narratives

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 21:09:25 +0000

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we see in his teachings and actions a roadmap for how we are called to live in the world. We orient our own deep stories around his messages of radical love and breaking down the barriers that divide us.

24 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Peace Through Justice

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:42:35 +0000

The story of Palm Sunday offers an invitation to live our lives in ways that bring about peace through justice.

17 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Becoming a People of Hope, Not Fear

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 22:13:51 +0000

As we continue our sermon series on following Jesus during a rise in Christian Nationalism, today we look at a repeating pattern: liberation movements followed by a rise in “stiff-necked” religiosity. Through storytelling, we explore how to break the pattern, becoming a people of hope, and not fear.

10 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Rejecting Warrior Jesus

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 20:58:50 +0000

We talk about the violent militancy of this white Christian nationalism and then look at Jesus for some guidance for how to relate to it.

03 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Gender Hierarchy & Christian Nationalism

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:14:36 +0000

The best predictor that someone embraces Christian nationalism is that they also subscribe to traditional gender norms. We look at how Genesis starts out the Bible narrative with a challenge to gender hierarchy in a way that is subversive; and then at how Jesus, and Paul after him, were actively dismantling gender hierarchies.

25 Feb 2024 | American Idol: How Jesus Used Power

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:35:00 +0000

We contrast how Jesus used power with the dominionist theology that's driving part of the white Christian nationalist movement today.

18 Feb 2024 | American Idol: Following Jesus In a Time of Christian Nationalism

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 22:10:55 +0000

We talk about the deep story driving Christian nationalism, and touch on how that story is counter to the project to which Jesus called his followers.

11 Feb 2024 | Good Grief: The Path Toward Healing

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 21:09:50 +0000

This morning we talk about the path to healing after a loss. Healing doesn’t mean getting back to the person we were before the loss, but rather integrating the loss into our lives and our stories in ways that help us move forward.

04 Feb 2024 | Good Grief: The Breaking of the Vessels

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:41:07 +0000

We talk about how our emotions often feel like they’re in chaotic disarray in the weeks and months (and sometimes years) following a loss—feeling the feelings is part of the path to healing. We talk about self-care, mental health, and resilience through the process of grief.

28 Jan 2024 | Good Grief: Contraction

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:42:54 +0000

We talk a bit about our shared human experience of grief, and how to care for each other in times of mourning.

21 Jan 2024 | Descending Into Winter: Belly of a Beast

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 22:22:48 +0000

We talk about God's work in us during the cold, wintery seasons of our spiritual life using Jonah's prayer in the belly of the sea beast. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, learn where and when we meet in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-services/

14 Jan 2024 | Beloved Community: How Are the Children?

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:51:27 +0000

Kim Robinson, Executive Vice President of The Forum for Youth Investment and the Managing Director for the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, guest preaches—incorporating some of her research to talk about creating a kin-dom vision of supporting the thriving of young people.

07 Jan 2024 | What Can We Learn from the Moon?

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 22:25:17 +0000

On Epiphany we celebrate the story of the magi. Today, we also look to the night sky in a reflective exploration of what we can learn from the moon, who is likened to the poor, to the coming of God’s Good Realm, and to Jesus.

31 Dec 2023 | Stories of St. Nicholas

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 23:26:47 +0000

Pastor Emily, joined by the children of Blue Ocean, shares stories about St. Nicholas of Myra; followed by a performance by the Ypsilanti Youth Choir, led by Crystal Harding.

17 Dec 2023 | Advent: Finding Peace and Joy

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 23:09:19 +0000

Guest preacher Lisa Ruby talks about ways to actively find peace in our daily lives.

03 Dec 2023 | Advent: Standing Watch

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 22:03:03 +0000

We look at Luke 2 and talk about how Simeon and Anna understood the story they were part of and the role they played in it. They stood in a long line of elders of the faith who kept watch for a move of God.

26 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: St. Francis and St. Brigid

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 23:56:30 +0000

We finish up our series by looking at the stories of a couple of saints who embody the longing for a healthy relationship with nature and with people of other faith traditions.

19 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: Queer Icons

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:00:14 +0000

We talk about the mystical stream of the faith that connects Logos and Woman Wisdom and Jesus—remembering that God transcends gender. We also touch on a couple of the icons we have that help queer people locate themselves in the faith.

12 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: St. Rocco & Saint Olga, Everyday Saints

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 22:26:45 +0000

We remember these saints to remind ourselves that we don’t have to do anything extravagant to be remembered as a person who shows God’s love to the people around us—we just respond with kindness and compassion.

05 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Tales: Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:27:13 +0000

On this All Saints Sunday we're starting a new series talking about the communion of the saints and the icons we use in our worship space. We start off by talking about what it means to have the courage to stick to an ethic of Love in the face of the forces of empire.

29 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Prepare a Table

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:55:28 +0000

In the final sermon in our membership series, we talk about the grace and inclusive welcome of the table of God.

22 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Paths of Justice

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 22:28:47 +0000

We talk about how we're compelled to walk paths of justice on our faith journeys, led by the Creator and in the company of others.

15 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Restore My Soul

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:45:02 +0000

We talk about what it means for the Creator to provide basic care, concern, and comfort to us in the midst of life's many troubles, and how being nourished by quiet and nature and community helps us “walk paths of justice.”

08 Oct 2023 | Intentional Community

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 03:20:55 +0000

This morning we talk a bit about our values of connection and intentional community, and then three congregants share a little of their own story.

01 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: The Gentle Shepherd

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:43:17 +0000

Jesus taught his disciples, “Blessed are you who are poor“ and “woe to you who are rich.” These challenge our expectations on who is truly blessed and chosen by G-d. But we are called to care for the poor because God particularly loves and cares for the poor.

24 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: Of Deserts & Wanderings & Monastics

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:13:45 +0000

We’ve been talking about how, when religious meta-narratives undergo seismic shifts, people start to gather at the edges of faith because parts of the core don't work for them anymore. We wander to the edges to see what we can see, and notice who is standing with us.

17 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM)

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 21:23:54 +0000

Innovation and the reimagining of Christianity is happening on the margins of our faith tradition. We chat a bit about TFAM and how our church found fellow travelers on our journey.

10 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: When Stories Crash

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 01:14:35 +0000

We interact with the work of Rabbi Benay Lappe, who has a framework for what happens when the stories of our faith traditions start to unravel. It's an invitation to innovate and integrate what's working with new ideas that can help revitalize our spirituality.

03 Sep 2023 | A Pocket Full of Prayers: Keep Watch, Dear Lord

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 21:28:57 +0000

In a series where we're exploring a few well-trod prayers, we look at a beloved compline prayer that offers some tools for praying before bed or during the night.

20 Aug 2023 | A Pocket Full of Prayers: Holy Spirit, Comforting Fire

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 22:04:50 +0000

We talk about the imagination St. Hildegard von Bingen had for how the Divine interacts with the creation, how her imagination informed the prayer she penned, and how it might give us some tools for how we pray.

13 Aug 2023 | Pocket Full of Prayers: The Sarum Prayer

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 21:21:49 +0000

We give some history and context for the Sarum Prayer to better understand why we pray it together every week during our Sunday services.

06 Aug 2023 | “On Prayer as Communion with God”

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:00:19 +0000

Research shows that prayer and meditation are good for our brains. Today, we look at meditation and prayer as food for our mind and soul through the lens of two stories and the Lord’s Prayer from the Gospel of Luke.

30 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Sheerah

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:08:35 +0000

Sheerah is a builder of cities. Her brief story is tucked away as a remnant within a book of remnants, but it's an important one for helping some people see themselves in the text where they might not see themselves elsewhere.

23 Jul 2023 | Speaking Truth to Power

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 23:10:13 +0000

Guest speaker Crystal Harding leads the Ypsilanti Youth Choir in a couple songs and then shares about her experience of speaking truth to power.

16 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Jonah

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 21:13:08 +0000

Guest Speaker Christian Axelgard shares a bit of his own story and why he connects with the story of Jonah.

09 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Ruth

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 21:44:28 +0000

Ruth is a story all about deeds of loving-kindness. When we are tempted to judge others or use the Bible for harm, Ruth the “compassionate friend” teaches about the greatest love: to lay one’s life down for one’s friends.

02 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Barnabas

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 03:26:08 +0000

Pastor Emily shares a lighter sermon about why she loves Barnabas—and how his story shaped her spirituality and influenced how we do church here at Blue Ocean.

25 Jun 2023 | On Reparations

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 21:21:25 +0000

We draw inspiration from the story of the Exodus to talk about the importance of supporting reparations.

18 Jun 2023 | The Story of Juneteenth

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:05:57 +0000

Churches have been part of the American myth-making machine since colonial settlers stepped foot on the continent. White theologians and pastors over the centuries created theologies justifying white supremacy. So it’s only fitting and just that churches (esp. majority white churches like ours) are part of the truth-telling and myth UN-making of our shared history so we can make a path toward healing. Today we tell the story of Juneteenth and why it's important to celebrate.

11 Jun 2023 | Healing Communities: Zacchaeus and Shame

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 21:38:41 +0000

We have a story in our tradition that I think can help us get at ways of talking about some ways a faith community can help diminish shame. Using the story of Zacchaeus we explore ideas of belonging, connection, and restorative justice.

04 Jun 2023 | Healing Communities: Honest Speech

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 21:56:46 +0000

We look at the psalms and how they’re meant to function in a way that shapes us, so that—when we’ve experienced trauma, suffering, grief, injustices—we can learn to articulate our pain and, perhaps, find new ways of perceiving our situation and understanding the world.

28 May 2023 | Why and How We Can, and Should, Love Our Neighbors

Sun, 28 May 2023 21:11:14 +0000

Scripture encourages us to love our neighbors, but what does that mean? Helping others and being kind creates connection, reduces loneliness, and increases happiness.

21 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: Let’s Talk About Resilience

Sun, 21 May 2023 20:54:02 +0000

Rachel Murr, a licensed therapist, shares about resilience and creating communities that help us build it.

14 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: A Conversation

Mon, 15 May 2023 02:22:22 +0000

Emily and Caroline have a conversation about mental health and spiritual communities. They touch on the language we use when we speak of mental health symptoms, the overlap of spirituality and mental health experiences, and different ways we can care for ourselves.

07 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: Introduction

Sun, 07 May 2023 21:18:58 +0000

Faith communities can be healing communities. We start out a new sermon series by talking about the conditions we cultivate as a church to make the space emotionally safe and healthy so we can thrive together.

30 Apr 2023 | I Am Legion

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:34:32 +0000

Using the story of the man who lived among the tombs in Mark 5, we talk about the perniciousness of shame and finding community healing.

23 Apr 2023 | Was Jesus a Roman Slave?

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 21:49:26 +0000

New scholarship by Rev. Dr. Mitzi Smith suggests the possibility that both Mary and Jesus had a slave status. We use that lens to look at how Jesus may have seen himself and his purpose.

16 Apr 2023 | World of Jesus: Road to Emmaus

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 21:52:12 +0000

A claim of the resurrection is that we have a rabbi who is still with us, able to teach and guide us, and—as part of that leadership function—to mediate Scripture to us.

09 Apr 2023 | Easter: Death is Overcome

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:11:49 +0000

On Easter, Christians insist that Death has been overcome because, if the Creator can get through to us that we don’t need to be afraid, then maybe we’ll be less awful to each other (and to ourselves). And maybe we’ll be bolder in our quest for justice in the here and now, if we’re not afraid of what comes next.

02 Apr 2023 | World of Jesus: Palm Sunday, the Anti-Imperial Procession

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 20:49:12 +0000

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into the heart of Jerusalem—not as a conquering hero, but as a champion of the poor and the oppressed. He signals his commitment to a different kind of power—a power grounded in love, compassion, and justice.

26 Mar 2023 | World of Jesus: Nonviolent Resistance

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 20:26:39 +0000

Jesus understood the incredible power differential between Rome and the his people; he knew the Jewish people would need to be creative in how they fought back against their oppressors. We gain insight into the way Jesus thought about how to Fight the Powers from the Sermon on the Mount.

19 Mar 2023—World of Jesus: Roman Occupation

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 23:32:52 +0000

Jesus lived his whole life under Roman occupation, and the particular region where he grew up—in the Galilee, in the north—bore deep scars from the Roman presence. We talk about the impact of the presence of the Roman Empire on the population and what Jesus was trying to teach in the midst of that.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-services/

12 Mar 2023 | The World Behind and Around Jesus: The Pharisees

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:08:31 +0000

Today, we explore the Pharisees. We look to transform widespread contempt for this ancient group through greater understanding and affirmation.

05 Mar 2023 | The World Behind and Around Jesus: Maccabean Revolt

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 22:18:36 +0000

We talk about the Maccabean Revolt and the context for some strands of Judaism that existed in Jesus's day.

26 Feb 2023 | World of Jesus: Empire, Torah, Identity

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 21:34:01 +0000

We take a broad-stroke look at the history of the Jewish people (understanding broad strokes mask nuance and complexity); the creation of the Torah; and the early formation of Jewish identity as a backdrop to helping us better understand Jesus.

19 Feb 2023 | Diving Into Lent

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:04:04 +0000

NOTE: sound quality for this episode is poor due to failure of our sound system. The recorded audio has been processed to try to improve intelligibility, but some sections are still difficult to understand.

This message covers an overview of Lent, Lenten spiritual practices for 2023, and some topical coverage of how we think about "sin" at Blue Ocean Church.

12 Feb 2023 | God Is Here: Becoming

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 22:50:58 +0000

God is still experiencing new things in relationship to you and me and all creation. There is more to God than we yet know or can put to words. The name this God gives Themself is: I Am Becoming That I Am Becoming.

05 Feb 2023 | God Is Here: The Cloud

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 23:54:59 +0000

Metaphors help us to see reality in new ways, but for some, the metaphor for God as a Big Powerful Person doesn’t work very well. Today, we explore the metaphor for God as Cloud from Rabbi Toba Spitzer’s book, God Is Here. Drawing from descriptions of clouds in science, the Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament, this metaphor enables us to “see” the mysterious Other (be they God or our neighbor) in new ways, with love.

29 Jan 2023 | God Is Here: Consuming Fire

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 22:11:47 +0000

We look at the metaphor of God as consuming fire, learning that God's fiery nature exists because God is in the business of transforming the unjust systems of the world.

22 Jan 2023 | God Is Here: My Heart’s Rock

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 22:21:57 +0000

God being my heart’s rock suggests there’s a place inside of each of us where we can turn for help in times of trouble. A place where we can be fed, and where we can find comfort and consolation.

15 Jan 2023 | God is Here: The Place

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 22:34:48 +0000

Using the story of Jacob in Genesis 28, we talk about God as Ha-Makom, The Place. We recognize God can meet us wherever we are, no matter what's going on in our lives.

08 Jan 2023 | Joseph, Patron Saint of Allies?

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:09:00 +0000

On this Epiphany Sunday, we hone in on Jesus’s dad, Joseph, and wonder about his role in being an ally to Mary both in her pregnancy and in facing the threat conveyed by the magi regarding Herod.

01 Jan 2023 | The Legacy of St. Nicholas of Myra: It’s Not About Naughty and Nice

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:48:39 +0000

Caroline reframes the legacy of St. Nicholas of Myra in light of Jesus’s teaching, that we are all children of God (who is both yours and mine). It’s not about naughty and nice. Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who searches, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door will will be opened.

18 Dec 2022 | The Comfort of God

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 23:19:51 +0000

The prophet Isaiah promised God would “prepare the way” and send comfort to a suffering people. A few hundred years later John the Baptist came to enact that promise—bringing the comfort of God by declaring justice for the oppressed.

11 Dec 2022 | Surviving Together With Joy

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 21:37:41 +0000

We can embrace the darkness in Advent, face it, name it, and turn our attention to the the coming Light. But, as we learn from the stories of oppressed people, while we’re waiting for the light, there can also be humor and joy.

04 Dec 2022 | The Biological Rhythms of Advent

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 22:24:50 +0000

Guest speaker Gayle Boss, author of All Creation Waits, shares about her own discovery of Advent and how its practices are deeply rooted in the biological rhythms of creation. Includes an introduction and closing meditation by Emily.

27 Nov 2022 | Advent: Waiting in Holy Silence

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 20:25:16 +0000

We start Advent with the story of Zechariah in the temple. Sometimes our words, like Zechariah’s, manifest our own limits of what we can imagine, while silence makes more room for the fullness of God and God’s imagination to work in us.

20 Nov 2022 | Come and Drink

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 22:21:36 +0000

From the Sea of Reeds to the bitter springs of Marah to the oasis at Elim, Exodus 15 tells a story of finding spiritual refreshment and hope.

13 Nov 2022 | Cultivating Open Hearts, Open Hands

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 20:29:39 +0000

Today, as we continue our vision series, we focus on cultivating open hearts and generous giving as the birth of the compassionate self and as resistance to harm.

06 Nov 2022 | The Bible As a Means of Grace

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 01:00:19 +0000

Using a brief tour of church history as a framework, we talk about how “Solus Jesus” fits into how we view the Bible—taking it as a “means of grace” or “medicine for the soul.”

30 Oct 2022 | All Saints Day: A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:14:57 +0000

We talk about the church holiday of Allhollowtide and remember together those who have died and been gathered to their ancestors.

23 Oct 2022 | The Jewishness of the New Testament, Part 2

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 01:31:58 +0000

Dr. Sarah Emmanuel, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament, continues her talk on understanding Jesus, the movement that built up around him, and the texts we call the New Testament as thoroughly Jewish. Includes an introduction by Emily and ends with a short Q&A time. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-service/

16 Oct 2022 | New Wineskins: Blue Ocean Vision

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 22:33:08 +0000

Using Jesus' picture of needing new wineskins for new wine, we talk about the changes taking place in the wider church and the task we feel we've been given as a church. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-service/

09 Oct 2022 | The Jewishness of the New Testament, Part 1

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 19:55:08 +0000

Dr. Sarah Emmanuel, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament, lays a foundation for understanding Jesus, the movement that built up around him, and the texts we call the New Testament as thoroughly Jewish. Includes an introduction by Emily and ends with a short question and answer time. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-service/

02 Oct 2022 | Living Stones

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:21:17 +0000

The Apostle Peter calls us living stones, cut and shaped by the hands of nature and nurture and the transformative work of the Spirit. We’re constantly being formed and arranged in different ways to act as Bringers of the Sacred—Bringers of Light and Love—wherever we are. A holy priesthood is the language Peter uses. Extended cut: Includes remembrances and words of tribute to Ken on his retirement from 3 congregants plus guest David Gushee. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-service/

25 Sep 2022 | Blue Ocean and the Quirky Category-Bending Mustard Seed We Represent

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:27:13 +0000

Ken's final sermon as a pastor explores how the parable of the mustard seed expresses the kind of church we are.

Extended version: includes Emily's introduction and ends with a joint discussion.

18 Sep 2022 | Jesus Unplugged: Parable of the Talents Reconstructed

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:58:44 +0000

The traditional reading of this parable doesn't hold up if examined closely. We examine this story through a different lens to see what it has to say to us about the nature of power and privilege. Maybe the man who buried his money is actually the hero of the story.

11 Sep 2022 | God Loves You Just As You Are

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 21:20:41 +0000

Special Guest Speaker Liz Dyer is the founder of the Mama Bears, a group that started as a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ+ kids and has evolved into a large organization that provides support and resources for both the queer community and their families.

Using a modern retelling of The Prodigal Son from Luke 13, Liz explores how God loves LGBTQ+ people for all they are, and reminds us that God celebrates our existence, our gifts, and our connections.

04 Sep 2022 | Jesus Unplugged: Justice Over Fairness

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 22:44:59 +0000

Using the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, Jesus talks about how the laborers in the story are more worried about being paid fairly than in whether or not the other workers have enough food for their families.

28 Aug 2022 | What I Love About Blue Ocean as I Retire: A Preserved Hope

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 19:53:40 +0000

In this final series before retiring, Ken reflects on the role Blue Ocean played in nurturing his faith and preserving his hope that faith communities can play an important role in enhancing our mental health.

21 Aug 2022 | Jesus Unplugged: The Great Banquet

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 21:51:49 +0000

Jesus tells the story of the great banquet to communicate that the kin-dom of God is for everyone. You can be offended and leave if you want, but this kin-dom is for gay and straight; for people of all races and cultures; for all genders; it’s for the uneducated as much as it is for the educated; the young, the old; the doubters, the believers, the unsure. They are all invited. Some think they’re not invited because the social rules have communicated that to them. But Jesus says, “I want my house to be full.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings of past services, find out which Sundays we’ll be meeting in person, or get information about joining our live virtual service, by visiting a2blue.org/sunday-service/

14 Aug 2022 | What I Love About Blue Ocean as I Retire: Part 2

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:47:41 +0000

The word translated "save" in the gospels means "safety from harm"—and it's what I've experienced as pastor of Blue Ocean, especially, freedom from the pressure of religious scrutiny that afflicts many clergy.

07 Aug 2022 | Jesus Unplugged: The Widow and the Mite

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 21:15:29 +0000

We take a look an an alternate interpretation of a familiar story, using the lens of liberation theology. Summary: Build just systems, and don't give money to unjust systems.

31 Jul 2022 | Bird God: Contemplatives In Action

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 21:36:35 +0000

In the Christian tradition we have the writings of a 16th c. mystic, St. Ignatius, who talked about contemplation as a way of praying either through our thoughts or through our imaginations. Being a contemplative in action is a way to integrate contemplation into our everyday lives where we’re taking moments to pause, to behold, reflect, and then offer that reflection as a prayer.

24 Jul 2022 | What I Love About Blue Ocean as I Retire: Part 1

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 20:07:08 +0000

Ken reflects on things he loves about our community—this week, focusing on learning to notice, loosen his grip on, and when it's helpful to spend some of it. A rambling discourse!

17 Jul 2022 | Bird God: Ark of Nests

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 21:18:25 +0000

In the midst of the chaos of violence that can feel as overwhelming as a global flood, we are held in an Ark of Nests during the worst of storms and then, when it’s somewhat safe enough to find dry ground and create roots, the Bird God roams around until it finds a place where the Ark can safely land.

10 Jul 2022 | The Divine & Human Mystery of Identity

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 18:01:58 +0000

Exploring ancient wisdom of identity (divine and human) as a dynamic discovery: I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE and the white stone with a hidden name on it.

03 Jul 2022 | Songwriting and Psalm 61

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 19:07:00 +0000

Guest speaker Susan Shaffer shares some of her experiences with the creative process of song-writing. Contemplating on Psalm 61, unifying communal experiences, and near-death experiences; how are all of these connected, and what do they teach us about gaining perspective and experiencing the presence of the divine? (Note: Due to technical issues, only Susan's second song, "I Am Here," is included in this recording.)

26 Jun 2022 | Birds as Messengers of Divine Presence

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 17:43:00 +0000

At his baptism, the Spirit alighted on Jesus in the form of a bird. Because creation conveys divine presence, especially if we are attentive to the sense of expansiveness, nearness, and delight.

19 Jun 2022 | Bird God: Fierce, Loving, Protective

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 21:34:45 +0000

We talk about how all of nature is infused with the Spirit of God, and look at the bird-God of the Bible.

12 Jun 2022 | I Had Hoped…

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 19:47:09 +0000

Our guest preacher, Sarah Bessey, uses the story of the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24 to help us name unmet expectations and dashed hopes, making space for the Spirit to enter into our grief and our truth to birth new expectations. This episode opens with an introduction by Emily.

05 Jun 2022 | Uncontainable Spirit

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 22:21:28 +0000

On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember the Spirit of God as uncontainable force that came in the form of a mighty wind and tongues of fire to show us this Spirit could be accessed by humans in our surroundings and in our bodies.

29 May 2022 | On Friendship

Sun, 29 May 2022 23:38:52 +0000

Just like romantic love, friendships can end in loss or even betrayal. But, Jesus offers us a powerful example of friendship-love as he calls us to love one another as he loves us. This is the kind of love that enables our friends to fully reveal to us their faces and their hearts. At Blue Ocean, this is the kind of connection that we seek because we believe that we need connection more than we need answers: connection to ourselves, to each other, and to God.

22 May 2022 | Learning As We Grow

Sun, 22 May 2022 18:42:11 +0000

Looking at John 21, John wraps up his gospel with this story because he sees the lesson that Peter learned as foundational for understanding the role of people who follow Jesus. Peter learned not to participate in the scapegoating crowd, as a silent bystander.

15 May 2022 | Give Me Justice

Sun, 15 May 2022 23:28:47 +0000

08 May 2022 | A Prayer in the Face of Threats

Sun, 08 May 2022 23:46:58 +0000

01 May 2022 | Come, Have Breakfast

Sun, 01 May 2022 22:34:18 +0000

24 Apr 2022—Confused About the Resurrection? Join the Club!

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:10:29 +0000

17 Apr 2022 | Baptism: What’s the Point?

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 22:14:52 +0000

10 Apr 2022 | Holy Week: Why It Matters

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 22:05:17 +0000

03 Apr 2022 | Accept the Things We Cannot Change

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:42:59 +0000

27 Mar 2022 | Working Toward Liberation Through Community

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 18:38:21 +0000

20 Mar 2022 | Humor for Survival

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:42:25 +0000

13 Mar 2022 | The Difference a Translation Makes: The Lord’s Prayer

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 19:56:58 +0000

06 Mar 2022 | Finding Joy: Help for Anger and Despair

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 20:25:07 +0000

27 Feb 2022 | Lent as An Alternative Approach to Time

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 20:29:42 +0000

20 Feb 2022 | On Liturgy

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 21:13:44 +0000

13 Feb 2022 | Perfection Not Required for Divine Connection

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 00:15:56 +0000

06 Feb 2022 | Both Sides Now

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:59:44 +0000

30 Jan 2022 | A Deeper Look at Psalm 42 and Korah’s Rebellion: Celebrating our differences by uplifting others (not ourselves)

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 20:25:44 +0000

23 Jan 2022 | Love From Both Sides Now: Perspective

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 21:01:38 +0000

16 Jan 2022 | Expressing Injury Anger with Psalm 27

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:50:27 +0000

09 Jan 2022 | Reconstruction in a Nutshell: Honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 19:44:34 +0000

02 Jan 2022 | Going Through Deconstruction? It’s Like Untangling a Knotted Ball of Yarn

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 20:56:19 +0000

26 Dec 2021 | Making Room for More Miriam at Christmas

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 23:15:52 +0000

19 Dec 2021 | Jesus was a Refugee

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 20:19:51 +0000

12 Dec 2021 | Trust Joy

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 21:05:11 +0000

05 Dec 2021 | Prepare the Way

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:18:50 +0000

28 Nov 2021 | Don’t judge, Don’t boast, Love others.

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 21:45:47 +0000

21 Nov 2021 | Psalm 27

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 22:59:04 +0000

14 Nov 2021 | Treat the Immigrant Like a Citizen

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 21:57:35 +0000

07 Nov 2021 | What an Emerging Divine Realm Might Look Like

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 01:03:46 +0000

31 Oct 2021 | Special Service for All Saints Day: A Service of Lament

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 22:17:31 +0000

24 Oct 2021 | Counting Our Losses and the Folly of Comparative Suffering

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 20:26:40 +0000

17 Oct 2021 | Embracing Reciprocity

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:24:12 +0000

10 Oct 2021 | Introducing G-d: Three Early Surprises

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 21:46:26 +0000

03 Oct 2021 | Clearing a Path

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:00:17 +0000

26 Sep 2021 | Weeping for Joy

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:54:22 +0000

19 Sep 2021 | Yom Kippur: A Time for Christians to Atone for Some Bad Theology

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:44:42 +0000

12 Sep 2021 | Feeling Safe: The Problem with Two Mistranslations

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 19:56:34 +0000

05 Sep 2021 | To Be Human Is to Suffer

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 19:07:40 +0000

29 Aug 2021 | Supporting Grieving Loved Ones

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 20:30:48 +0000

22 Aug 2021 | When You’re Going Through It, Practice Self Kindness

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 15:07:09 +0000

15 Aug 2021 | I Lift My Eyes

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 19:48:41 +0000

08 Aug 2021 | How Do You Read It?

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 20:07:21 +0000

01 Aug 2021 | Walking on Water

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:34:00 +0000

25 Jul 2021 | Wanderings: A Spirituality Suited to Uncertainty

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 22:01:46 +0000

18 Jul 2021 | Jonah in the Belly

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 20:22:51 +0000

11 Jul 2021 | The Emotions of Big Transitions

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 20:24:45 +0000

04 Jul 2021 | In a Big Transition, Increase Your Stores of Trust

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 17:26:00 +0000

27 Jun 2021 | Putting the Puzzle Together

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 20:15:43 +0000

20 Jun 2021 | The Dead Sea Rejuvenated: An Image of Thriving After Adversity

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 20:09:05 +0000

13 Jun 2021 | Taking Stock as a Siege Recedes

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 21:40:23 +0000

06 Jun 2021 | The Vine and the Branches

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:24:15 +0000

30 May 2021 | The Physical-Emotional-Ethical-Mystical Logic of Ritual

Sun, 30 May 2021 20:56:12 +0000

23 May 2021 | Holy Spirit—All the Truth

Sun, 23 May 2021 19:39:23 +0000

16 May 2021 | Soul Incubation

Sun, 16 May 2021 20:50:58 +0000

09 May 2021 | Attachment Bond Spirituality

Sun, 09 May 2021 19:04:36 +0000

02 May 2021 | The Spirit Intercedes

Sun, 02 May 2021 19:44:06 +0000

25 Apr 2021—Fire from Heaven? I Object!

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 20:39:21 +0000

18 Apr 2021 | Jesus Feeds the 5,000

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 20:41:20 +0000

11 Apr 2021 | The Resurrection Appearance Feeling Cloud

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 22:37:43 +0000

04 Apr 2021 | Hope Begins In the Dark

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 18:54:27 +0000

28 Mar 2021 | The Palm Sunday Mixed-Emotion Cocktail

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 20:09:50 +0000

21 Mar 2021 | Alone

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 21:14:38 +0000

14 Mar 2021 | Seeds for Thought: Expressing Emotion through Imagination

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 22:14:33 +0000

07 Mar 2021 | The Mixed Feelings We Might Have About Praise

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 21:36:45 +0000

28 Feb 2021 | After Evangelicalism: A Path to a New Christianity

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:11:38 +0000

21 Feb 2021 | Cultivating Wonder

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 21:07:59 +0000

14 Feb 2021 | Divine Wisdom: At Ease With Our Need to Find Out for Ourselves

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:45:49 +0000

07 Feb 2021 | Consolations From Qoheleth

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 21:07:19 +0000

31 Jan 2021 | Cohelet (Ecclesiastes): Patron Saint of the Disillusioned

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 22:09:37 +0000

24 Jan 2021 | My Own Vine and Fig Tree

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 21:51:52 +0000

17 Jan 2021 | Words of an Ancient Prophet to Our Emotional Distress

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 20:55:45 +0000

10 Jan 2020 | God with Us in Our Turmoil

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 20:22:42 +0000

Dr. Harold Trulear from Howard University speaks on Psalm 23, the paralyzing effect of fear, and God’s presence with us in the midst of turmoil—all in the context of the the devastation of Covid and the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

03 Jan 2021 | Lessons from the Magi Story

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 20:03:11 +0000

27 Dec 2020 | St. Nicholas Stories and Traditions

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 22:47:08 +0000

20 Dec 2020 | How to Talk to Ourselves in Such a Time as This

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 21:17:42 +0000

13 Dec 2020 | Word Made Flesh

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 21:11:06 +0000

The incarnation is a mystery that pulls us in to awe and wonder. Christ entered in to experience humanity in all its vulnerability. Mary, the archetype of the feminine incarnation, has much to teach us about this as well.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

06 Dec 2020 | A Bedtime Prayer: Hear, O Israel, the Lord Our God is One

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 21:15:47 +0000

Today, we continue our discussion of bedtime prayer rituals, and explore a Jewish prayer that begins in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord Our God is One.” A deeper look at this unifying prayer shows that our diversity can be affirmed and celebrated while we prepare the coming of peace on earth for all creation. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

29 Nov 2020 | Advent: A Portal into Hope

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 20:03:43 +0000

We are preparing for a “long, difficult winter ahead”—a time when Advent takes on more significance. Advent is a season of spiritual practices that offer a portal into hope. Today we focus on the spirituality of nighttime as found in the psalms, an option for incorporating into our bedtime ritual. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

22 Nov 2020 | Thanksgiving & Greetings to the Natural World

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 18:48:56 +0000

One of our more complicated national holidays is coming up this week. It can be hard for us as followers of Jesus to figure out how to handle a holiday that is both widely celebrated and also deeply painful for our indigenous friends. Pastor Emily offers one way of re-imagining how we can talk about Thanksgiving and re-orient our celebrations to help us honor First Nations people instead of perpetuating the myth that pilgrims and Native people had some sort of blissful relationship. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

15 Nov 2020 | Blue Ocean Membership and a Faith-Journey Story

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:10:20 +0000

Ken gives an update on newcomers and becoming a members during our virtual mode and we hear a faith journey story from Amy MacNeil, connecting to Blue Ocean from Indiana. Also includes a visualization meditation with Cassie on Psalm 16. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

08 Nov 2020 | It’s Okay to Celebrate

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 20:08:54 +0000

We enjoy a lighter sermon today, talking about how to help our bodies process emotions that lead to exhaustion and burnout. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

01 Nov 2020 | Elections Survival Psalm Mediation

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 19:12:54 +0000

Trees figure prominently in indigenous and Hebrew spirituality. Those who “don’t walk in the counsel of the wicked” are regarded as trees by streams of water whose roots run deep, outlasting the wicked (i.e powerful bad rulers). Includes a guided meditation by Susan King. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

25 Oct 2020 | Pre-Election Psalm

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:21:38 +0000

We all have election distress. Much election talk is analysis, and doesn’t help us metabolize the anger, fear, hope, and other emotions that we carry. For that an ancient prayer, like Psalm 1, can help. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

18 Oct 2020 | The Greatest Story is that All Life is One

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 19:51:03 +0000

Environmental scientist Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild, on The Greatest Story is that All Life is One. At the end of Dr. Safina’s talk, join Cassie in a short nature meditation. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

11 Oct 2020 | Communion Table: Peace Through Justice

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 18:25:49 +0000

With such a strong anti-Empire streak, it’s not surprising that our most common ritual speaks to that. We talk about various ways it does so. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

04 Oct 2020 | It Feels Like the Apocalypse!

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 19:11:55 +0000

The idea of apocalypse (which means, “unveiling”) is used most often in the Bible in relation to the fall of Empires or to significant historical shifts. We talk about how this literary genre can help us frame this moment we’re in while steering clear of the “Left Behind” literal interpretations that plague the American Christian landscape. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

27 Sep 2020 | Jesus and Empire

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 18:24:42 +0000

When religion seeks power and tries to use Empire to further its gains, it becomes counter-Jesus. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

20 Sep 2020 | We Could Use a G-d of Becoming Right Now

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:54:02 +0000

The voice from the burning bush was a God of Becoming: I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE. Just what Moses and the people of Israel needed—a dynamic, not a static God. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

13 Sep 2020 | Jesus Had the Family Blues Too

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 20:35:25 +0000

National religious-cultural politics created a hostile environment for Jesus in his village and in his family. He had to cut off family ties for a time and experience kinship with others instead. And all this must have shaped his experience of spirituality—his need for an understanding of divine presence. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

06 Sep 2020 | Why We Say Kin-dom of God

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 18:13:28 +0000

We talk about why we use the term kin-dom of God instead of kingdom of God, influenced by Mujerista and indigenous American theologians. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

30 Aug 2020 | Holding Space for Each Other

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 19:47:53 +0000

Offering midrash on Jesus’s response to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan,” AnaYelsi asks us to ponder what it means when traumatized people and groups interact with one another, and how we can hold space for all our stories in a way that better connects us in our work for interlocking justice. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

23 Aug 2020 | Exodus and Its Most Bizarre Episode

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 19:47:59 +0000

The ancients told certain truths in myth form—like the truths that come to us in dreams, which don’t abide by the rules of the waking world. And one of the weirdest in Exodus, and the most oddly powerful, is the time God tried to kill Moses and he was saved by a black woman named Zipporah. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

16 Aug 2020 | A Burning Bush Moment

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 17:57:35 +0000

When Moses saw a bush burning in the wilderness, his whole life became about freeing an enslaved people from oppression and reimagining a world away from injustice. His questions and concerns were re-oriented. In this sermon, Rev. Cedric Lundy invites to ask ourselves how we’re re-imagining and enacting a new world—one free of white supremacy and oppression. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

09 Aug 2020 | Finding Peace In All Circumstances

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 19:26:25 +0000

In prayer we hear the voice of the Divine telling us that we are enough. Telling us to trust and to rest in the Creator. Telling us that we are not alone. Telling us that there is grace sufficient enough for us, even when we’re at our worst or most fearful. That is the primary root and source of our strength. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

02 Aug 2020 | Making Space For Hope

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 19:14:17 +0000

From Cassie, our worship pastor: “This pandemic and its effects are taking a toll on all of us. How can we envision a reality beyond our current circumstances?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

26 Jul 2020 | The Exodus Mirror and the Problem of the Religious Ego

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:33:09 +0000

James refers to Torah and the Exodus liberation story as the “law of liberty” He likens it to a mirror we need to look at long and hard, lest we forget who we are in the oppression systems of this world. There we find no counterpart to the “good white people” many us hope to be (compared to the bad people/racists. It’s not about being good: it’s about meeting the God of the Oppressed, and doing as we are instructed. We’re also joined by Mama Bear Liz Dyer with a tribute to John Lewis. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

19 Jul 2020 | The Complicit Egyptians

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:27:35 +0000

Exodus is the oldest story of liberation we have. And while the particulars are very different, the dynamics of oppression and liberation are very much the same. The Exodus story-teller emphasizes the complicity of the host population in setting up a system of oppression—their version of white complicity with white supremacy. All sparked by something we know first-hand, an over-active alarm system. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

12 Jul 2020 | Miriam: Holder of Hope, Ready to Rise

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 17:57:03 +0000

This week we take a look at the prophet Miriam and how she was on the alert, looking for God to act to liberate the oppressed. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

05 Jul 2020 | Midrash, Moses, and Unlearning White Supremacy

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 18:28:36 +0000

Midrash is the Jewish way to tell stories about the stories of Scripture and connect these stories to our story today. It’s an expansive and Spirit-led way to engage sacred text. Informed by Midrash, we look at the key text in Exodus, the book of liberation. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

28 Jun 2020 | Give Us Our Inheritance: The Story of Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 18:32:33 +0000

Five sisters demand they be allowed to inherit their father’s land. Moses concedes but later bows to existing power structures. The sisters surface in the narrative again two books later, demanding the land. The story speaks to our national moment regarding reparations, as well as to us personally in our spiritual life. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

21 Jun 2020 | The Cost of Safety

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 18:50:11 +0000

Having a close relationship with Jesus means we come to understand him as a person who cared deeply about justice. Too often empire dresses Jesus up as a harmless, detached figure, but Jesus cared deeply for the poor and oppressed. Following Jesus will cost us, because our understanding of God’s way means we will challenge the business-as-usual aspects of empire. Our special guest this week is Bishop-elect Darrell Goodwin of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM). Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

14 Jun 2020 | Shiphrah and Puah Spark a Liberation Movement

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 21:39:57 +0000

We draw inspiration and encouragement from the brave midwives of Exodus 1, Shiphrah and Puah, who stood up to the Pharaoh when he ordered them to kill all the baby boys. We remember that they cared about life over power, people over the prosperity of the empire, and obedience to God over obedience to an unjust law. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

07 Jun 2020 | “You Shall Not Follow the Many for Harm”—Sinai’s Radical Vision of Equal Justice

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 19:45:23 +0000

The President’s photo op was a revelation of the un-exorcised White Supremacy in so much White-Washed Christianity. Embracing Sinai’s vision of equal justice is an essential part of engaging this conflict. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

31 May 2020 | Sinai, Pentecost, Minneapolis

Sun, 31 May 2020 18:34:29 +0000

Pentecost is about receiving the powerful gift of empathy, the absence of which, in so much of White America, enables White Supremacy and the assault on black and brown bodies that we have seen this past week. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

24 May 2020 | Coming Back To Myself

Sun, 24 May 2020 20:39:34 +0000

From our worship pastor, Cassie—”The Evangelical Purity Culture caused me to deny my intuition, my agency and my autonomy. How I have used breath and embodiment meditation to reconnect with myself and the God who created us and said that we are good.” Plus, a Mama Bear minute and update on plans for Pride Month from Liz Dyer. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

10 May 2020 | We Remember the Light

Sun, 10 May 2020 18:20:19 +0000

We remember Ahmaud Arbery, and are encouraged to have a prophetic imagination as we process the griefs—both large and small—from the pandemic. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

03 May 2020 | When Facing a Current Crisis, Remember a Past Deliverance

Sun, 03 May 2020 18:35:40 +0000

We’ve been through bad times before and will be again. In the middle of a crisis, lean into the wisdom gained from a previous deliverance. Personal reflections, from Ken, on Psalm 124. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

26 Apr 2020 | Enough to Sustain: Elijah & God’s Care for Us

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 21:12:44 +0000

Using a story from 1 Kings 19 about Elijah the prophet, we’re invited to keep our eyes open for encouragement from God as we pace ourselves for the coming months. Emily brings us this morning’s message, followed by an encouragement to pray from Mama Bear Liz Dyer. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

19 Apr 2020 | Psalm 131 and Learning to Calm Ourselves

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 20:19:08 +0000

Ever feel guilty about feeling anxious, as if there’s something wrong with your God connection? Psalm 131 is a portal through that funky religious ideation. Our weekly message, from Ken, plus a Mama Bear Minute from Liz Dyer on masks. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

12 Apr 2020 | Easter Sunday: The Presence of God Is Near

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 19:57:33 +0000

The Easter story tells us that Jesus is near, he knows our name, he knows our pain, and his living presence is all around. We are a resurrection people. Even when things are scary, or hard, or don’t turn out how we want them to—this presence brings peace and assurance that hope and love will overcome. Words of hope from Emily, plus A “Mama Bear Minute” from Liz Dyer. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, watch virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s live virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

05 Apr 2020 | Palm Sunday: The Importance of Geography & Gestures

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 19:22:25 +0000

When we’re going through a global crisis, it helps to tune into a different drama from a different time—the ups and downs, celebration and sadness of Palm Sunday, for example—with its gestures that proved so meaningful. Ken and Liz Dyer share words of encouragement. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, and watch earlier virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

29 Mar 2020 | Sufficient Unto the Day—Gammy’s Spirituality of Resilience

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 22:39:49 +0000

Via our virtual service, from Ken: “Late at night, an awareness of my maternal grandmother’s life-verse, in the context of all she went through, has been a help to coping with anxiety.” Mama Bears founder Liz Dyer also joins us to share a word of encouragement to all Mama Bears. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org, and watch earlier virtual service recordings, and get access for next week’s virtual service, at a2blue.org/virtual-sunday-service/

08 Mar 2020 | Job: When Faith Shaped by Privilege Hits a Wall

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 19:14:40 +0000

In the second sermon of our Lenten series, we talk about seeing the book of Job as the spiritual transformation of a man in the face of suffering and how he forges a new path in the midst of his pain and confusion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

01 Mar 2020 | Job: An Intro

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:23:38 +0000

In this introduction to our Lenten Sermon Series, Job & the Religious Mob: A Courageous Dissent, we talk about where the book of Job fits into the larger revelation of God to humanity. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

23 Feb 2020 | Nurturing the Spirit in Spirituality: Pray & Act

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 23:13:20 +0000

Taking Bonhoeffer’s lead, we look at what it means to be led by the Spirit discerned through the Jesus of the Disinherited. This is the final sermon in our Nurturing the Spirit in Spirituality series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

16 Feb 2020 | Nurturing the Spirit in Spirituality: Liberating Praise

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 21:51:53 +0000

In the Pentecostal tradition, praising God is a community event. People gather together to sing praises because it helps focus on a communal expectation that God can, and will, act on behalf of the oppressed, because God has done so throughout history. Praise is the bridge between thankfulness for the past and hope for the future. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

09 Feb 2020 | Engaging the Spirit in Spirituality: The Loosening of Our Tongues

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:24:49 +0000

The first to be filled with the Spirit in the gospel of Luke were women used to being shushed, who then spoke up to challenge the powers of the day—this is the deeper purpose of strange-to-many practices like speaking in tongues and loud vocalizations. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

02 Feb 2020 | Engaging the Spirit in Spirituality: God’s Feminine Side

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 21:15:18 +0000

The Pentecostal-Charismatic movement has shaped much of our understanding of the Holy Spirit. But it’s a mixed bag. In particular, this movement has obscured the Jewish understanding of the Spirit as a Feminine Divine Presence. For mama bears, this has special application for the moms of gender fluid, and gay children. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

26 Jan 2020 | God Meets Us In Our Troubles: Jesus Responds to the Grief of Mary and Martha

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 20:36:40 +0000

Jesus’s empathetic love has the power to help us heal. Through the story of Lazarus’s death, we see a God who meets people in their grief in the personal way they need God to respond. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

19 Jan 2020 | Self-Kindness as a Spiritual Practice: Notes from an Older Tradition

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 20:33:51 +0000

Jesus drew his emphasis on “love your neighbor as yourself” from the book of Leviticus. It’s helpful to consider self-love (self-kindness) from an much older tradition than the self-esteem movement of the 1960’s. Similar aim, different path. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

12 Jan 2020 | War and Peace

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 20:22:34 +0000

In this timely sermon we visit various ways Christians have thought about the ethics of war and violence. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

05 Jan 2020 | Self-Kindness as a Spiritual Practice

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 21:16:37 +0000

Part 1 of 2. The practice of self-kindness is rooted in the primary commandment of the Jesus movement: Love your neighbor as yourself. First, we recover the prominence of this command, which has been domesticated and largely ignored in currently dominant forms of Christianity, then we consider the practice of intentionally receiving/accepting positive input (compliments). Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

29 Dec 2019 | St. Nicholas Stories and Traditions

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 19:58:54 +0000

Many of our Christmas traditions are drawn from stories and folklore surrounding St. Nicholas, a saint from what is now modern-day Turkey, known for his concern for the poor. Worship Pastor Cassie Richardson shares a St. Nicholas story from her childhood, along with other Christmas memories and an encouragement to keep some traditions alive throughout the year. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

22 Dec 2019 | Monsters of the Bible: Fiery Cherubim on Wheels

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:20:23 +0000

Ezekiel, the traumatized prophet who became a mystic and saw very weird things, brought great comfort to others in similar straits. We close out our Advent sermon series on the Monsters of the Bible by looking at the fiery cherubim who appear at the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

15 Dec 2019 | Monsters of the Bible: Facing Down Our Giants

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 21:52:21 +0000

Giants in the Bible occupy a position between the historical and the mythical. The most famous giant is Goliath. He reveals the dynamics of our fearful responses to bullying powers, David’s willingness to embrace his own, vulnerability—refusing Saul’s armor—turned out to be his secret super power. This is the fourth sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

08 Dec 2019 | Monsters of the Bible: Leviathan

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 00:04:01 +0000

In the Bible Leviathan is a living, breathing creature that personifies systemic evil. It’s often seen as an embodiment of empires gone bad. While Scripture tells us we can’t defeat Leviathan without the God-Who-Is-Love, we’re not absolved from opposing the Leviathans of the world. This is the third sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

01 Dec 2019 | Monsters of the Bible: What the devil is Satan about?

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 20:33:13 +0000

Satan is the mother (or father) of all monsters in the Bible. In Hebrew, satan, is not a Proper Name for a spirit being so much as a function-role that plays human society, especially scapegoating: accusation. This is the second sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

24 Nov 2019 | Monsters of the Bible: Rabisu the Crouching Predator

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 21:57:57 +0000

The demon Rabisu, the crouching vampire predator, holds no power over us because we can face our demons without fear of separation from God. This is the first sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

17 Nov 2019 | The Lord Is My Shepherd

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 22:05:20 +0000

In the first four centuries of Christianity, the most common symbols of the faith were the Good Shepherd, the vine and the fish. We take a look at the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23 to get a better understanding of the importance of that metaphor. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

10 Nov 2019 | Living With a Long-Term Sadness-Ache

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 20:38:19 +0000

Research shows that listening to sad songs when we’re sad is helpful. Psalm 126 is a song meant to accompany us in a time of sadness—and offers the comfort of dreaming of a time when the sadness is replaced by glad songs. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

03 Nov 2019 | We’re Surrounded by Loved Ones Just Beyond Our Four Dimensions

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 19:55:46 +0000

Most of the world experiences the boundary between this world and the “beyond world” as a semipermeable membrane. More interaction-connection possible, as Scripture bears witness with the phrase: “We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

27 Oct 2019 | The Fruit Doesn’t Lie

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 23:15:14 +0000

In Matthew 7 Jesus talks about bad fruit and good fruit. Guest Speaker Liz Dyer applies this parable to the effects of non-affirming and affirming theologies. This is the final sermon in our annual membership renewal series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

20 Oct 2019 | eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion—Fundagelicalism and Reclaiming Scripture

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 03:31:31 +0000

How Fundagelicalism Turned Scripture Into Something it was Never Meant to be, How to Get it Back and Manage Any Emotional Fall Out. This is the fourth sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

13 Oct 2019 | eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion—Telling the Truth (to Others)

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 14:29:05 +0000

The sermon uses apocalyptic teachings from the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus to give voice to the anger of those who have been mistreated by toxic religion. This is the third sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

06 Oct 2019 | eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion—Telling the Truth (to Ourselves)

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 19:34:49 +0000

Using the story of Jonathan eating honeycomb (1 Samuel), we talk through the importance of paying attention to our emotions in helping us determine healthy vs. unhealthy spirituality. This is the second sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

29 Sep 2019 | eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion—Three Tools for Deconstruction

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:21:47 +0000

22 Sep 2019—Jesus, Gender, and Toxic Masculinity: Courage to be Ourselves

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:47:13 +0000

15 Sep 2019—Jesus, Gender, and Toxic Masculinity: Reflecting on God Beyond Gender

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 20:44:39 +0000

08 Sep 2019—Jesus, the Gender-Bender and the Complementarity Myth

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:13:11 +0000

01 Sep 2019—It’s a Wonder-Full Life

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 20:18:48 +0000

25 Aug 2019—We Don’t Say, “You Can’t Play”

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:40:35 +0000

18 Aug 2019—The 3 Kinds of Empathy and Empathy Blockers

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 21:13:06 +0000

11 Aug 2019—It Takes a Village: Empathy, Inclusion, and Wonder—Introduction

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 20:04:50 +0000

04 Aug 2019—A Spiritual Journey

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 20:32:43 +0000

28 Jul 2019—Staying in God’s Peace

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:54:34 +0000

21 Jul 2019—Fresh Wind: Connecting with the Body of Christ

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 21:17:31 +0000

14 Jul 2019—Earth, Dirt, Gardens: Finding God in the Extraordinary Ordinary—Praying in the Outdoor Cathedral

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:08:33 +0000

07 Jul 2019—Earth, Dirt, Gardens: Finding God in the Extraordinary Ordinary—The Human-Divine-Dirt Connection

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 20:42:57 +0000

30 Jun 2019—Earth, Dirt, Gardens: Finding God in the Extraordinary Ordinary—A Work in Progress

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 20:52:52 +0000

23 Jun 2019—Earth, Dirt, Gardens: Finding God in the Extraordinary Ordinary—The Longing for Eden

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 20:28:37 +0000

16 Jun 2019—Lady Wisdom: Loud, Assertive, Sassy, Serious, Alluring, Playful

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 12:32:58 +0000

09 Jun 2019—Pentecostal Freedom: To Speak Up and To Lean In Toward the Other

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 19:47:38 +0000

02 Jun 2019—Mid-Storm Peace

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 21:45:58 +0000

26 May 2019—Justice, Money, and Unearned Advantages: Perspectives from a Strange Parable

Sun, 26 May 2019 19:44:31 +0000

19 May 2019—New Creation Stories: Our Wounds Here are Known There

Tue, 21 May 2019 16:14:57 +0000

12 May 2019—Times of Transition, John 21

Mon, 13 May 2019 02:10:03 +0000

28 April 2019—The Intersection of Faith and the Scientific Method

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 20:49:21 +0000

Our guest speaker, Mike Liemohn, a University of Michigan Professor in the Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Department, shares his understanding of the intersection of faith and the scientific method. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

21 Apr 2019—Jesus, His So-Called Friends, and the Dramas We Find Ourselves In

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:31:37 +0000

Ken delivers our Easter sermon, in which communion replays the drama of scapegoating in light of the resurrection, so we can recognize this baffling phenomenon when we are right in the middle of it. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

14 Apr 2019—Black Jesus/White Jesus

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 21:03:53 +0000

In our Palm Sunday sermon, Emily talks about the legacy of white supremacy and the impact it has on the way we tell the story of the gospel. Find Lenten resources and learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

07 Apr 2019—What’s the Meaning of the Cross & Resurrection?

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:15:58 +0000

Emily leads us through the story of the cross and resurrection using the lens of René Girard and scapegoat theory. Find Lenten resources and learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

31 Mar 2019—Four Scenes in the Life of Jesus: The Psychology of Scapegoating

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 20:01:14 +0000

Four scenes in the life of Jesus—his baptism, introduction to the Accuser, rejection by his village, family rejection—constitute an introduction to the Psychology of Scapegoating 101. How Accusation feels and how the spirit of Acceptance, Belonging and Delight feels. The Power of Jesus as Our Ally. Find Lenten resources and learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

24 Mar 2019—Imitating Love

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 21:01:06 +0000

We practice prayer to become more like God, imitating the desires of Love. We allow the river of the Spirit to slowly erode our ego so we become increasingly filled with love for more than just ourselves. Then we practice seeing this Spirit of Love in others and in the world around us. Find Lenten resources and learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

17 Mar 2019—We Cannot Forget Joseph

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:46:41 +0000

Exodus 1 describes the spiritual dynamics of White Supremacy and Anti-Immigration Fever, driven by fear. Suggesting two simple actions we can consider to resist the spread of such fevers. Find Lenten resources and learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

10 Mar 2019—What We Learn From Suicidal Pigs

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 23:43:28 +0000

With the help of René Girard’s scholarship, we take a look at the story of the Garasene Demoniac through the lens of scapegoat theory. This is the first sermon in our Lenten series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

03 Mar 2019—Lent Preview: An Alternative Approach to Time

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 20:58:18 +0000

Lent is a season for shaping us toward life-enhancing connections: to God, ourselves, others, the wide world. Want to get the most out of Lent and help others do the same? Here are some ways to do it. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

24 Feb 2019—What’s It Feel Like to Experience God? Discerning When We Can Trust Our Own Minds

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 21:42:41 +0000

Emily and Caroline talk about how we can learn to better discern our God-experiences. They also talk about what it's like when you're not sure you can trust your own mind. There's a great variety in how human brains are wired, and this conversation explores the God-encounters, psychosis, and how people who are neuro-atypical might find embrace in our shared faith. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

17 Feb 2019—What’s It Feel Like to Experience God? (And how might we notice it happening more often?)

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 17:05:58 +0000

We can experience love without noticing it. Same with experiencing God, "in whom we live and move and have our being." A look at a high intensity experience, drawing inferences for more subtle, less-intense ones. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

10 Feb 2018—What’s It Like to Experience God? Week 2

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 23:36:17 +0000

Guest Speaker Ben shares his personal experience of God throughout his life in this week's message. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

03 Feb 2019—What’s It Like to Experience God? Small Steps in the Dark

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:19:44 +0000

God speaks to people in myriad ways. We integrate spiritual disciplines and practices into our lives so we learn to better discern God's presence and nudges, as well as to better experience the one-ness of being held within God. It's mystical territory we're exploring, but humans through the ages witness this kind of relationship with God. In the sermon we talk about some of the ways God interacts with humans, and about how it's a lot like finding the "next, small step" in the darkness. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

27 Jan 2019—The Short Stories of Jesus: The Parable of the Surprising Salaries

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:20:46 +0000

This story allows us to enter into a world that operates on generosity rather than greed, ambition, and competition. It invites us to experience a world in which those who stand ignored and underutilized by society are nevertheless of great value to God—worthy, regardless of their circumstances, to live with dignity each day. It beckons us to advocate for and give generously to those in need, regardless of whether or not we think it’s fair. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

20 Jan 2019—The Short Stories of Jesus: A Man Had Two Sons

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:32:18 +0000

The stories of Jesus aren't just "about something"—they do something. This one helps us look at our rivalry addiction...and as we do, opens space for God to offer to help us—to do the work that makes the party enjoyable. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

13 Jan 2019—The Short Stories of Jesus: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:16:44 +0000

The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector is a challenging one. As soon as we begin to side with the actions of either character—believing that one is more right or more wrong, that one is more justified or less deserving of God’s mercy than the other—then the story has us right where Jesus wants us to be: realizing that we all actually contain a bit of each character. It's a story that reveals how it’s possible for two different things to both be true and at work at the same time within us, and to recognize and engage in this paradox within ourselves. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

06 Jan 2019—The Short Stories of Jesus: Leaven Hiders & Party Throwers

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 22:30:43 +0000

What does one of Jesus’ shortest parables and the story of how the American Psychiatric Association changed its mind on homosexuality have in common? The answer is hidden in plain sight. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

30 Dec 2018—St. Nicholas Stories and Traditions

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 19:57:00 +0000

Many of our Christmas traditions are drawn from stories and folklore surrounding St. Nicholas, a saint from what is now modern-day Turkey, known for his concern for the poor. Worship Director Cassie Brabbs shares a St. Nicholas story from her childhood, along with other Christmas memories and an encouragement to keep some traditions alive throughout the year.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

23 Dec 2018—How We Wait, Week 4: Believing and Expectant

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 22:22:29 +0000

John the Baptist grew up surrounded by neighbors who celebrated him. We all need a little of that in our lives. Ken Wilson brings us the fourth sermon in our Advent series. This one's subtitled, "It Takes a Rejoicing Village to Make a Baptist."

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

16 Dec 2018—How We Wait, Week 3: Surrounded, Worshipful

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 01:48:09 +0000

God’s blessing, and the presence of encouraging loved ones, can transform disgraced outsiders into worshipful believers who wait with hopeful anticipation for his coming justice. Emily Swan shares the hopefulness of the Advent season in the third week of our sermon series.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

09 Dec 2018—How We Wait, Week 2: Perplexed, Surrendering

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 03:41:38 +0000

The Jewish background to the angel's announcement of Mary's pregnancy is loaded with surprises, including a divine presence that approaches her in feminine, not masculine form. Ken Wilson references Luke 2:26–38 in the second sermon of our Advent series, subtitled, "What We Miss When We Focus on the Virgin Birth Like A Bunch of Gentiles."

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

02 Dec 2018—How We Wait, Week 1: Wide-Eyed and Looking for Signs

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:25:55 +0000

Using the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah from the Gospel of Luke, we talk about how we learn to wait on God. The story provokes us to look at the world wide-eyed, looking for signs of God that could astonish us—leaving us breathless, silent, and pondering the overwhelming beauty breaking through. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

25 Nov 2018—Questioning the Sinner Label

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:13:39 +0000

It’s easy to assume Christianity is all about feeling bad about sin so we can turn to God. But Jesus often opposed labeling people as sinners, and his practice of forgiveness often deviated from our well-worn norms. Ken Wilson explores our practice of labeling and forgiveness in “Questioning the Sinner Label.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and membership, at a2blue.org.

18 Nov 2018—The Widow at the Temple: A Different Lens

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:42:53 +0000

In her study of Mark 12–13, Emily Swan takes a less traditional approach to the familiar parable of the widow’s mite. She also offers strategies for dealing with family anxieties over the holidays.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and membership, at a2blue.org.

11 Nov 2018—Bartimaeus and the Affirmation of Agency

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 21:53:27 +0000

Agency is the capacity to make choices independently, without outside interference. It’s a key to being human in the image of God…and there’s room in our connection with God for us to exercise it. As Jesus showed Bartimaeus. Ken Wilson expands on these ideas in this week’s message, “Bartimaeus and the Affirmation of Agency.”

You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and membership, at a2blue.org.

04 Nov 2018—Reflections on the Feast of All Saints

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 03:21:04 +0000

Contemplating death and what comes next can be stir up a range of emotions and thoughts. Emily shares from her personal experiences and reflections and how they have shaped her faith in her sermon to commemorate the Feast of All Saints.

You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and membership, at a2blue.org.

28 Oct 2018—Reintegrating Our Faith Stories

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:39:28 +0000

Blue Ocean is about re-integrating faith with an identify under assault from toxic religion. We are called to the spiritual-ally disciplines of humility, non-defensive listening, and expanding our hearts. This sermon, the final in our annual membership renewal series, includes a powerful testimony from a member of the Kiowa and Comanche peoples.

You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and what it means to become a member, at a2blue.org.

21 Oct 2018—My Journey to Becoming Affirming

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 21:17:58 +0000

Guest Speaker Liz Dyer shares her journey from a conservation Christian background to affirming her gay son, supporting other moms of LGBTQ children, and becoming an ally and advocate for LGBTQ individuals. Liz is the founder of the first private FB group of Christian moms with LGBTQ+ kids (3,660 and growing!).

This is the fourth message in our annual membership renewal series. You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and what it means to become a member, at a2blue.org.

14 Oct 2018—Self Care as an Act of Resistance

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 22:06:52 +0000

Is our current political climate, or other life situation, causing you ongoing anxiety and/or feelings of hopelessness? Emily Swan looks to the Old Testament prophets, and the return of the Israelites from exile, for examples of how to tend to our emotional health. While acknowledging that there is a time for grief and active resistance, she encourages us to cultivate spaces of joy and rest as a spiritual practice, and as acts of resistance against the forces and events trying to discourage us.

Emily’s sermon, “Self Care as an Act of Resistance,” is the third in our annual membership renewal series. You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and what it means to become a member, at a2blue.org.

10 Oct 2018—Allies: The Way of Love From the Beginning

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 21:15:23 +0000

In an era of backlash against the full equality of women, people of color, sexual minorities, and immigrants, we are called into the dignity of our original human destiny—to be allies. A fresh look at Genesis 2 and why being an ally is so much central to advance of God’s good realm.

Ken Wilson brings the second sermon in our membership renewal series, “Allies: The Way of Love From the Beginning.” You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and what it means to become a member, at a2blue.org.

30 Sep 2018—Reclaiming Christianity for Jesus, Justice, & the Common Good

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 21:16:13 +0000

In Bible times, people were labeled as sinful based on physical or mental conditions and excluded from religious practices. In today’s society, people are often labeled or excluded based on factors including being queer or poor. Emily Swan unpacks the Bible story told in Luke 5 and Mark 2 of the lame man lowered through the roof to be in the presence of Jesus. Her focus is on the courage, creativity, & hope of the friends, as well as Jesus’ redefinition of what it means to be in a “sinful state.”

This sermon, “Reclaiming Christianity for Jesus, Justice, & the Common Good,” serves as the introduction to Blue Ocean Connection Month, and our annual membership renewal drive. You can learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time, location, and what it means to become a member, at a2blue.org.

23 Sep 2018—Navigating the Hard Questions: The Praying-for-Things Dilemma

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:37:35 +0000

Ken Wilson on navigating the problems we encounter when we pray for specific people and needs—like does prayer “work,” is it fair, and why do I sometimes feel so frustrated with all this? The final sermon in our series, “Navigating the Hard Questions: The Praying-for-Things Dilemma.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

16 Sep 2018—Navigating the Hard Questions: Interfaith Jesus

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 20:39:44 +0000

“Christianity hitched to power-seeking agendas is poisonous.”

This is just one of many thought-provoking statements Emily Swan makes in her sermon, “Navigating the Hard Questions: Interfaith Jesus.” She also offers three Jesus-shaped postures towards those of other faiths, and presents a “Holy Spirit-centered” view of the world.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

09 Sep 2018—Navigating the Hard Questions (Like Hell)

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 14:47:03 +0000

We read the Bible, things are going great, then boom! we run into an icy patch. Like the hell sayings. So what’s up with Hell? How did we get from Jesus talking about “Hades” (realm of the dead) and “Gehenna” (a garbage dump outside Jerusalem) to language like “eternal conscious torment?” Ken Wilson brings us this week’s sermon, “Navigating the Hard Questions (Like Hell).” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

02 Sep 2018—Navigating the Hard Questions: Patriarchy in the Bible

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 23:58:50 +0000

Reading the Bible can be especially challenging if you don’t subscribe to heteronormative gender roles. In this week’s sermon, “Navigating the Hard Questions: Patriarchy in the Bible,” Emily Swan suggests ways to approach this challenge by highlighting norm-breaking instances in the Bible—examples that act to break down oppressive power structures. Further, she explores the orthodox belief that God is beyond gender— displaying both traditionally male and female traits—and reminds us that we are ALL created in the image of God.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

26 Aug 2018—A Transgender Interpretation of Esther

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 20:43:37 +0000

Guest speaker, and seminary student, Andy Deeb looks at the story of Esther from a transgender viewpoint, challenging us to use our power and privilege compassionately in support of LGBTQ individuals and others who are oppressed or less powerful.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

19 Aug 2018—Esther is Burlesque: Part 3

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 20:17:30 +0000

In the final act of the saga of Esther, this dark comedy is revealed as a story of strength and hope for an oppressed people. A story that we, too, can look to for reassurance that we are beloved of God. Emily Swan presents the final sermon of the series, “Esther is Burlesque: Part 3.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

12 Aug 2018—Esther is Burlesque: Part 2

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 20:28:50 +0000

What traits or circumstance lead to corruption of the human spirit? What does it take to respond with integrity in the face of persecution? Emily Swan explores these questions, and more, in the second sermon of her series on the book of Esther, “Esther is Burlesque: Part 2.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

05 Aug 2018—Surprising Abundance from a Meager Offering

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 21:32:37 +0000

We go through cycles of scarcity and abundance. The scarcity phase always feels bleak. In this week’s sermon, “Surprising Abundance from a Meager Offering,” Ken Wilson looks at what it means to offer ourselves in our meagerness to the God of Abundance.

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and location, at a2blue.org.

29 Jul 2018—Esther is Burlesque

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 21:24:30 +0000

Have you ever thought of the story of Esther as historical fiction, or, more specifically, as a burlesque comedy? Emily Swan explores this view, based on the teaching of Jewish scholars, in her sermon, “Esther is Burlesque.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

22 Jul 2018—How to Handle a Bully: Jesus v. Herod

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 20:05:14 +0000

We all have experience with bullies—and now we have national leaders using old-fashioned bullying tactics. Jesus resisted bullies and his resistance to Herod is a primer on how to do it. Ken Wilson explores causes and responses to bullying in his message, “How to Handle a Bully: Jesus v. Herod.”

Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

15 Jul 2018—Comfort: When Thoughts & Prayers Are Not Enough

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 21:30:07 +0000

Jesus, of all people, was most justified in offering bromides like “everything’s gonna be all right.” But when his friends were in the shock of grief, he mourned right along with them. And then took the steps he could to help them out. Guest speaker (and worship director) Cassie Brabbs delivers today’s message, “Comfort: When Thoughts & Prayers Are Not Enough.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

08 Jul 2018—The God Who Sees Me

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 00:44:13 +0000

Guest Speaker Cristy Starkweather tells the story of hosting an immigrant mother, separated from her children at the border, on her way to find them in NYC. In the process Cristy is reminded of the story of Hagar, which means “immigrant or stranger,” who receives the revelation of a God named, “The God Who Sees Me.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

01 Jul 2018—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Were Asylum Seekers

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 22:34:20 +0000

Thousands of asylum-seeking children have been forcibly separated from their parents at the border, a policy rooted in Scripture, according to our nation’s Attorney General. We would better consider the case of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, who fled for their lives to Egypt, seeking asylum from Herod. Without the kindness of strangers and the welcome of the Egyptians, we would have no Jesus. It’s time this story were better known. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

24 Jun 2018—The Power of Faith and Acceptance in Transition

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 21:37:10 +0000

Guest Speaker Lilianna Angel Reyes, trans Latina woman and Interim Executive Director of Affirmations in Ferndale, shares from her personal journey of transition—including obstacles and support, rejection, acceptance, and hope—in her message, “The Power of Faith and Acceptance in Transition.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

17 June 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: Helping You is Helping Me (Step 12)

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 21:42:14 +0000

What is a “spiritual awakening”? Not the flash of light, but the result of real steps taken. Contemplate this, and more, as Ken Wilson brings us the next sermon in our series, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: Helping You is Helping Me (Step 12).” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

10 June 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: Improving Conscious Contact (Step 11)

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 21:28:27 +0000

What would such a thing feel like, anyway—conscious contact, that is? And what simple things can we do to improve our conscious contact? What do the six steps that mention God tells us about the kind of Power he/she might be? What’s an example of an actual meditation experience? Ken Wilson explores these questions and more in the next installment of our sermon series, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: Improving Conscious Contact (Step 11).” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

27 May 2018—Tested to Become Diamonds

Sun, 27 May 2018 22:13:54 +0000

In her message, “Tested to Become Diamonds,” guest speaker Rev. Dr. Renee Jackson challenges us to view ourselves as diamonds in the rough, believing that God is refining us through the difficult times. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

20 May 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: Daily Amends (Step 10)

Sun, 20 May 2018 21:23:50 +0000

The Spirit of Love frees us from fear through every step of the 12 steps—including the time we take to reflect on our interactions with others through the day. Wouldn’t it be great to know someone who did this? Ken Wilson brings us the next sermon in series with, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: Daily Amends (Step 10).” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

13 May 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: On Amend-Making (Steps 7–9)

Mon, 14 May 2018 05:59:33 +0000

Progress, not perfection is the path to sanity. Like the U.S. Constitution, we start off with flaws that can only be corrected by amendments. Making amends, step by step. Ken Wilson brings us the next installment in our sermon series with, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: On Amend-Making (Steps 7–9).” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

06 May 2018—An Interfaith Vision

Sun, 06 May 2018 20:16:27 +0000

Christine Modey, leader from St Clares and President of the Genesis board (our facility hosts) shares the interfaith vision that made a place for Blue Ocean Faith—yet another expression of abiding in God’s love. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

29 Apr 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: Doing Hard Things with a Little Help from Our Friends (Steps 4–6)

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 21:02:37 +0000

AA is a part of a change-is-possible spirituality that dates back to Abraham, called to follow a Higher Power to a land he hadn’t heard of. Steps 4, 5, and 6 help us face the things about ourselves that contribute to our misery. For that, we need a little help from our friends, a culture where people deal with their own stuff. Ken Wilson brings us the third sermon in our series, “The 12 Steps for Anyone.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

22 Apr 2018—The Power of Stories: Participating in God’s Story, and Letting God Reshape Ours

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 00:00:15 +0000

Guest speaker Molly Morton shares her personal struggles with deprecating self-talk, and misguided views of God, in “The Power of Stories: Participating in God’s Story, and Letting God Reshape Ours.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

15 Apr 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: How to Say More with Less About God

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 20:06:42 +0000

Ken Wilson gives the second sermon in our series, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: How to Say More-with-Less About God (Steps 1–3).” The genius of AA: helping us with things that have us beat, without beating us further with moralistic finger-wagging—that only makes things worse—beginning with the surprising power of letting go, or “relaxing into God.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

08 Apr 2018—The 12 Steps for Anyone: Intro

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:40:29 +0000

We’ve all been affected by AA: Think: easy does it, one step at a time, keep it simple stupid. In our new sermon series we’ll look at the movement that produced the steps, and why steps are more important than beliefs and rules. Ken Wilson introduces the series with, “The 12 Steps for Anyone: How Alcoholics Anonymous Changed the Spiritual Landscape for Everyone.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

01 Apr 2018—Easter Sunday: The Gospel for Eddie & Tom

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 21:42:08 +0000

When your faith makes the feel-bad worse, it may be the shadow-gospel, not the real thing. Jesus lived under the shadow of moral suspicion his whole life, and his message is all about defending the accused, not intensifying their distress. Ken Wilson declares the (real) good news of the gospel in our Easter Sunday message, “The Gospel for Eddie & Tom.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

25 Mar 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—Getting Ready for Jesus Week

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:43:20 +0000

We all need people to look up to. A person is often revealed in spontaneous moments, chance interactions, like these three from the gospel of John in the run up to Palm Sunday. Ken Wilson helps us prepare for Holy Week in the sixth sermon of our series,“Prayer: The Shaping of Desire.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

18 Mar 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—Connecting to Our True Self

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 20:57:14 +0000

Emily Swan shares from her personal experiences about the value of prayer in connecting to her true self, in the fifth week of our sermon series,“Prayer: The Shaping of Desire.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

11 Mar 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—How I Learned to Calm Myself

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 21:15:37 +0000

In week four of our sermon series,“Prayer: The Shaping of Desire,” Ken Wilson shares how he learned to calm himself after developing anxiety—employing 4 daily practices. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

04 Mar 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—Singing Our Prayers

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 21:46:00 +0000

In week three of our Lenten Series, Ken Wilson looks at the power of song with “Singing Our Prayers: Recovering What Used to Be Natural,” or, how the professional ideal of singing is robbing us of a simple way to improve our conscious contact with God. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

25 Feb 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—Fixed-Hour Prayer

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 18:36:09 +0000

In the second week of our Lenten sermon series, “Prayer: The Shaping of Desire,” Emily introduces us to what is probably the most biblical form of daily prayer unknown to many evangelicals—set prayers at intervals through the day, as introduced by Phyllis Tickle. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

18 Feb 2018—Prayer: The Shaping of Desire—The Serenity Prayer

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 21:31:33 +0000

Need a ready-made prayer for inner turmoil? The Serenity Prayer might scratch your itch. Ken Wilson delves into the value of ready-made prayers in the first sermon of our Lenten Series, “Prayer: The Shaping of Desire.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

11 Feb 2018—Ready, Set, Lent!

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 22:11:53 +0000

Ken Wilson introduces our Lenten sermon series with “Ready, Set, Lent!”—how to get ready for a season of reflection and connection in the run-up to Easter. Suggested practices to sample and approaches include Be Intentional, Be Connectional and Be Kind to Yourself. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

04 Feb 2018—The Elements of Worship: The Lord’s Prayer

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:07:17 +0000

In the sixth, and final, week of our series, “The Elements of Worship,” Emily Swan takes an in-depth look at the Lord’s Prayer. Her exploration encourages us to view the text as an opportunity to both reflect on the character and nature of God, and experience a more personal, intimate relationship with God. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

28 Jan 2018—Elements of Worship: Sermons

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 23:03:52 +0000

The fifth sermon in our series, “The Elements of Worship,” looks at the sermon. Ken Wilson examines the historical practices of readings and/or lessons in both Jewish and early Christian culture, and challenges some more common, traditional approaches to preaching that exist today. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

21 Jan 2018—The Elements of Worship: Hymns, Part 2

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 21:13:56 +0000

This week Emily Swan explores the origins and power of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul,” emphasizing that it’s not telling us to cover our feelings of concern or despair with a false smile, but encouraging us to practice hope in the middle of suffering, and, hopefully, see God in the midst of it. This is the fourth sermon in our series, “The Elements of Worship.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

14 Jan 2018—The Elements of Worship: Gospel Hymns

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:03:13 +0000

In the third sermon in our series, “The Elements of Worship,” Ken Wilson takes an in-depth look at the Gospel Hymn, “I Will Arise (Come Ye Sinners).” His examination cites personal experiences and reflection while encouraging us to regard ourselves with more kindness. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

07 Jan 2018—The Elements of Worship: Communion

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:55:08 +0000

Emily Swan continues our series on The Elements of Worship, exploring the origins, symbolism, and purpose of Communion, from the Passover Meal to the Last Supper to our modern day practice. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

31 Dec 2017—The Elements of Worship: The Sarum Prayer

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:42:25 +0000

Ken Wilson opens our latest sermon series, “The Elements of Worship,” with a look at the 8th century origins, and deeper meanings of, the Sarum Prayer—one of the regular elements of our weekly worship celebration. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

17 Dec 2017—Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power, Week 3

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 21:25:33 +0000

Ken Wilson brings us the third sermon in our Advent Series, “Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power.” This week he looks at Philippians 3 and Paul’s desire to adopt the mindset of Jesus by giving up his power and privilege. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

10 Dec 2017—Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power, Week 2

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:07:46 +0000

On the second Sunday of Advent, Emily Swan reminds us that during Advent we can actively desire hope, peace, joy, and love in the midst of darkness and despair. Our Advent Series is titled, “Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

03 Dec 2017—Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power, Week 1

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 01:04:53 +0000

Our Advent Series this year is titled, “Taking Advantage or Sharing It: An Alternative Approach to Power.” Ken Wilson begins the series with a reading from Philippians 2 and an encouragement to give proper place to our unearned advantages, and not just focus on our disadvantages, in our personal narratives. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

26 Nov 2017—Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love, Week 5

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 02:27:52 +0000

In his sermon, “On Being, in Relation to God, Sheep,” Pastor Ken Wilson reminds us to rest from our constant striving and relax into our identity as sheep in God’s care. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

19 Nov 2017—Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love, Week 4

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 01:25:42 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan concludes our sermon series, “Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love,” reminding us that, as Jesus followers, we are called to bear witness, not to act as an authority over other faiths. Further, she encourages us to discover the value of learning from other faith groups and spiritual practices. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

12 Nov 2017—Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love, Week 3

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 02:29:42 +0000

In the third sermon of our series,“Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love,” Pastor Emily Swan draws from the life of Moses to examine how humility recognizes we can’t know everything, and to emphasize that the purpose of the law is to help us to love better (not just act better). Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

05 Nov 2017—Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love, Week 2

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 23:54:57 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson continues our sermon series, “Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love,” emphasizing that it’s not our heroic accomplishments, but our day-to-day contributions—the steady accumulation little things done over and over—that make our lives important. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

29 Oct 2017—Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love, Week 1

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:05:00 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan introduces our new sermon series, “Understanding Our Limits: Humility as the Path to Love,” by looking at obstacles that keep us from loving the best way we can. The series is based on the book, To Love as God Loves, by Roberta Bondi. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

22 Oct 2017—Braving the Wilderness: Week 5

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 00:45:04 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson looks at Jacob’s wilderness experiences in Genesis while highlighting the importance of shared vulnerability (often resulting from significant personal loss) in deepening our walk with God and others. This is the fifth sermon in our annual membership series, “Braving the Wilderness,” based on Brené Brown’s latest book. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

15 Oct 2017—Braving the Wilderness: Week 4

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 12:42:52 +0000

In week 4 of our sermon series “Braving the Wilderness” (based on Brené Brown’s latest book), Pastor Emily Swan encourages us to strengthen our connection to others by showing up for collective events in times of joy and of grief. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

08 Oct 2017—Braving the Wilderness: Week 3

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 01:12:29 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan teaches from John 8:1–11 while warning against setting up false dichotomies in the third week of our sermon series based on Brené Brown’s latest book “Braving the Wilderness: Week 3.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

01 Oct 2017—Braving the Wilderness: Week 2

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 12:35:59 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson continues our sermon series based on research professor Brené Brown’s latest book in “Braving the Wilderness: Week 2.” This week’s message looks at the importance of setting boundaries as we draw closer to others. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

24 Sep 2017—Braving the Wilderness: Week 1

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 15:03:49 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson introduces our annual membership sermon series focusing on community and belonging. The year’s series, “Braving the Wilderness,”is based on research professor Brené Brown’s latest book. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

17 Sep 2017—WhyChristian? Week 5

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:59:59 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan reminds us that we are all “fiercely wanted” at the banquet table of God, and guest speaker Brandon Carruth share his experiences of learning to see (and love) himself as God does, in the final week of our sermon series, “WhyChristian?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

10 Sep 2017—WhyChristian? Week 4

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 15:50:59 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson shares about his early experiences navigating the minefield of religion in search of a Christianity focused on “being loved,” rather than “being right,” in week four of our sermon series, “WhyChristian?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

03 Sep 2017—WhyChristian? Week 3

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:29:44 +0000

Guest Speaker Rachel Murr tells the story of her journey as a gay Christian, from experiencing conflict and rejection to finding acceptance and love, in the third week of our sermon series, “WhyChristian?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

27 Aug 2017—WhyChristian? Week 2

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 21:48:20 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan shares from her personal experience of the Holy Spirit and the mystical aspects of Christianity in week 2 of our sermon series, “WhyChristian?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

20 Aug 2017—WhyChristian? Week 1

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 20:44:00 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson begins our new sermon series with an overview of the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the search for a religion-less Christianity in week 1 of “WhyChrisitian?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

13 Aug 2017—Hatred Will Not Overcome Us

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 22:44:16 +0000

Guest speaker Andy Deeb shares his struggle to find peace in God in the face of ongoing violence and oppression in his message, “Hatred Will Not Overcome Us.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

06 Aug 2017—Savoring Life: Animals and Land

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:37:33 +0000

Integrating gratitude and praise and rest and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our minds into seeing the entire creation—not just humans—as God-given, is essential to our spiritual practice. The earth is not our possession; rather we are its priestly caretakers. It’s our spiritual and sacred responsibility to steward and tend the creation, which is crucial to our having continued life on our planet. Pastor Emily Swan finishes our Sabbath sermon series in week 5 with, “Savoring Life: Animals and Land.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

30 Jul 2017—Savoring Life: Sabbath, Week 4

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:47:16 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson continues the pursuit of a life-savoring connection to God, in contrast with a religious approach, highlighting our freedom of principled dissent and our freedom to pursue happiness, in week 4 of our sermon series, “Savoring Life: Sabbath.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org. (note: due to technical difficulties, part of the sermon was not recorded. Please visit the “Sermons” page of our website for the sermon notes, or contact Ken with questions.)

23 Jul 2017—Savoring Life: Sabbath, Week 3

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 21:00:50 +0000

In the third week of the sermon series, “Savoring Life: Sabbath,” Pastor Emily Swan stresses the importance of creating space for God while emphasizing the transient nature of our lives as expressed in the book of Ecclesiastes. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

16 Jul 2017—Savoring Life: Sabbath, Week 2

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 00:55:01 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson reads from Matthew 11:28–12:14 to help us learn to distinguish between the voice of religion and the voice of Jesus in order to savor life a little more in “Savoring Life: Sabbath, Week 2.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

09 Jul 2017—Savoring Life: Sabbath, Week 1

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:03:07 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan promotes the physical and spiritual necessity of rest in her sermon, “Savoring Life: Sabbath.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

02 Jul 2017—John 20

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 17:14:49 +0000

In his sermon on “John 20,” Pastor Ken Wilson explores the connectedness of Jesus’ actions in sending out the disciples, giving them the spirit, and empowering them to forgive. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

25 Jun 2017—Psalm 23

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:37:14 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson continues our sermon series on the Spirit as our advocate, focusing this week on Hebrew scholar Robert Alter’s translation of the 23rd Psalm, in his sermon, “Psalm 23.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

18 Jun 2017—God’s Preferential Option for the Poor

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 13:25:57 +0000

In her sermon, “God’s Preferential Option for the Poor,” guest speaker Rev. Brooke Pickrell preaches from the Beatitudes with a call to respond to our current political climate from the foundation of our faith. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

11 Jun 2017—The Radical Revision of Our Image of God

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:57:49 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson encourages us to view the Spirit as our defender and advocate, not an accuser, in this week’s sermon, “The Radical Revision of Our Image of God.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

04 Jun 2017—God is Everywhere

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 13:45:44 +0000

In “God is Everywhere,” Pastor Emily Swan asserts that the radical significance of Pentecost—that God is present everywhere and in everyone—changed the idea of “who belongs” in the family of God. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

28 May 2017—The Things You Can Get Away With Saying in a Psalm

Tue, 30 May 2017 13:49:40 +0000

In his sermon, “The Things You Can Get Away With Saying in a Psalm,” Pastor Ken Wilson looks at Psalm 137, and it’s surprising ending, to explore how God allows us to give voice to our pain. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

21 May 2017—Free Martha

Tue, 23 May 2017 13:50:06 +0000

In her sermon, “Free Martha,” Pastor Emily Swan unpacks the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, emphasizing the value of both sisters’ actions. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

14 May 2017—What Way?

Wed, 17 May 2017 15:37:55 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson explores differing readings of John 14:6 in this week’s message, “What Way?” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

30 Apr 2017—Altars and Wells

Tue, 02 May 2017 15:15:59 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan refers to the experiences of Isaac in Genesis 26 while encouraging us to examine our memories and practices and focus on those that are life-giving, enrich our lives, and deepen our experience of God in her sermon, “Altars and Wells.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

23 Apr 2017—The Shaping of a World View

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:11:40 +0000

Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Renee Jackson preaches on the story of Jacob and Esau in examination of events and emotions that can shape our responses to life experiences in her sermon, “The Shaping of a World View.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

16 Apr 2017—Easter Sunday Service: Carl’s Question, Take 3

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 00:32:46 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson takes another shot at explaining atonement and what it means that Jesus “died for our sins” in our Easter Sunday Service, “Carl’s Question: Take 3.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

09 Apr 2017—Palm Sunday Service: The Death of the Scapegoat

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:15:49 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan reviews how scapegoating promotes a false peace at the expense of the vulnerable, and presents Jesus as the ultimate innocent scapegoat in our Palm Sunday message, “The Death of the Scapegoat.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

02 Apr 2017—Jesus and the Disinherited: Love Lets the Other Blow Your Blinders Off

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:26:45 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson explores how privilege, prejudice and oppression can keep us from full fellowship with others in the fifth week of our Lenten series, “Jesus and the Disinherited: Love Lets the Other Blow Your Blinders Off.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

26 Mar 2017—Jesus and the Disinherited: Resisting Hatred

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:29:04 +0000

“Jesus and the Disinherited” author Howard Thurman talks about how hatred tempts both the powerful and the oppressed. In dissecting human tendencies and applying the teaching of Jesus, we can learn how to avoid the pitfall of embracing bitterness and hatred. Pastor Emily Swan brings us the fourth sermon in our Lenten series, “Jesus and the Disinherited: Resisting Hatred.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

19 Mar 2017—Jesus and the Disinherited: Deception

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 12:46:06 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson calls out the deception—used by both the powerful and the disinherited—and lifts up the power of truth-telling fueled by the courage of being fully known and accepted by God in the third week of our Lenten series, “Jesus and the Disinherited: Deception.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

12 Mar 2017—Jesus and the Disinherited: Overcoming Fear

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 13:57:40 +0000

Rather than focusing on what the strong can do for the weak, Jesus among the disinherited overcomes fear with the profound self-worth that comes with being a child of God. In this, he calls us to follow him. Youth Ministry Director Caroline Kittle brings us the second sermon in our Lenten series, “Jesus and the Disinherited: Overcoming Fear.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

05 Mar 2017—Jesus and the Disinherited: Power for the Weak

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 21:18:25 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan presents an overview of Howard Thurman’s book and warns those with power and privilege against having contempt for those in need in the introduction to our Lenten sermon series, “Jesus and the Disinherited: Power for the Weak.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

26 Feb 2017—Lenten Leap of Faith Introduction

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 13:39:40 +0000

In the Christian tradition, Lent is a community-wide retreat—a time to focus on Jesus. We call our communal Lenten experience “Leap of Faith” because growth on the Jesus path is the cumulative effect of micro-leaps of faith. Pastor Ken Wilson explains some of our Lenten practices in this week’s sermon, “Lenten Leap of Faith Introduction.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

19 Feb 2017—Making Contact: Mercy NOT Sacrifice

Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:51:44 +0000

Guest Speaker John West explains how the genius of Jesus’ hospitality undermines the purity impulse to sacrifice in the seventh sermon in our series, “Making Contact: Mercy NOT Sacrifice.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

12 Feb 2017—Making Contact: Straight Talk or God Talk

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 14:54:17 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson calls attention to the power of art to move us, and references the parable of the sower to show how the Bible can move us to engage with God in ways that straight talk can’t, in week six of our sermon series, “Making Contact: Art is Better than Straight Talk.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

05 Feb 2017—Making Contact: Jesus’s Anger at Injustices

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 00:39:16 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan reads from Jeremiah to highlight Jesus’s heart for justice and his warning against neglecting the poor, oppressed, and foreigners, in the fifth week of our sermon series, “Making Contact: Jesus’s Anger at Injustices.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

29 Jan 2017—Making Contact: Luke 24 as a Model for Meeting Jesus Today

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 23:34:20 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson explores how memories and imagination interact—and how they enhance our experience of God through Emmanuel Prayer—in the fourth sermon in our series, “Making Contact: Luke 24 as a Model for Meeting Jesus Today.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

22 Jan 2017—Making Contact: Emmanuel Prayer

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:55:20 +0000

Worship Director Cassie Brabbs shares her personal experiences with Emmanuel Prayer, and the importance it plays in her connection to God, in the third week of our series, “Making Contact: Emmanuel Prayer.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

15 Jan 2017—Making Contact: A Jewish Approach to Scripture

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:43:27 +0000

Guest Speaker Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer explains the significance and blessings of mitzvah in “Making Contact: A Jewish Approach to Scripture,” the second sermon of our series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

08 Jan 2017—Making Contact: Epiphany and the Risen Jesus

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 16:39:52 +0000

If Jesus is alive (as the Scriptures testify) and he’s accessibly present to us with active agency and eager to lead anyone willing to follow, why wouldn’t we trust our experiences of Jesus in prayer? Pastor Emily Swan brings us the second sermon in our series, “Making Contact: Epiphany and the Risen Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

01 Jan 2017—Stephen’s Stoning: A Faith Perspective on How to be an Ally

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:58:48 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson begins the new year with a look at the story of Stephen from Acts 6–7, in “Stephen’s Stoning: A Faith Perspective on How to be an Ally.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

18 Dec 2016—Advent Week 4: The Art of the Complaint

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:51:30 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson draws from Matthew 1:18–25 and Psalm 80 to encourage us to be vulnerable in voicing our complaints to God, trusting in his love and gentleness, in “Advent Week 4: The Art of the Complaint.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

11 Dec 2016—Advent Week 3: Mary’s Song

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:50:01 +0000

In the third sermon of our Advent series, “Advent Week 3: Mary’s Song,” Pastor Emily Swan talks about the song of Mary in Luke 1 as she waits on the arrival of her first child, Jesus. In the political chaos of 1st century Judea, Mary prophetically carried a seed of hope for her people. We, also, wait on that same seed of hope to blossom. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

04 Dec 2016—Advent Week 2: The Shoot from the Stump

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 15:53:07 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan highlights the hope of God’s presence in the midst of desolation from Isaiah chapters 6 and 11 in “Advent Week 2: The Shoot from the Stump.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

27 Nov 2016—Advent Week 1: Hoping For and Working Toward a Better Future

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:44:41 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson introduces our Advent series with a study of Isaiah 2:1–5 in “Advent Week 1: Hoping For and Working Toward a Better Future.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

20 Nov 2016—Election Distress: Home for the Holidays

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 14:24:21 +0000

In this time of distress and disorientation, Pastor Ken Wilson explores what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself”—including self-care—in the context of family holiday events. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

13 Nov 2016—Election Distress in the Company of Jesus

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 00:35:35 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson reads from Luke 21 in warning us about the danger of crowds in this post-election sermon. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

06 Nov 2016—Election Distress in the Company of Jeremiah

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 13:16:38 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson warns us against the blinding effects of ideological exceptionalism—believing we are exceptional/chosen by God, so what we do must be good—in this sermon leading up to the presidential election. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

30 Oct 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 6

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 14:35:46 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan gives an update on the health and vision of Blue Ocean Faith in Ann Arbor, and across the country, in the conclusion of our sermon series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

23 Oct 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 5

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 20:58:49 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan gives an update on the state of the church, discusses our goals for the coming year, and presents an overview of what it means to be “Solus Jesus” in week 5 of our sermon series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

16 Oct 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 4

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 22:42:25 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson encourages us to identify with Zacchaeus and to draw energy from connections in the fourth week of our sermon series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

09 Oct 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 3

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:48:18 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson explains how our ability to resonate with people’s feelings helps us connect with others in the third sermon in our series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

02 Oct 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 2

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 19:39:04 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan explores our brain’s inability to connect to others due to overactive feelings of rejection and judgment in week 2 of our sermon series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

25 Sep 2016—Connect & Renew, Week 1

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:51:47 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson looks at the effect of stress on relationships and suggests some exercises to reduce stress and refocus on connecting with others in the first sermon in our new series, “Connect & Renew.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

18 Sep 2016—The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness, Week 4

Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:25:58 +0000

Pastor Ken Wilson discusses our options to renew or release a relationship following forgiveness in the final week of our sermon series “The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

11 Sep 2016—The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness, Week 3

Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:15:12 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan describes the process—and value—of “Granting Forgiveness,” in sermon three of our series, “The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

04 Sep 2016—The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness, Week 2

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 14:09:24 +0000

Pastor Emily Swan explores Paul’s response to the believers in Corinth (2 Corinthians) and encourages us to “Name the Hurt” in the second sermon of our series, “The Fourfold Path of Forgiveness.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.