Episode List

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty-four. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

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 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty-three. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty–two. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twenty-one. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day nineteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day eighteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day seventeen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day sixteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

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, […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day fifteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day fourteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day thirteen. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day twelve. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day eleven. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day ten. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day nine. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

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 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day eight. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day seven. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day six. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day five. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day four. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day three. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day two. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 15 […]

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 […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is day one. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide. Each day, we’ll start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give […]

Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide these next four weeks. This first podcast is simply an overview of what you can […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The podcast gives a brief summary of the conclusion of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, followed by a couple of questions to think about during the week and […]

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 […]

The podcast gives a brief summary of chapter five of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, followed by a couple of questions to think about during the week and […]

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 […]

The podcast gives a brief summary of chapter four of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, followed by a couple of questions to think about during the week and […]

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 […]

The podcast gives a brief summary of chapter three of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, followed by a couple of questions to think about during the week and […]

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 […]

This podcast gives a brief summary of chapter two of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, followed by a couple of questions to think about during the week […]

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 […]

Emily begins the podcast series by giving a summary of chapter one of The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone. In this chapter, Dr. Cone asks us to draw a […]

For Lent this year, our church read The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone. This is a brief intro to the six-part podcast series. Find additional resources and […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Day 23 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day twenty-three: Monday, Dec. 24, the conclusion of the Advent season. I’m Emily, […]

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 […]

Day 22 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day twenty-two: Sunday, Dec. 23. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 21 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day twenty-one: Saturday, Dec. 22. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 20 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day twenty: Friday, Dec. 21. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 19 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day nineteen: Thursday, Dec. 20. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 18 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day eighteen: Wednesday, Dec. 19. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 17 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day seventeen: Tuesday, Dec. 18. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 16 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day sixteen: Monday, Dec. 17. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

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 […]

Day 15 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day fifteen: Sunday, Dec. 16. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 14 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day fourteen: Saturday, Dec. 15. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 13 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day thirteen: Friday, Dec. 14. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 12 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day twelve: Thursday, Dec. 13. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 11 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day eleven: Wednesday, Dec. 12. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 10 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day ten: Tuesday, Dec. 11. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 9 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day nine: Monday, Dec. 10. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

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 […]

Day 8 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day eight: Sunday, Dec. 9. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 7 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day seven: Saturday, Dec. 8. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 6 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day six: Friday, Dec. 7. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 5 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day five: Thursday, Dec. 6. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 4 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day four: Wednesday, Dec. 5. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 3 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day three: Tuesday, Dec. 4. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

Day 2 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations. Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day two: Monday, Dec. 3. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today. […]

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 […]

Day 1 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations (script below). Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day one: Sunday, Dec. 2. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your […]

An introduction to our 2018 Advent Contemplations (script below): Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide these next four weeks. This first […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

 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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.” […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.  

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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: […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.” […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Pastor Ken Wilson introduces our new sermon series with the story of Hagar in Genesis, emphasizing the importance of telling your story as part of your forgiveness journey, in week […]

Pastor Ken Wilson finishes up our discussion of scapegoat theory with a look at Paul as a recovering scapegoater in the ninth (and final) week of our sermon series, “Beyond […]

Pastor Emily Swan tells the story of Jeremiah while encouraging us to imitate Christ—rather than the feelings and actions of the accusing crowd—in week eight of our sermon series, “Beyond […]

Pastor Ken Wilson continues his examination of Peter, and the steps Jesus takes to reinstate him, in week seven of our sermon series, “Beyond Envy, Rivalry, and Violence.” Learn more […]

Pastor Emily Swan continues her exploration of Jesus as the perfect (innocent victim) scapegoat in the sixth week of our sermon series, “Beyond Envy, Rivalry, and Violence.” Learn more about […]

Pastor Ken Wilson looks at Peter in John 18 and discusses our innate capacity to passively go along with scapegoating, as well as suggesting ways to break the cycle, in […]

Pastor Emily Swan looks at the story of Joseph and explores how the Bible narrative humanizes the scapegoat in order to overturn the cycle of envy and violence in week […]

Pastor Emily Swan encourages us to join with Jesus in exposing and overturning the cycle of systematic injustice and violence that is driven by envy and rivalry in the third […]

Pastor Ken Wilson considers the effects of rivalrous desires as the source of cascading violence in week two of our sermon series, “Beyond Envy, Rivalry, and Violence.” Learn more about […]

Pastor Ken Wilson explores the dangers of borrowed desires in the first sermon of our new series, “Beyond Envy, Rivalry, and Violence.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service […]

Pastor Ken Wilson discusses forgiveness as an alternative to scapegoating in the fourth sermon in our series, “Integrity & Influence: Lessons From a Vagabond.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, […]

Guest Speaker Rev. Deborah Dean-Ware speaks on 2 Corinthians 4:1–9 and the danger of using political power to generate fear against the vulnerable. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

Pastor Emily Swan explores the potential benefits of a wilderness experience, while contrasting the leadership style of David versus King Saul, in week three of our sermon series, “Integrity & […]

Guest Speaker Hayden Carruth looks at integrity as a series of decisions with a focus on the story of David and Bathsheba in week two of our sermon series, “Integrity & Influence: Lessons […]

Pastor Emily Swan takes a new look at the story of David and Goliath to introduce our new sermon series, “Integrity & Influence: Lessons From a Vagabond.” Learn more about […]

Guest Speaker Rev. Rachel Brownson, a chaplain at Mott’s Children’s Hospital, speaks on the importance of caring for ourselves in the midst of caring for others. Learn more about Blue […]

Pastor Emily Swan explores the story of the Good Samaritan with a focus on uncovering the costs of and opportunities for serving others in week four of our sermon series, […]

Guest Speaker Vivek Sankaran, a law professor at the University of Michigan and director of both the Child Advocacy Law Clinic and the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic, shares his heart […]

Pastor Emily Swan examines privilege and the importance of hearing and respecting the voice of the oppressed in the first week of our sermon series, “Loving Our Neighbors.” Learn more […]

Pastor Emily Swan explores our responses to answered and unanswered prayer in a follow up to our Lenten Leap of Faith prayer practices. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

Pastor Emily Swan brings us the Easter message. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, at a2blue.org.

Pastor Emily Swan looks at Jesus’ role as the scape goat in week six of our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times […]

Pastor Emily Swan explores more ways Jesus speaks to us in week five of our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and […]

Pastor Ken Wilson explores the many ways we hear God’s voice in the fourth week of our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service […]

Pastor Ken Wilson discusses the Deity and authority of Jesus in the context of the transfiguration in week three of our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue […]

Pastor Emily Swan continues our discussion of the historical context for Sola Scripture and explores the role of the Spirit in following Jesus in week two of our Lenten sermon series, […]

Pastor Ken Wilson discusses the history and limitations of Sola Scriptura in the first week of our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service […]

Pastor Emily Swan describes our Leap of Faith practices in the introduction to our Lenten sermon series, “Sola Jesus.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, […]

Pastor Ken Wilson examines the moves we make to connect with God, and how He makes moves to connect with us in “Bids and Responses to Bids.” Learn more about […]

Pastor Emily Swan looks at the prophetic significance of scrolls throughout the Bible in week 4 of our series, “Getting Over Ourselves: Visions of an Exiled Prophet.” Learn more about […]

Worship Director Cassie Brabbs shares another vision of worship from the book of Revelation in week 3 of our series, “Getting Over Ourselves: Visions of an Exiled Prophet.” Learn more […]

Pastor Ken Wilson brings us the second sermon in our series, “Getting Over Ourselves: Visions of an Exiled Prophet.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service times and locations, […]

Pastor Ken Wilson focuses on worship in the book of Revelation in the first sermon of our current series, “Getting Over Ourselves: Visions of an Exiled Prophet.” Learn more about […]