Worship
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The Faces of Christmas
While we are still not worshiping in person, we have opened the sanctuary for people to walk through and reflect on the story of Christ’s birth through art and prayer. Below are pictures of images that people are invited to meditate and view as they pray. Mary Joseph Shepherds Angels
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No Stress, No Fuss Christmas Pageant: Online
Since we are not able to gather in person during the pandemic, we are moving our Christmas Pageant online. To adjust the pageant to an online format, we are inviting people to sign up for different parts: Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Astronomers, Animals, and Angels. (You can view the script here.) Participants will video themselves reading…
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At-Home Advent Ritual Set
During the pandemic, this Advent and Christmas season will be difficult for many as we are unable to gather together and participate in rituals that give us meaning. This Advent, Sam Lundquist, pastoral assistant, put together an at-home liturgy booklet that will align with Advent worship. We also made Advent candles and a Christmas ornament…
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A Beautiful Faith in the Neighborhood: Worship Online
During Shelter-in-place, we have been pre-recording worship services. Worship planning has felt more like producing a TV show once a week. When my friend, Rev. Corey Nelson, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, CO, asked me if I wanted to plan worship together, I jumped at the chance. At first, we thought it…
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Reverse Trick or Treating
During Shelter-in-Place, trick or treating is discouraged in San Francisco. Being in an urban area, we don’t have space like a parking lot or yard to be able to safely provide an alternative. This year, we are offering Reverse Trick or Treating, where we will be coming to the door instead to hand out candy.…
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Psalms: Worship Online
Like many faith communities who had to move from worshipping face to face to worshipping online, I struggled with how to transfer what we do liturgically into on online format. I struggled to find authentic ways to keep people connected while we were physically apart. I especially struggled with how to provide spiritual care in…
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Paper-Making: The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like . . .
This is an 8-Sunday series, I did on the Kingdom of Heaven parables in Matthew. What strung these Sundays together was a making paper activity. Below are highlights of what was done each Sunday. Why Parables? Scripture: Parable of the Soils “Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you use parables when you…
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Comeback Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. Previously, BEGINNING, LOVE, ORIGIN, FOOD, UGLY, and WANDERING Stories were shared. The last stories shared are Comeback Stories. Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-19 When invited, Pastor Theresa will hand out super hero capes and masks. Let’s think together who our heroes are and why. Think of a super power.…
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Wandering Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. Previously, BEGINNING, LOVE, ORIGIN, FOOD, UGLY Stories were shared. Next is Wandering Stories. Laurence Gonzalez in his book “Deep Survival” says that “being lost is a universal human condition.” I would also add that it is a universal church condition. Every church has a moment in its history…
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Ugly Stories
This preaching series is on telling stories. Previously, BEGINNING, LOVE, ORIGIN, FOOD Stories were shared. Next is Ugly Stories. As important as it is to tell stories that bring people together and share fond memories, it is equally if not more important to also share the ugly stories in the church’s history. We must acknowledge…
Still Waters 