For The Spirit Of The City

Rev. Ben Hadley-Goggin visits the story of the Exodus, one of the most important and amazing miracle stories in the Old Testament. Against all hopes and defying all logic as the Egyptian Army is bearing down on the Israelites God makes a way for the Israelites where there seemed to be no way.

Rev. Joel Blunk looks to the Apostle Paul and Saint Benedict to model how love must first begin with our self and grow from there. The urgency to "wake up" to spiritual realities is all the more crucial in today's changing world.

It's seems like what is missing in today's world is love. Rev. Dr. Lisa Johnson begins her reflection on the biblical love between David and Jonathan (1st Samuel 18) by looking to Stevie Wonder’s "Love’s in Need of Love Today." Then she speaks on how techology can disconnect us and ends with three points on solidifying Christian love.

"Get behind me Satan!" These are rough words from Jesus (in this week's scriptures) to Peter the disciple, who was also called, "The Rock." DeBorah Cannady probes this paradox and asks what the cost of discipleship entails.

The story of 'The Canaanite Woman's Faith' (Matt. 15:21-28) is one of the most challenging biblical texts to exegete. Pastor Lindsey Franklin walks us through the scriptures presenting the question: "If Jesus changes, when presented with the suffering and astounding faith of another, than how much more should we be willing to change?"

VCU Instructor and Koinonia faculty member, Nikki Fernandes, guides us through the complexity of 'The Parable of the Sower' (Matt. 13). Fernandes looks to analogies from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 'The Great Gatsby' to Bryan Stevenson’s 'Just Mercy' to encourage us to withhold judgement and hope for God’s ultimate redemption.

This week's gospel reading is the "Feeding of 5000." Min. Anthony Gaboton suggests there are links between the disciples dismissal of the crowd and a mentality of scarcity; while exploring what wealth is beyond materialism.

This week Dr. Rev. Lisa Johnson looks to the book of Numbers and the Israelites struggle with "grasshopper mentality." She encourages the RH community to pray and work together in order to do Kingdom building.

As we remember the life of Civil Rights Activists John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian, coronavirus cases continue to increase and the country is still politically at unrest, "Do we really understand what God is up to or understand God at all?" This week Min. Anthony Gaboton explores this inquiry through Psalms 139:12.

This week Rev. Joel Blunk shares the 'Parable of the Sower' from the Gospel of Matthew. He demonstrates how Jesus's stories, and the idea of the suffering servant, contrasts from the imperial narrative of the Romans; and what that means for us as believers in today's world.

Transformation and healing of our city also demands us to take a deep look at ourselves. This week Associate Pastor, Lindsey Franklin, looks to Paul’s letter to the Romans, and explores the ideas of sin, grace, and trauma and how we hold each in our bodies.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Johnson looks to the book of Nehemiah (the King's cup bearer) as a figure to gain wisdom from during our hardships. Recognizing that we all need some help sometimes.

As protests continue across the city, there is an expansion of consciousness around what it means to be "anti-racist?" Rev. Joel Blunk explores this in context of scriptures and theology of crucifixion and resurrection.

As political unrest and Covid-19 continues to impact Richmond, VA and the world at large; in his first sermon from Richmond Hill, community resident Anthony Gaboton Jr wrestles with Sunday's liturgical scriptures on heaven, hell, and the cost of discipleship.

The Holy Spirit is moving in Richmond, Virginia. Tonight, we hear Paul's benediction in 2 Corinthians and wrestle with what it means to seek peace amidst systems of injustice. We find hope in the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit. June 9, 2020.

Amidst rising protests around the nation, Rev. Dr. Lisa Johnson looks to the writings of the founding fathers and how the United States has fallen short of its democratic ideals, especially towards people of color. June 2, 2020.

Rev. Joel Blunk explores how Oneness in God is not necessarily after we die, but can be found in the here and now, beyond the materialism of today's society. May 26, 2020.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Johnson explores how the Syrophoenician woman in the Gospel of Mark was able to procure Jesus's blessing in spite of her being an outsider; highlighting the grace of God which exceeds human boundaries. May 12, 2020

Lindsey Franklin looks to the early church (in the book of Acts) and their sense of community and how that speaks to our current challenges during the Covid-19 outbreak. And how we can still find ways to be grateful. May 5, 2020.

Rev. Joel Blunk talks about the journey on the road to Emmaus in his sermon given at Community worship on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.