University Presbyterian Church Austin

What mortals see just comes around again and again and again. But what does God see? The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from 1 Samuel 16:1-13, March 22, 2020, the 4th Sunday in Lent.

Signs at our sanctuary today are part of our public witness. For the sake of our neighbors and all creation, for the sake of the Gospel. We are staying home. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from John 4:5-15, Sunday, March 15, 2020, the 3rd Sunday in Lent.

As soon as we start believing one party, one candidate, a chosen one, can give us the power we need to do good, somebody else is driving. And it’s not Jesus. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 4:1-11, Sunday, March 1, 2020, Lent I.

To a church that says to women, to LGBTQIA+, trans and gender-queer folx, I'm not sure we're ready, the gospel says: Christ is risen. Fully here. Ready or not. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Exodus 24:12-18 and Matthew 17:1-9, Sunday, February 23, 2020.

The road is long and time is short. Jesus says, I'll take the scrolls to guide us. But they can't do the work. I need you, too. YOU are the light of the world. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 5:13-20, Sunday, February 9, 2020.

We are in relationship with God for the long haul, protected from greed and easy answers. No matter what you've done before, you can join in repairing the world. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Micah 6, Sunday, February 2, 2020.

Scripture and worship offer profound witness to God's presence; we also know witnesses cloaked in flesh and blood. Let us seek to bear witness to each other. The Reverend Karen Greif preaches from Isaiah 9 1-7, January 26, 2019.

God’s children, above all, are fragile. Because we are called to allow the sadness of the world to pierce our hearts and take hold of us and it does not let us go. The Reverend Rykie Marx, Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK), preaches from Isaiah 40 and 40, Sunday, January 19, 2020.

Jesus' baptism is a story of restorations, of old hands put to new use, a story of reclamations, of redemptions, of old life made new in the waters of grace. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 3:13-17, Sunday, January 12, 2020.

Real power needs no constant reminding of its power, can kneel in the presence of the divine, can yield itself to the whims of stars. And the star stays fixed. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Matthew 2:1-12 on Epiphany Sunday, January 5, 2020.

The real Christmas miracle is that we are moved to live into Mary's prophetic words by responding to Empire—when we are met with Herod and find a way to feed the people anyway. The Reverend Krystal Leedy preaches from Matthew 2:13-23 the first Sunday of Advent, December 29, 2019.

Truth is, the Gospel smells terrible, because it happens in the real world. It starts by turning off the incense, so we can smell the real world just as it is. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Luke 1:5-13, the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2019

John the Baptist has bad taste. He eats bad food. He dresses is bad clothing. He is not fashionable. He is not acceptable. Yet, this is where the Gospel begins. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Mark 1:1-8 the second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019.

Touch helps us remember that we are human, that we can feel warmth, that we are a part of humankind, and that we claim to be siblings in Christ. No matter what. The Reverend Krystal Leedy introduces our approach to Advent through our senses, Sunday, December 1, 2019. Text is Luke 1:24-45.

For the sake of God's people, God persistently seeks the ends of justice and righteousness, using every instrument at God's disposal. Even politics. On Reign of Christ Sunday, the Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from Jeremiah 23:1-6.

People are going to lie to you, Paul says, just because they are liars. But remember, as Christians together, it takes two to lie. You don’t have to listen. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Sunday, November 17, 2019.

Our charge and benediction: This is a simple game. Love God. And love one another. On this hangs all the law and the prophets, and everything. Just make pitch. The Reverend Matt Gaventa concludes our sermon series "Rooted in Worship" preaching about the charge and benediction, from Matthew 22:34-40. Sunday, November 10, 2019

When we all join in prayer together, the temporal distinctions between past, present and future, alive on earth and alive in God, all fall away. The Reverend John Leedy preaches on the Prayers of the People, All Saints' Sunday, November 3, 2019. Ephesians 6:18; John 17:1-11, 20-24

Boldly saying what we believe only matters if we leave this place and show that belief to the world. Seminary Intern Savannah Demuynck continues our "Rooted in Worship" series with a sermon on the Affirmation of Faith, Sunday, October 27, 2019.

For many, our Sunday morning bundle is the most expensive way of getting in the door. But God is doing a new thing. Our challenge? Recognize church where it happens. Jeremiah 31:27-34. The Reverend Matt Gaventa preaches about announcements in our continuing sermon series "Rooted in Worship," Sunday, October 20, 2019.