Blessed are you who turn off the news with trembling hands and weep over the sink while the world carries on—for the Kin-dom belongs to the soft-hearted. Blessed are you who keep watch at the gates of the jail or the edges of the border, your breath rising like incense in the freezing air—you shall… Continue reading The Beatitudes for 2026 America
Author: Web Admin
A Season for Every Matter
As shared during our Annual Meeting on January 31, our community is stepping into a new theme for the year ahead: “A Season for Every Matter.” In our progressive faith tradition, the pulse of social justice is our constant heartbeat. However, as the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “For everything there is a… Continue reading A Season for Every Matter
Not Just a Sunday Routine: Shaping What’s Next
Annual Meeting Saturday, January 31, 20269:00 a.m. in the sanctuary Forget the outdated stereotypes of “boring” church meetings and stale traditions. At its heart, our gathering is far more than an annual habit; it is a living laboratory for the future. In a world that often feels fractured and uncertain, we come together not to… Continue reading Not Just a Sunday Routine: Shaping What’s Next
Some argue, “But they broke the law.”
The Church is neither the master of the state nor its servant but is called to be the conscience of the state. That’s the fundamental truth of which MLK, Jr. reminded us. We must act as its guide and its critic, but never its tool. If we fail to recapture our prophetic zeal, we risk… Continue reading Some argue, “But they broke the law.”
How we live out our mission in such times
In a world that feels increasingly off-kilter, many of us are searching for a compass. At The Palms, where we strive to embody unconditional love, justice, and extravagant welcome, we often look to the Gospel to make sense of the noise. The Bible offers us a subversive kind of wisdom. Consider Jesus of Nazareth: he didn’t… Continue reading How we live out our mission in such times
A Season for Every Matter Under Heaven: Embracing the Rhythms of Change
In our progressive faith community, the call to social justice is a constant, beating heart. Yet, as the ancient wisdom reminds us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Understanding this rhythm is not a retreat from action, but a deeper commitment to sustainable, effective change.… Continue reading A Season for Every Matter Under Heaven: Embracing the Rhythms of Change
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! This Christmas, let us look beyond the sentimentality and recognize the audacious, revolutionary core of the Nativity story: God’s ultimate choice to begin salvation among the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. The Christmas story is not a quiet fable; it is a declaration of God’s profound solidarity with the suffering and a… Continue reading Merry Christmas!
To make a difference despite the turbulence of our times
It has been a challenging season, but as Christmas draws near, let’s rediscover hope in the familiar stories of Jesus’ birth. I want to share how the Gospels of Luke and Matthew inspire the work we do right now. Luke emphasizes that Jesus was born poor and was first visited by poor, dirty shepherds—people considered… Continue reading To make a difference despite the turbulence of our times
Find joy in Advent music & poetry this Sunday 🎶
This Sunday marks one of the most soul-stirring occasions in our church year: the Sanctuary Choir’s Advent Musical Presentation! For many of us, music is a sacred pathway—a vital source of comfort and a profound avenue back to joy, especially when life feels heavy. This week, we move beyond the traditional sermon format (a change… Continue reading Find joy in Advent music & poetry this Sunday 🎶
Finding Light in the Waiting: A Progressive Advent for a Progressive Church today
As the days shorten and the calendar turns toward December, we enter the holy season of Advent—a time of intentional waiting, reflection, and preparation. It is a four-week journey in which we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, not just as historical markers, but as active commitments for today. This year, let… Continue reading Finding Light in the Waiting: A Progressive Advent for a Progressive Church today