First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo
Join us as each week as we explore and practice what it means to express God's love for the world. First Presbyterian is an inclusive congregation located in the heart of Marin County, California. We are a church that feels called to love one another, express gratitude, ease suffering, and work for justice.
Episodes
577 episodes
The Good News is... protection and care of the vulnerable -- Deut. 24:17-22, Matt. 19:13-15 (5th Sunday of Lent)
God creates, commands, and impels an ethic and moral order that center the protection, care, and well-being of the most vulnerable. NOTE: Our usual method of recording did not work as planned, and as a result the sound is not of as hi...
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24:05
Lavish Love -- Luke 7:36-50 (4th Sunday in Lent)
As a woman washes Jesus’ feet, we see her lavish love, in response to God’s, inviting us to live out our own.
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21:16
Sitting Down Is Sufficient Mark 6:31-44 (3rd Sunday in Lent) (Rev. Dr. Nancy Wiens, preaching)
In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus invites us to sit down and rest in the presence of the holy.
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23:57
The Good News Is... All Are Welcome -- Luke 15:15-24 (2nd Sunday in Lent)
At a banquet, Jesus tells a story about a banquet. The Good News is... all are welcome. The invitation is for everyone. The response is ours to make.
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22:58
The Good News is… so good it catches us by surprise -- Matthew 4:1-11; John 2:1-11 (1st Sunday in Lent)
The Good News is that God’s love for us in Jesus Christ catches us by surprise – because God always loves us and the whole world more. What Jesus does in his testing in the wilderness and at the wedding at Cana should catch us by surprise. It’s...
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21:18
Mountaintop Spirituality - The Radiance of God -- Matthew 17:1-9 (Transfiguration Sunday, Rev. Beverly Brewster, Preaching)
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20:06
And He Sat Down to Teach -- Matthew 5:11-20 (5th Sunday After Pentecost)
Jesus teaches us how to be fully human, and then invites us to be salt and light for the world. How we live our lives teaches something. It makes a difference in the world not only through direct cause and effect – but it also ripples out in wh...
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22:07
A World Full of Blessing -- Matthew 5:1-12 (4th Sunday After Epiphany)
The Beatitudes describe how God is infusing the world with good. They give us a lens – that draws us into a vision –that comes to life in the lives we live. What we learn with Jesus is nothing less than how to be fully human.
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20:51
"Come and Ask, Come and See" -- John 1:35-42 (3rd Sunday After Epiphany)
Jesus invites us to ask questions – to seek understanding beyond what we know now; to learn and grow; and to learn to live together in the complexity of the things we can’t yet comprehend.
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26:14
Learning from Our Mistakes -- Matthew 15:21-28 (2nd Sunday of Epiphany; MLK Sunday)
As part of the humanity we have in Jesus Christ, God gives us the capacity to learn from our mistakes, and help set the world right.
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24:03
Beginning with Who We Are -- Matthew 3:13-17 (1st Sunday After Epiphany)
Standing knee-deep in the waters of baptism, we find our true humanity in Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies and invites us into that full humanity – the fullness of life lived out in mutuality, sharing, love, healing, and peace.
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19:19
"Get Out the Map" -- Matthew 2 (Epiphany Sunday)
On Epiphany Sunday, we consider the two journey stories that we find in Matthew 2 -- the journey of the Magi seeking the Christ, and the journey of Joseph, Mary, and Joseph as they seek refuge in Egypt. In a world of disruption and power-over, ...
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20:02
A Longing for Human Decency -- Matthew 1:18-25 (4th Sunday of Advent)
Into a menacing world, in Jesus Christ, God is birthing a new humanity, grounded in human decency and overflowing with tender mercy.
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23:35
A Longing for a Just World -- Isaiah 11:1-10 (2nd Sunday of Advent)
God longs for a just world, ordered to center the well-being of the poor and vulnerable.
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20:22
A Longing for Peace -- Isaiah 2:1-5 (1st Sunday of Advent)
In a world of violence and war, we long for peace. In our longing, we find God already longing for us, ready to teach us the ways that lead to peace.
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19:23
The Turn Toward Gratitude -- Luke 17:11-19 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
God empowers us to see the good that God is doing in the world, give thanks, and then live out our gratitude in ways that keep putting more and more good into the world.
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24:59
"I am creating..." -- Isaiah 65:17-25 (Rev. Marissa Danney, preaching) (23rd Sunday After Pentecost)
In troubled times, God is creating and inviting us into simplicity of living and relationships grounded in peace.
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16:16
Grounded in Love -- Psalm 1, Haggai 1:15b-2:9 (22nd Sunday After Pentecost)
Out of the rubble, God encourages us to rebuild: Something will rise up out of this, and we will build it together.
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22:48
Our Watch -- Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 (All Saints Sunday)
God keeps watch with us over the trouble in this world. We, then, keep watch for how God is on the move, and join together in God’s healing, saving work.
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20:16
The Parable Trap -- Luke 18:9-14 (Rev. Dr. Joanne Whitt, preaching) (20th Sunday After Pentecost)
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18:19
"When Discouraged, Listen for God's Mumbling" -- 1 Kings 19:1-15 (Rev. Scott Quinn, preaching) (19th Sunday After Pentecost)
Empathizing with Elijah in the cave, guest preacher Rev. Scott Quinn invited us to think of the stories that hold us back; to notice the nearness of God; and to know that we are seen, heard, and held.
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23:52
Grow Where You Are Planted -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-9 (18th Sunday After Pentecost)
Even in calamity, God is near, inviting us to build and plant and live to heal the world.
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22:10
How Does One "Pray for the King"? -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (World Communion Sunday; 17th Sunday After Pentecost)
God exhorts us to pray for all people – including our leaders – so that all people may live free.
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21:25
Constancy v Consistency in Ordinary Time -- Lamentations 3:22-32; Hebrews 13:1-8 (Rev. Grace Hyeryung Kim, preaching) (16th Sunday After Pentecost)
Constancy is a quality of God: "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever." We are called to live our lives consistently with God's steadfast love.
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25:49