How can we possibly hope to stay grounded in this seemingly endless wave of bad news and digital despair? What goodness can we still hold onto when faced with the violence and cruelty of public life in this moment? This Sunday, we will consider the grounding power of caring for creation in community and a God who will meet us in the dirt to harvest beauty from the earth every time.
What do we do with what we’ve damaged—relationships, communities, even ourselves? This Sunday, we’ll explore how God meets us in our brokenness, calling us not just to better understand the rubble, but to build something new together.
Emma Zyriek-Rhodes joins us as guest preacher to share this powerful message! Emma is First Congo's church moderator, as well as an in-care member of our community.
Unfortunately, our wifi was down at the church this Sunday, causing technical difficulties for our Zoom recording. Despite the valiant efforts of our AV team, the video recording of the service did not turn out - BUT the audio survived! In this audio recording, you will hear Pastor Tony's introduction, followed by a scripture reading from Robert Soren (00:45), and then Emma's sermon (3:28). You can also click here to read the sermon manuscript.Enjoy!
During this Sunday's intergenerational worship experience, we dove into our Season of Creation with a special message from Marsha Walton rooted in Genesis 1:26!
Rev. Roz Nichols joins us as our guest preacher!
Rev. Gordon Myers guest preaches on Luke 10:25-37!
Get ready for what's becoming a much beloved staple of worship at First Congo: our interactive, inter-generational "Everybody, Every Age Service." At these services, we all stay together in the sanctuary - the adults, the teens, the children, everybody! - and we take part in a Spirit-led exploration of a special theme. This Sunday's theme was all about our bodies: their various abilities and, also, their individual challenges.
This week's message was delivered by Muley & Friends, with the help of the First Congo Kids acting out a creative reenactment of our scripture from I Corinthians too. Enjoy!
Missy Mule assisted by Janet Wade
Buford the Dog assisted by Martheus Wade
Roy Duck assisted by DaMarco Randle
Muley the Mule assisted by Kevin Williams
This Sunday we are joined by Rev. Dr. Mary Lin Hudson as our guest preacher, preaching on Acts 11: 1-18
This sermon comes to us from our special Everybody, Every Age Sunday service! This interactive, inter-generational worship service is designed to help everybody - of every age - connect with God, ourselves, and each other in whole new ways. As such, we were joined by guest preacher Muley the Mule! Muley invites us to consider the power of chosen family and church family through the story of Ruth & Naomi. Special thanks to youth group members Sammy & Henry for reading the scripture, and to Kevin Williams for assisting Muley.
This Sunday we are joined by our Pastoral Intern, Robert Morgan Pearson, as our guest preacher! Robert preaches on 1 Kings 19:11-13, inviting us to consider the power of listening for God in the small things.
In a world that likes to put people in boxes, even the church has put people in boxes. The LGBTQIA + community is one people group that has been put into a box by society, culture, and the church. Our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQIA+ community are crying out for a place to grow spiritually, to have a place that loves them, supports them, and fights with them when needed. The LGBTQIA+ spiritual seekers are working to break the box that churches have put them in. They are working to break the boundaries that separate the church and the community. This week I will be speaking how 1st Congo has broken through this box, pushed through these boundaries, and the work that is still left to be done. Join is for a special box breaking and boundary moving service. Sermon originally preached by First Congo's Pastoral Intern, Robert Morgan Pearson, on November 17, 2024.
Muley & Friends preached a fun, important message about environmental care for our "Everybody, Every Age" Sunday! This was a special worship service designed with the youngest members of our community in mind from start to finish. The audio of their final song sadly cuts in and out on our recording, but the sermon offers a valuable lesson for kiddos and grown-ups alike as we close out our Season of Creation. Enjoy!!
Scripture Reading by Izzy Seigel
Muley the Mule assisted by Kevin Williams
Buford the Dog assisted by Martheus Wade
Missy Mule assisted by Janet Wade
Roy Duck assisted by DaMarco Randle
Rev. Dr. Mary Lin Hudson guest preaches!