Hope Central Church

March 10, 2019 Rev. Benjamin Perkins Lent 1, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Stopped Worrying about Capitalism and Learned to Love Christianity’s Radical Message! Readings: Ephesians 6:12, Luke 4:1-13 This Lenten season’s theme, Economic Equity, is a tall order and requires us to begin with a sober assessment of capitalism as a Power and Principality. ...

March 3, 2019 Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett From Innocence to Freedom Readings: Psalm 99, Luke 9:28-43 This Transfiguration Sunday, I’m preaching on the grief we experience when we see what we have known and thought was true turns out not to be, the valley between the the release of the old but before the new, and...

February 24, 2019 Yara González-Justiniano Why Would I Love My Enemy? Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited Readings: Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; Luke 6:27-38 Howard Thurman was an African-American educator, mystic, theologian, civil rights leader, and prolific writer who in his time as Dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University mentored Martin Luther King, Jr. Thurman influenced King with his...

February 10, 2019 Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett Readings: Psalm 138 and Luke 5:1-11 This second Sunday of Black History Month, I get to introduce you to the ethical and theological work of The Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon. I want you to know her because her work informs my work and presence at Hope Central,...

February 3, 2019 Rev. Benjamin Perkins James Cone, Strange Fruit and Other Musings on Blackness and Christianity Readings: Psalm 71:1-6 and Luke 4:21-30 Many consider Reverend Doctor James Cone the father of Black Liberation Theology.  His no-nonsense approach to theology and his insistence that it be rooted in the life-and-death experiences of Black folks were...

January 27, 2019 Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett In Celebration of the Life and Work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Readings: Psalm 36:5-10 and John 2:1-11 We will celebrate the life of Dr. King on this Sunday–singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”–continuing the work of learning how to be the beloved community–we don’t do it...

December 30, 2018 Ash Temin Liminal Spaces Readings: Psalm 148 and Luke 2:41-52 For Pajama Sunday, I’ll be preaching on the spaces between–the times where not a lot seems to be happening, but without which we can’t find our way into our work in the world. This week we’ll see the story of Jesus teaching...

December 23, 2018 Rev. Benjamin Perkins Advent 4: Of Magnificats and Humans Readings: Psalm 80:1-7 and Luke 1:39-55 This week’s lectionary reading from Luke’s gospel contains what many consider one of the most beautiful passages in the bible:  Mary’s Magnificat.  It’s a song that expresses both a longing for and a confidence in G-d’s promises...

December 9, 2018 Rev. Courtney Jones Advent 2: Prophecy as Midwifery Readings: Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 1:68-79 I’m preaching on the light for which we wait–Jesus the Light of the World, and also the literal light that has been waning day by day for months.  We don’t often notice the light disappearing in the shorter...

December 2, 2018 Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett Advent 1: Midwifery Readings: Psalm 25:1-10 and Luke 21:25-36 We begin our new liturgical year with Advent–the little Lent–our time of preparation to received the Divine. Midwifery is our theme for Advent. Our preparation to be willing, to be able, to be skilled so to receive the divine...