First Church Berkeley Godcast

In the Luke version of the Beatitudes, Jesus comes to the level plain to heal the people and speak to them. Molly Baskette suggests that dealing directly with the challenges of life is the path toward blessing and joy—the way to juicy life.

Minister of Art & Communication Phil Porter discusses Richard Rothstein’s book The Color of Law, which demonstrates comprehensively that housing segregation in the United States was systematically supported by federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

Senior Minister Molly Baskette explores the ways that walls can either protect us or keep us apart and declares God’s desire to tear down walls of separation.

Emerging Leader Trust Hilton invites the congregation to view the scripture with the lens of “a preferential option for the poor,” and acknowledges a central reality of the Gospel that Jesus was homeless.

Young Adult Minister Kit Novotny uses the story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana to explore the importance of timing. As we listen for God’s call, it may be more important to look for the “ripe” moment rather than the right one.

Based on two dreams described in the morning scripture, Senior Minister Molly Baskette explores the power of dreams. They can give us glimpses of the future and change our lives if we follow them. They are portals to the divine, an entry into mystery.

Rachel reflects on the story of the meeting between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, both pregnant. Each of is like Mary—with a miracle within us ready to be birthed—and each of us is like Elizabeth—able to recognize and bless the miracles we see in others.

First Church member Elizabeth Driver-Bucholtz, and ministers Molly Baskette and Kit Novotny share vignettes about the challenges and joys of conception, pregnancy, and birth.

Kit Novotny ponders the nature of arrivals and departures and the signs of what is to come. Along with the waiting and impatience is the good news that God is already on the way.

On Transgender Day of Resilience, Emerging Leader Bree Elle Gardner explores what it means to be really seen.

Phil Porter suggests that Christianity’s “superpower” to counter the rise in organized hate is the radical idea of not returning evil for evil but to respond instead with love. “Don’t be mean!”

Rachel Bauman suggests that the story of the raising of Lazarus and the words in Revelations spoke not only to the life-giving power of Jesus acts and God’s presence, but were also wider messages of hope to people in challenging situations.

“You are the light of the world." Senior Minister Molly Baskette suggests that this is both metaphorically and biologically true. We are each full of God’s light, and we can shine our light as we travel in the world, especially in places of darkness.

Jesus heals the blind beggar Bartamaeus. Young Adult Minister Kit Novotny notices that it isn’t completely clear whether Bartamaeus was healed because he had faith or that his faith was the result of being healed. Is faith the chicken or the egg?

Guest preacher Rev. Sophia DeWitt weaves together Jeremiah’s stories of the Israelites who were overtaken by the Babylonians and the lepers who were cured by Jesus to explore the different ways one might be exiled both physically and psychologically.

On the first Sunday of this year’s stewardship campaign, Senior Minister Molly Baskette explores the story of Moses, Aaron and the golden calf, and asks the congregation to think about money, gratitude, generosity, and humility.

In the last of a series of sermons on “Choose Your Own Adventure,” Phil Porter that adventure can also involve periods of waiting or even challenge. He suggests that we might have active choices we can make during these times.

In the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha, Molly Baskette finds empowerment in both women and the way that Jesus interacted with them. Jesus calls them and all of us to be deeply aligned with who we know ourselves to be.

Rev. Jim Antal, UCC climate activist, shares stories of defiant hope in response to climate change. In our resistance to fossil fuels we are called to envision new possibilities as if they are inevitable.

Senior Minister Molly Baskette explores the issue of loneliness. Our circumstances may vary, but we all have an understanding of what loneliness is like. The body of Christ—celebrates connection. How do we make sure to extend that to all who may need it?