A sermon for Northminster Church November 16, 2025 Matthew 19: 27-30 Intro -Erich and I just rewatched Ted Lasso -tells story of American college football coach who’s hired to coach football for AFC Richmond in London             -like most Americans, he knows almost nothing about football             -leads to interesting interactions with players, reporters, the public -even if you don’t like or know anything about football give show a try             -writing is snappy, sm

A sermon for Northminster Church October 12, 2025 Mark 6: 1-13                What does it mean that Jesus’ powers to do “mighty works” do not work in his hometown? I know that sounds like a rhetorical question and by now you know that I like to ask open-ended questions in my preaching. But this time it is different. This time I need your help figuring this out because I’ve been wrestling with this story all week.             For reference, let me read you the problematic ver

A sermon for Northminster Church October 26, 2025 Mark 7: 1-13                           Part of being related to a pastor is the potential for being sermon fodder at any time. I see this as a benefit, but you’ll have to ask Erich and my mom if they agree. Erich and I have an agreement that I always ask before including him in a sermon. My mom, on the other hand, is fair game for all the times she volunteered for things when I was growing up.             My mom loves Christma

November 2, 2025 Ephesians 1: 11-23     All Saints Sunday always makes me think of my loved ones who’re no longer here. Even those who weren’t particularly religious or churchy. Like my paternal grandmother, you know the one I’ve told you about, who weighed 80 pounds soaking wet, chain-smoked, and was mean as a snake. Her favorite hymn was “The Old Rugged Cross.” My maternal Grandfather, a good but complicated man, comforted in “Just As I Am.” Both of my parents love “It is W

Action and Belief A sermon for Northminster Church October 5, 2025 Matthew 25: 31-46     Visitors, or those thinking of visiting Northminster, often approach me with trepidation. If they’ve been brave enough to worship with us, they know we’re a safe place for LGBTQ+ folks, but they want to know what we believe and if it’s okay if they don’t know what they believe. One of the most common questions I get is “Do you believe in hell?” What they really mean is, “Are you going to

Tolerating One Another A sermon for Northminster Church Preached by Rev. Jillian Hankamer September 14, 2025 Ephesians 4: 1-16               In 1776, an amendment was made to edit the 16th article of the first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. James Madison proposed the amendment, and although he’s now considered a Founding Father and went on to be our country’s fourth president, in 1776, Madison was only 25 years old. His age did not, however, keep him from sugges

October 19, 2025   May we pray— God, You are holy…holy, holy, holy. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. May our worship be only for You. Give me words that Your voice may be heard today. Amen.   Human beings, Homo sapiens, if you will, are a species who worship. Our most ancient relics such as stone formations and hieroglyphs confirm this fact. Thus, one can infer that to worship is in our very DNA. Jesus made reference to this truth in his Sermon on the Mount when he es

September  7, 2025 Matthew 7:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-26    “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their...

August 31, 2025 John 13:1-17 & Romans 14:1-9 Intro -Started this conversation last week talking about phrase “spiritual but not...

August 24, 2025 2 Peter 3:1-13 & Matthew 16: 13-20   I. Phrase “I’m spiritual but not religious” makes me crazy             -Hear it...

August 17, 2025 Acts 16: 35-40, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25, & Matthew 20: 20-28 Jesus Was Political, Not Partisan: The Dangers of an...

August 10, 2025 Ezekiel 46:3, 2 Kings 15:5, & Malachi 3:8-9, John 15:3, and Matthew 18: 21-35 Intro             -Talked last week about...

Jesus was Political, Not Partisan: Roots of a Revolution Part 1 A sermon for Northminster Church Exodus 3:1-12, Isaiah 1:16-17 & 29:...

A sermon for Northminster Church                         A juxtaposition is taking two or more ideas, places, characters, etc. and...

A sermon for Northminster Church             My dad is a college professor and takes great joy in using contemporary language to make his...

A sermon for Northminster Church             As I’ve considered the best way to reflect on Cuba, or at least my experience of it, the...

A sermon for Northminster Church Matthew 11:7-19             This morning’s verses are the continuation of a story in process. John the...

A sermon for Northminster Church Acts 17:1-19 and 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10             Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United...

A Sermon for Northminster Church John 11: 17-44             Learning what not to say or when not to say anything at all is the most...

A sermon for Northminster Church Acts 9:1-19 I. Context of Paul -of 27 books in NT, 13 are traditionally credited to Paul -only 7 are...