Sermons by Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN (Page 4)

“Kiss the Ground”

Genesis 2: 7 – 15 Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN Aliens may be all the rage with their mystique, but the planet we call home, Planet Earth, is really quite remarkable. Earth provides air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat. And did you know that Earth is the only planet in our solar system with plate tectonics? Without them…

“No Gloom in the Tomb”

1 Corinthians 15: 54 -55 – Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to helping the other monks in copying the old laws of the church by hand. He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying from copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the new monk goes to the head monk…

“Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice”

Isaiah 52: 1 – 7; Mark 11: 1 – 11 – Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN I once had a professor read today’s scripture passage to the class aloud and invite us to imagine ourselves in this story.  “With whom do you identify?” she asked.  Some people imagined themselves as Jesus riding into town on a donkey; others imagined themselves as Jesus’…

“Beguiled by Beauty: Gratitude”

Exodus 16: 1 – 15 – Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN Our Wednesday evening Lenten Study is entitled “Grateful” and is based on Diana Butler Bass’s book with the same title, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. This past Wednesday evening, I found the discussion to be particularly stimulating as we discussed Butler Bass’s connections between tables of abundance and gratitude.…

“Beguiled by Beauty”

Mark 1: 9 – 15 – Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN Welcome to the Lenten journey as we begin a new sermon series entitled “Beguiled by Beauty.” This Lenten sermon series is inspired by the video that you just watched and inspired by the book with the same title written by Religion Professor, Wendy Farley. What does it mean exactly to be…

“Still I Rise”

2 Corinthians 4: 8 – 9 Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN On this Ash Wednesday and during this Black History month, I find myself reflecting upon the life of Sojourner Truth. Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 to James and Elizabeth Baumfree, enslaved parents. Around age nine, she was sold at an auction for $100, along with a flock of…

“The Rosa Parks Decision”

Scripture: Mark 1: 21 – 28 Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN – Mark 1: 21 – 28 – February is Black History Month; it is a month in which we honor the remarkable contributions of African-Americans. These contributions literally transformed the society in which we live. This Sunday we will honor Rosa Parks who took a stand by taking a seat. She…

“Coming Through the Night”

1 Sam 3: 1 – 10 Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN – Dismay, terror, mourning, rage…these are the emotions I experienced as I watched our Capitol attacked on January 6th. I felt a deep pain that I knew could boil over into hatred if I let it. Yet, this past week I was reminded of MLK’s words, “Hate cannot drive out hate,…

“Home By Another Way”

Matthew 2: 1 – 12 Jill A. Kirchner-Rose, MDIV, DMIN – Everything changes in Bethlehem. Once we experience Divine Love, we cannot see the world the same again. We cannot go home the same way. The shepherds may have taken the same road there, but the way home was different. The Magi were warned in a dream to “leave by another route.”…