Church of the Village Sermons

photo of a bible on a lectern
 
 

You can view past services and sermons on our Facebook page video library by clicking the button below.

 
 

sing a song of hope and resilience

Rev. Jeff Wells
December 22, 2024
Worship Bulletin

A Light in a Weary World: why we need christmas

December 15, 2024
Worship Bulletin

celebration of life for danielle haupt

December 8, 2024
Memorial Bulletin

preparing for defiant love

Rev. Jeff Wells
December 8, 2024
Worship Bulletin

The both / and of advent

Rev. Alexis Lillie
December 1, 2024
Worship Bulletin

love that re-members

M Jade Kaiser, Guest Preacher
November 24, 2024
Worship Bulletin

against the grain: living faithfully in a conforming world

Jorge Lockward
November 17, 2024
Worship Bulletin

god’s love and politics

Rev. Jeff Wells
November 10, 2024
Worship Bulletin

love and service: our dna

Alfida Figueroa, Guest Preacher
November 3, 2024
Worship Bulletin

what we do together matters

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 27, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Orient towards god

Becca Love, Guest Preacher
October 20, 2024
Worship Bulletin

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy: A COTV Vision

Rev. Alexis Lillie
October 13, 2024
Worship Bulletin

And God Saw That It Was Good

Rev. Alexis Lillie
October 6, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Homeward bound

Dorothee Benz, Guest Preacher
September 29, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Bob cooper’s celebration of life

September 22, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Shall we dance?

Rev. Jeff Wells
September 22, 2024
Worship Bulletin

The power of words

Rev. Simeon Law, Guest Preacher
September 15, 2024
Worship Bulletin

god’s powerful love is in us, too

Rev. Jeff Wells
September 8, 2024
Worship Bulletin

coming home as promised land

Rev. Alexis Lillie
September 1, 2024
Worship Bulletin

the courage to risk authenticity

Rev. Drew Dyson, Guest Preacher
August 25, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Ashrei: happy are they

Rev. Christopher Heckert, Guest Preacher
August 18, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin With Me

John Wesley Heaton IV, Guest Preacher
August 11, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Life as a Tapestry of Serenity, Courage, Wisdom, and Honesty

Anne Hughes Hinnen, Guest Preacher
August 4, 2024
Worship Bulletin

stay connected

Alfida Figueroa, Guest Preacher
July 28, 2024
Worship Bulletin

why not let god introduce themselves?

Riot Mueller, Guest Preacher
July 21, 2024
Worship Bulletin

THIRST

Rev. Jeff Wells
July 14, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Recovery Journeys: Releasing into freedom

Rev. Alexis Lillie
July 7, 2024
Worship Bulletin

soft like fruit, a perpetual harvest

Becca Love, Guest Preacher
June 30, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Unbinding Joy

Rev. Dorlimar Lebrón Malavé, Guest Preacher
June 23, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Finding the future now

Rev. Tyler Heston, Guest Preacher
June 16, 2024
Worship Bulletin

United in diversity: embracing our common unity

Rev. Josh Lee, Guest Preacher
June 9, 2024
Worship Bulletin

how to practice expansive beloved community

Rev. Jeff Wells
June 2, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Dancing with the trinity

Jorge Lockward
May 26, 2024
Worship Bulletin

God ENLIVEN(S) US!

Rev. Jeff Wells
May 19, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Have you met jesus?

Rev. Alexis Lillie
May 12, 2024
Worship Bulletin

plenty of fish, plenty of love

Rev. Jeff Wells
May 5, 2024
Worship Bulletin

A gospel that moves us

Rev. Alexis Lillie
April 28, 2024
Worship Bulletin

The Gift of doubt

Rev. Jeff Wells
April 21, 2024
Worship Bulletin

On the road to emmaus

Rev. Alexis Lillie
April 14, 2024
Worship Bulletin

HEALING HATRED IN THE HOLY LAND

Dr. Sarah Bernstein
April 7, 2024
Worship Bulletin

HOLY WEEK 2024

PERPETUAL RESURRECTION: TURNING OUR HEARTS TOWARD THE GOOD

Rev. Alexis Lillie
Easter Sunday: March 31, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Good Friday

March 29, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Jesus’ bold peace march into jerusalem

Rev. Jeff Wells
Palm Sunday: March 24, 2024
Worship Bulletin

LESSONS FROM THE WILDERNESS

embracing the wilderness

Dwight Campbell, Guest Preacher
March 17, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Seeing WILDERNESS through other’s eyes

Rev. Jeff Wells
March 10, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Life-giving prayer

Rev. Jeff Wells
March 7, 2024 - Christ Church

Zealous IN THE WILDERNESS

Rev. Alexis Lillie
March 3, 2024
Worship Bulletin

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

March 1, 2024
Worship Bulletin

BEING CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS

Rev. Jeff Wells
February 25, 2024
Worship Bulletin

FINDING JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS

Rev. Alexis Lillie
February 18, 2024
Worship Bulletin

AGAIN AND AGAIN: THE CYCLE OF GRACE

Ash wednesday

February 14, 2024
Worship Bulletin

Amazing GRace – god working through all and in all

Rev. Jeff Wells
February 11, 2024
Worship Bulletin

From fear to freedom

Rev. Alexis Lillie
February 4, 2024
Worship Bulletin

GRace: The Uncontrolling love of god

Rev. Jeff Wells
January 28, 2024
Worship Bulletin

NOT SET IN STONE: HEARTS SOFTENED BY GRACE

Rev. Alexis Lillie
January 21, 2024
Worship Bulletin

The grace of friendship

Riot Mueller, Guest Preacher
January 14, 2023
Worship Bulletin

JESUS AND THE CYCLE OF GRACE

Rev. Jeff Wells
January 7, 2023
Worship Bulletin

AWAITING DAWN

A CHorus of voices

Rev. Alexis Lillie
December 31, 2023
Worship Bulletin

THE LIGHT OF LOVE IS CONSTANT

Rev. Jeff Wells
December 24, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Joy: the story of christmas

December 17, 2023
Worship Bulletin

comfort my people

Rev. Alexis Lillie
December 10, 2023
Worship Bulletin

holding onto esperanza / hope

Rev. Jeff Wells
December 3, 2023
Worship Bulletin

UBUNTU: THE ART OF LIVING TOGETHER

Conversations with joy

Joy Sanjek, Guest Preacher
November 26, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Embracing solidarity, resisting neutrality

Rev. Alexis Lillie
November 19, 2023
Worship Bulletin

LESSONS FROM THE HOSPITAL BEDSIDE

Riot Mueller, Guest Preacher
November 12, 2023
Worship Bulletin

divine humanity

Becca Love, Guest Preacher
November 5, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Encouragement, Accountability, and Grace

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 29, 2023
Worship Bulletin

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING: TRUSTING TOGETHER

Rev. Alexis Lillie
October 22, 2023
Worship Bulletin

LIVING TOGETHER IN LOVE

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 15, 2023
Worship Bulletin

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE

Rev. Alexis Lillie
October 8, 2023
Worship Bulletin

COMING HOME

COMING HOME TO THE EARTH

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 1, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Places of Solidity in the Midst of Wandering

Rev. Alexis Lillie
September 24, 2023
Worship Bulletin

An Invitation to Intense Becoming 

Rev. Jeff Wells
September 17, 2023
Worship Bulletin

FINDING GOD

Rev. Alexis Lillie
September 10, 2023
Worship Bulletin

SPIRIT JOURNEYS

BLESSING OUR THIRST

Jorge Lockward, Minister of Worship Arts, COTV
September 3, 2023
Worship Bulletin

HELD BY SILENCE

Rev. Scott Sprunger, Guest Preacher
August 27, 2023
Worship Bulletin

In the flow of creation

Rev. Alexis Lillie
August 20, 2023
Worship Bulletin

still searching for meaning

Rev. Jim Norton, Guest Preacher
August 13, 2023
Worship Bulletin

we didn’t know god was there

Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Pressley, Minister-in-Residence
August 6, 2023
Worship Bulletin

BODIES OF WATER, BODY OF CHRIST

Becca Love, Guest Preacher
July 30, 2023
Worship Bulletin

STAND

Dwight Campbell, Guest Preacher
July 23, 2023
Worship Bulletin

our connection to the cosmos

Rev. Alexis Lillie
July 16, 2023
Worship Bulletin

break the pot

Alfida Figueroa, Guest Preacher
July 9, 2023
Worship Bulletin

desire

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
July 2, 2023
Worship Bulletin

PRIDE 2023

No Pride without the brick

Riot Mueller, guest preacher
June 25, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Happy 50th Anniversary! –
Celebrating Rev. Ed Egan and the Founding of PFLAG

Rev. Jeff Wells
June 18, 2023
Worship Bulletin

“Those Who are Sick:”
The Power of Jesus’ Love for Systemic Healing

Rev. Alexis Lillie
June 11, 2023
Worship Bulletin

What my brother’s life taught me about pride and solidarity

Rev. Jeff Wells
June 4, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Deeply-Connected Life –
Past, Present, and Future

Rev. Jeff Wells
May 28, 2023
Worship Bulletin

FOR THE SAKE OF LIFE

Weaving Compassion and Wellbeing into the Economy:
Emerging lessons from Bhutan and Gross National Happiness

Dr. Julia Kim, Program Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre, Bhutan
May 21, 2023
Worship Bulletin

We Live, Move, and Have Our Being in God

Rev. Gerald C. Liu, PhD, COTV Minister-in-Residence
May 14, 2023
Worship Bulletin

rejoicing wherever we find life

Rev. Alexis Lillie
May 7, 2023
Worship Bulletin

crossing the border

Rev. Doug Cunningham, guest preacher
April 30, 2023
Worship Bulletin

This wild, precious, and connected life

Rev. Jeff Wells
April 23, 2023
Worship Bulletin

life that walks through open doors

Rev. Alexis Lillie
April 16, 2023
Worship Bulletin

HOLY WEEK 2023

surprised by hope and possibility

Rev. Jeff Wells
April 9, 2023
Worship bulletin

LOVE
Good Friday worship

April 7, 2023
Worship bulletin

SERVE
Maundy Thursday Worship

April 6, 2023
Worship bulletin

“untie them:” -
a donkey, a celebration, and a community

Rev. Alexis Lillie
April 2, 2023
Worship Bulletin

“A RATTLING” -
VALLEY OF DRY BONES

Rev. Vicki Flippin, guest preacher
March 26, 2023
Worship Bulletin

WHO COUNTS?
A FAMILY SUNDAY AT COTV

Rev. Alexis Lillie
March 19, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Repent and Forgive:
Keys to Living Well

Rev. Jeff Wells
March 12, 2023
Worship Bulletin

GOODNESS CALLS TO GOODNESS

Katie Reimer
March 5, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Reclaiming Sin

Striving for Goodness and “Missing the Mark” – A Process-Relational Approach to Sin

Rev. Jeff Wells
February 26, 2023
Worship Bulletin

A Work in Progress

Dwelling in Impermanence: Creeds as Communal Connection

Rev. Alexis Lillie
February 19, 2023
Worship Bulletin

the gift and possibility of church

Alfida Figueroa, Dwight Campbell, Becca Love, & Rev. Jeff Wells
February 12, 2023
Worship Bulletin

we are all connected (and humans are not the center)

Rev. Jeff Wells
February 5, 2023
Worship Bulletin

what do i want to be when i grow up?

Rev. Alexis Lillie
January 29, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Knowing god: a work in progress

Jorge Lockward, Minister of Worship Arts, guest preacher
January 22, 2023
Worship Bulletin

I Hit the Dray but Not the Donkey - And the Beat Went On

Rev. Althea Spencer Miller, PhD, guest preacher
January 15, 2023
Worship Bulletin

who am i? do i matter?

Rev. Jeff Wells
January 8, 2023
Worship Bulletin

SANCTUARY AND SUFFERING: Jesus' Story Continues

Rev. Alexis Lillie
January 1, 2023
Worship Bulletin

Lessons from the Cattle Stall

Rev. Jeff Wells
December 25, 2022
Worship Bulletin

christmas eve worship

December 24, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Held between Earth and Heaven

17th Annual christmas pageant

December 18, 2022
Worship Bulletin

The Present Future:
Giving Birth to Defiant Joy

Rev. Alexis Lillie
December 11, 2022
Worship Bulletin

AN ADVENT STORY

Rev. Arthur L. Pressley, PhD, guest preacher
December 4, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Living in the in-betweenness

Rev. Jeff Wells
November 27, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Back to Basics

PRAYER AS OPENING

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
November 20, 2022
Worship Bulletin

CHOOSING LOVE

Rev. Alexis Lillie
November 13, 2022
Worship Bulletin

WHO IS WITH US?

Erich Dietrich, COTV, Guest Preacher
November 6, 2022
Worship Bulletin

“LOST & FOUND.”

Rev. Gerald C. Liu, PhD, Minister in Residence, Guest Preacher
October 30, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Love, Solidarity, and Beloved Community

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 23, 2022
Worship Bulletin

The Word of god within
and beyond the bible

Jorge Lockward, Minister of Worship Arts, guest preacher
October 16, 2022
Worship Bulletin

“i am my beloved’s”:
Living in uncommon community

Rev. Alexis Lillie
October 9, 2022
Worship Bulletin

In what do you trust?

Rev. Jeff Wells
October 2, 2022
Worship Bulletin

oh, how i love jesus

Rev. Jeff Wells
September 25, 2022
Worship Bulletin

THE SPIRIT IN ME

Rev. Alexis Lillie
September 28, 2022
Worship Bulletin

who is god?

Rev. Jeff Wells
September 11, 2022
Worship Bulletin

you get God’s love

Riot Mueller, guest preacher
September 4, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Play, Create, & Connect

GIVE YOURSELF TIME

Rev. Alexis Lillie
August 28, 2022
Worship Bulletin

cherish the gift of friendship

Rev. Jeff Wells
August 21, 2022
Worship Bulletin

JOY: OUR BIRTHRIGHT

Alfida Figueroa, COTV, Guest Preacher
August 14, 2022
Worship Bulletin

let’s sing together

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 7, 2022
Worship Bulletin

clothe yourself in love

Becca Love, guest preacher
July 31, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Sometimes we just need a timeout

Dwight Campbell, guest preacher
July 24, 2022
Worship Bulletin

YOU FoR SABBATH, SABBATH FOR YOU

Rev. Simeon Law, Metropolitan District Superintendent, New York Annual Conference
July 17, 2022
Worship Bulletin

planted by streams of water

Rev. Alexis Lillie
July 10, 2022
Worship Bulletin

delight in living

Rev. Jeff Wells
July 3, 2022
Worship Bulletin


LET’S get loud!

Rev. Dr. Vanessa Brown, guest preacher
Lead Pastor, Rivers of Living Water
Bishop Elect, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Northeast Region
June 26, 2022
Worship Bulletin

I Dream of _______

Rev. Alexis Lillie
June 19, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Dreaming of Worlds to Come

Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, guest preacher
June 12, 2022
Worship Bulletin


Lovers, Rebels, and Prophets

I Dream of a Church

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 5, 2022
Worship Bulletin

“Everyone’s Chains Were Unshackled”: Our Prophetic Witness on the Road to Freedom

Pastor Alexis Lillie
May 29, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Our Impulse to Include

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 22, 2022
Worship bulletin

The Punch Line is The Holy Spirit

Riot Mueller, guest preacher
May 15, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Being a Link in the Chain

Martha Chapman, guest preacher
May 8, 2022
Worship Bulletin

The Communal Blessing of a Rich History

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 1, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Show Me Your Scars

Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, guest preacher
April 24, 2022
Worship Bulletin


Holy Week 2022

Life Is Stronger than Death

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 17, 2022 (Easter Sunday)
Worship Bulletin

Good Friday

April 15, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Maundy Thursday

April 14, 2022
Worship Bulletin

"The Stones Would Shout Out": Complaint and Affirmation in the Triumphal Entry

Pastor Alexis Lillie
April 10, 2022
Worship Bulletin


Wade in the Water: The Beauty, Mystery, and Power of Worship

Worship and Theology Intertwined

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 3, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Praise: Conspiracy Theory and Practice

Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins, guest preacher
March 27, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Take Me to the Water

Rev. Dr. Kimberly Bracken Long, guest preacher
March 20, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Wholly, Holy Worship

Paul Vasile, guest preacher
March 13, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Worship and Community

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 6, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Why Worship

Jorge Lockward, guest preacher
February 27, 2022
Worship Bulletin


This Little Light of Ours: Hope in Uncertain Times

The Light of Life

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 20, 2022
Worship Bulletin

When in Doubt, Don't!

Pastor Alexis Lillie
February 13, 2022
Worship Bulletin

The Multiple Gifts of Spiritual Community

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 6, 2022
Worship Bulletin

In the Eye of the Beholder

Jorge Lockward, guest preacher
January 30, 2022
Worship Bulletin

One Light, Many Beams

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 23, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Deep Calls to Deep: The Light Within Us

Pastor Alexis Lillie
January 16, 2022
Worship Bulletin

This Little Light of Ours: Let it Shine!

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 9, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Shining in the Shadows: A Difficult Invitation

Pastor Alexis Lillie
January 2, 2022
Worship Bulletin

Phophetic Visions: Seeds of Living Hope

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 26, 2021
Worship Bulletin

Christmas Eve Worship 2021

Pastor Alexis Lillie
December 24, 2021
Worship Bulletin


Advent Meets Us Where We Are

16th Annual Christmas Pageant

December 19, 2021
Worship Bulletin

God Born In Jesus - And In Us

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 12, 2021
Worship Bulletin

Came or Coming? Advent as Adventure in Process

Dr. Catherine Keller
December 5, 2021
Worship Bulletin

Between Distraction and Despair: Advent as Apocalypse

Pastor Alexis Lillie
November 28, 2021
Worship Bulletin


Troubling Texts: Questioning the Bible

“What Can Save Us and What For?”

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 21, 2021
Worship Bulletin

God is Not in Control - Thank Goodness!

Rev. Thomas Jay Oord, Ph.D.
November 14, 2021
Worship Bulletin

The Resurrected Desire

Riot Mueller, guest preacher
November 7, 2021
Worship Bulletin

Traveling Companions

Rev. Valerie Bridgeman, Ph.D.
Dean & Vice President of Academic Affairs
Associate Professor, Homiletics & Hebrew Bible, Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio
October 31, 2021
Worship bulletin

Reclaiming the Miraculous

Pastor Alexis Lillie
October 24, 2021
Worship bulletin

Asking Hard Questions of God and the Bible

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 17, 2021
worship bulletin


In the Way of Jesus

Living with an Open Hand

Pastor Alexis Lillie
October 10, 2021
Worship Bulletin

Praying as Discipleship

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 3, 2021
worship bulletin

The Personal Experience of Discipleship

Rev. Dr. John B. Cobb Jr.
September 26, 2021
worship bulletin

Jesus’ Mission and Ours

Rev. Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr.
September 19, 2021
worship bulletin

On Being Jesus’s Disciple

Rev. Dr. John B. Cobb Jr.
September 12, 2021
worship bulletin


God: A Journey of Becoming

Can a New Civilization Emerge?

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 5, 2021
worship bulletin

A God that Draws Near

Pastor Alexis Lillie
August 29, 2021
worship bulletin

Dismantling Human Centeredness

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 22, 2021

God’s Seedy Power

Dr. Catherine Keller
Professor of Constructive Theology, the Theological School of Drew University
August 15, 2021
worship bulletin

“What Do I Love When I Love My God?”

Theology as Critique; Theology as Prayerful Imagination

Dr. John Thatamanil
Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Seminary
August 8, 2021
worship bulletin

“Palo dado ni Dios lo quita”: My Mother the Process Theologian

Rev. Dr. Ignacio Castuera
Elder, California-Pacific Annual Conference, The United Methodist Church
August 1, 2021
worship bulletin
view video message here


Vibrant Living: Flourishing in the Messiness of Life

A Journey of Healing and Discovery

Joy Sanjek, guest preacher
July 25, 2021
worship bulletin

Playing for Keeps

Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins
July 18, 2021
worship bulletin

Hope Keeps Us Alive and Curious

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 11, 2021
worship bulletin

Thriving in Letting Go

Pastor Alexis Lillie
July 4, 2021
worship bulletin

Vibrant Living: Facing the Challenges

Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo
June 27, 2021
worship bulletin

Our Life-Giving Interdependence

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 20, 2021
worship bulletin

Coming Alive and Finding God in Nature

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 13, 2021
worship bulletin

Call Yourself Back

Pastor Alexis Lillie
June 6, 2021
worship bulletin


A New Song

The Power and Peril of Songs

Jorge Lockward
May 30, 2021

A New Song Birthed in Fire

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 23, 2021

The Soul Must Sing

Rev. Lea Matthews
May 16, 2021

A Song in the Key of Love

Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III
May 9, 2021

Redemption Songs

Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes
May 2, 2021

New Songs Arise by Water and the Spirit

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 25, 2021

A Song of Doubt and Joy

Pastor Alexis Lille
April 18, 2021

Struggling to Open

Katie Reimer
April 11, 2021


Easter Sunday 2021

Engaging Life Anew

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 4, 2021


Living with Loss, Mortality, and Change

Palm Sunday is Not the Answer

Pastor Alexis Lillie
March 28, 2021

A Turn of Events

Reverend Rae Karim
Pastor, First Christian Church, Honolulu, Hawaii
March 21, 2021

Continuity and Change

John Kleinig
Professor Emeritus, Philosophy and Criminal Justice
City University of New York
March 14, 2021

Facing and Embracing Death

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 7, 2021

Jesus Wept

Scott Sprunger
Chaplain, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
and Women and Babies Hospital
February 28, 2021

Through the Wilderness

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 21, 2021


Faith and Politics

God Desires Restorative Justice

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 14, 2021

God, Rulers, and Strengthening Powerless, Weary People

Rev. Dr. Traci C. West
Professor of Christian Ethics and African American Studies, Drew University Theological School, UMC New York Annual Conference Ordained Elder
February 7, 2021

The Recruitment of God’s Dream Team

Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr.
Senior Minister Emeritus, Riverside Church in NYC
Author, Whose Gospel: A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism
January 31, 2021

Liberating Gender: Ancient Wisdom and the Struggle Against Patriarchy

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
January 21, 2021

A Moral Revolution of Values

Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, guest preacher
January 17, 2021

The Politics of God

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 10, 2021

A Baby and The Cosmos

Pastor Alexis James Waggoner
December 27, 2020

15th Annual Christmas Pageant

December 20, 2020

From Dominion to Collaboration

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 13, 2020

The Disclosure of Who We Are

Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, guest preacher
December 6, 2020

What Child Is This?

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
November 29, 2020
Worship Video

In the Midst of New Dimensions

Dr. Larry Rasmussen, guest preacher
November 22, 2020

Stretch Out Your Hand: A Vision to the Impossible

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
November 15, 2020

No Holiness but Social Holiness

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 8, 2020

Can I Get a Witness?

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 1, 2020

Giving to Be Free

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
October 25, 2020

Justice, Love, and the Will of the People

Rev. Althea Spencer Miller, PhD., COTV Minister-in-Residence, guest preacher
October 18, 2020
Worship Video

Giving AND Receiving: The Miracle of Service

Jorge Lockward
October 11, 2020

Living Prayer

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 4, 2020

Who Counts? Exploring Inclusivity as a Vow of Membership

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
September 27, 2020
Worship Video

“May We Have Your Attention, Please?”

Rev. Daniel Seunghyun Cho, guest preacher
September 20, 2020
Worship Video

The Beauty of God in Terrible Times

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 13, 2020
Worship Video

Letting Go as Salvation

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
September 6, 2020
Worship Video

Does God Have a Plan?

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 23, 2020
Worship Video

Practicing Liberation with Body, Breath, and Voice

Paul Vasile, guest preacher
August 16, 2020

Where is God in Our Suffering and Struggle

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 9, 2020

Sustaining Miracles: Blessing What Is Already Here

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
August 2, 2020

Divine Presence and Human Agency in Times Like These 

Rev. Dr. Aliou Cissé Niang, guest preacher
July 26, 2020
Worship Video

Be Courageous!

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 19, 2020
Worship Video

Swimming Through the Stew

Rev. Althea Spencer Miller, Ph.D., COTV Minister-in-Residence
July 12, 2020
Worship video

Gallop of the Pale Green Horse: An Apocalypse of Planetary Health

Dr. Catherine Keller, guest preacher
July 5, 2020
Worship video

Hope as Defiance

Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, guest preacher
June 28, 2020

Why I Live in Hope

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 21, 2020

Troubled by the Spirit: Hearing God’s Call in the Street

Jorge Lockward, Minister of Worship Arts
June 14, 2020
Worship video

Doubting Is the Way

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
June 7, 2020

Beyond “Back to Normal”: Living in the Spirit

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 31, 2020

Open to the Spirit: Moving from Fear to Joy

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
May 24, 2020

An Advocate Walks Beside Us

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 17, 2020

“I am the Gate for the Sheep”

Dr. Alfredo Abad Heras, guest preacher
May 10, 2020

Being Community in the Midst of Pandemic

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 3, 2020

Hoping for Resurrection Life in a Season of Death

Dr. John J. Thatamanil, guest preacher
April 26, 2020

What is Giving You Life?

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
April 19, 2020


Easter Sunday

God’s Love Will Raise Us!

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 12, 2020
Worship video


Palm / Passion Sunday

A Triumphal Entry?

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
April 5, 2020


Demystifying the Bible

Postcolonial Interventions – Divine Re-Dress

Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer Miller, COTV Minister in Residence, guest preacher
March 29, 2020
Worship video

Reading with Integrity and Faith

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 22, 2020

The Healing Leaves of Tree of Life for a World on the Brink of Disaster

Amy Meverden, Visiting Professor of New Testament and Director of the Writing Center
at Union Theological Seminary, guest preacher

March 15, 2020

Looking Back to Go Forward

Pastor Alexis Waggoner
March 8, 2020

Recommended Resources:
ENNS, PETER. BIBLE TELLS ME SO: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It. HODDER & STOUGHTON LTD, 2019.

Another good overview, akin to Rob Bell, but Pete is a biblical scholar and professor so has a slightly more critical approach. He is still hilarious and easy-to-read, and thought-provoking.

- In that vein, the podcast he co-hosts is a great resource: The Bible for Normal People, and they produce lots of other e-content for folks.

- Trible, Phyllis. Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. SCM Press, 2002.

Resource for troubling texts, through a feminist lens.

- Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: a Bible for the Twenty-First Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts. Mariner Books, 2015.

Resource with a number of extra-canonical texts included.

- Anything by Ally Kateusz — she is a scholar of early Christianity, and writes and speaks a lot about the history around how and why women’s involvement in the early church (and subsequently, their inclusion in the canon) was hidden and undermined: https://allykateusz.org/

Reading with Progressive Lenses

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 1, 2020

Fueled by Love

Jorge Lockward, Minister of Worship Arts, guest preacher
February 23, 2020

Called to be One People

Rev. Dr. Art Pressley, COTV Minister in Residence, guest preacher
February 16, 2020

Fire in the Belly – Movement of the Spirit

Frederick K. Brewington, Esq., guest preacher
February 9, 2020

Salvation - It’s Not What You Think

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 2, 2020

Abundant Grace

Hannah Ervin, COTV Ministry Intern, guest preacher
January 26, 2020

A Social Faith Working Through Love

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 19, 2020

Entering the New: Washing Off the Past

Rev. Alexis Waggoner
January 12, 2020

Christmas Eve Worship Lessons and Carols: Great Joy for All People

December 24, 2019

Entering the New: Facing an Uncertain Future with Faith and Hope

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 22, 2019

Entering the New: What Do You Need?

Jorge Lockward, Reyno Francisco, and Rosana Santos, guest speakers

14th Annual Christmas Pageant - Joy to the World: Crossing Borders

December 15, 2019

Soaring on the Wings of God’s Joy

Pastor Jeff Wells

Finding Joy in Connection

Debbie Karch, guest preacher
December 8, 2019

Is Joy Better Than Hope?

Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, Assoc. Prof. Union Theological Seminary, NYC, guest preacher
December 1, 2019

Choosing to be Joyful

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 24, 2019


Seeds of Justice

Being and Becoming

Jorge Lockward, COTV Minister of Worship Arts, guest preacher
November 17, 2019

Sowing Our Future

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 10, 2019

Shake it Off: Organizing The Ones Who Want to Be

Reverend Paul Fleck, guest preacher
November 3, 2019

To Each According to Their Needs

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 27, 2019

Interdependence and Disabled Leadership: God’s Invitation to Moses

Naomi Madaras, guest preacher
October 20, 2019

Bearing Fruit of Our Ancestors’ Sowing

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 13, 2019

Finding Sustenance in the Movement

Hannah Ervin, COTV Ministry Intern, guest preacher
October 6, 2019

Why Do We Eat This Meal?

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 29, 2019

Your Presence Is Desired

Rev. Derrick W. McQueen, guest preacher
September 22, 2019

Becoming Jesus

Jorge Lockward, guest preacher
September 15, 2019

Communion Opens Our Eyes

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 8, 2019

Breaking Bread: A Labor of Love

Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins, guest preacher
September 1, 2019


Adventures with God

Expect the Unexpected

Sarah Alphin, guest preacher
August 25, 2019

Revelations in the Storm

Jorge Lockward, guest preacher
August 18, 2019

The Call of the Wild

Beth Jones, guest preacher and sherpa
August 11, 2019

Serving Others is Divine

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 4, 2019

The Divine Dance

Martha Chapman, guest preacher
July 28, 2019

Everyday Practices for Radical Gardening

Angela Morris, guest preacher
July 21, 2019

Experiencing the Divine in Our Relationships

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 14, 2019

Binding Back: Connecting to The Spirit Within You By Any Means Necessary

Rev. Sam Rudra Swartz, guest preacher
July 7, 2019


Celebrating Queerness

Following Prophets, Looking for God

Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, guest preacher
June 30, 2019

Queering the Church

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 23, 2019

Making All Things New

Scott Sprunger, M.Div., guest preacher
June 16, 2019

What Are We Doing?

Rev. Yunus Coldman, guest preacher
June 9, 2019

Called to Remember and Resist

Rev. Dr. Ignacio Castuera
June 2, 2019


Called to Lead

Listening and Responding to Holy Invitation

Reverend Doris K. Dalton, guest preacher
May 26, 2019

Overturning the Tables

Teresa Concepcion, guest preacher
May 19, 2019

(Re)Introduce the Light

Akilah Bixler, guest preacher
May 12, 2019

Leading Means Empowering Others

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 5, 2019

We are all Followers…and Leaders

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 28, 2019

Easter: New Life Can Be Yours, Now!

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 21, 2019

Why Not?

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, guest preacher
April 14, 2019


The Art of Letting Go

Forgiveness as a Way of Being

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 7, 2019

Letting Go but not Giving Up

Rev. Dionne P. Boissière, guest preacher
March 31, 2019

In Our Wilderness, God Is

Rebecca Asedillo, guest preacher
March 24, 2019

Love Yourself, Forgive Yourself

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 17, 2019

Don’t Let Your Painful Past Constrain Your Future

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 10, 2019


Speaking Truth to Power

We Rise Up

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 3, 2019

Praying for a Just Church

February 24, 2019

No Matter What…You Are a Child of God!

Bishop Karen Oliveto, guest preacher
February 17, 2019

What Does It Mean to Be Methodist?

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 10, 2019

What Does It Mean to Be Church?

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 3, 2019


Showing Up

Privilege the Oppressed!

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 20, 2019

What We Need Is Here

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 13, 2019

Are You Fully Alive?

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 6, 2019


Hope and Resilience

Lighting a Candle on the Long View

John Kleinig, guest preacher
December 9, 2018

Overcoming the Temptation to Despair

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 2, 2018

Our Progressive Church, 50 Years Ago

Rev. Finley Schaef, guest preacher
November 25, 2018


Beyond Our Wounds

Healed and Blessed in Our Brokenness

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 18, 2018

Are We Now Living Within God?

Anne Hughes-Hinnen, Minister of Care, COTV, guest preacher
November 11, 2018

Carrying Past Hurts and Trauma

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 4, 2018

Issue of Blood

Dr. Su Yon Pak, guest preacher
October 28, 2018


Spirituality 201

Let Your Whole Life Be a Witness

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 21, 2018

Inner Peace in a Torn-Apart World

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 14, 2018

Growing Your Spiritual Gifts

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 7, 2018

What Good is Faith?

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 23, 2018

When God Calls Us to Greatness

Gloria Fanchiang, guest preacher
September 16, 2018


Change, Challenge, and Conflict

You Are Never Alone

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 9, 2018

Restorative Justice

Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Pressley, guest preacher
September 2, 2018

Through Struggle, We Grow

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 26, 2018


Tending Our Gardens

Tending Our Gardens: Curiosity, Wonder, and Exuberance

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 19, 2018

Tending Our Gardens: Embracing Patient Endurance

Pastor Jeff Wells
August 5, 2018

Tending Our Gardens: Freed for Joy and Peace

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 22, 2018


Building a New Way

Building a New Way: Relentless Grace

Rev. Dr. Kimberly Bracken Long, guest preacher
July 8, 2018

Building a New Way: A Lesbian Icon & the Kin-dom of God

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
July 1, 2018

Pride Sunday: We Are Family

Scott Sprunger, guest preacher
June 24, 2018

Building a New Way: The Humble Road to Transformation

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 17, 2018

Building a New Way: What Are You Searching For?

Pastor Ronneak M. Lee, COTV, Assistant Pastor
June 10, 2018

Building a New Way: Practicing Neighbor Love

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 3, 2018


Dismantling Racism

Tear Down Every Wall

Pastor Jeff Wells
Sunday, May 20, 2018

Lessons from the Womb

Rev. Derrick W. McQueen, Ph.D.
Sunday, May 13, 208

Listening for the Spirit

Dr. Sarah Azaransky
Sunday, May 6, 2018

Confronting Denial is Christ’s Living Water

Rev. Dr. Traci C. West
Sunday, April 29, 2018

Being White

Pastor Jeff Wells
Sunday, April 22, 2018

A New Welcome for the Table:
Reimagining the Beloved Community

Rev. Doris K. Dalton
Sunday, April 15, 2018

Tupac’s Song: Coloring Jesus

Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer Miller
Sunday, April 8, 2018


Holy Week 2018

Easter: Saved by Love

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 1, 2018


Healing and Wholeness

A Wounded Community of Healing

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 11, 2018

Surprised by Healing

Scott Sprunger, guest preacher
March 4, 2018

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Pastor Jeff Wells
February 18, 2018



Christmas Reimagined

Jesus - Messiah and Liberator

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 14, 2018

God's Response to Violence

Pastor Jeff Wells
January 7, 2018

Joy To The World

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 24, 2017

Jesus - Light of the World

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 10, 2017

Songs of Radical Hope

Pastor Jeff Wells
December 3, 2017


Dear God

Do You Really Have A Plan For My Life?

What If I Don't Believe In You?

Tica Douglas, guest preacher
November 19, 2017

Do You Hear My Prayers?

Pastor Jeff Wells
November 5, 2017

Why Is There Suffering?

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 29, 2017

Can I Ask You A Question?

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 22, 2017


The Art of Abundant Living

Embracing Mortality

Pastor Jeff Wells
October 15, 2017

Good Sex

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
October 15, 2017

From Shame to Grace

Scott Sprunger, guest preacher
October 1, 2017

Seeing The Color Purple

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
September 24, 2017

Finding Freedom

Pastor Jeff Wells
September 17, 2017

Counterintuitive Beauty of the Beatitudes

Anne Hughes-Hinnen
September 3, 2017


Exploring God

What is God Thinking Right Now?

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
August 27, 2017

Apples & Oranges?

Katie Reimer, guest preacher
August 13, 2017

Creating Imperfection Since the Beginning

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
August 6, 2017

Justice, Life, and an Ethic of Relationship

Rev. Alisha Gordon, M.Div
July 30, 2017

Beyond Theology to Experience

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 16, 2017


What Is Church?

Creating Space for Grace

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
July 9, 2017

Living in Creative Tension Between What Is and What Could Be

Pastor Jeff Wells
July 2, 2017

In Labor, Anticipating New Life

Pastor Jeff Wells
June 4, 2017


Seeing Jesus 2017

A Game of Thrones

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
May 28, 2017

I Am With You Always

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 21, 2017

In the Breaking of the Bread

Pastor Jeff Wells
May 14, 2017

Revelation

Rev. Gerald C. Liu, Ph.D.
April 30, 2017

Breaking In Through Our Locked Doors

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 23, 2017


Life Takes Practice

Letting Go

Pastor Jeff Wells
April 2, 2017

Showing Up

Nehemiah Luckett
March 26, 2017

Compassion

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
March 19, 2017

Listening

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 12, 2017

Centering

Pastor Jeff Wells
March 5, 2017


Resistance and Solidarity

Righteous Resistance Rooted in Love

PastorJeff Wells
February 12, 2017

Resistance is Never Futile

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
February 5, 2017

Passive-Aggressive Politics &Resolute Resistance

Pastor Elyse Ambrose
January 29, 2017