How many of us have been told our culture is too different, we are too young, too old, too fat, too differently abled, too divorced, too single, too queer, too feminine to participate in the full life of the church. Well, Jesus knows the feeling and he made a place for himself and others in many of spaces where people said he and we had no place.
Read MoreWe welcome Joel Field this week as Guest Preacher. Joel is a long time Forefronter, preacher and financial advisor and strategist. Joel reminds us that Jesus showed us that it’s not about what we do as much as it is about where our heart is when we’re doing it.
Read MoreHospitality is the act of showing generosity and kindness and can be an extension of our worship. In our Forever Forward series, Rev. Venida Rodman Jenkins talks about how important it is to look beyond ourselves, and consider how we can reimagine hospitality as an extension of our worship. Reimagine inviting people (guests, visitors, strangers) into our church, spaces, lives, stories, worlds.
Read MoreRev. Josh Lee draws from modern tips, personal experiences and wisdom literature in the book of Proverbs to discover some tips on how to steward our time and treasures (money) well. Where do we spend our money and our time? Do they align with our values? Long term goals? How might we realign and reassess as we enter a new year and find our way out of this pandemic?
Read MoreThe season of Epiphany can help ground us in the light and love of Jesus even during unprecedented times. Watch Rev. Venida Rodman Jenkins preach as she opens our new Sermon Series, Forever Forward.
Read MoreAt our Christmas Celebration service, Rev. Venida Rodman Jenkins unpacks the hidden meaning behind Angels, hidden figures of Advent. The message of the angels is still with us today. Jesus is the reason for the season and he offers us love, joy, peace and hope in the midst of everything that we are experiencing.
Rev. Josh Lee takes the stage and explores the hidden message behind the Advent figure: the Donkey. Have you every felt left out or unappreciated? Have you ever been the ass in a Christmas pageant?
Read MoreRev. Venida Rodman Jenkins reflects on the Shepherds and The Great Joy of Good News in our series: "Hidden Figures of Advent". The shepherds in ancient times were deemed to be unreliable witnesses, and these hidden figures received and shared the good news of the birth of the Christ child. There are things in our life which we may deem to be insignificant yet can bring great joy to someone else's life.
Read MoreThis Sunday we began a new series: "Hidden Figures of Advent". Community Pastor Rev. Josh Lee took inspiration from the story of the three wise men and how the coming light of a star led the men to find hope and relief in a newborn baby. Are you in need of hope and relief? What burdens do you carry?
Read MoreRev. Venida Rodman Jenkins explores forgiveness in this service. This sermon marks the end of our "Keepin' It Real" series.
Read MoreWe're excited to welcome our new Community Pastor at Forefront, Rev. Josh Lee to the stage today as he tackles shame and how we might overcome it in our own lives.
Read MoreIn our "Keepin' it real" sermon series, Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins presents a powerful message about fear. "It seems at times action from fear is easier than action from hope - how can we change that?".
Read MoreBuilding a radically inclusive and diverse Church requires understanding the difference between our written and our lived theology. In this sermon Guest Preacher Mark Charles challenges us to explore where we believe we are included into the Gospel story. And the answer might not be where we think. Systemic racism, white Christian Nationalism and implicit racial bias are continuing to dominate the national news and headlines. And unfortunately the Church is not a place of refuge from the issues. This sermon challenges the church to be better.
Mak Gomez takes to the stage and speak about the disciples and community. In the midst of loss, change or fear, where do we turn for stability, for reassurance? In this sermon, Mak reminds us of the love that surrounds us all as being part of a community. We aren't meant to go it alone.
Love and dignify your neighbor. Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins inspires us to consider how we can embrace others, regardless of differences, and how scripture speaks to this through the passage of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). Happy National Coming Out Day!
Our discontent with the challenges of life can be channeled into productive actions which can help us find contentment and freedom. Watch Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins in this third sermon in our "This Far, By Faith" series.
Guest Preacher, Emmy Brett talks about change, about a new dawn rising. Emmy takes the recent changes at Forefront as inspiration for the continued journey to usher in the next 500 years of Christianity. We remain the change, and forge ahead. Though the church may not always have welcomed change, Jesus was a catalyst for change. How do we respond to his example and how do we adapt to the changes we see in our church and in our lives? In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, an entire globe has found itself faced with unprecedented change. Socially, new changes are making us re-consider how we define Christianity and whether or not America is the true center of expanding Christian practice.
Why do you attend church? In our new series, "This Far, By Faith", we explore the underpinnings of faith. Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins starts us off with the basic question, "why church?" The church can be a beacon of hope promoting equity and working to end all forms of oppression. We've been through quite some change at Forefront these past months, but some things never change, especially when it comes to the Spirit.
This past Sunday Guest Preacher, Pastor Josh Lee (he/him/his), shined his bright light on the Forefront congregation! Thank you, Josh! In this sermon, Josh Lee speaks about community. Many of us feel like spiritual refugees, fleeing, or being chased out of our communities of faith because we weren’t in a safe place anymore, or left because of oppressive doctrine. Our community at Forefront is made up of spiritual refugees and we can be an example of a community that doesn’t require uniformity to have unity. Josh is the Teaching Pastor at Imago Dei Church in Peoria, Illinois, and has a rich theological background.
We welcome yet another outstanding graduate from our Forefront Preaching Bootcamp, Denia Pérez (she/her/hers). Denia has been with Forefront for several years and this Sunday she'll preach about the story of Jael. Jael's story serves as a lesson in how we can betray traditions and use our privilege for good.
