Shows
Bethel Community SermonsA New Kind of Power (Acts 2:1-8, 11-21) - Erina Kim EubanksPastor Erina preaches for Pentecost 2024, sharing about the Holy Spirit's leveling power and casting vision for a church community where power is shared. In light of Bethel's 5 year anniversary or revitalization, what does it look like to become a house of God marked by abundance and co-creation and inspired by the Spirit's leveling power?2024-05-2122 min
Bethel Community SermonsBarnabas Lin (John 20:19-31): The Wounds That HealIn the second week of Easter, Barnabas (Bethel's Theologian-in-Residence) preaches on how Jesus' resurrection interrupts the cycle of violence rampant in the world since Genesis, and begins repairing and healing the whole world.2023-04-1623 min
Bethel Community SermonsTestifying Together: Community Stories (Elizabeth Sherwin, Jerry Yuan, Leah Sitler)We close out our sermon series on "Together in the Spirit" with a time of hearing community testimonies about where God has been present and what the Spirit's work has been among us in this past season.
Elizabeth Sherwin shares on her experience of reading "My Body is Not a Prayer Request" by Dr. Amy Kenney and her learnings about disability justice (starts at 3:33)
Jerry Yuan shares about his experience of discussing "The Will to Change" by bell hooks, and the impact it's had on engaging his anger (starts at 10:00)
Leah Sitler shares a...2022-08-2225 min
Bethel Community SermonsTogether in Decline (Ruth 1:1-22)- Barnabas LinClimate. Economy. Politics. As everything declines, including our own bodies, how are we supposed to live as the people of God? Guest preacher, Barnabas Lin, walks through the story of Naomi to show how her life provides wisdom for life during times of sustained devastation.
Barnabas (he/him) has over a decade of ministry experience (primarily in Chicago, IL) and holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he is now working on a PhD in Theological Ethics. His academic focus is on reclaiming theology for public good (language, economics, and non-violence) and developing the th...2022-08-0130 min
Bethel Community SermonsStorytelling: A Daily Act of Resurrection (Sarah Park)As part of our community storytelling practice, church member Sarah Park shares about her journey living with chronic illness and what identity formation and resurrection mean to her. What does it mean for us to choose resurrection daily, in the midst of our lives that are so used to accommodating death?2022-05-1708 min
Bethel Community SermonsFollowing (Strange) Jesus Together: Luke 24:13-35 (Michael Kim-Eubanks)Pastor Michael continues our sermon series for Eastertide, as he reflects on the story of the two men on the road to Emmaus. Through examining their experience and embodied testimony, Pastor Michael invites us to retell God's story and share liturgical practices that help reorient us to the truth of Jesus in a world that causes us to misremember.2022-05-1016 min
Bethel Community SermonsWitnessed in Pain, Called by Name (John 20:11-18)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our Eastertide sermon series by preaching on Mary's encounter with Jesus at the tomb. On the first Sunday of APIDA heritage month, she explores the ways that Jesus both witnesses Mary's pain and calls Mary by name, while connecting the experience of Mary to the lived realities of those who identify as Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American. What does it mean to us to recognize the risen Jesus, and how might we find resurrection as we embrace the fullness of our identities rather than minimizing them?2022-05-0220 min
Bethel Community SermonsThomas the Abandoned (John 20:19-29)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches for Eastertide on the apostle Thomas, exploring the nature of trust and doubt, and the realities of Thomas feeling abandoned in the midst of Jesus' death. While Thomas might be most famous for his "doubting," how might we see his desires and even doubts as holy? And how does Thomas teach us that trust is not just rational, but a relational and embodied force that resides in and through our bodies?
In this sermon, Pastor Michael also discusses the powerful faith legacy of the Apostle Thomas in the Church in Southern India.2022-04-2630 min
Bethel Community SermonsProclaiming Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches for Easter Sunday, about the complex nature of resurrection and why we are called to proclaim resurrection anyway. She reflects honestly about why resurrection might be hard for us to believe in these times, and yet draws strength from the women in Luke to share what the empty tomb means for her and invite us to do the same as we live out our collective call as Easter people.2022-04-1818 min
Bethel Community SermonsFaces of Easter (Godly Play)- Jill GidlundJill Gidlund leads our community in an intergenerational experience of Godly Play for Palm Sunday, helping us to enter into the fullness of Jesus' life through the "Faces of Easter" story. How might we make room for the fullness of Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and presence among us? Where might we find ourselves in this story, particularly in the midst of Holy Week?
To see the images that correspond with this story, check out this link: tinyurl.com/bcpcfacesofeaster
For more on Jill's work: https://www.jillgidlund.com/2022-04-1117 min
Bethel Community SermonsLonging for the New- Testimony by Barnabas LinBarnabas Lin shares an extended testimony for our Lenten "Dreams of the People" about his dreams for God's people to experience life abundant. In the midst of historical harm, abuse, and toxicity, what does it mean for the Church to reclaim its identity as a place of promise and miracle, a source of liberation for all? How might we continue to faithfully follow the new thing God is trying to do in our age?
In this testimony, he also introduces himself as Bethel Community's "Itinerant Minister and Theologian in Residence," sharing more about what that title means...2022-04-0513 min
Bethel Community SermonsMaking Room for Unconditional Love (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)- Erina Kim-EubanksOn the 4th Sunday of Lent, Pastor Erina preaches from Luke 15 on the parable of the prodigal(s) and explores the simple yet radical truth of God's unconditional love and embrace. She names some of the forces in our world that make unconditional love difficult for us to believe in, while gently inviting us to return to the promise of love and the extravagant embrace of God.
At the end of her sermon, she leads us through a contemplative exercise, inviting us to use our imaginations to bring our whole selves into an experience of being embraced...2022-03-2830 min
Bethel Community SermonsMaking Room at the Table (Isaiah 55:1-9)- Rev. Riana Shaw RobinsonGuest preacher, Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson, continues our Lenten sermon series on "Making Room" by reflecting on God's invitation in Isaiah 55 and what is possible when we make room at the table of God. She shares about our need as the only prerequisite to come to the table, and invited us into a communal imagination exercise to help stretch our vision of who has access to God's freedom and abundance.2022-03-2122 min
Bethel Community SermonsMaking Room: Returning to Mother God (Luke 13:31-35)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our Lenten series on "Making Room" by examining the mothering impulse of Jesus in Luke 13:31-35 and reflecting on the ways that we have rejected divine mothering throughout the generations. How might Jesus be wanting to gather us and remind us of who we are, in a world filled with violence, domination, and separation? And how might God be calling us to expand our narrow theological imaginations to experience God in new ways, particularly as Mother?
NOTE: The first minute of the sermon was not included in this recording, in which...2022-03-1419 min
Bethel Community SermonsMaking Room: In the Wilderness (Luke 4:1-14)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina kick off the Lenten season with a sermon on the temptations of Jesus. How was the wilderness a place of formation for Jesus? How did his experience with temptation allow Jesus to grow deeper in his identity and vocation, even in the face of competing stories? And how might this Lenten season be a time when God invites us to make room- for truth, for goodness, for God's story- even in the midst of wilderness?2022-03-0827 min
Bethel Community SermonsTransfiguration (Luke 9:28-36 + 2 Corinthians 3:12-18)- Rev. Lynice PinkardGuest Preacher Rev. Lynice Pinkard joins us on Transfiguration Sunday to share her powerful vision of transfiguration with us. Rather than intellectualizing about the transfiguration, she shares from her own embodied wisdom and lived experience as a pastor and spiritual director about what it means to truly love, see, and recognize one another in ways that bring about newness.
Rev. Lynice Pinkard is a pastor, teacher, writer, activist, movement chaplain and spiritual director. Her work is dedicated to decolonizing the human spirit and to freeing people from what she calls "empire affective disorder." Rev. Lynice, recently moved...2022-02-2827 min
Bethel Community SermonsDoes Non-Violence Work? (Luke 6:27-38)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches from Luke 6:27-38 about the ethics of non-violence and what it means to choose peace in the face of Empires that rage. How do we continue to remember our own worth and live rightly when violence and evil surrounds us? How might we wrestle with our own tensions and doubts regarding the efficacy of non-violence in our lives and our world?2022-02-2127 min
Bethel Community SermonsGathered Around Life: Celebrating our 100th Sunday on Zoom (Jeremiah 17:5-8)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches from Jeremiah 17:5-8 and shares some reflections on what God has been doing in the life of Bethel Community after 100 weeks together on Zoom as a result of the pandemic. She shares some of the fruit that has been borne in this time of difficulty- the fruit of evolving faith, the fruit of our true selves, and the fruit of church reimagined. 2022-02-1521 min
Bethel Community SermonsRun That Back: A Little Means a Lot to Jesus (Luke 5:1-11)- Sean WatkinsGuest preacher Sean Watkins continues our sermon series on the lectionary by preaching from Luke 5:1-11 and providing a fresh perspective on a familiar passage. By examining how Jesus interacts with his first disciples, Sean shares the ways that Jesus is always stepping into our exhaustion, defying human logic, and calling us to small acts of obedience as we "Run That Back" and experience the impossible with him. 2022-02-0831 min
Bethel Community SermonsA Word On Its Way (Luke 4:22-30)- Peace LeeGuest preacher, Peace Lee, preaches from Luke 4:22-30, about the role of preaching in a community- to invite the community of faith to be co-conspirators with the Spirit of God as we inhabit the story of God together. She reminds us that the Word of God can never be contained by our expectations, coming to us through unlikely prophets who shatter our boundaries and borders, and she invites us to pay attention to how the Word of God that is living and active in our midst.
2022-02-0122 min
Bethel Community SermonsHoly Spirit: Instigator and Disruptor (Luke 4:14-21)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches for us from Luke 4:14-21, about the work of the Holy Spirit that instigates resistance to Empire and anoints Jesus to enact God's disruptive purposes in the world. How might the Holy Spirit similarly be leading us to the encouraging yet also confounding work of "good news" that Jesus was anointed for?2022-01-2527 min
Bethel Community SermonsMiracle of the Collective (John 2:1-11)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches from John 2:1-11, about the first "sign" of Jesus as a miracle of the collective that subverts hierarchy and centers those who are normally on the margins. She discusses the ways that the slow, tedious, work of subversive faithfulness allows us to experience the miraculous power of God, and invites us to consider our part in that work. On MLK weekend, she also reminds us that the work and legacy of Dr. King was ultimately also part of a greater movement of faithfulness, and honors the work of the unnamed servants who took part in a...2022-01-1726 min
Bethel Community SermonsBaptism: To Worship a God who is Loved (Luke 3:1-14, 21-22)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches for us on the Feast of the Baptism, about the ways that Christ's baptism is a cosmic confrontation between the realm of God and the realm of Empire. How does the declaration of Jesus as beloved stand in contrast to the violence of Empire and forge a pathway to live into an ethic of love, peace, and enjoyment? What are the ethical implications of our worship, particularly when we choose to worship a God who is loved?2022-01-1126 min
Bethel Community SermonsEmbracing Growth (Luke 2:39-40)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches on the 9th day of Christmastide, continuing the Luke narrative of the birth of Jesus and examining what it meant for Jesus to be a growing, developing, evolving human. How might we find encouragement in the fact that Jesus couldn't rush through his own development and had to grow in maturity? How might we, like Jesus, experience a village who will bear witness our own growth and maturing?2022-01-0415 min
Bethel Community SermonsHow Did They Know? (Luke 2:25-38)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches on the 2nd day of Christmastide from the Gospel of Luke about Simeon and Anna encountering baby Jesus. How did Simeon and Anna know that the birth of this baby meant so much? How can we know that the presence of God in Christ has meaning for our lives, our families, our communities?2021-12-2818 min
Bethel Community SermonsBodies Birthing Newness (Luke 1:39-45)- Erna Kim HackettErna Kim Hackett joins us for the 3rd Sunday in Advent to reflect on the lives, leadership, and bodies of both Elizabeth and Mary. How do these two women remind us of the joy-filled community that is forged among unlikely and marginalized bodies? How do they invite us to attend to our bodies in this season with gentleness and kindness?
Erna is the founder of Liberated Together- a space for women of Color followers of Jesus to build community, learn liberative theology, and sustainable approaches to social justice. She lives in the Bay Area and loves her do...2021-12-1423 min
Bethel Community SermonsWild Consent (Luke 1:26-38)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our "WILD BIRTH" Advent series by looking at the Annunciation and examining Mary's response to the angel Gabriel. While the force of patriarchy has often painted Mary as an empty vessel lauded for submission and obedience, how might we re-read Mary's interactions with Gabriel to see the ways she takes up space and claims her own agency before God? How does Mary's understanding of her own worth and favor allow her to say "yes," with full consent?2021-12-0625 min
Bethel Community SermonsBirth as Disruptive (Luke 1:5-25)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael kicks off our sermon series titled "WILD BIRTH" by reflecting on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He reveals how the coming presence of God- in our lives and our world- is always disruptive, silencing the powerful while giving leadership to those who are normally unheard. What new voices and new stories might be amplified for us in this season, as we allow our worlds to be disrupted?
*Please note that the first portion of Pastor Michael's sermon was cut off, so the recording begins a few minutes into his sermon.2021-11-3020 min
Bethel Community SermonsBeautiful Boundary Lines (Psalm 16)- Tamice Namae SpencerGuest Preacher Tamice Spencer concludes our sermon series on the Psalms by sharing about her own journey with Psalm 16, and exegeting the Scripture alongside her own embodied experience. She discusses her own story of discovering God as she discovered joy, and reflects on how the beautiful boundary lines of God have helped her to find healing and resurrection.
At the end of her sermon, she references a song that she wrote about Psalm 16 called "Portion," which you can listen to here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/portion-feat-joy-salvatore-rebekah-koenig/487402109?i=487402270=
Also, please note that she sh...2021-11-1518 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhat we do, what God does- Psalm 127 (Michael Kim-Eubanks)Pastor Michael continues our sermon series on the psalms, wrestling with both the challenging and encouraging aspects of Psalm 127. He explores the relationship between what we do and what God does, and describes God's vision of life as one that includes rest for God's beloved, as well as the use of privilege and power to protect the vulnerable.2021-11-0826 min
Bethel Community SermonsTasting Together (Psalm 34:1-8)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon series on the psalms, reflecting on the communal nature of the invitation of Psalm 34:8- "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Sharing her experiences of trying new foods, witnessing the collective faith of Korean immigrant churches, and struggling to believe in God's goodness in this current moment, Pastor Erina reminds us that we never come to the banquet table alone. She exhorts us to have the courage to both share the good things God has done in our lives, and to keep trying to trust in God's goodness, even when it's difficult. 2021-10-2521 min
Bethel Community SermonsAlphabet of Grace (Psalm 119:1-8)- Peace LeeGuest Preacher Peace Lee reflects on Psalm 119, and the ways that God's law is a manifestation of God's love for us. In a culture that has often misused and abused God's law to oppress and harm, Peace reminds us of the ways that God's law is a gift to remake Gods peoples and provide them a pathway towards life, justice, and restoration. She also shares insight on the acrostic nature of Psalm 119, and the ways that the act of building a psalm through the alphabet, letter by letter, parallels the act of rebuilding a new world, one act of...2021-10-1926 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhile we Wait (Psalm 126)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our sermon series on the psalms by preaching from Psalm 126 and the human experience of waiting for restored fortunes. He specifically explores the powerful and effectual nature of our tears in the midst of waiting, and reflects on the ways that crying is a fundamental part of what it means to be human. 2021-10-1220 min
Bethel Community SermonsDominion is not Domination (Psalm 8)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon series on the Psalms by looking at Psalm 8, and the interconnectedness between humanity and the rest of creation. How is the vocation of humanity- to have dominion- meant to mirror a God of generosity and self-giving love? What might it look like for human worship to include extending the same mindful care, generous attention, and love that God shows us, to the entire community of creation?2021-10-0323 min
Bethel Community SermonsTell Your Neighbor (Psalm 124)- Rev. Riana Shaw RobinsonRev. Riana Shaw Robinson, continues our sermon series on the Psalms by preaching from Psalm 124 about the importance of both remembering and retelling of God's work of deliverance in our lives, particularly for the oppressed and marginalized. How do we encourage ourselves and one another in these difficult times by choosing to speak and even sing our testimonies of what God has done, even when the Empire tries to make us forget?
Riana is a preacher, pastor, and prophet who is passionate about speaking the truth in love, offering a constant invitation for people to see themselves...2021-09-2819 min
Bethel Community SermonsYes! No! Not Yet. (Psalm 98)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our sermon series on the Psalms by talking about the importance of singing in the life of faith. He shares the need for a holistic range of expressions in song, including songs that declare "yes," songs that cry "no," and songs for the waiting of "not yet."2021-09-2116 min
Bethel Community SermonsReturning to Rest, Returning to Ourselves (Psalm 116:1-9)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon series on the Psalms, by looking at Psalm 116 and the movements of faith that happen in it- from orientation, to disorientation, to reorientation. She also examines the key role that assertion plays in our life of faith, and shares how asserting ourselves before God might be a key to experiencing a return to rest.2021-09-1321 min
Bethel Community SermonsPraise the Lord! I need help! (Psalm 146)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael kicks off our sermon series on the Psalms with a reflection on Psalm 146. How is the call to praise God and the call to cry out for help connected? How is true praise distinct from toxic positivity, and how does true worship grow our appetite for justice in this world?2021-09-0618 min
Bethel Community SermonsWelcome to Class (Matthew 28:16-20) - Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael shares a reminder about the meaning of our baptism and what it means to be students of our Rabbi Jesus together in community with other disciples. His reflections helped prepare our congregation to celebrate the baptism of Kaleb Enoh JohnEtebom! 2021-08-2208 min
Bethel Community SermonsPrayer as Resistance (Daniel 9:1-18)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina concludes our sermon series on Daniel by examining his prayer in Daniel 9. How does prayer help us engage God in the midst of uncertainty, confusion, and cognitive dissonance? How are the prayer practices of praise, confession, and petition acts of resistance against the forces that lead us to spiritual amnesia, entitlement, and numbness?2021-08-1025 min
Bethel Community SermonsWild Imaginations (Daniel 7:1-18)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our sermon series on the book of Daniel, by looking at Daniel's dream from Chapter 7. How does the life of Daniel reveal the cycle of faith and imagination? How do our experiences of God shape the stories we tell about God and our imagination of what is possible?
2021-08-0328 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhen the Empires Rage On (Daniel 3:8-27)- Peace LeeGuest preacher Peace Lee shares with us from Daniel 3 the vision of a God who delivers us by being present with us in the midst of fires. As we experience the Empires raging on, she highlights the choir of living witnesses who sang a song of justice throughout the generations and encourages us to preach, protest, pray, and party in ways that continually resist the violence and tyranny of Empire.
Peace Pyunghwa Lee (she/her) is a spiritual director, preacher, and an educator committed to decolonial and feminist praxis. Formative experiences of growing up in Korea and t...2021-07-1921 min
Bethel Community SermonsAm I Like Belshazzar? (Daniel 5)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our sermon series on Daniel by examining the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5. What lessons might we learn from his life and ultimately his downfall? How might we avoid the pitfalls of hubris and foolish ignorance that are seen in his story, and choose instead to remember who we are and who God is rightly, even in the face of our own trauma?2021-07-1323 min
Bethel Community SermonsMost High God (Daniel 4)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches for us on Daniel 4, reflecting on Nebuchadnezzar's dream, his fall from glory, and subsequent acknowledgement of the Most High God. As a Fourth of July sermon, she discusses the ways that God's sovereignty over Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar reminds us that only the reign of God is truly eternal. How might we turn away from American exceptionalism and Christian nationalism and choose to do right and show mercy to the poor, just as Nebuchadnezzar is invited to do?2021-07-0422 min
Bethel Community SermonsMeant to Survive (Daniel 3:1-27)- Nichola TorbettGuest preacher Nichola Torbett speaks to us on Pride Weekend about the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their refusal to bow to the false gods and oppressive narratives of Empire. What does their determination to resist an unjust status quo teach us about queerness? How might their witness stretch our imaginations around what resistance and worship look like in our lives today?
Nichola Torbett is a spiritual seeker, gospel preacher, podcaster, writer, resistance fomenter, dog-walker, and nonviolent direct action trainer. Driven by her passion for both spiritual formation and social change, she co-founded Seminary of th...2021-06-2816 min
Bethel Community SermonsPraying with Eyes Open (Daniel 2:17-28)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our Daniel sermon series by preaching from Daniel 2 about the role of prayer in the context of Babylon. In the face of an Empire built upon control and tyranny, what do Daniel and his friends teach us how to engage mystery through prayer? How might we learn to pray similarly, with our eyes and our hearts open?2021-06-2121 min
Bethel Community SermonsSubversive Disciplines (Daniel 1:8-21)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches from Daniel 1:8-21 about the ways that Daniel's choice not to eat food served by Babylon was a discipline that resisted the Empire. How might our private disciplines fuel our public witness, and how do we reclaim the subversive nature of spiritual disciplines?2021-06-1521 min
Bethel Community SermonsRemember Your Name (Daniel 1:1-7)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael kicks off our summer sermon series on the Book of Daniel, by examining the significance of names and the ways that the force of Empire also tries to erase and change our God-given names and identities. How is claiming the names and identities God has given us an act of resistance in the face of oppressive forces and the violence of erasure?2021-06-0823 min
Bethel Community SermonsThe Roundabout Way (Exodus 13:17-22)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina addressees the awkwardness, tensions, and liminality of this time of transition for many of us- both in the pandemic as well as in our spiritual lives. How might the wilderness actually become a place of healing and life for us? How might we pay attention to God's presence going before us and remaining with us while we travel the roundabout way?2021-06-0118 min
Bethel Community SermonsA Magic Moment (Acts 2:1-21)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael shares with us on Pentecost Sunday about the magic of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit leads us away from nationalism, exceptionalism, and division by breaking oppressive boundaries. How might the work of the Spirit continue to create spaces of togetherness and belonging in the Church today?2021-05-2417 min
Bethel Community SermonsGrief as Imaginative Act (Judges 11:29-40) - Thiên Ân (Mary) DươngGuest preacher, Thiên Ân Dương, shares from the Old Testament story of Jephthah and his daughter, a sobering story that both reminds us of the dangers of using God as a scapegoat for violence as well as the legacies of grief in our communities, particularly in creating rhythms for new life. How does grief- even in the face of great horror and loss- stretch our imaginations to create a new future?2021-05-1830 min
Bethel Community SermonsGod's Love for the Othered (Acts 10:44-48)- Minu George ThomasGuest preacher Minu George Thomas shares about God's love for the othered from the story of Acts 10, the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out on Cornelius and the Gentiles. By reflecting on God's activity of inclusion from Acts 10 and making connections to her own life experience as a third culture kid from India, she challenges us to encounter the love of God that extends beyond boundaries and share that love generously with our neighbors. 2021-05-1113 min
Bethel Community SermonsChoosing Praise (Psalm 22:23-31)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina kicks off our celebration of APIDA heritage month by reflecting on a lectionary text from Psalm 22 and examines what it means for the people of God to move from lament towards praise. How might the practices of remembering history and recognizing the collective lead us to see and celebrate more of God's work - in the APIDA community and beyond?2021-05-0424 min
Bethel Community SermonsCommunication is Key: Eastertide Reflections (1 John 3:16-24)- Erma SinclairGuest preacher Erma Sinclair preaches from the lectionary for our Eastertide sermon series. As she reflects on 1 John 3:16-24, she shares powerfully and vulnerably about everything from the killing of Ma'Khia Bryant, the limits of social media, the importance of grief, finding confidence in the promises of God, and what it means to faithfully live out God's call to love in this current moment. 2021-04-2640 min
Bethel Community SermonsImagining the Impossible: Eastertide Reflections (Luke 24:36-49)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon series in the lectionary and reflects on how Jesus' first appearance to the disciples exposes their limited vision for resurrection. How are our collective imaginations so sickened by violence, death, and trauma that we are unable to witness Jesus in our midst? What does it mean to be a community that bears witness to the resurrection and imagines the impossible? She specifically explores how we might begin thinking about prison abolition, in light of recent events in our world. 2021-04-1826 min
Bethel Community SermonsBeing Human- Community TestimoniesTwo members of our community- Jonelle Crow and Ann Cabello- share their reflections on the season of Lent, what they're learning about being human, and how Jesus has been meeting them in this current moment.2021-04-1119 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-15)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches on Resurrection Sunday on the mystery and messiness of resurrection. What do the women at the graveside teach us about holding grief and fear along with trust and worship? How might we experience the good news of resurrection even amidst grief, uncertainty, and confusion?2021-04-0521 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Peace (Matthew 21:1-11)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches on Palm Sunday, examining what it means that Jesus is the King who comes into Jerusalem riding on a donkey instead of a warhorse. How does Jesus among us bring disruptions to cycles of violence and a new imagination for the way of peace?2021-03-3020 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Limitations (Matthew 26:36-46)- Barnabas LinBarnabas Lin guest preaches for us on our 5th Sunday in Lent, on what it means to encounter Jesus among us, in our human limitations. By looking at Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Barnabas presents a powerful picture of Jesus as the one who knew the limits of his capacity, the limits of visibility, and the limits of choice.
How might we experience solidarity from Jesus- particularly in the painful aftermath of the Atlanta-area shootings? How might we find our own stories in the story of Jesus? 2021-03-2230 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Receiving Help (Luke 8:1-3)- Michael Kim-EubanksOn our 4th Sunday in Lent, Pastor Michael addresses the very human reality of both receiving help and helping others, as he looks at the interdependence that Jesus displayed in his ministry. In particular, he looks at the pivotal role that women played in Jesus' ministry, and the subversive nature of mutual partnership in a world marked by dominance. 2021-03-1526 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Grief (John 11:28-37) - Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues with our Lenten series by reflecting on how Jesus is among us in grief. As we collectively draw near to the one-year mark of living in a pandemic and sheltering in place, how does Jesus meet us in our grief? And how does Jesus make room for our lament, disapointment, and feelings of "it didn't have to be this way"?
This sermon was followed by a liturgy of grief and remembrance. 2021-03-0917 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Anger (Matthew 23:13-29)- Tamice SpencerFor our second Sunday in Lent, guest preacher Tamice Spencer reflects on the solidarity that Jesus chooses with humanity through the expression of anger. How might our experiences with anger embody the same commitment to relationships, care, and dignity that Jesus exhibited through his own anger?
Tamice is the President and CEO of Sub:Culture Incorporated, a ministry serving dedicated to removing the barriers that impede Black College Students from academic success, holistic well being, and meaningful spiritual life. She specializes in matters related to ministry to African American GEN-Z & millennials, hip-hop and urban apologetics, cultural exegesis an...2021-03-0110 min
Bethel Community SermonsAmong Us: In Temptation (Matthew 4:1-9)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael kicks off our Lenten sermon series- "Being Human- Jesus as Flesh Among Us"- with a reflection on the temptations of Jesus. What do the temptations of Jesus teach us about what it means to live as fully human? And how does his faithfulness in the midst of temptation teach us how to resist the impulses of Empire?2021-02-2323 min
Bethel Community SermonsThe Transfiguring Force of Love (Mark 9:2-9)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina preaches for Transfiguration Sunday on the revelation of Jesus' identity as the dearly loved one of God. How does understanding Christ's own belovedness shape how we view our own? And how does the force of love have the potential to transform us and our society?2021-02-1524 min
Bethel Community SermonsThree Gifts of the Black Community (Mark 1:29-39)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael kicks off Black History Month by preaching from Mark 1:29-39, and connecting the healing narrative of Jesus to 3 gifts embodied in the Black community. How does the authority of Jesus, exhibited in the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, illuminate the reality that bodies are always political, healing is always for everyone, and that prayers are meant for liberation?
2021-02-0722 min
Bethel Community SermonsJesus is Among Us: Chaos and Conflict (Mark 1:21-28)- Jazzy JohnsonGuest preacher, Jazzy Johnson, joins us in our sermon series on lectionary to talk about the surprising and refreshing authority of Jesus. How does the presence of Jesus among us cast out evil, expose the lies, and usher in healing for our whole selves? How does it bring about not the absence of conflict but the transformation of it?
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Jazzy Johnson, a proud Native Texan and adopted Chicagoan, is an experienced Educator and Northwestern University graduate who specializes in curating and facilitating transformative spaces for learning & listening in the area of social justice. She is...2021-02-0125 min
Bethel Community SermonsOn Vulnerability (Psalm 62)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues or Winter sermon series on the lectionary by preaching from Psalm 62, reflecting on what the words of the Psalm teach us about how to engage our vulnerability with God and with others.2021-01-2622 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhen Judgment is Good News (1 Samuel 3:1-18)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon series in the lectionary, by looking at 1 Samuel 3:1-18, and particularly the word of judgment that comes upon the House of Eli and his sons. When is judgment good news for us? How do we hold judgment in tension with God's healing and restoration? And how does understanding God's judgment upon unbridled violence and entitlement offer good news in the current moment we are living in?
This sermon closes with a remembrance of the more radical aspects of Dr. King's legacy and an audio recording from his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."2021-01-1729 min
Bethel Community SermonsBaptism: An Unusual Coronation (Mark 1: 4-11)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael preaches on The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, about the unlikely coronation of Jesus through his baptism in the Jordan. How does Christ's baptism subvert the hierarchies of Empire and reveal to us a way of vulnerability, mutuality, and belovedness? And how is this baptism good news for us in the aftermath of the white supremacist, nationalist, and extremist violence and insurrection witnessed at the Capitol building this past week?2021-01-1021 min
Bethel Community SermonsNourished Together: Looking ahead to 2021Pastor Erina provides an overview of our church history and what we've seen God do in our church during 2020. She also looks ahead to some hopes for the new years and shares updates on new programs to continue widening our banquet table for our now local and long-distance community. 2021-01-0416 min
Bethel Community SermonsEmbracing the Tensions of 2020 - (Psalm 126)- Erina Kim-Eubanks + Testimony from Nancy JamesPastor Erina offers a few words of reflection on how we might embrace tension in this season of Christmastide and at the end of 2020, with guidance from the words of Psalm 126
Nancy James follows with a testimony on how she experienced Jesus in unexpected ways this year, through the gift of connection. 2020-12-2721 min
Bethel Community SermonsThe Stars in the Sky (Matthew 2:1-11)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael concludes our sermon series for Advent on Jesus and the community of creation, sharing about the role of the stars in the birth story of Jesus. How do the stars teach us about curiosity and worship? How do the Magi open up a pathway to a world without tyranny?2020-12-2115 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhat do sheep know? (Luke 2: 8-20)- Barnabas LinBarnabas Lin joins us for our 3rd Sunday in Advent to interweave stories of living and working on a farm for 3 months with thoughts on the role of the sheep in Jesus' birth. How do sheep reveal to us the hope of communion and the way of shalom?
Barnabas is a recent transplant to Southern California, where he recently graduated with a Master of Divinity and finished three months on a farm. He has been a minister for over a decade, likes friendship, baking sourdough, and is concerned about how humanity and all creation can thrive under t...2020-12-1318 min
Bethel Community SermonsThe Hay and the Community of Creation (Luke 2:1-7)- Jill GidlundJill Gidlund continues our Advent series with reflections on the hay, and the interconnectedness of all members of the creation community in the birth of Jesus.
Jill is a writer and speaker in the East Bay Area. Her work is primarily in the world of Children’s Spirituality, with a background in Children's Ministry, Godly Play and Early Childhood Education. Learn more about her work at: https://www.jillgidlund.com/2020-12-0818 min
Bethel Community SermonsBearing and Sharing Life: The Women and the Community of Creation (Luke 1:39-45)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina kicks off our Advent series with a reflection on the unlikely bearers of God's promises- Elizabeth and Mary- and how the faith and encouragement shared between these two women are part of the community of creation that welcomes the coming Savior.2020-11-2916 min
Bethel Community SermonsThis is Our Hope (Haggai 2:20-23)- Grace WengGuest preacher Grace Weng finishes out our sermon on the book of Haggai, reminding us that our hope is not in earthly kings or kingdoms, but in Jesus our Messiah. What does it mean for the Church to place our hope in Jesus and live as God's signet ring in this world?2020-11-2418 min
Bethel Community SermonsWe Did This (Haggai 2:10-19)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael continues our series on the book of Haggai, as he explores God's vision of holiness and defilement, and the relationship between human choices and the community of creation.2020-11-1725 min
Bethel Community SermonsTake Courage and Work (Haggai 2:1-9)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues our sermon on Ezra and Haggai, by examining God's call to take courage and work in building God's temple, even when the ruins feel overwhelming. How does this passage speak to us today, the week after the 2020 elections, as we look at the ruins of the American Church and our current political landscape? What work are we being called to?2020-11-0823 min
Bethel Community SermonsWhich House? (Haggai 1)- Michael Kim-EubanksPastor Michael transitions our sermon series to the book of Haggai, examining the call to build God's house amidst the temptation to secure our own paneled houses. We are reminded that God's freedom leads us to serve others, rather than just ourselves.2020-11-0227 min
Bethel Community SermonsHaters (Ezra 4:6-24)- Erina Kim-EubanksPastor Erina continues us in our sermon series on Ezra, examining the opposition that God's people face in the midst of doing God's work. The testimony of the returned exiles reminds us that building the house of God has always challenged the empires of the land and that we are called to faithfulness, even in the face of haters.2020-10-2624 min
Bethel Community SermonsPretenders (Ezra 4:1-5)- Michael Kim-EubanksWe continue our sermon series on Ezra, and Pastor Michael examines what it means for the people of God to pursue exclusive worship that leads us to embody God's inclusive love and expansive community. 2020-10-1928 min
Bethel Community SermonsAn Undistinguishable Sound (Ezra 3:8-13)- Erina Kim-EubanksThe fifth sermon of our series on Ezra looks at the beginnings of temple rebuilding, and what it means for the community of God to hold weeping and rejoicing together in the face of transition.2020-10-1221 min
Bethel Community SermonsTell the Truth (Ezra 3:1-6)- Michael Kim-EubanksThe fourth sermon in our Fall series on the Book of Ezra looks at the role of burnt offerings in the life and worship of the returning exiles.2020-10-0524 min
Bethel Community SermonsSay Their Names (Ezra 2)- Erina Kim-EubanksThe third sermon in our Fall series on the Book of Ezra looks at the names and numbers of those who returned home from exile, and talks about the importance of naming our ancestors- the people we come from who shape us and pave the way for us.
This sermon was followed by a special liturgy of remembrance. 2020-09-2919 min
Bethel Community SermonsA New Exodus (Ezra 1:5-11)- Michael Kim-EubanksThe second sermon in our OT series on the book of Ezra. Pastor Michael parallels the return from exile with the Exodus from Egypt and examines the call for God's people to wake up, to remember, and to keep walking. 2020-09-2126 min
Bethel Community SermonsA Word Fulfilled (Ezra 1:1-4)- Erina Kim-EubanksThe first sermon in our Fall Old Testament series on the book of Ezra. Pastor Erina gives historical context on the book of Ezra and speaks about the power of God's promises and what it means to actively wait on God.2020-09-1420 min
Bethel Community SermonsTurning from Violence (Matthew 16:21-28)- Michael Kim-EubanksThe final sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Michael Kim-Eubanks speaks from Matthew 16:21-28 about the suffering Christ and overturning the logic of Empire that leads to violence.2020-08-3025 min
Bethel Community SermonsLet the Word Speak (Psalm 124)- Erma A. SinclairThe fourth sermon in our Summer Lectionary Series. Preacher Erma Sinclair speaks from Psalm 124 about the role of truth telling testimony in the face of unjust and broken systems, particularly from the lens of the Black experience.2020-08-2524 min
Bethel Community SermonsReturning Home to Sabbath (Isaiah 56:1-8)- Rev. Janna LouieThe third sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Rev. Janna Louie talks about the practice of Sabbath as resistance, and what it means for a people to rediscover home through practices of hospitality, justice, and righteousness.2020-08-1717 min
Bethel Community Sermons"What are you doing here?"- 1 Kings 19:9-18 (Erina Kim-Eubanks)The second sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Erina preaches about Elijah's encounter with God at Mt. Horeb, and what it means for the Church to reclaim its prophetic call in the face of persecution. 2020-08-0923 min
Bethel Community SermonsPsalm 145- Michael Kim-EubanksThe first sermon in our "Summer in the Lectionary" series. Pastor Michael preaches from Psalm 145, about both the discomfort and the blessing of praising God.2020-08-0224 min
Bethel Community SermonsRadical Hospitality (Luke 14:15-24)- Erina Kim-EubanksThe final sermon of our "Seeds" series examines the value of "Radical Hospitality" in our church through the parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14. Erina Kim-Eubanks explores the inclusive welcome of God and the relationship between God's hospitality, spiritual family, and the Korean concept of jeong. 2020-07-2024 min
Bethel Community SermonsIncarnational Presence (Acts 6:1-7) - Michael Kim-EubanksThe fifth sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks explores God's vision for a subversive witness that resists Empire and aligns with the Way of Jesus.2020-07-1328 min
Bethel Community SermonsMutual Community (1 Corinthians 12:12-26): Erina Kim-EubanksThe fourth sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Erina Kim-Eubanks explores what the image of the body of Christ teaches us about mutual community, and how to live as a church embodying both unity and diversity. 2020-07-0525 min
Bethel Community SermonsIntegrated Faith (Mark 9:14-29)-Michael Kim-EubanksThe third sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks explores the ways that Jesus cares about holistic healing and invites us to reexamine the scripts that shape our lives.2020-06-2924 min
Bethel Community SermonsDeep Roots (Matthew 5:17-20)- Erina Kim-EubanksThe second sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Erina Kim-Eubanks talks about our "Deep Roots" and what it means to reclaim the radical roots of our Christian faith, modeled in the prophetic ministry of Jesus. 2020-06-2221 min
Bethel Community SermonsDivine Presence (Luke 5:27-32)- Michael Kim-EubanksThe first sermon in our "Seeds" series, looking at the core values of Bethel Community. Michael Kim-Eubanks talks about "Divine Presence" and what we learn from the relationship between Jesus and "Levi the Looter."2020-06-1527 min
Bethel Community SermonsBethel Community San Leandro- Sunday Sermon (5.24.20)Jesus' Last Words: Ascension Sunday- Acts 1:1-11 by Michael Kim-Eubanks2020-05-2520 minBethel Community SermonsBethel Community San Leandro- Sunday Sermon (5.17.20)"From Foreigner to Family"- An AAPI Heritage Month Sermon from Acts 17:22-31 by Erina Kim-Eubanks2020-05-1820 minBethel Community SermonsBethel Community San Leandro- Mother's Day Sermon (5.10.20)"God, our Nursing Mother"- Mother's Day sermon from 1 Peter 2:2-3 by Erina Kim-Eubanks2020-05-1120 min