The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-20)

At the center of the sacred story we tell, week in and week out, is the mystery of Resurrection: life from death, light from darkness, creation from chaos. This story has occupied a central place in the Christian imagination because it points to a new way to live. In this series, we are exploring the way of life Jesus sets forth in his Sermon on the Mount. Resurrection speaks over every life, “You, whoever you are, whatever your circumstances, you are blessed because Divine Love is with you.” This vision of the resurrection life opens up new ways of being such as belonging, love and trust in community, and non-anxious relationship with one another and with the Divine. This series will suggest practices for living Christ’s wisdom within the texture of our ordinary lives.

Easter Sunday: Flowering Crosses

Today is Easter Sunday, the first Sunday of Easertide. Eastertide is a fifty day celebration between Resurrection Sunday and Pentecost. During this season, the altar is dressed in white to symbolize Christ’s triumph over darkness, sorrow, sin, and death. Golden communion vessels represent our joy as we celebrate, in the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection, the victory of life over death. The vibrant colors of the flowers remind us that the power that raised Christ from the dead is still at work redeeming and renewing this world and each of our lives.

Palm Sunday: Our Many Animations

At Pearl Church, we seek to express a sacred story and extend a common table that animate—move, motivate, inspire—our lives by Divine Love. Very often we find ourselves animated not by love, but by all-too familiar counterfeits like shame, fear, guilt, duty, and control. In this sermon series, we look to the life of Jesus, who turns a gentle and compassionate face toward people caught up in these animations, creating space for us to listen for the voice of love that beckons even in our deepest wounds and darkness. For love is strong enough to embrace and integrate all these animations, making us whole.

Loving Control

At Pearl Church, we seek to express a sacred story and extend a common table that animate—move, motivate, inspire—our lives by Divine Love. Very often we find ourselves animated not by love, but by all-too familiar counterfeits like shame, fear, guilt, duty, and control. In this sermon series, we look to the life of Jesus, who turns a gentle and compassionate face toward people caught up in these animations, creating space for us to listen for the voice of love that beckons even in our deepest wounds and darkness. For love is strong enough to embrace and integrate all these animations, making us whole.

Loving Duty

At Pearl Church, we seek to express a sacred story and extend a common table that animate—move, motivate, inspire—our lives by Divine Love. Very often we find ourselves animated not by love, but by all-too familiar counterfeits like shame, fear, guilt, duty, and control. In this sermon series, we look to the life of Jesus, who turns a gentle and compassionate face toward people caught up in these animations, creating space for us to listen for the voice of love that beckons even in our deepest wounds and darkness. For love is strong enough to embrace and integrate all these animations, making us whole.