Sermon Archive

Sermons at Pearl seek to engage the ancient stories, poems, and letters in the Bible through imaginative oration that rouses our wholeness as human beings. The act of the sermon at Pearl is space to ponder the sacred, opportunity to consider the mystery and love of God, and provocation to slow down, to think deeply, and to be stirred and inspired to bountifully live.

June 14, 2020

Lamenting the Dead City

June 14, 2020/ Mike Roth

The Book of Lamentations provides a helpful framework for processing one of humankind’s strongest emotions—lament. Although Lamentations specifically addresses the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 587BCE, its use of words to describe lament and its progression of ideas that shape lament transcend Israel’s particular cataclysmic event.

Today we lament the effects of a world-wide pandemic. Today we lament the recent violence against people of color. Today we lament the light that this violence shines on our country’s injustice and inequality. Today our hearts are outraged, confused, afraid, and sad, to name just a few prevalent emotions.

This sermon series therefore invites us into the ancient and holy process that is lamenting cataclysmic events. More so, this sermon series will explore how lament can give shape to effectual change through the lives of people marked by brokenness, sorrow, suffering, and death.

Pearl Church

Pearl Church is an open, inclusive, progressive church in Portland's Pearl District. We worship together on Sundays with programs for kids, youth, and adults.