Preacher: Elizabeth Garnsey
Date Preached: April 23, 2023
Scripture: Psalm 104, Luke 24:13-35
Synopsis: Earth's suffering due to human impact highlights our neglect, possibly due to a loss of awe; rekindling awe as a spiritual practice can mend our broken connection with God through nature, drawing on the wisdom of both to understand resourcefulness, forgiveness, and healing, ultimately mending the Earth's predicament.

Preacher: D. Mark Davis
Date Preached: April 22/23, 2023
Scripture: Psalm 104; Psalm 8
Synopsis: In the fast-paced "twitterverse," we often prioritize instant gratification and self-interest, yet the Psalms 104 and 8 advocate for a contrasting way of existence through the mindful acts of "Beholding" and "Harkening," allowing us to fully engage with the present, appreciate marvels, and break from the constraints of time.

Preacher: Kristopher Hewitt
Date Preached: June 11, 2023
Scripture: Psalm 33: 1-12
Synopsis: Psalm 33 reveals the Earth's abundance of God's love, yet the reality of wildfires reminds us of our responsibility to love and care for creation, introducing the concept of "kinship" and "the Honorable Harvest" by Robin Wall Kimmerer as a means to embody our faith.

Preacher: Anna Blinn Cole
Date Preached: April 16, 2023
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31; Psalm 8; John 20:19-31
Synopsis: ​Linking Easter and spring symbolism, the sermon introduces doubt and self-examination about our responsibility as stewards of creation, initiating a sermon series on climate change stewardship by emphasizing the need to view it as a spiritual challenge rather than just a scientific issue.

Preacher: Paul Mitchell
Date Preached: June 18, 2023
Scripture: Psalm 130, Romans 8:19-23
Synopsis: Starting from a place of suffering, genuine hope emerges as a necessity rather than a mere wish, rooted in the call to become sentinels of love and justice, symbolized by planting seeds of change that may not be harvested in our time.

Preacher: Leigh Rachal
Date Preached: July 30, 2023
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2; 2:4a-9; 18-23 (The 2nd Creation story) • Psalm 139:1-18 (“fearfully and wonderfully made” “knitted together in mother’s womb”) • Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm)
Synopsis: The sermon began with engaging the congregation, especially the children, in focusing on humanity's responsibility to care for creation, using the example of naming animals, followed by a group activity involving a song, reflection on caregiving, and emphasizing the role of humans as sacred caretakers of the world despite challenges and fears.

Preacher: Tamara Franks
Congregation: High Country UCC
Scripture: Psalm 139
Synopsis: 
Noticing the divine in the moments of our days undergirds our resiliency. Altars are everywhere; especially, in dens underground full of snakes keeping one another alive on a cold, dark winter night. The gift of community nourishes our souls in the midst of chaos, challenges and turmoil giving us life to emerge when the sun returns.

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