Preaching: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fearing

Walls crumbling. Shackles breaking. Prisoners singing at midnight. This powerful exploration of Acts 16:16-34 reveals how the early Christian movement turned the world upside down – and challenges us to continue that revolutionary work today.

The sermon begins by celebrating our congregation's remarkable unity in establishing an emergency summer shelter for women experiencing homelessness. Through countless volunteer hours, donations, and preparations, we've transformed our commitment to neighborliness from mere words into tangible good news. This mission embodies the gospel in its purest form.

Against this backdrop of community service, we dive into Scripture's account of Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi. Despite their chains, they had the audacity to sing praises to God at midnight – so fervently that an earthquake shook open their prison doors. The jailer, terrified and expecting punishment, nearly took his own life before receiving salvation instead. In a stunning reversal, this former oppressor washed the wounds of his prisoners and was baptized with his entire household.

Yet amid this celebration of liberation, a troubling omission emerges: what happened to the unnamed slave girl whose exploitation sparked these events? After Paul freed her from the spirit that made her profitable to her owners, she disappears entirely from the narrative. Her absence challenges us to ask: Who remains invisible in our celebrations? Whose liberation remains incomplete?

True discipleship requires noticing who's missing from our table. We are fed so we can feed others, freed so we can participate in others' liberation. As we break bread together, let's commit to seeking those still in chains – for where they are, there too we will find Christ.

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Preaching: Dylan Lewellyn

Standing at the crossroads of faith and action, this sermon challenges us to examine our unconscious biases against people experiencing homelessness. As Guilford Park prepares to welcome homeless guests, we confront that instinctive reaction—"Pastor, you've lost your mind"—which reveals how deeply society's prejudices have influenced even the most compassionate hearts.

What does someone's housing status have to do with their character? This powerful question cuts through our conditioned thinking. Through a moving story about a Mason who gave money to a homeless man without judgment, we learn a profound lesson: "I will not be judged whether he buys food or liquor. I will be judged because I gave when I was able to." This perspective liberates us from the need to control outcomes and invites us to embrace the simple act of giving when we can.

The sermon weaves together Psalm 109 and Jesus's healing at the Pool of Bethesda to illustrate God's special concern for those who suffer. The psalmist, experiencing scorn and abandonment, finds hope in God who "stands at the right hand of the needy." Similarly, Jesus approaches a man who had been ill for 38 years—not waiting to be sought out, but actively seeking to help. When Jesus tells the man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, he prioritizes human dignity over religious rules, challenging us to reconsider what truly matters in our faith.

Though we cannot perform miracles, we can offer kindness, resources, and presence to those in need. Every smile, every meal shared, every moment of dignity restored creates ripples of healing in our broken world. As our church opens its doors to shelter those without homes, will you join us in extending not just helping hands, but open hearts? Together, we can embody Christ's compassion in tangible ways that transform both our community and ourselves.

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Preaching: Tony De La Rosa

Dreams and visions have the remarkable power to transform not just individuals, but entire communities of faith. When Peter dreamed of a sheet filled with "unclean" animals and heard God declare "what I have made clean, you must not call profane," it revolutionized early Christianity. This pivotal moment expanded the faith beyond its Jewish origins to embrace Gentiles, fundamentally altering Christianity's trajectory and allowing it to become the global religion we know today.

Similarly, when John of Patmos experienced visions during Roman persecution, he glimpsed "a new heaven and a new earth" where God would "wipe away every tear" and make "all things new." These promises sustained early Christians through terrible suffering and ultimately proved prophetic as Christianity outlasted its oppressors. Though imperfectly realized, this vision continues pulling us toward God's promised future.

The Presbyterian tradition particularly embodies this visionary spirit through our commitment to mission. By balancing love of God with love of neighbor, we constantly reimagine how faith communities can meet unmet needs. Our congregation's summer sheltering program represents this commitment in action, addressing homelessness as fundamentally "a failure of community." When we open our doors to those without basic shelter, we restore the essential human need for belonging.

Sometimes divine inspiration comes through unexpected channels—even through innocent mix-ups like confusing a Star Wars-themed youth service with another congregation. But perhaps such "mistakes" contain deeper truths. After all, both our scriptures and our mission efforts offer what the beloved film saga proclaims: a new hope. By creating community for those who have lost theirs, wiping away tears, and working toward God's vision of renewal, we participate in making all things new. Will you join us in this mission to refresh thirsty souls?

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Website: www.guilfordpark.org