Listen to an individual sermon—Click on the “Listen to this sermon” link to play the mp3 file of that sermon. To save the file to your computer and listen later, right-click (Windows) or option-click (Mac) on the “Listen to this sermon” link for that sermon.
Subscribe to podcasts of LCH sermon audio—Click on one on the icons below to have LCH Sermons delivered directly to your computer each week.
iTunes Podcast Directory—Use this icon to subscribe via the iTunes Store (and raise our popularity index on iTunes).
Podcast RSS—Use this icon to subscribe via your default RSS application.
For recorded sermons since Easter 2007 and earlier sermon texts, visit our Sermon Archive.
Day of Pentecost—May 23, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | Acts 2:1–21 | John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15
Summary: In our first lesson, Ezekiel prophesies to the breath/wind/spirit and the dry bones live. In contrast to the upward focus of last week’s story of the Ascension, this week God’s presence bursts out into the world while remaining as close as each breath of life. We find the God of Pentecost in the footsteps left behind, in the consequence, closer than that breath that gives life.
Ascension of Our Lord (transferred)—May 16, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 1:1–11 | Psalm 93 | Ephesians 1:15–23 | Luke 24:44–53
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to go back to Galilee following the Ascension. Having undergone terrible loss, rejoiced at the resurrection, and now seeing Jesus disappear into heaven, they wonder what is next. When we experience loss in our lives, we often don’t know where we are or even who we are. We know something will happen but not exactly what, and we wait with expectation. For the disciples, the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, and they are clothed with power to be sent out. With the whole church, we wait in the Spirit to be sent out with good news of peace, compassion, generosity, and love.
Sixth Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day—May 9, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Acts 10:44–48 | Psalm 98 | 1 John 5:1–6 | John 15:9–17
Summary: One of my philosophy professors asked how we know our mothers love us. We could never “prove” it, but we know they did. Our second lesson and the Gospel, both of which talk about love, come out of a tradition wrestling with questions of the nature of Christ, love, and faith. We wrestle with these same question as we answer the call to walk with love unknown.
Fifth Sunday of Easter—May 2, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 8:26–40 | Psalm 22:25–31 | 1 John 4:7–21 | John 15:1–8
Summary: Today’s Gospel of the vine and branches can be difficult for modern folk who do not understand the agrarian life. The key to successful viticulture is that vines must be pruned each year to prevent disease and ensure a good harvest. Too often the church has read this Gospel lesson as as if the church were the vine, but Christ is the vine and we (the church) are the branches. A more modern metaphor might talk about the electric grid; God is the source of energy to our spiritual lives, and we are transmission lines. When God’s love flows through us, we know what it means to be disciples. There will be pruning in the church, and we may need to pruned away things that we have held dear to make room for new leaves and to continue to be conduits of God’s love.
Fourth Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday / Earth Day Sunday—April 25, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Acts 4:5–12 | Psalm 23 | 1 John 3:16–24 | John 10:11–18
Summary: Today we are in the LCH Community Garden. Yesterday the children and I learned about different seeds and plants, the importance of diversity, and our responsibility to care of the life that nurtures us. In Hawaiian culture kalo is looked on as humans’ elder sibling. As Christians, we recognize bread and wine, fruits of the earth, as the body and blood of Christ. These plants show us the life-giving role of diversity in our world. They come from all over the world make the garden strong. In our human world, diversity is a strength, not a threat. Learning to live respectfully with our difference is the lesson of the incarnational Word written in creation.
Third Sunday of Easter—April 18, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 3:12–19 | Psalm 4 | 1 John 3:1–7 | Luke 24:36b–48
Summary: In our Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples not as spirit but in the flesh, and they find themselves between joy and disbelief. Many of us also live in this space between joy and disbelief. Rather than being an enemy, doubt can open the door to faith. In the Gospel, Jesus opens the disciples’ minds to the scripture. Jesus wishes us peace and calls us to love each other and the stranger. What does that mean when many voices tell us that not all lives matter and call us to live only for ourselves? Faith is not what we believe in but who we believe.
Second Sunday of Easter —April 11, 2021
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan, professor of homiletics, PLTS
Lessons: Acts 4:32–35 | Psalm 133 | 1 John 1:1–2:2 | John 20:19–31
Summary: The Easter story is one full of chaos, grief, and conflicting emotions, so we understand why the disciples huddle behind closed doors in today’s Gospel. Having lived the last year of pandemic, we can understand and have compassion for the different reactions to Jesus’ appearance. Jesus recognizes that people need different things in order to let go of control and to belief. As wounded healer, Jesus offers a green light for us to recognize our own wounds. Let’s recognize the complexity of others, see those who are not seen, know that we belong to God, and know that God lives for us.
Easter Sunday—April 4, 2021
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 | Mark 16:1–8
Summary: We began our worship this morning with the amazing proclamation “Christ is risen!” but our celebration really began last night in darkness and uncertainty before the kindling of the new fire in our Easter Vigil. It can be soothing to sit in the early-morning darkness and watch as the rising sun brings clarity to the world around us. After the last year of darkness and uncertainty, we emerge into a world transformed by Christ’s resurrection. In our journey through Lent and Holy Week, we are transformed to live in the resurrection of justice, peace, and a life of love for our neighbors.
Easter Vigil—April 3, 2021
Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Genesis 1:1—2:4 | Exodus 14:10–31; 15:20–21 | Ezekiel 37:1–14 | Daniel 3:1–29; | Romans 6:3–11 | John 20:1–18
Summary: In the Easter Vigil we wait between dark and light. We wait with the women who kept vigil following the crucifixion, and we participate in their witness. The promise is this: you will not be consumed; torn in two by darkness and light, the beloved one is rising.