As Easter people, we are called to dance our dances of joy and freedom for all the world to see–even and perhaps especially in times of great difficulty. Dances of hope. Dances of justice. Dances of love. Join us for worship during the Easter season, as post-resurrection stories point to the joy of living in the beloved community and extending that fellowship through our witness as we dare to dance again!
May 16, 2021
Dance with Open Hands
Luke 24:36-53
Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
As Jesus prepares to leave the disciples, he opens their minds and blesses them. The result after he ascends is their return to Jerusalem with great joy and a desire to worship and bless God in the temple. What happens when the “eyes of our hearts are enlightened” like the disciples experienced? How will we respond as we wait for the dancing Spirit?
May 9, 2021
Dance in Our Diversity
John 15:9-17
Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
Why on earth would Jesus choose such a diverse group of personalities to be his disciples? This week we discover that a good team is not about being of the same mind and doing the same things. It’s not about agreeing on everything or having like personalities. It’s about loving one another.
May 2, 2021
Dare to Dance Together in Community
Acts 2:42-47
Reflections from St. John’s Youth graduating seniors
On Youth Sunday our students led worship at both services. We recognized our graduating seniors as we continued our “Dare to Dance Again” worship series.
April 25, 2021
Dare to Dance the Dance of Love
John 10:11-18
1 John 3:16-18, 23-24
Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
How do we know the rhythm and dance of our lives is faithful? Drummer of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart, wrote: “To fall in love is to fall in rhythm.” It is love for each other by which we know we are followers of Jesus, the ever-attentive shepherd. In the face of societal rules and attitudes that strive to foster “everyone for themselves,” they will know we are Christians by our love. How can we listen to the music that draws us together, “falling in rhythm” with neighbor in order to build up the whole?
April 18, 2021
Dare to Dance … Even When You’re Unsure of the Steps
Luke 24:36b-48
1 John 3:1-3
Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, lead pastor
We name that sometimes we’re unsure about our steps in this world. For the disciples, even “while in their joy” at seeing Jesus post-resurrection, they were still “disbelieving and wondering.” 1 John reminds us that even though we may not know our next steps, we can be sure in them because we are “beloved” children of God and we will be like the one in whose steps we can surely follow — the resurrected Jesus.
April 11, 2021
Dancing Together
John 19: 20-31
Rev. Deirdré Halliburton, associate pastor
Dancing requires that we pay attention to our dance partners. It requires finding a rhythm together. The first Sunday after Easter brings the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples and breathing the Holy Spirit on them, pointing to the power of being together, of finding fellowship in the presence of Jesus and the presence of the community. What does it take to dance together?
Dare to Dance Again Children’s Moments
Our Children’s messages each week have been shared by St. John’s family members via video, and we’ve collected those in a Vimeo playlist if you’d like to watch them all together: