January 2, 2000. "Creating the New World." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. On this, the first Sunday of the new century, let us come together and imagine what kind of world we want to create for ourselves and for our children.

January 9, 2000. "The Time of Our Lives." Rev. Thomas Disrud. Time certainly seems to fly by, and what is it that we accomplish? Think about all that happens in 100 years. Or 1000 years. What is the meaning of time, and how do we make the most of what we have?

January 23, 2000. "The Death of Intimacy." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. This is the first of two sermons on intimacy. Why is there so much alienation and loneliness in our post-modern society? How do we suffer from lack of intimacy?

January 30, 2000. "Creating Intimacy in Our Own Lives." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. How do we move toward more intimacy in our personal lives? How can we build a culture that is based on relationality, rather than competition?

February 6, 2000. "Falling, We Are Given Wings." Rev. Thomas Disrud. Grief is a common human experience - no one is immune. And it happens on all kinds of levels. We are changed in the experience. In falling, we discover flight.

February 13, 2000. "We CAN Change the World!" Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. This will be a trip in words and music, back to the '60's, when we believed we could change the world, and did! A passionate, inspiring service, to reflect the time we are celebrating.

February 27, 2000. "A Heart Big Enough." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. When we're young, we tend to see the world more in terms of extremes: black and white, with few shades of gray. As we mature, we begin to realize that reality is more complicated than we opted for. How do we stretch our hearts big enough to take in the contradictions, the ironies, of living - thereby developing compassion and wisdom?

March 19, 2000. "The Power of Secrets." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. Secrets have power only until they are shared. Then we find that they no longer can hurt. How can our lives have fewer secrets - and these secrets have less power?

March 26, 2000. "Fleeing Ecstasy." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. Ecstatic experience is irrational, unpredictable, intense. No wonder we run away. But what do we lose when we do?

April 9, 2000. "What's Just About the Justice System?" Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. A society must trust that fairness and impartiality will prevail in the justice system, else a destructive cynicism will grow and undermine the law and the institutions of the land. How does our justice system stack up?

April 16, 2000. "All That Matters Is That You Hear It." Rev. Thomas Disrud. How is it that we find our way? The signs are usually there - it is up to us to listen and pay attention. If we can do this, we will know where it is we need to go.

April 23, 2000. "Wrestling with the Angel." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. Sometimes in this world, we find ourselves in what feels like mortal combat, just as Jacob when he wrestled with the angel (Genesis 32:24-32). And like Jacob, we must not let go of our adversary until we have been blessed.

April 30, 2000. "Knowing My Neighbor." Rev. Thomas Disrud. Who are the people we consider our neighbors? How are we in relationship to them? What is our responsibility in creating a community that is livable?

May 7, 2000. "The Living Water." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. Water is the source of all life. This Sunday we will explore water as the symbol of hope, creativity and new life. This is our Flower Communion Sunday. Bring a flower to share, and take home another.

May 21, 2000. "Choosing Faith." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. "Just have faith," people say. But how can we have faith when we can see no end to suffering, no solution to a problem, no way out? Can we be intentional about faith? This is "Community Sunday," our Annual Meeting, when we make important decisions about the future of our church. I urge all of you to come and be a part of this informative and celebrative process.

May 28, 2000. "Love Is Where You Find It." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. I believe the universe is replete with love, and love calls us out of ourselves over and over again, in myriad forms. How can we let the scales fall from our eyes so that we might see what is so patently obvious to young children and to saints?

June 25, 2000. "Imagining a New World." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. This sermon, given by Marilyn at GeneralAssembly in Nashville, TN, concerns our role as promoters of Economic Justice in our society.

September 10, 2000. "Keeping the Sabbath." Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell. I will explore this concept of Sabbath, not just a day of rest, but as a way of life, a balance that will allow for creativity, for depth relationships, for real presence in the days we have been given on this earth.

September 17, 2000. "The Power of Anger in the Work of Love." Rev. Dr. Marylin Sewell. The question is not how to rid ourselves of anger, for it is an ever-present human emotion.  The question is how to use it well--whether to hurt others and destroy relationships or conversely, to fuel our passion for justice.  We will explore positive ways to use this often misunderstood and misused emotion.

September 24, 2000. "A Leap of Faith." Intern Minister Jennifer Schnayer. Each moment possesses a possibility of change from the slight to the profound.  How do we cultivate a faith to guide and comfort us along the way?

October 22, 2000. "For All We Are." Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs, Guest Minister. The church is not a fee-for-service opportunity. None of us, no matter how ealthy, could possibly pay what it's worth.  Where faith is the key generosity becomes the culture.

November 5, 2000. "Is Everything for Sale?" Rev. Dr. Marylin Sewell. Is everything to be judged as a product?  It seems to me that so much is being commodified these days--even our children.  Let's explore this social trend and see where it is leading.

November 19, 2000. "We Are Saying Thank You." Rev. Thomas Disrud. No matter what life brings, we are called to be open and live in gratitude, and see all the dimensions of what we have been given.  This has been called the most elemental form of prayer.

December 3, 2000. "Sin without Hell." Intern Minister Jennifer Schnayer.  As religious liberals, does sin have a place in our religious understanding?  How can such an understanding shape our prophetic voice in the world?

December 17, 2000. "The Silence of God." Rev. Dr. Marylin Sewell. How can we have a relationship with the Holy, when so often the voice of the Divine is silent?

December 31, 2000. "Turning and Re-turning."  Intern Minister Jennifer Schnayer.  As we come to the turning of the year, let us take time to remember the paths we have trod.  What part of our own lives, or which of our relationships can we reconcile and renew in the coming year?