Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor Sunday Sermons

On Easter, Christians insist that Death has been overcome because, if the Creator can get through to us that we don’t need to be afraid, then maybe we’ll be less […]

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into the heart of Jerusalem—not as a conquering hero, but as a champion of the poor and the oppressed. He signals his commitment to a […]

Jesus understood the incredible power differential between Rome and the his people; he knew the Jewish people would need to be creative in how they fought back against their oppressors. We […]

Jesus lived his whole life under Roman occupation, and the particular region where he grew up—in the Galilee, in the north—bore deep scars from the Roman presence. We talk about the […]

Today, we explore the Pharisees. We look to transform widespread contempt for this ancient group through greater understanding and affirmation. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch […]

We talk about the Maccabean Revolt and the context for some strands of Judaism that existed in Jesus’s day. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can watch recordings […]

We take a broad-stroke look at the history of the Jewish people (understanding broad strokes mask nuance and complexity); the creation of the Torah; and the early formation of Jewish identity as […]

NOTE: sound quality for this episode is poor due to failure of our sound system. The recorded audio has been processed to try to improve intelligibility, but some sections are […]

God is still experiencing new things in relationship to you and me and all creation. There is more to God than we yet know or can put to words. The […]

Metaphors help us to see reality in new ways, but for some, the metaphor for God as a Big Powerful Person doesn’t work very well. Today, we explore the metaphor […]

We look at the metaphor of God as consuming fire, learning that God’s fiery nature exists because God is in the business of transforming the unjust systems of the world. Learn […]

God being my heart’s rock suggests there’s a place inside of each of us where we can turn for help in times of trouble. A place where we can be fed, and […]

Using the story of Jacob in Genesis 28, we talk about God as Ha-Makom, The Place. We recognize God can meet us wherever we are, no matter what’s going on […]

On this Epiphany Sunday, we hone in on Jesus’s dad, Joseph, and wonder about his role in being an ally to Mary both in her pregnancy and in facing the threat […]

Caroline reframes the legacy of St. Nicholas of Myra in light of Jesus’s teaching, that we are all children of God (who is both yours and mine). It’s not about […]

The prophet Isaiah promised God would “prepare the way” and send comfort to a suffering people. A few hundred years later John the Baptist came to enact that promise—bringing the […]

We can embrace the darkness in Advent, face it, name it, and turn our attention to the the coming Light. But, as we learn from the stories of oppressed people, […]

Guest speaker Gayle Boss, author of All Creation Waits, shares about her own discovery of Advent and how its practices are deeply rooted in the biological rhythms of creation. Includes an […]

We start Advent with the story of Zechariah in the temple. Sometimes our words, like Zechariah’s, manifest our own limits of what we can imagine, while silence makes more room for the […]

From the Sea of Reeds to the bitter springs of Marah to the oasis at Elim, Exodus 15 tells a story of finding spiritual refreshment and hope. Learn more about […]

Today, as we continue our vision series, we focus on cultivating open hearts and generous giving as the birth of the compassionate self and as resistance to harm. Learn more […]

Using a brief tour of church history as a framework, we talk about how “Solus Jesus” fits into how we view the Bible—taking it as a “means of grace” or […]

We talk about the church holiday of Allhollowtide and remember together those who have died and been gathered to their ancestors. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can […]

Dr. Sarah Emmanuel, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament, continues her talk on understanding Jesus, the movement that built up around him, and the texts we call the New […]

Using Jesus’ picture of needing new wineskins for new wine, we talk about the changes taking place in the wider church and the task we feel we’ve been given as […]

Dr. Sarah Emmanuel, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament, lays a foundation for understanding Jesus, the movement that built up around him, and the texts we call the New […]

The Apostle Peter calls us living stones, cut and shaped by the hands of nature and nurture and the transformative work of the Spirit. We’re constantly being formed and arranged […]

Ken’s final sermon as a pastor explores how the parable of the mustard seed expresses the kind of church we are. Extended version: includes Emily’s introduction and ends with a […]

The traditional reading of this parable doesn’t hold up if examined closely. We examine this story through a different lens to see what it has to say to us about the […]

Special Guest Speaker Liz Dyer is the founder of the Mama Bears, a group that started as a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ+ kids and has evolved into […]

Using the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, Jesus talks about how the laborers in the story are more worried about being paid fairly than in whether or not the […]

In this final series before retiring, Ken reflects on the role Blue Ocean played in nurturing his faith and preserving his hope that faith communities can play an important role in enhancing our […]

Jesus tells the story of the great banquet to communicate that the kin-dom of God is for everyone. You can be offended and leave if you want, but this kin-dom is for […]

The word translated “save” in the gospels means “safety from harm”—and it’s what I’ve experienced as pastor of Blue Ocean, especially, freedom from the pressure of religious scrutiny that afflicts […]

We take a look an an alternate interpretation of a familiar story, using the lens of liberation theology. Summary: Build just systems, and don’t give money to unjust systems. Learn […]

In the Christian tradition we have the writings of a 16th c. mystic, St. Ignatius, who talked about contemplation as a way of praying either through our thoughts or through […]

Ken reflects on things he loves about our community—this week, focusing on learning to notice, loosen his grip on, and when it’s helpful to spend some of it. A rambling […]

In the midst of the chaos of violence that can feel as overwhelming as a global flood, we are held in an Ark of Nests during the worst of storms […]

Exploring ancient wisdom of identity (divine and human) as a dynamic discovery: I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE and the white stone with a hidden name on it. Learn more […]

Guest speaker Susan Shaffer shares some of her experiences with the creative process of song-writing. Contemplating on Psalm 61, unifying communal experiences, and near-death experiences; how are all of these […]

At his baptism, the Spirit alighted on Jesus in the form of a bird. Because creation conveys divine presence, especially if we are attentive to the sense of expansiveness, nearness, […]

We talk about how all of nature is infused with the Spirit of God, and look at the bird-God of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at […]

Our guest preacher, Sarah Bessey, uses the story of the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24 to help us name unmet expectations and dashed hopes, making space for the […]

On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember the Spirit of God as uncontainable force that came in the form of a mighty wind and tongues of fire to show us […]

  Just like romantic love, friendships can end in loss or even betrayal. But, Jesus offers us a powerful example of friendship-love as he calls us to love one another […]

  Looking at John 21, John wraps up his gospel with this story because he sees the lesson that Peter learned as foundational for understanding the role of people who […]