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Claremont United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Strickland

Browse published sermons from Rev. Dr. Jennifer Strickland in Claremont United Church of Christ.

Jan 12, 2020 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

New Year's Resolutions: Lose the Weight (of Self-Criticism)

Pastor Jen explores the story of Jesus' baptism and asks us to consider what it would mean to listen to God's voice telling each of us that we are beloved and well-pleasing just the way we are.

Dec 29, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

New Year's Resolutions: Live Life to the Fullest

Pastor Jen prepares us for the new year by examining one of the most common new year’s resolutions: “to live life to the fullest.” Join her for a reflection on time synesthesia, acknowledging the various seasons of life, and learning to be present e

Dec 22, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Real Housewives: Isn't That Amazing

Scripture says the people were amazed when Zechariah announced his son’s name…even though Elizabeth had already announced it. Pastor Jen asks us to consider why society had trouble (and still has trouble) hearing the voice of women, and how we might u

Dec 8, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Real Housewives: The God-Bearer

Teenage Mary was living a quiet, typical life when a visit from the angel Gabriel changed everything. In that moment, she made the choice to say yes to a wildly unknown future and become a God-bearer. What about you? Will you have the courage to say yes t

Nov 24, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Noteable Faith: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

The story of the 10 healed lepers asks us to consider the transformative aspects of gratitude. Join Pastor Jen as she pairs it with the famous hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and the concept of headwind/tailwind asymmetry. How might we practi

Nov 10, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Noteable Faith: All Creatures of Our God and King

What would it look like to live out the vision of the hymn "All Creatures of Our God and King," in which we are one with all creation? How might a story about St. Francis taming a violent wolf teach us to respect animals…and one another? Join Pastor Jen

Sep 8, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Biblical Couture: The Bespoke Blessing Collection

What pairs perfectly with the first sin? God’s first act of mercy, of course! Join Pastor Jen as she reads the infamous story of Adam and Eve’s exit from Eden and invites us to examine an often overlooked detail: the moment when God becomes a seamstre

Aug 25, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Stories of Migration and Home: Keeping a Family Together

Usually the Pharaohs of Egypt are portrayed as oppressive enslavers of the Israelites. But in the story of Joseph, this Pharaoh is pro-immigration and full of hospitality for Joseph’s estranged brothers. Join Pastor Jen as she explores what we can learn

Aug 11, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Stories of Migration and Home: Vaya Con Dios (Go With God)

Many of us today don't think of ourselves as migrants because we have the means and privilege of putting down roots and calling it home. But did you know that we are, all a species, migratory beings? What does it mean that our God ordains and blesses migr

Jul 28, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

One-Hit Wonders: Everlasting Love (Micah)

Micah is best known for his question, “What does the Lord require of you?” But he also paints a wonderful vision of the future in which we will trade our warrior mentalities for gardener mentalities! Join Pastor Jen for our last One-Hit Wonder as she

Jul 14, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

One Hit Wonders: Video Killed the Radio Star (Joel)

What does the song “Video Killed the Radio Star” have to do with Joel’s prophecy about a locust swarm? As we continue our "One Hit Wonders" sermon series, join Pastor Jen for a surprising look at these two seemingly disparate works and find out what

Jun 30, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Jesus Said What?!: Grown Ups Keep Out—Heaven is Only for Kids!

Unfortunately, only the last seven minutes of this sermon were recorded, but it's a powerful 7 minutes! Pastor Jen looks at Jesus' declaration that we have to become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and tries to understand what that means for

Jun 16, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Jesus Said What?!: Friend or Foe?

One moment Jesus blesses Simon and renames him Peter; the next minute, he calls him Satan! WHAT?! Join Pastor Jen as she selves into yet another one of Jesus’ shocking sayings.

Jun 2, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Jesus Said WHAT?!: Til Death Do Us Part

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a group of Sadducees that there will be no marriage in heaven. WHAT!? Before you tell your spouse or fiancee to take a hike, join Pastor Jen as she explains the context of this conversation and asks us to consider what it means

May 19, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Faithful & Fearless: At Our Very Best

We celebrate the completion of our annual Stewardship campaign with a look into Daniel’s famous episode in the lion’s den. Did you know Daniel was said to be 90 years old when this part of his story takes place? And do you know why he was thrown in th

Apr 28, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Faithful & Fearless: Parable of the Talents

Have you heard the Parable of the Talents? In it, Jesus tells the story of three servants who were entrusted with a huge sum of money in their master's absence. What they chose to do with that money determined their fate upon the master's return. How does

Apr 14, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

The Sound of Silence: He Said Nothing

The noise and chaos of Palm Sunday soon takes a precipitous decline a week later when Jesus finds himself before Pontius Pilate and his accusers. Pastor Jen contrasts the noise and silence of Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday and asks why Jesus stood silent

Mar 31, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

The Sound of Silence: Stubbornness

This story from Mark 3 has a lot of interesting elements, but in this sermon, Pastor Jen zeroes in on the silence of the Pharisees after Jesus questions them. What happens in that moment when our silence starts to solidify as stubbornness?

Mar 17, 2019 3:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

The Sound of Silence: A Divine Dialogue

In this famous passage, Elijah is running for his life and hiding in a cave when he hears a "still, small voice." But what did God actually say in the silence of that moment? Have you ever thought about the conversation between Elijah and God? Join Pastor

Mar 6, 2019 11:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

The Sound of Silence: Selah (Ash Wednesday)

We begin our journey to Easter Sunday with this year's Ash Wednesday service, a night to remember and reflect on our own mortality. Join us this Lent as we enter into the silence of Scripture. Tonight, hear the words of the Psalmist: Selah. Pause...breath

Mar 3, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Stories Untold: Deborah + Jael

Moral of the story: never underestimate a woman. Deborah and Jael seem like such different characters, but in the same story (gruesome though it is) God calls them both. In the last sermon of our Women of the Bible series, join Pastor Jen as she explores

Feb 10, 2019 2:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Stories Untold: Hagar

This week we look at a troubling story of a woman whose life was marked by oppression and abuse: Hagar. Instead of hearing her story as people from a completely different context and culture, Pastor Jen invites us to consider how Hagar’s life and hardsh