Rev. Jim Magaw

The Earth: Whole & Broken

The brokenness of the world is often all too easy to see. At times, it may seem that nothing in world is working as we hope it would. Still, in the midst of all this apparent brokenness, there is wholeness and beauty. How can our appreciation for the earth’s wholeness help us mend its brokenness?

Transgender Day of Visibility

This holiday was founded in 2009 to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for transgender people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.

A Tale of Two Freds

What are the lessons we can learn from the lives and legacies of Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) and Fred Phelps (of the Westboro Baptist Church)? One was an exemplar of humility and compassion; the other, an infamous purveyor of callous hatred and thoughtless self-aggrandizement. Why does religion seem to create the very best … Continued

No Justice for Antwon Rose

In the wake of Friday’s verdict, we’ll hold a special vespers service on Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m. to grieve the lack of justice for Antwon Rose and to recommit ourselves to working to end race-based violence. This service will be followed by a potluck supper at 6 p.m.

The Branch Will Not Break

This sermon will explore such questions as: How do we find what we are meant to do, both as individuals and as members of a religious community? And once we have found those things that are most important, how do we go about doing them with joy and courage and invite others to do the … Continued

Prophecy, Poetry, and Bob Dylan

Singer-songwriter and Nobel Poetry Prize-winner Bob Dylan has been one of the leading prophets of our era. His work is rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the parable-telling tradition of the New Testament. This service will explore the work of Dylan in the context of religious truth-telling.

Border Crossing

Every great journey involves crossing borders of some kind—whether geographical, cultural, or intellectual in nature. What is the significance of borders in our personal lives and in the lives of our communities and nations? How do equip ourselves to become border crossers, and how do we welcome others who cross borders?

Intent, Impact, and Polarization

There’s often a big difference between our good intentions and our actual impact on others’ lives—particularly if there is an imbalance between our levels of power, privilege, and influence. How can we work toward aligning our impact with our intentions, especially in our current era of polarization which makes it more difficult to bridge differences?

Faith and Love

Faith is sometimes described as “blind”–as accepting without question a set of propositions or beliefs. But from a liberal religious point of view, faith is more about a commitment to going forward with what we believe to be right while continuing to hold ambiguity, uncertainty and tension. This kind of faith might move us closer … Continued

Trust in an Era of Distrust

Over the past 30-40 years, Americans’ trust in institutions like the government and the church has steadily declined. At the same time, individuals’ trust in each other seems to have eroded as well. Why have we moved from trust to distrust, and what, if anything can be done about it?