Celebrating the Baptism of the Lord, Pastor Jay reminds us of the meaning of our baptismal vows—that we belong to God. 📖 Preaching from Luke 3 15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

For the Epiphany of the Lord, Pastor Jay preaches about the good news of Jesus' identity and our own in Him as our Christ. 📖 Preaching from Matthew 2 7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Ahead of a new year, Lead Pastor Jay Williams reminds us that we God's chosen ones, called to do amazing things through Christ. 📖 Preaching from Colossians 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Discipleship Pastor Kyle Walden preaches the Christmas Eve Service sermon. 📖 Preaching from Luke 2 8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them. 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Lead Pastor Jay Williams concludes our Advent sermon series by exploring again The Magnificat, Mary's song. In her praises to God, we too lift our voices in hope of a future grounded in love. 📖 Preaching from Luke 1 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; 50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Lead Pastor Jay Williams preaches for the Third Sunday of Advent on joy through the life and legacy of Nikki Giovanni. This joy that we have, no one can take away. 📖 Preaching from Luke 3 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Preacher-in-Residence Nikki Renée continues Union's Advent 2024 sermon series preaching on peace. We are invited to sing a song like Mary's as we anticipate the birth of the Savior. 📖 Preaching from Luke 1 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; 50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.

Lead Pastor Jay Williams begins Union's Advent 2024 sermon series, "Grounded," preaching on hope. We are people of hope because we know that God is with us. 📖 Preaching from Luke 21: 25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." 💜 About Union: The Union Combined Parish is a multisite United Methodist congregation in Boston committed to love and liberation—historically Black, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ empowering. Learn more about Union at https://unionboston.org. 🔗 Connect with us: We are a family of believers from all walks of life from all over the world. Let us get to know you, become a member of Union, or find community in person and online at https://unionboston.org/connect. 💪 To give to Union's mission of love, justice, and service, go to https://unionboston.org/give.