May 10, 2026: We Are Family
John 14: 15-21

Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, preaching

This Sunday, as we gather to celebrate Mother ’s Day, we do so with a spacious and inclusive understanding of what it means to "mother." In our community, we recognize that mothering is not defined solely by biology, but by the fierce, nurturing, and persistent love that sustains us. We honor the biological mothers, the adoptive parents, the chosen family, the mentors, and those who "mother" through art, activism, and friendship. We also hold tender space for those for whom this day brings grief, longing, or complex memories.

Our scripture for the morning, John 14:15 -21, offers a beautiful theological anchor for this expansive view of family. As Jesus prepares to leave his disciples, he offers a profound promise: "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." In the ancient world, to be orphaned was to lose one's place in the social fabric — to be without a protector or a home. But Jesus redefines kinship. By promising the Advocate (the Holy Spirit), Jesus assures us that we are never solitary. We are woven into a divine family where the Spirit acts as the ultimate nurturer, dwelling within us and connecting us to one another across all boundaries.

In the sermon "We Are Family," we will explore how we are called to be that Spirit-led family for one another. Just as the Spirit nurtures us, we are invited to "mother" the world - tending to the vulnerable, advocating for the marginalized, and ensuring that, in this house, no one ever feels orphaned.

Join us as we celebrate the love that makes us kin.

 Music this week:

• We Come from the Spirit

• Lord, I Give You My Heart

• Heart of Worship

• Eagle’s Wings

• Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother?

• Come Share the Lord