Old Testament Reading: Psalm 139:1–3, 13–16 (NRSVUE) O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways... For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from yo

As a Member in Discernment (MID) in the United Church of Christ, the last three years have been marked by a profound transition in my life. It is easy to view the ordination process as a series of requirements: courses completed, papers written, committees met. But underneath the tangible tasks of preparation, I recognize that a deeper, quiet work of the Spirit has been at play. I have come to understand that readiness for spiritual leadership cannot be measured by academic m

Delivered at First Church Phoenix UCC, June 28, 2026 Open & Affirming / Pride Sunday Sermon starts at 27:45 Introduction: The Desert and the Wall Good morning, beloved family of First Church Phoenix. It’s a blessing to be back with you again, especially during the national celebration of Gay Pride Month and the UCC’s celebration of Open & Affirming Sunday today! I’m so grateful for your ongoing witness for justice and inclusion in this church and out in the world! Your witnes

This month marks a significant milestone on my path to ministry: the completion of my second year in Project Proclaim, a bold preaching initiative of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (SNEUCC), funded by the Lilly Endowment and hosted in partnership with PATHWAYS Theological Education. Looking back, this two-year commitment has been nothing short of transformative. Aside from the incredibly generous opportunities I’ve received to step into the

Every June, like clockwork, the arrival of Pride Month brings a predictable surge of Christian anti-gay vitriol. For anyone watching from the outside, it is a baffling spectacle - particularly when you witness largely uneducated zealots aggressively attacking highly educated, ordained clergy with isolated Bible verses. These protestors weaponize scripture with an absolute certainty that they possess the unyielding, authoritative word of God, completely blind to the fact that

Every June, downtown Dallas transforms. If you walk past Main Street Garden Park or down the central streets during Dallas Pride, you are swept up in a sea of joy. As the local headlines aptly put it, the festival literally "paints downtown in color." It is a beautiful testament to resilience, visibility, and community. But as anyone who has attended Dallas Pride knows, the rainbow-colored celebration isn’t the only thing waiting for you. Just outside the festival gates, the

To my Beloved Queer Community, I am writing this because, after fifty-seven years on this earth, I am still struck by the sheer, stubborn beauty of our existence. We live in a world that often demands we justify our presence. There is perhaps no other community whose basic dignity - the simple right to breathe, to take up space, and to love openly - is questioned as relentlessly as ours. For most of us, this has not been a seasonal challenge; it has been the background noise

Worship leadership and sermon at First Church Phoenix UCC on April 26, 2026. Scripture Base: Jeremiah 31:31-34 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Sermon starts at 35:45 Introduction: The Invisible Thread Friends, seekers, and members of this beautiful First Church family - today we are talking about the very thing that holds the walls of this sanctuary up. I don’t mean the literal stone, the desert-baked wood, or the mortar that Omah, Max and the team here so faithfully maintain. I a

The United Church of Christ's (UCC) Committees on Ministry (COMs) currently lack specific guidance on addressing individuals in ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationships in authorization and adjudication. Grounded in the UCC's core principles of covenant, extravagant welcome, and justice, these guidelines assert that the ethical practice of relationships, rather than their structure, is paramount. By applying existing frameworks like the Manual on Ministry , the Marks of F

Date: March 8, 2026 (Fourth Sunday in Lent) Location: First Church Phoenix UCC Scripture: Matthew 19:13 - 15; Proverbs 31:8 Sermon starts at 42:45 I. The Coffee Shop Covenant: An Instinctive Love As we gather on this Fourth Sunday in Lent, we find ourselves at a crossroads of the heart. Our Lenten journey can often feel like an internal, somber trek toward the crucifixion. But this Fourth Sunday is traditionally called Laetare Sunday - coming from the Latin word for "rejoi

This service, "Living Legacies," from October 19, 2025, at First Church UCC in downtown Phoenix, explores remembering ancestors and fanning the flame of God's gift within us. Led by Christopher Schouten, Member in Discernment, the service includes sacred stories, songs of praise and worship, and a prayer of transformation. Dr. Johnathan Robinson shares an ancestor story, and Christopher Schouten delivers a message on "Living Legacies," emphasizing forgiveness, nurturing heali

Worship Leadership & Sermon @ Scottsdale Congregational UCC, 8/24/25 Introduction: Naming the Moment Friends in Christ, I know you may...

Reflection Paper - TH10610: Living the Heart of Progressive Christian Theology Christopher Schouten August 2, 2025 In his examination of...

As I stand on the threshold of a life in ministry, my heart is full of hope, a deep love for Christ's teachings of compassion, and, I...

A children's messaged delivered to First Church Phoenix UCC on 5/18/2025 based on the Book of Nehemiah. Good morning, wonderful kids!...

We are part of a tradition that proudly proclaims, "God is still speaking." In these times of deep societal division, I believe one of...

When I read this year's Palm Sunday account from the Gospel of Luke, I was left wanting more. I ask myself what details were included in...

I didn’t grow up thinking much about angels. At least not seriously. In the churches I knew as a child, angels were either characters in...

Here is a complete list of the resources used in this class and my responses to the weekly discussion questions. This shows my engagement...

MP10606 : The Art of Worship – Final Outcome Project April 11, 2025 Table of Contents Introduction Initiation of Worship The Structure...