Sermons from First United Presbyterian Church

Watch the Sermon here The First United Presbyterian Church “Beatitudes: Poor in Spirit and Mourning” Rev. Amy Morgan January 25, 2026 Matthew 5:1-4 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” On Tuesday, a panel of all 17 active judges in the 5 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments regarding laws passed in Texas and Louisiana requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school classroom. The case is almost certainly going to end up in the Supreme Court this year in the latest battle over the separation of church and state.   Now, it is not my place to weigh in from this pulpit on the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. However, it has always puzzled me that Christians in our nation have insisted that the ten commandmen...

Watch the Sermon here The First United Presbyterian Church “Pointing Fingers” Rev. Amy Morgan January 18, 2026 John 1:29-42 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they...

Watch the Sermon here   The First United Presbyterian Church “Baptism in Mud” Rev. Amy Morgan January 11, 2026 Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”   When we talk about baptism, it’s usually at this lovely font. A pretty bowl of clear, clean water.   When we, in 21 st century America, contemplate the symbolism of water, thanks to modern plumbing and water treatment, we can imagine how water nourishes life and cleanses us from conta...

Watch the Sermon here The First United Presbyterian Church “Epiphany: The Road That We Live On” Rev. Amy Morgan January 4, 2026 Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler     who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehe...