In this week's podcast, we explore the last sermon in the summer series of "Holy Disruptors: How Christian Saints, Prophets, and Mystics led in times of Difficulty" created by the Rev. Siri Strommen, a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota.

On Sunday, August 31, 2025, the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Rev. Mark Burnham, Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, CA, preached a sermon entitled, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021): Reconciliation and Forgiveness after Apartheid"

Scriptures

• First Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:16-20
• Second Reading – Philippians 2:1-4, 14-16

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a distinguished South African Anglican bishop,
theologian, and human rights advocate. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the pursuit of justice, equality, and reconciliation.
As a vocal opponent of apartheid, Tutu worked tirelessly to end racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa. His leadership and moral Courage earned him international recognition, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
Central to Archbishop Tutu’s theology was the African concept of Ubuntu, a powerful worldview that emphasizes community, interconnectedness,
compassion, and mutual respect—embodying the idea that “I am because we are.” Ubuntu underscores the importance of caring for one another and recognizing our shared humanity, principles that guided his life's work and inspired many around the world.
Tutu lived this truth, championing forgiveness and reconciliation as the
foundation for healing a divided nation. He chaired South Africa’s Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, helping the country confront its painful past with grace and hope. Archbishop Tutu remained a beacon of hope, forgiveness, and love. His legacy continues to remind us that through humility, understanding, and
compassion, we can build bridges of unity and healing in our communities.

Thank you for listening. Join us next week for the first sermon in our Fall Lectionary series.

To find more sermon podcasts and to learn more about Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, please visit our website,

GraceWC.org

www.gracewc.org

In this week's podcast, we explore the next sermon in the summer series of "Holy Disruptors: How Christian Saints, Prophets, and Mystics led in times of Difficulty".

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Rev. Mark Burnham, Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, CA, preached a sermon entitled, "James Cone: The Cross and the Lynching Tree".

Scriptures

• First Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
• Second Reading – Acts 10:34-43

James Hal Cone was a pioneering American theologian whose work profoundly impacted the landscape of liberation theology. Born in Fordyce, Arkansas, Cone's experiences growing up in the racially segregated South deeply influenced his theological perspective. He was educated at Philander Smith College, Garrett-EvangelicalTheological Seminary, and completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University. He served as a distinguished professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Cone is best known as a leading figure in the development of Black Liberation Theology, a movement that sought to interpret Christian theology through the lens of the African American struggle for freedom and justice. His groundbreaking work challenged dominant theological narratives and highlighted the interconnection between the Christian gospel and the fight against racial oppression.

One of his most influential works, The Cross and the Lynching Tree, explores the
paradoxical relationship between the crucifixion of Jesus and the lynching of Black
Americans in the US. In this poignant book, Cone examines how the cross serves as a powerful symbol of both suffering and hope, drawing parallels to the historical and ongoing racial injustices faced by African Americans. Through his prolific writing and teaching, James Cone left an indelible legacy, inspiring generations to reimagine faith in the context of justice and equality.

Thank you for listening. Join us next week for the next sermon in this summer series.

To find more sermon podcasts and to learn more about Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, please visit our website,

GraceWC.org

www.gracewc.org

In this week's podcast, we explore the next sermon in the summer series of "Holy Disruptors: How Christian Saints, Prophets, and Mystics led in times of Difficulty".

On Sunday, August 3, 2025, the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Rev. Mark Burnham, Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, CA, preached a sermon entitled, "Corrie Ten Boom: Prayer and Trust during Nazi Germany".

Scriptures

• First Reading – Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
• Second Reading – Romans 8:31-39

Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker and later a Christian writer and public speaker, who worked with her father, Casper ten Boom, her sister Betsie ten Boom and other family members to help many Jewish people escpae from the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II by hiding them in her home.

Ten Boom's involvement in the Dutch resistance grew beyond gathering stolen ration cards and harboring Jews in her home. She soon became part of the Dutch underground resistance network and oversaw a network of smuggling Jews to safe places. All in all, it is estimated that around 800 Jews were saved by ten Boom's efforts.

Eventually, the ten Booms were caught, arrested, and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how she found and shared hope in God while she was imprisoned at the concentration camp.

Thank you for listening. Join us next week on August 10 for the next sermon in this summer series.

To find more sermon podcasts and to learn more about Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek, please visit our website,

GraceWC.org

www.gracewc.org

www.gracewc.org