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Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

690 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratings

Weekly messages and seasonal series from Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor

Christianity Religion & Spirituality
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Episodes

24 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Peace Through Justice

March 24, 2024 21:42 - 20 minutes - 15.9 MB

The story of Palm Sunday offers an invitation to live our lives in ways that bring about peace through justice.  Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find […]

17 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Becoming a People of Hope, Not Fear

March 17, 2024 22:13 - 19 minutes - 14.8 MB

As we continue our sermon series on following Jesus during a rise in Christian Nationalism, today we look at a repeating pattern: liberation movements followed by a rise in “stiff-necked” […]

10 Mar 2024 |  American Idol: Rejecting Warrior Jesus

March 10, 2024 20:58 - 23 minutes - 17.6 MB

We talk about the violent militancy of this white Christian nationalism and then look at Jesus for some guidance for how to relate to it. Learn more about Blue Ocean […]

03 Mar 2024 | American Idol: Gender Hierarchy & Christian Nationalism

March 03, 2024 21:14 - 25 minutes - 19.1 MB

The best predictor that someone embraces Christian nationalism is that they also subscribe to traditional gender norms. We look at how Genesis starts out the Bible narrative with a challenge to gender hierarchy […]

25 Feb 2024 | American Idol: How Jesus Used Power

February 26, 2024 00:35 - 23 minutes - 18.1 MB

We contrast how Jesus used power with the dominionist theology that’s driving part of the white Christian nationalist movement today. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find […]

18 Feb 2024 | American Idol: Following Jesus In a Time of Christian Nationalism

February 18, 2024 22:10 - 19 minutes - 15.5 MB

We talk about the deep story driving Christian nationalism, and touch on how that story is counter to the project to which Jesus called his followers. Learn more about Blue […]

11 Feb 2024 | Good Grief: The Path Toward Healing

February 11, 2024 21:09 - 21 minutes - 16.2 MB

This morning we talk about the path to healing after a loss. Healing doesn’t mean getting back to the person we were before the loss, but rather integrating the loss into […]

04 Feb 2024 | Good Grief: The Breaking of the Vessels

February 05, 2024 00:41 - 22 minutes - 17.2 MB

We talk about how our emotions often feel like they’re in chaotic disarray in the weeks and months (and sometimes years) following a loss—feeling the feelings is part of the path […]

28 Jan 2024 | Good Grief: Contraction

January 29, 2024 00:42 - 21 minutes - 16.6 MB

We talk a bit about our shared human experience of grief, and how to care for each other in times of mourning. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You […]

21 Jan 2024 | Descending Into Winter: Belly of a Beast

January 21, 2024 22:22 - 21 minutes - 16.2 MB

We talk about God’s work in us during the cold, wintery seasons of our spiritual life using Jonah’s prayer in the belly of the sea beast.Learn more about Blue Ocean […]

14 Jan 2024 | Beloved Community: How Are the Children?

January 14, 2024 22:51 - 30 minutes - 24.1 MB

Kim Robinson, Executive Vice President of The Forum for Youth Investment and the Managing Director for the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, guest preaches—incorporating some of her research to talk about […]

07 Jan 2024 | What Can We Learn from the Moon?

January 07, 2024 22:25 - 20 minutes - 15 MB

On Epiphany we celebrate the story of the magi. Today, we also look to the night sky in a reflective exploration of what we can learn from the moon, who […]

31 Dec 2023 | Stories of St. Nicholas

December 31, 2023 23:26 - 25 minutes - 18.4 MB

Pastor Emily, joined by the children of Blue Ocean, shares stories about St. Nicholas of Myra; followed by a performance by the Ypsilanti Youth Choir, led by Crystal Harding. Learn […]

17 Dec 2023 | Advent: Finding Peace and Joy

December 17, 2023 23:09 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MB

Guest preacher Lisa Ruby talks about ways to actively find peace in our daily lives.  Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, learn […]

03 Dec 2023 | Advent: Standing Watch

December 03, 2023 22:03 - 20 minutes - 15.8 MB

We look at Luke 2 and talk about how Simeon and Anna understood the story they were part of and the role they played in it. They stood in a […]

26 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: St. Francis and St. Brigid

November 26, 2023 23:56 - 21 minutes - 16.5 MB

We finish up our series by looking at the stories of a couple of saints who embody the longing for a healthy relationship with nature and with people of other […]

19 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: Queer Icons

November 19, 2023 23:00 - 25 minutes - 19 MB

We talk about the mystical stream of the faith that connects Logos and Woman Wisdom and Jesus—remembering that God transcends gender. We also touch on a couple of the icons […]

12 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Stories: St. Rocco & Saint Olga, Everyday Saints

November 12, 2023 22:26 - 21 minutes - 18.7 MB

We remember these saints to remind ourselves that we don’t have to do anything extravagant to be remembered as a person who shows God’s love to the people around us—we […]

05 Nov 2023 | Icon-ic Tales: Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego

November 06, 2023 00:27 - 22 minutes - 16.4 MB

On this All Saints Sunday we’re starting a new series talking about the communion of the saints and the icons we use in our worship space. We start off by […]

29 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Prepare a Table

October 29, 2023 20:55 - 22 minutes - 16.6 MB

In the final sermon in our membership series, we talk about the grace and inclusive welcome of the table of God. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can […]

22 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Paths of Justice

October 22, 2023 22:28 - 26 minutes - 19 MB

We talk about how we’re compelled to walk paths of justice on our faith journeys, led by the Creator and in the company of others. Learn more about Blue Ocean […]

15 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: Restore My Soul

October 15, 2023 21:45 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MB

We talk about what it means for the Creator to provide basic care, concern, and comfort to us in the midst of life’s many troubles, and how being nourished by […]

08 Oct 2023 | Intentional Community

October 09, 2023 03:20 - 34 minutes - 25.7 MB

This morning we talk a bit about our values of connection and intentional community, and then three congregants share a little of their own story. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church […]

01 Oct 2023 | Shaped by Psalm 23: The Gentle Shepherd

October 01, 2023 19:43 - 21 minutes - 16.2 MB

Jesus taught his disciples, “Blessed are you who are poor“ and “woe to you who are rich.” These challenge our expectations on who is truly blessed and chosen by G-d. […]

24 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: Of Deserts & Wanderings & Monastics

September 25, 2023 00:13 - 24 minutes - 19.3 MB

We’ve been talking about how, when religious meta-narratives undergo seismic shifts, people start to gather at the edges of faith because parts of the core don’t work for them anymore. […]

17 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM)

September 17, 2023 21:23 - 29 minutes - 23.1 MB

Innovation and the reimagining of Christianity is happening on the margins of our faith tradition. We chat a bit about TFAM and how our church found fellow travelers on our […]

10 Sep 2023 | Ways of the Wilderness: When Stories Crash

September 11, 2023 01:14 - 23 minutes - 18.5 MB

We interact with the work of Rabbi Benay Lappe, who has a framework for what happens when the stories of our faith traditions start to unravel. It’s an invitation to […]

03 Sep 2023 | A Pocket Full of Prayers: Keep Watch, Dear Lord

September 03, 2023 21:28 - 22 minutes - 18.4 MB

In a series where we’re exploring a few well-trod prayers, we look at a beloved compline prayer that offers some tools for praying before bed or during the night. Learn […]

20 Aug 2023 | A Pocket Full of Prayers: Holy Spirit, Comforting Fire

August 20, 2023 22:04 - 23 minutes - 18.9 MB

We talk about the imagination St. Hildegard von Bingen had for how the Divine interacts with the creation, how her imagination informed the prayer she penned, and how it might […]

13 Aug 2023 | Pocket Full of Prayers: The Sarum Prayer

August 13, 2023 21:21 - 24 minutes - 20.3 MB

We give some history and context for the Sarum Prayer to better understand why we pray it together every week during our Sunday services. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church […]

06 Aug 2023 | “On Prayer as Communion with God”

August 06, 2023 21:00 - 21 minutes - 17.7 MB

Research shows that prayer and meditation are good for our brains. Today, we look at meditation and prayer as food for our mind and soul through the lens of two […]

30 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Sheerah

July 30, 2023 21:08 - 20 minutes - 16.9 MB

Sheerah is a builder of cities. Her brief story is tucked away as a remnant within a book of remnants, but it’s an important one for helping some people see […]

23 Jul 2023 | Speaking Truth to Power

July 24, 2023 23:10 - 44 minutes - 34.5 MB

Guest speaker Crystal Harding leads the Ypsilanti Youth Choir in a couple songs and then shares about her experience of speaking truth to power. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church […]

16 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Jonah

July 16, 2023 21:13 - 27 minutes - 23.6 MB

Guest Speaker Christian Axelgard shares a bit of his own story and why he connects with the story of Jonah. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find […]

09 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Ruth

July 09, 2023 21:44 - 21 minutes - 17.4 MB

Ruth is a story all about deeds of loving-kindness. When we are tempted to judge others or use the Bible for harm, Ruth the “compassionate friend” teaches about the greatest […]

02 Jul 2023 | Characters We Love: Barnabas

July 04, 2023 03:26 - 20 minutes - 17.2 MB

Pastor Emily shares a lighter sermon about why she loves Barnabas—and how his story shaped her spirituality and influenced how we do church here at Blue Ocean. Learn more about Blue […]

25 Jun 2023 | On Reparations

June 25, 2023 21:21 - 23 minutes - 20.4 MB

We draw inspiration from the story of the Exodus to talk about the importance of supporting reparations. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past […]

18 Jun 2023 | The Story of Juneteenth

June 19, 2023 00:05 - 28 minutes - 20.7 MB

Churches have been part of the American myth-making machine since colonial settlers stepped foot on the continent. White theologians and pastors over the centuries created theologies justifying white supremacy. So it’s […]

11 Jun 2023 | Healing Communities: Zacchaeus and Shame

June 11, 2023 21:38 - 22 minutes - 18.5 MB

We have a story in our tradition that I think can help us get at ways of talking about some ways a faith community can help diminish shame. Using the […]

04 Jun 2023 | Healing Communities: Honest Speech

June 04, 2023 21:56 - 19 minutes - 15.8 MB

We look at the psalms and how they’re meant to function in a way that shapes us, so that—when we’ve experienced trauma, suffering, grief, injustices—we can learn to articulate our pain […]

28 May 2023 | Why and How We Can, and Should, Love Our Neighbors

May 28, 2023 21:11 - 24 minutes - 20.7 MB

Scripture encourages us to love our neighbors, but what does that mean? Helping others and being kind creates connection, reduces loneliness, and increases happiness. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church […]

21 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: Let’s Talk About Resilience

May 21, 2023 20:54 - 17 minutes - 14.5 MB

Rachel Murr, a licensed therapist, shares about resilience and creating communities that help us build it. Learn more about Blue Ocean Church at a2blue.org. You can find recordings of past services, […]

14 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: A Conversation

May 15, 2023 02:22 - 36 minutes - 30.8 MB

Emily and Caroline have a conversation about mental health and spiritual communities. They touch on the language we use when we speak of mental health symptoms, the overlap of spirituality […]

07 May 2023 | Healing Communities & Mental Health: Introduction

May 07, 2023 21:18 - 24 minutes - 20.9 MB

Faith communities can be healing communities. We start out a new sermon series by talking about the conditions we cultivate as a church to make the space emotionally safe and healthy […]

30 Apr 2023 | I Am Legion

April 30, 2023 21:34 - 21 minutes - 17.4 MB

Using the story of the man who lived among the tombs in Mark 5, we talk about the perniciousness of shame and finding community healing. Learn more about Blue Ocean […]

23 Apr 2023 | Was Jesus a Roman Slave?

April 23, 2023 21:49 - 23 minutes - 19.4 MB

New scholarship by Rev. Dr. Mitzi Smith suggests the possibility that both Mary and Jesus had a slave status. We use that lens to look at how Jesus may have […]

16 Apr 2023 | World of Jesus: Road to Emmaus

April 16, 2023 21:52 - 18 minutes - 14.8 MB

A claim of the resurrection is that we have a rabbi who is still with us, able to teach and guide us, and—as part of that leadership function—to mediate Scripture […]

09 Apr 2023 | Easter: Death is Overcome

April 12, 2023 00:11 - 18 minutes - 13.4 MB

On Easter, Christians insist that Death has been overcome because, if the Creator can get through to us that we don’t need to be afraid, then maybe we’ll be less […]

02 Apr 2023 | World of Jesus: Palm Sunday, the Anti-Imperial Procession

April 02, 2023 20:49 - 16 minutes - 11.8 MB

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into the heart of Jerusalem—not as a conquering hero, but as a champion of the poor and the oppressed. He signals his commitment to a […]

26 Mar 2023 | World of Jesus: Nonviolent Resistance

March 26, 2023 20:26 - 19 minutes - 12.2 MB

Jesus understood the incredible power differential between Rome and the his people; he knew the Jewish people would need to be creative in how they fought back against their oppressors. We […]

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