Say Grace
Say Grace explores the people, stories, and moments that remind us of God’s presence among us. Through thoughtful conversations, sermons, and devotionals, we discover how faith shapes the way we love our neighbors, serve our community, and navigate life’s many seasons. A podcast from First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte in the heart of Charlotte, NC.
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E4: From Season to Season: Held Through Winter
11/11/2026
E4: From Season to Season: Held Through Winter
Held Through Winter | From Season to Season What happens when someone who has spent years giving to the church suddenly finds herself on the receiving end of its generosity? In this deeply personal episode of Say Grace, Rev. Anna Dickson sits down with longtime First Presbyterian Church member Gail Murchison to reflect on grief, faith, perseverance, and the extraordinary care of a church community. After losing her husband while recovering from a serious injury, Gail faced a season of profound change. Through it all, her Presbyterian Women's circle surrounded her with practical help, friendship, and faithful support that continued for a year and a half. Having served on FPC's stewardship committee for years, Gail discovered a new understanding of generosity—not simply as financial giving, but as the time, talents, presence, and care we offer one another. Part of our five-episode stewardship series, From Season to Season, this conversation reminds us that the church is a community where we both give and receive, and where God's grace sustains us through every season of life. Ready to make your 2027 pledge? Pledge online at fpc.tiny.us/pledge.
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E3: From Season to Season: Growing Seasons
11/04/2026
E3: From Season to Season: Growing Seasons
What happens when two young adults decide to make room for faith in the midst of busy lives? When Holly Tillett and Katie Craig moved to Charlotte, they began searching for a church home. In this episode of Say Grace, they join the Rev. Lucy Baum to share how they found their way to First Presbyterian Church, the friendships and connections they've made, and why showing up for community has become an important part of their lives. They reflect on generosity in different seasons of life, the challenge of balancing work and commitments with faith and service, and the unexpected family connections that make their upcoming wedding at First Presbyterian especially meaningful. Part of our From Season to Season stewardship series, this conversation explores how belonging grows through participation—and how making time for what matters can change our lives. + + + Ready to make your 2027 pledge? Pledge online at .
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Faithful
11/02/2026
Faithful
Faithful | Daniel 3:19–30 & 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, 9–17 What matters most about a life well lived? We often measure success by accomplishments and achievements. Yet the qualities we remember most deeply in others are often kindness, courage, generosity, and faithfulness. On All Saints' Day, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the Apostle Paul's call to faithfulness, and the people who have shaped our lives through their example. Faithfulness isn't always demonstrated in extraordinary acts. It is also revealed in everyday choices—in how we treat others, stand for what is right, and remain true to our calling even when doing so is difficult. As we remember the saints who have gone before us, we are invited to consider how their lives continue to shape our own. Preached at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on November 1, 2026, during our All Saints' Day observance.
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E2: From Season to Season: New Season New Home
10/28/2026
E2: From Season to Season: New Season New Home
What makes a church feel like home, and how do we help the next generation experience that same sense of belonging? For Kaitlyn and Nick Davros, First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte has become a place where their young family feels welcomed, supported, and loved. From the friendships their children are forming to the meals, prayers, and care they received after welcoming their third child, they've experienced firsthand how generosity creates a community where people belong. In this Say Grace conversation, Sofia Di Dio talks with Kaitlyn and Nick about finding their place at FPC, raising their children in both Presbyterian and Greek Orthodox traditions, and the many ways generosity takes shape in everyday life. Kaitlyn reflects on her calling to church music and the gifts a choir offers its congregation, while Nick shares why showing up, volunteering, and giving our time and talents matter just as much as financial contributions. This episode is part of a mini-series centered around FPC's annual giving campaign, From Season to Season. The series explores generosity not only as financial giving, but as the many ways we offer our time, gifts, resources, presence, and care. + + + Ready to make your 2027 pledge? Pledge online at fpc.tiny.us/pledge.
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So, What Do You Say?
10/26/2026
So, What Do You Say?
So, What Do You Say? | Joshua 24:1, 13–18 & Mark 8:27–38 “Who do you say that I am?” It's a question Jesus asks his disciples, but it's also one that continues to shape the lives of those who follow him. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores what it means to recognize Jesus as the Christ—not simply as a matter of belief, but as a commitment that shapes our priorities, relationships, and actions. Drawing on the witness of the church across generations, he reminds us that faith is more than an answer we give once. It unfolds over a lifetime, in the choices we make, the people we serve, and the ways we allow Christ to transform us. How will we answer—not only with our words, but with our lives? Preached at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on October 25, 2026.
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E1: From Season to Season: Passing the Torch
10/21/2026
E1: From Season to Season: Passing the Torch
How do we pass generosity from one generation to the next? For more than 40 years, the Elliott family has been part of First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, where faith, service, and community have shaped their lives across three generations. Now, as Mike Elliott watches his daughter Emily Gaffney raise her own children in the same church, they reflect on what it means to pass along the values that have guided their family. In this Say Grace conversation, Rev. Anna Dickson talks with Mike and Emily about growing up in a community of faith, the people who modeled generosity for them, and how those lessons continue to shape their lives. Emily shares how an encounter with a young student helped lead her from a career in finance to nonprofit work, while Mike reflects on what his daughter has taught him about generosity along the way. This episode is part of a mini-series centered around FPC's annual giving campaign, From Season to Season. The series explores generosity not only as financial giving, but as the many ways we offer our time, gifts, resources, presence, and care. Generosity isn't just something we teach. It's something we live...and pass along. + + + Ready to make your 2027 pledge? Pledge online at fpc.tiny.us/pledge.
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The Full Stature of Christ
10/19/2026
The Full Stature of Christ
The Full Stature of Christ | Numbers 11:16–17, 24–25 & Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–16 We don't all have the same gifts. And perhaps that's exactly the point. In Ephesians, Paul describes a community in which different gifts and callings contribute to the growth of the whole body of Christ. Unity doesn't require everyone to be alike. It asks us to recognize our dependence on one another and grow together in love. In “The Full Stature of Christ,” Rev. Anna Dickson reflects on what it means to belong to a community shaped by the Spirit, where every person's gifts matter and faith is something we practice together. Preached at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on October 18, 2026.
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Season to Season
10/12/2026
Season to Season
From Season to Season | Luke 19:1–10 & 2 Corinthians 9:8–15 Sometimes we can be lost without even knowing it. And sometimes, being found changes everything. When Jesus encounters Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector and an outcast in his own community, he offers something Zacchaeus cannot buy: acceptance, belonging, and grace. That encounter opens the door to a transformed life—and a new season of generosity. Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the connection between grace and giving, reminding us that generosity extends far beyond money. It includes our time, talents, attention, compassion, and willingness to serve others. What might a generous life look like when giving becomes not simply something we do, but an expression of who we are becoming? Preached at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on October 11, 2026.
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Martha's Vineyard
10/05/2026
Martha's Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard | Isaiah 5:1–7 & Matthew 21:33–46 What if the things we think we own were never really ours to begin with? In Jesus’ parable of the vineyard, tenants entrusted with the care of someone else’s land begin behaving as though it belongs to them. For guest preacher Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee, that distinction between stewardship and possession speaks directly to the way we understand our own resources, influence, institutions, and communities. God has given us authority and responsibility, but authority is not the same as ownership. We are tenants in God’s vineyard—and faithful stewardship asks us to consider what is being produced under our care. From the needs of our neighbors in Charlotte to our siblings in Haiti, Amantha challenges us to recognize what has been entrusted to us and to use it so that others may flourish. God has given us what we need to make a difference. The vineyard belongs to God. We have been given the privilege of being its keepers. Preached by Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on October 4, 2026.
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Divine Foolishness
10/05/2026
Divine Foolishness
Divine Foolishness | Exodus 4:10–17 & 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 If true wisdom tapped us on the shoulder, would we recognize it? Paul tells the Corinthians that the wisdom of God looks remarkably different from the wisdom of the world. The cross—an instrument of weakness, humiliation, and defeat—becomes the place where God reveals power, reconciliation, forgiveness, and life. Pasted text Pasted text In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores a gospel that refuses to conform to our usual assumptions about success and strength. Christianity is not a set of rules for getting ahead or a formula for getting what we want from God. It is an invitation into life with Christ—a life shaped by the cross. That can mean doing things the world considers foolish: forgiving those who have hurt us, practicing hospitality toward strangers, crossing the boundaries that divide us, taking risks that require sacrifice, and believing that weakness can become strength. Pasted text From Moses standing before Pharaoh to a teacher crossing the divide between migrant laborers and farm owners, Lewis reminds us that God repeatedly chooses unlikely people and unexpected means to accomplish something new. “Only the foolishness of God is wise enough to carry us.” Perhaps wisdom has already tapped us on the shoulder. Will we recognize it? Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on September 27, 2026.
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Saints Alive
09/21/2026
Saints Alive
Saints Alive | Isaiah 43:15–25 & 1 Corinthians 1:1–9 What if the name God gives us is more important than all the names we give ourselves—and one another? The church in Corinth was far from perfect. Its members argued, divided themselves into factions, looked down on one another, neglected the vulnerable, and struggled to understand what it meant to live together as the body of Christ. And yet when Paul writes to them, he calls them saints. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores the difference between seeing sainthood as something extraordinary people achieve and understanding “saint” as an identity God has already given us. We may not always live up to that name, but God continues patiently shaping, smoothing, forgiving, and forming us into the people we were created to become. Lewis reminds us of the simple words a mother once gave her children as they walked out the door: “Remember who you are.” How we understand ourselves shapes how we live. And perhaps remembering who we are can also change the way we see everyone else. Instead of defining one another with the labels that divide and diminish, what if we learned to see each other through God's eyes? Saints alive. Saints together. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on September 20, 2026.
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The Thin Sound of Silence
09/14/2026
The Thin Sound of Silence
The Thin Sound of Silence | 1 Kings 19:1–18 & 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18 Where is God when you've given everything you have—and you have nothing left? After one of the great triumphs of his ministry, Elijah suddenly finds himself running for his life. Exhausted, frightened, and convinced that all his faithfulness has accomplished nothing, he enters the wilderness and tells God, “It is enough.” In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the weariness that comes when faithful effort seems to lead nowhere. Parents, caregivers, teachers, volunteers, people working for justice—even the most committed among us can reach a point where our energy is gone and we wonder why we should keep going. But Elijah's emptiness becomes the place of encounter. God comes not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the “thin sound of silence”—meeting Elijah in precisely the ruined, burned-out place where he believes there is nothing left. And God does more than restore him. God calls him forward. Lewis reminds us that our work is never the whole of God's work. Our failures don't determine the future, and neither do our successes. Even when one season ends, God can create something new from the very soil of what has come before. When we become quiet enough to listen, perhaps we will hear the question God asks Elijah—and us: “What are you doing here?” And then, perhaps, a call toward what comes next. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on September 13, 2026.
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Not Just Any Time
09/09/2026
Not Just Any Time
Exodus 20:1–17 & Luke 6:1–11 What if rest isn't time wasted—but time made holy? We measure our lives in hours, days, years, deadlines, appointments, and accomplishments. But Scripture invites us into another experience of time: Sabbath. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores Sabbath as far more than a day governed by religious rules. Rooted in both creation and liberation, Sabbath reminds us that there is more to life than what we produce and that our worth does not depend upon what we accomplish. We stop our labor to create “breathing room so that God may labor in us.” Sabbath also remembers freedom. Just as Israel was commanded to remember its liberation from slavery, Sabbath invites us to recognize the forms of bondage that still hold human lives—poverty, addiction, despair, anxiety, regret, obsession, and the relentless pressure to do more. Jesus reminds us that Sabbath isn't meant to diminish life, but to enhance it. It is time for worship, relationship, compassion, healing, joy, and renewal. And perhaps Sabbath isn't simply something we practice individually. Perhaps we can become a community that offers that same rest and freedom to others. Sacred time. Holy time. Sabbath time. A different way of living every moment within the grace of God's time. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on September 6, 2026.
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Ablaze but Not Consunmed
09/01/2026
Ablaze but Not Consunmed
Ablaze but Not Consumed | Exodus 3:1–12 What if the life that sets you on fire doesn't have to burn you out? By the time Moses encounters the burning bush, he knows what it feels like to be burned up and hollowed out. His attempt to fight injustice has ended in violence and failure, and he has spent decades in exile. Then, in the wilderness, he encounters a fire unlike any he has known before—a bush ablaze with heat and light, but somehow still alive. In this sermon, Rev. Lucy Baum explores the difference between the fires that consume us and the life God calls us toward. Violence, hatred, fear, competition, and the relentless pressure to prove our worth can leave us charred and hollow. God's fire is different: it burns without consuming. And when Moses doubts whether he is capable of what God is asking of him, God doesn't answer his question with reassurance about Moses's abilities. God simply promises, “I will be with you.” Through Moses's story and the reflections of Parker Palmer, Lucy invites us to consider where we might need to “turn aside”—to leave a path that is consuming us and risk stepping toward a life that makes us more fully alive. We may not receive assurance before we take that step. Sometimes we only recognize the path by looking backward. But God will be with us. Preached by Rev. Lucy Baum at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on August 30, 2026.
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Running from the Truth
08/24/2026
Running from the Truth
Jonah 4:1–11 & Mark 1:29–39 Sometimes the hardest truths aren't the ones we don't understand. They're the ones that demand something of us. Jonah knows exactly what God is like: gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. But when God extends that mercy to the people of Nineveh—Jonah's enemies—he is furious. He wants God's compassion for himself, but God's judgment for them. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores our human tendency to draw boundaries around grace and contrasts Jonah's resistance with the ever-widening ministry of Jesus, whose healing love moves beyond the familiar toward people and places others might exclude. What happens when we encounter someone whose beliefs we reject, whose behavior we cannot understand, or whom we struggle to forgive? Through the Christian practices of empathy, curiosity, listening, and civility—and through Anne Lamott's deeply personal journey toward forgiving her mother—Lewis invites us to face the places within ourselves where we may still be running from the truth of God's boundless love. Maybe it's time for us, too, to stop running from God. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on August 23, 2026.
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Divine Currents in the Universal Stream
08/17/2026
Divine Currents in the Universal Stream
Divine Currents in the Universal Stream | Jonah 3:1–10 & Mark 1:21–28 What forces are shaping our lives—and how can we recognize where God is moving? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores what he calls the “divine currents in the universal stream of life”: the movement of God's healing, forgiving, and saving grace through the world. Jonah struggles against that current because he cannot accept God's mercy toward people he considers undeserving. Jesus, by contrast, embodies God's redemptive movement. In Mark's Gospel, his healing of a man with an unclean spirit becomes a visible sign of God's power pushing back against everything that diminishes and destroys life. Through Scripture, prayer, and the story of historian Timothy Tyson, Lewis asks us to look beneath the chaos and conflict we see around us and discern a deeper movement—the love of God drawing creation toward forgiveness, healing, justice, and restoration. And when we lose our way, we return to the source: to God, to worship, and to the stories that remind us that God's redemptive purposes are still flowing through the world. The question is whether we will fight the current—or learn to move with it. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on August 16, 2026.
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Standing at the Back of the Line
08/10/2026
Standing at the Back of the Line
No One Left Out | Matthew 20:1–16 & Genesis 12:1–3 What if God's grace isn't fair? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Chuck Williamson explores one of Jesus' most surprising parables, where workers hired at the very end of the day receive the same wage as those who labored from sunrise. Rather than teaching us about economics or fairness, Jesus invites us to see the world through the eyes of a generous God—a God who refuses to rank people according to worth, achievement, or status. Drawing on stories from a Civil Rights pilgrimage, reflections on Carl Sandburg's observation that "the ugliest word is exclusive," and the biblical promise that all the families of the earth will be blessed, Rev. Wood reminds us that the gospel is always moving toward inclusion, reconciliation, and grace. If none of us stand before God because of our own merit, then every one of us stands because of God's generosity. And that changes the way we see one another. Preached by Rev. Dr. Chuck Williamson at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.
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Defining Moments
08/10/2026
Defining Moments
Defining Moments | Jonah 1:1–17 & Mark 1:14–20 There are moments that change the direction of our lives—a door opens, another closes, and suddenly we're faced with a choice about where to go next. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the defining moments when God's call asks us to respond. Jonah hears God's call and runs. The disciples hear Jesus say, "Follow me," and leave behind what is familiar. Most of us probably find ourselves somewhere between the two. But calling isn't reserved for pastors or church leaders. Our vocation is the life we live in response to God, using our particular gifts, experiences, relationships, and work to serve Christ in the world. As Frederick Buechner famously described it, calling is found where our "deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." And what happens when we run? Through Jonah's story and the story of historian Tim Tyson, Lewis reminds us that God doesn't abandon us when we take the long way around. Sometimes we say no before we say yes. Sometimes we run before we find our way home. Wherever we are in listening for God's call—perhaps somewhere between "no" and "yes"—God continues to call us toward the lives we were created to live. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on August 9, 2026.
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Reaching Life's Goal
07/27/2026
Reaching Life's Goal
Reaching Life's Goal | Proverbs 3:1–8 & Philippians 3:4–14 The Christian life isn't a sprint—it's a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's image of running a race and reminds us that while following Christ requires intention and discipline, it always begins with grace. Christ has already claimed us; our calling is to keep pressing forward, trusting that God is at work within us. Lewis explores three practices that have shaped Christians for generations: worship, prayer rooted in Scripture, and lives marked by generosity and service. These disciplines don't earn God's love—they create space for God's transforming work within us. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on July 26, 2026.
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Being in the Right Mind
07/20/2026
Being in the Right Mind
Being in the Right Mind | Psalm 1 & Philippians 2:1–11 In a world that often rewards pride, certainty, and self-interest, what would it look like to have the mind of Christ? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Philippians and the beautiful hymn describing Christ's humility. Rather than calling Christians to think alike, Paul invites us to share a common way of living—one marked by compassion, service, and self-giving love. Drawing on stories of ordinary people whose quiet acts of kindness transformed those around them, Lewis explores how the pattern of Christ's life becomes the pattern for our own. What if true strength looks like humility? What if real leadership begins with serving others? And what if the most beautiful thing we could create is a community shaped by the love of Christ? This message is an invitation to let go of pride, embrace humility, and discover the profound beauty that emerges when we learn to think, love, and live like Jesus. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on July 19, 2026.
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A Life Worth Living
07/13/2026
A Life Worth Living
A Life Worth Living | Jeremiah 15:15–21 & Philippians 1:1–11, 27–30 What keeps us grounded when life feels uncertain? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Philippians and the prophet Jeremiah, exploring what it means to live a life rooted in faith, strengthened by community, and worthy of the gospel. Along the way, Lewis introduces a striking idea: that we can suffer from a kind of spiritual amnesia—forgetting who we are, where we've come from, and the God who has remained faithful through every season. Drawing on stories from everyday life, the early church, and the power of Christian friendship, this message reminds us that faith is sustained not only by personal devotion but by a community that remembers, encourages, serves, and prays together. What happens when we remember God's faithfulness? How do shared stories, worship, and acts of love shape our lives? And what does it look like to live "a life worthy of the gospel" in an uncertain world? This sermon offers a hopeful invitation to stand firm in Christ, remain rooted in community, and move into the future with courage. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on July 12, 2026.
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What Belongs to God
07/06/2026
What Belongs to God
What Belongs to God | Genesis 1:26–27 & Matthew 22:15–22 What if Jesus' famous words about Caesar and the coin are really about us? In this sermon, Rev. Anna Dickson explores one of Jesus' most well-known teachings through the lens of Genesis, where we learn that every person is created in the image of God. When Jesus asks whose image appears on a Roman coin, he invites his listeners to think beyond taxes and politics. If the coin bears Caesar's image and belongs to Caesar, what about those who bear God's image? This message is a reminder that our deepest identity is not found in what we own, what we accomplish, or what the world says about us. We belong to the God who created us, loves us, and calls us by name. As we learn to live from that identity, we begin to see ourselves and our neighbors differently. We discover that every person carries the image of God and is worthy of dignity, compassion, and love. What belongs to God? The answer is more personal—and more hopeful—than we often imagine. Preached by Rev. Anna Dickson at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on July 5, 2026.
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The Shape of Freedom
06/29/2026
The Shape of Freedom
The Shape of Freedom | Proverbs 3:3–8 & Galatians 5:1, 13–26 What does it really mean to be free? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Galatians and the surprising truth that Christian freedom is not the absence of responsibility but the freedom to become the people God created us to be. Through stories of everyday faithfulness, reflections on the Fruit of the Spirit, and the wisdom of Proverbs, Lewis explores the difference between a life driven by self-interest and a life shaped by God's Spirit. Too often, we think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want. But Paul offers a different vision. In Christ, we are set free from fear, striving, and the need to earn God's love so that we can love others with joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Rather than focusing only on avoiding what is wrong, this message invites us to pursue what is good—to become people whose lives bear the fruit of the Spirit and reflect the love of Christ in our homes, our communities, and our world. Because the shape of Christian freedom is love. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on June 28, 2026, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.
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God's Big Idea
06/22/2026
God's Big Idea
God's Big Idea | Genesis 12:1–4 & Galatians 3:19–4:7 What if God's vision for the world is bigger than we imagine? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah, the freedom Christ offers through grace, and the remarkable invitation to become part of God's family. From the very beginning, God's purpose was never limited to one people or one place. Through Abraham and Sarah, God promised a blessing that would extend to all the families of the earth. Generations later, Paul reminds us that in Christ we are no longer separated by status, background, or circumstance, but adopted as beloved children of God. Through stories of faith, hospitality, and transformation, this sermon reflects on the ways God's dream continues to challenge human boundaries and call us toward a more expansive vision of community. What happens when we make room for the people God is already welcoming? And what might the church become if it truly embraced God's big idea? At its heart, this message is a reminder that God's grace is always reaching wider, God's family is always growing, and God's dream for the world has room for all. Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on June 21, 2026.
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A Faith That Lives In You
06/15/2026
A Faith That Lives In You
A Faith That Lives in You | 2 Timothy 1:1–7 In this special installation service sermon, Rev. Dr. Millie Snyder reflects on Paul's words to Timothy and the faith that was nurtured in him through family, community, and the care of those who walked alongside him. Whether we inherit faith from those who came before us or discover it later in life, this message reminds us that faith is rarely formed alone. It grows through relationships, belonging, encouragement, mentorship, and the steady presence of people who help us recognize God's work in our lives. Drawing on memories of Sunday School classrooms, youth groups, mission trips, church choirs, and faithful role models, Rev. Snyder explores what it means to cultivate a faith that becomes woven into the fabric of who we are. In a rapidly changing world, how do we nurture faith in ourselves, our children, our communities, and future generations? This sermon offers a hopeful answer: faith is not simply taught—it is shared. It is nurtured in community. It is strengthened through hospitality, welcome, and relationships rooted in grace. As First Presbyterian Church celebrates the installation of Rev. Lucy Baum as Associate Pastor for Formation and Fellowship, this message serves as a reminder that faith formation belongs to all of us. Because faith is a team sport. And together, we are all on the team. Preached by Rev. Dr. Millie Snyder at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on June 14, 2026.
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Tax Collectors and Sinners
06/08/2026
Tax Collectors and Sinners
Tax Collectors and Sinners | Matthew 9:9–13 In this sermon, Rev. Lucy Baum reflects on one of the most surprising moments in Jesus’ ministry: the calling of Matthew the tax collector. When Jesus invites Matthew to become one of his disciples and then shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners, those around him are scandalized. Why would a teacher who speaks about the righteousness of God choose to spend time with people who seem so clearly in the wrong? As the story unfolds, we discover that Jesus is asking a deeper question than we might expect—not simply who belongs, but what mercy really means. Drawing on Matthew 9, the prophet Hosea, and stories of forgiveness and restoration, this sermon explores the relationship between mercy and justice. It challenges us to consider why God's mercy can sometimes feel uncomfortable, especially when it is extended to people we believe do not deserve it. What if justice is about more than punishment? What if mercy and justice are not opposites, but partners? And what if healing damaged relationships is more powerful than settling a score? Through a powerful reflection on restorative justice, Rev. Baum invites us to imagine a way of life that holds mercy and accountability together—a way that opens the door to transformation for everyone involved. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” It is a challenging invitation. And it is one that still has the power to change us today.
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What Do We Mean by “Apocalypse”?
06/02/2026
What Do We Mean by “Apocalypse”?
Why are we so fascinated by the end of the world? In this Moment with a Minister, Rev. Rob Spach reflects on apocalyptic thinking, the stories we tell about the future, and how faith can help us move from fear toward wonder, hope, and deeper trust. Here's Rev. Rob.
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The One and the Many
06/01/2026
The One and the Many
The One and the Many | Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–16 & John 17:1–11 In this Trinity Sunday sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on one of Jesus’ final prayers for the church: that his followers “may be one.” Drawing from Ephesians 4 and John 17, this message explores the mystery of Christian unity and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing diverse people together as one body in Christ. Using images of Earth seen from space, stories from history, and reflections on contemporary culture, Rev. Galloway invites us to consider the difference between unity and uniformity. Christian unity does not require us to think alike, act alike, or share identical opinions. Rather, it is rooted in the presence of God among us and within us. From the mystery of the Trinity to the life of the church, this sermon reminds us that diversity is not a threat to unity—it is one of God's gifts. We each bring different experiences, perspectives, and talents, yet the Holy Spirit weaves them together into something larger than ourselves. In a culture that often prizes individuality over community, this message offers a compelling vision of belonging: a church where differences are not erased but embraced, where love is greater than division, and where unity becomes a witness to God's presence in the world. If the church is to offer hope to a fractured world, it must first learn to embody the unity for which Christ prayed. What would we see if we could step back and view the whole church as we see our blue planet from space? A fragmented body divided by conflict and fear? Or something beautiful—many people, many gifts, and many voices, united by the Holy Spirit in the love of Christ?
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Heart Surgery
05/26/2026
Heart Surgery
Heart Surgery | Joel 2 & Acts 2 In this Pentecost sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the story of Pentecost and the radical transformation that takes place when the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart. Drawing from Joel 2 and Acts 2, this message explores repentance not as guilt or shame, but as a turning — a reorientation of the heart toward God and toward one another. Through baptism, community, worship, and the power of the Spirit, ordinary people are invited into a new way of living together. From stories of literal heart surgery to young people inspired to change the world, this sermon reminds us that spiritual transformation does not happen simply by trying harder, but by learning to trust more deeply in the work of God within us. Again and again, Pentecost breaks open closed doors, dismantles fear, and builds bridges between strangers. The Holy Spirit creates a community where people from every language, nation, and background are welcomed together in Christ. Before Pentecost, the disciples gathered in fear behind closed doors. After Pentecost, the church became an open community filled with courage, joy, and hope. This is God’s theater of operation — where anyone and everyone can receive a new heart.
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The Stranger At The Table
05/18/2026
The Stranger At The Table
The Stranger at the Table | Genesis 18:1–15 & Philemon 1–25 In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the deeply Christian practice of hospitality — not simply welcoming friends or familiar faces, but extending love to the stranger, the outsider, and the forgotten. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah welcoming mysterious visitors beneath the trees of Mamre and Paul’s appeal for Philemon to receive the runaway slave Onesimus “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother,” we are invited to see how the gospel reshapes human relationships and creates a new kind of community rooted in grace. Again and again, this message reminds us that hospitality is more than politeness or kindness. It is love in action. From stories of strangers becoming friends, to churches opening their doors during times of crisis, to moments of reconciliation across racial and social divides, this sermon explores how welcoming others transforms not only the guest, but the host as well. When we open our hearts and tables to others, Christ often meets us there in unexpected ways. And when Jesus sits at the table, we never know what grace might do next.
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