An Open Table where Love knows no borders

Showing Up

Our Paschal (Easter) Vigil proclamation of the resurrection was preached for us by the Revd Dr Joel Sierra, pastor of the Jireh Baptist Community in Monterrey, México. This was our first time, taking advantage of the opportunities of online worship, of having a visiting preacher with us live from the other side of the world.

We don’t have a written version of this fine sermon, but you can watch it or listen to it.

As well as being a truly outstanding pastor and an excellent scholar, Joel is also a wonderful musician and songwriter, and many of his songs and hymns are quite famous among Latin American churches. In the video below, he sings one of his hits, “No tengas miedo” (Don’t be afraid), a song which will be speaking to a lot of people in the present crisis. Both the song and the short bit where he introduces the song are in Spanish, but even if you don’t understand the language, it is such a great bit of music, you will probably enjoy it anyway.

6 Comments

  1. I am in lockdown in rural lockdown. I was looking for an on line service that was meaningful. Many presentations seemed in denial that in some way we are stuck on a cross. Your speaker spoke and acknowledged some of my thoughts thank you
    Rev Mark Blackwell

  2. What a generous sermon. Not only because it was preached at 5am in the preacher’s time zone, but because it helped us to be kind to ourselves, recognising that the risen Jesus who shows up for us is enabling us to show up in small but important ways, even during these strange and disorienting times. Thank you for showing up for us, Joel.

  3. Thank you Joel so much for sharing with us at this special service. The idea of ‘Sabato de Gloria’ has stayed with me over the weeks.

  4. This comment is very late off the mark I know, but I just want to say thanks so much for sharing your time with us Joel & for your sermon of hope.
    I thoroughly enjoyed listening to what you had to say. (Your English is fabulous as far as I’m concerned!)
    We are truly privileged to have Nathan as our preacher, and that he also happens to know & be friends with other great preachers from all over the world! Your sermon was very much appreciated!

  5. If I take away just one idea from this sermon, it will be the idea of “showing up”, really showing up. That will challenge and encourage me for a long time to come. Thank you.

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