Park View Mennonite Church sermons

Paula Stoltzfus: Scattered, broken, known, and loved

On August 20, 2023, Pastor Paula Stoltzfus preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service drawing on the stories of Jacob and Esau as well as Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well in Samaria as examples of complex histories, longing for acceptance and belonging, and journeying towards wholeness.

Phil Kniss: It’s all for love

On August 13, 2023, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service continuing the sermon series studying 2 Peter entitled "True to the Root" contrasting the violent mindset that has become institutionalized in the Western church surrounding these apocalyptic texts with the most basic affirmation of God's character - God's love and compassion for the world and all humankind.

Phil Kniss: It’s the gospel truth!

On August 6, 2023, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service continuing the sermon series studying 2 Peter entitled "True to the Root" slogging through the end of 2 Peter chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2 looking for inspiration for today in speaking truth when we see that the Church is embracing the way of life of the Empire and no longer resembles the way of Jesus of Nazareth.

Phil Kniss: It’s not icing on the cake

On July 30, 2023, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service beginning a new sermon series studying 2 Peter entitled "True to the Root".

Reflections from MennoCon, Delegate Assembly, and VMC Summer Assembly

On July 23, 2023, a collection of participants share reflections at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service from the Mennonite Church USA MennoCon23 and Delegate Assembly, as well as the Virginia Mennonite Conference Summer Assembly.

Reflections on faith formation as gardening

On July 16, 2023, Laura Yoder, Steve Nussbaum, Gloria Diener, Carissa Gredler, and Donna Shank share reflections at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service on faith formation as gardening.  

Seed - what seeds have been planted in you that have grown into faith?
Soil - what have you done to cultivate the soil of faith; what groups/people have fed your soil?
Gardener - who has been the gardener helping you grow in faith, tending to the garden, working beside you?
Harvest - what are the fruits of your faith? What harvest do you long for?
Fallow - when has your faith laid fallow for a season? What has rest and faith looked like for you?

Ben Bixler: Good news for whom?

On July 2, 2023, Ben Bixler preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service continuing a series entitled "Isaiah, the Fifth Gospel" by exploring two main questions "What is this Good News?" and "Who is this Good News for?". 

Phil Kniss: The soft side of the prophet

On June 25, 2023, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service continuing a series entitled "Isaiah, the Fifth Gospel" focusing on Isaiah's soft side of comfort, reassurance, and gentleness speaking of God paving the way home for the exiles returning from Babylon after two hundred years. How do we today properly place ourselves in this oracle? How can we move towards those suffering and seeking comfort from the systems of oppression? 

Phil Kniss: When it dawns on us...

On June 11, 2023, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service continuing a series entitled "Isaiah, the Fifth Gospel" focusing on Isaiah's prophetic message to his audience and historical context calling for collective repentance and cultural reform and restoration. The message rings true today for the Christian church in need of God's restorative light dawning amidst the darkness so that we will know how to walk.

Maren Hange: At the Threshold of Wonder

On June 4, 2023, guest preacher Maren Hange preaches at a Park View Mennonite Sunday morning service beginning a new sermon series entitled "Isaiah, the Fifth Gospel" from Isaiah 6. Maren Tyedmers Hange and her husband Roy have been co-pastors of Charlottesville Mennonite Church for 23 years. Maren joined Roy as a Harrisonburg District Co-Oversight Minister in 2021. She joined the interim Conference Leadership Team (iCLT) for Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) in the summer of 2022. Maren and Roy have 3 adult children. One of Maren's many gifts is watercolor painting.