An Open Door to the Word - Pastor Yumiko (1.25.2026)

In this sermon on Gospel of Mark 1:1–11, we practice a slower, more attentive way of reading Scripture. Instead of rushing to interpretation, we pause.  Rather than separating into camps or settling for “agree to disagree,” this way of reading makes room for multiple voices to gather around the same text.   This practice, Green Reading, begins with a deeper hope: that while interpretations may conflict, God cannot be divided.  Beneath our disagreements, there is still something true, strong, and beautiful to be discovered—something we can recognize together and genuinely rejoice in.   At Jesus’ baptism, heaven is torn open, the Spirit descends, and God speaks—not with argument or explanation, but with love: “You are my beloved. With you I am well pleased.” This message invites us to see Scripture not as a battleground or a test of correctness, but as a shared space where God still speaks clearly—calling us back to what holds, what unites, and what remains when everything else is pulled apart.