Wholistic Christianity

Join us for our new 2 part series on the prophet Jonah. Our text is Jonah 1: 4-17.

uccsouthbury.org

The Conclusion to our series in our Jeremiah. Our text is from Jeremiah 31: 31-34.

uccsouthbury.org

Part five in our series on Jeremiah.

The fourth part in our series on Jeremiah.

The third installment on our series covering the prophet Jeremiah.

The second part in our series on Jeremiah.

The first part in a series that looks at the message of Jeremiah Part One.

Join us for our fifth installment on the Book of Jeremiah.

Join us for our fourth installment on the Book of Jeremiah.

Join us for our third installment on the prophet Jeremiah.

Join us for our second installment on the prophet Jeremiah.

Have you ever wanted to know the big picture story of the Bible? Join us as we study the book of Jeremiah in a 6 part series on the Old Testament prophet.

A modern take on an ancient parable.

This is a Sunday message at the United Church of Christ Southbury.

You can find out more about us at uccsouthbury.org and

shawngaran.com

As I am going to try and upload a bunch of messages I have not uploaded in awhile to provide some more content. I will be staying active with my current messages so thanks for being patient and continuing to listen.

Many blessings!

Shawn

A Sunday message give here at uccsouthbury.org

You can also find me at shawngaran.com

A Sunday message give here at uccsouthbury.org

You can also find me at shawngaran.com

Here is a message given here at our church:

uccsouthbury.org

shawngaran.com

Thanks for listening. Please rate, like, comment, subscribe and all that jazz if you can :)

Here is a message given at our church.

You can find out more about our church and stay up to date with our messages by checking out uccsouthbury.org or shawngaran.com

Like, subscribe, and all that stuff, as well as comment, Id love to hear any feedback.

Thanks!

Shawn

This is our fourth part in a series on the Letter of James, brother of Jesus.

This is third part in a series on the Letter of James, brother of Jesus.

Our second part in a series on the Letter of James, brother of Jesus.

My apologies all for the late return. I will be uploading my previous messages once I get caught up here at my church. Now that we are streaming on Youtube I am able to download the messages and upload them here. Thanks for listening!

This is our first part in a series on the Letter of James, brother of Jesus.

In this message we cover the Discipline of Simplicity from the book, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. 

In this episode we look at the Discipline of Study and how it can inspire us to live a more Christ-like life. 

In this message we cover the discipline of fasting. 

In this episode we talk about the Discipline of Prayer in the life of a Christian. We are looking at the second chapter of Richard Foster's book, The Celebration of Discipline. 

In this new season we will be looking at the book, "A Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster. It is considered a Christian classic and I believe it points us in the right direction as it promotes the practice of Christianity, giving us instructions on how to live as a believer instead of just as a spectator of Christ's life. 

In this episode we will be looking at the Discipline of Meditation. 

This week we continue our study of Hebrews. 

This week we continue our study of Hebrews. 

This week we continue our journey through the Book of Hebrews. 

This week we celebrated Palm Sunday and this message speaks to that day in the life of Jesus, when he entered into Jerusalem with palms waving and riding on a donkey. 

In this message we talk about the first part in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. 

This is an older sermon I preached that I had posted on Youtube a year ago. It has gotten some traction there so I thought I would post it here as a podcast. 

In this episode we look at what the cross really was for Jesus and what it is for us.

In this episode we look at what the cross really was for Jesus and what it is for us.

In this episode we look at what baptism symbolizes in the life of a Christian. I call it the initiation into the Christ Quest as it marks the commitment to raise up our children not just as physical beings but also as spiritual beings. 

What is the difference between water baptism and baptism by the Holy Spirit? Today we look at Acts 8:14-17.

Here is my first official sermon delivered at the United Church of Christ in Southbury, CT.  The text we looked at today was the letter to the Ephesians chapter 3 verses 1-12. You can join us each week on Zoom by visiting our website: https://www.uccsouthbury.org

Here is a clip from my Christmas message preached on 12/19 on what the Nativity means for me. 

This week we look at the symbolic meaning of the Nativity. 

Here is another sermon I preached back in 2020 on Matthew 7.

Here is a message I preached back in 2020 on the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25: 14-30

Check my previous episodes to find the full series on this subject. 

This week we look at the Gospel of John chapter 18 verses 33-37 where Jesus and Pilate have a conversation over the question of “What is Truth?” Tonight we will analyze this passage to see what Jesus means when he says, “I have come to testify to the truth” and what this means for us who follow Jesus.   

Many blessings, 
Reverend Shawn shawngaran.com

What does a fig tree have to do with Jesus' take on the religion of his day? In this week's message we will take a look at the Gospel of Mark chapter 13 and see how Jesus ties his interaction with a fig tree to the interaction he has at his Temple.

Today we will be looking at the Hebrews 9 and see how the Bible is not a book stuck in time but rather a spiritual journal that speaks to the picture of God as a developing image that is getting clearer to us over time.

Today we will take a look at Genesis 22, the story where Abraham is tested, to examine it with modern eyes to see if we can take away something that helps us think about our faith.

Paul tells us many times in Scripture that the stories of the Bible have "secret and hidden" messages underneath them. Today we will look at the Story of Noah and the Flood, found in Genesis chapter 5-10, and see the deeper spiritual message of that old children's tale we grew up with.   Thanks for watching! Rev. Shawn shawngaran.com

It is hard to come to the Bible without bringing our preconceived beliefs to it. We all grew up with these Biblical stories and never really questioned them. In this series we are going through the Bible using our God-given minds to see if we might update our understanding in light of what Jesus taught us about the nature of God the Father. 

Many blessings, 
Reverend Shawn
shawngaran.com 

In our conclusion to this series on Jung and Christianity I boil down everything we have talked about this year and sum up what I think the Gnostics, Jung, and Jesus had been saying about the nature of our Self, God, and the people around us.

In this message we learn about how the idea of God emerged from the people of Israel and how that archetype of YHWH was realized in the person of Jesus. Knowing this can lead us to a better understanding of what we are called to do with Jesus as our model and teacher.  

Many blessings, 
Reverend Shawn 

A message I preached on the Book of Galatians and the Book of Acts. 

A message on the book of Jeremiah I preached awhile back. 

This is an older message I taught about how God changed from being someone who sits on a throne to being a God who dwells among us. 

In this episode we look at what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 15. This is a message I preached in February of 2019. 

I just wanted to share shortly on why I changed the name from Gnostic to Wholistic Christianity as some have asked me about that. 

This is a message I preached awhile back. It speaks to how the ancient people used stories as a way of communicating a narrative. We must understand that the ancient people were not recording history but rather trying to relay a message.

This week we will be looking at what Carl Jung has to say about the Book of Job and how it radically shifts the story of God into a more personal story of a Father who is learning how to love Creation. This weeks service will be outdoors under the tent.

This week we will be gathering together again for a new series that looks at Christianity through the lens of Dr. Carl Jung. Jung grew up as a pastors kid and was fascinated by the symbolism and meaning that this world religion expressed in its story and practice. His perspective will, I hope, give us fresh eyes to see Christianity in ways that inspire and encourage us to live out the call of Christ in our everyday lives.

Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, the Gospel of Philip looks at new a new text from the period of early Christianity that invites us to spark a new imagination around the person of Jesus Christ. Tonight we are introducing the character of Philip and seeing how his interactions with Jesus may have set the stage for how we look at this new and fascinating discovery from the 3rd century A.D.

In this message we look through the lens of the Gospel of Philip to understand the symbolism behind the Flesh and Blood of Christ.

Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, the Gospel of Philip looks at new a new text from the period of early Christianity that invites us to spark a new imagination around the person of Jesus Christ. 

You can find this and all my content on shawngaran.com 

Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, the Gospel of Philip looks at new a new text from the period of early Christianity that invites us to spark a new imagination around the person of Jesus Christ. Tonight we are introducing the character of Philip and seeing how his interactions with Jesus may have set the stage for how we look at this new and fascinating discovery from the 3rd century A.D.

You can find this and all my content on shawngaran.com 

Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, the Gospel of Philip looks at new a new text from the period of early Christianity that invites us to spark a new imagination around the person of Jesus Christ. Tonight we are introducing the character of Philip and seeing how his interactions with Jesus may have set the stage for how we look at this new and fascinating discovery from the 3rd century A.D.

A Sermon I gave in December 29th, 2019 where I talked about about Joseph Campbell's concept of the Hero's Journey in Scripture at Second Congregational church of Greenwich. 

Tonight we will look at a 2nd century (BCE) text that, I believe, illuminates a parable of Jesus and inspires us to awaken the spirit within.

You can always find this and more teachings like it at shawngaran.com

Tonight we will look at the Gospel of John chapter 8 which tells the story of a woman who was brought before her community because she made a mistake. The tradition and law she grew up in would have her condemned to death...  

But in this narrative, that would not be her fate.   

In this well known tale, we ask if there was another story being told, one under the surface, and analyze it to see how it reflects the grace and mercy of God through the person of Jesus Christ.

You can watch the video of this message and find all my messages on my website shawngaran.com

Tonight we will look at John 6 and see what this story means when we look at it spiritually. Jesus always taught in parables not with just his teachings but also with his life.   

To learn more about how Gnostic Christians read scripture you can check out Elaine Pagel's book, The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: https://www.amazon.com/Johannine-Gosp...

In the Gnostic Bible we find not only the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the Gospel of Truth but we also see the Gospel of John. With a Gnostic lens, we will look at this story of Jesus with fresh eyes and see what Elaine Pagels describes when she writes,

"Gnostic theologians do not necessarily deny that the events proclaimed of Jesus have occurred in history. What they deny is that the actuality of these events mattered theologically. Heracleon claims, for example, that those who insist that Jesus, a man who lived “in the flesh,” is “Christ” fail to distinguish between the literal and symbolic truth. Thosewho write accounts of revelation as alleged biographies of “Jesus of Nazareth” — or even of Jesus as messiah — focus on mere historical “externals” and miss the inner truth they signify.”   (The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: Heracleon's Commentary on John, 13, Pagels)

The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: Heracleon's Commentary on John (Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series)

In the Gnostic Bible we find not only the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the Gospel of Truth but we also see the Gospel of John. With a Gnostic lens, we will look at this story of Jesus with fresh eyes and see what Elaine Pagels describes when she writes,       

"Gnostic theologians do not necessarily deny that the events proclaimed of Jesus have occurred in history. What they deny is that the actuality of these events mattered theologically. Heracleon claims, for example, that those who insist that Jesus, a man who lived “in the flesh,” is “Christ” fail to distinguish between the literal and symbolic truth. Thosewho write accounts of revelation as alleged biographies of “Jesus of Nazareth” — or even of Jesus as messiah — focus on mere historical “externals” and miss the inner truth they signify.”   (The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: Heracleon's Commentary on John, 13, Pagels)

The Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis: Heracleon's Commentary on John (Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series)

Join us in the conclusion to this series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

Here is a special episode where my boss/friend/mentor, Rev. Max Grant and I have a conversation about the Gnostic texts I have covered here at Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. We do what we often do but with microphones. Please join us behind the pulpit and into the conversations that we often have when just hanging out during the week.

This is the audio version of a video we made and you can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPZfr1K3U_k (it may be still uploading but will be up soon!)

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Truth preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Thomas preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.

Join us in our series on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene preached at our Saturday Night Worship service here at the Second Congregational church of Greenwich, CT. You can check out our video messages at shawngaran.com

Feel free to pick up your own copy of the Gnostic Bible here at Amazon.com

And if you'd like to support our ministry here you can do so by using Tithe.ly giving here.