The one thousand sermons of this archive are a record of the thoughtful steps in Richard Rhem's journey as it deepened in the 1980s and then continued to evolve from a conservative beginning until it led him to his ultimate understanding: an open mind and a warm heart must be grounded in the Way of Love, and must affirm the quest and insight of all faiths. On that foundation can be built a community that practices religion not as dogma but as dialogue, mutual enrichment and understanding.
"Dick Rhem is the best teacher-preacher I have ever heard in my life." Marcus Borg
The Grace to Let Go As Death Approaches
Funeral Meditation and Prayer for Richard J. Westhoff
I Corinthians 15: 42-44, 50, 53-58; Luke 23:32-34, 44-46
VBK Chapel, Grand Haven, Michigan
February 27, 2014
Funeral, Nature of Death, Grace, Community of Faith
Prayer in Memory of Marvin Bottema
Funeral Service
Spring Lake, Michigan
March 02, 2013
Prayer, Funeral, Community of Faith
A Profile in Love
Funeral Service for
Dorothy Kruizenga Boelens
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11, 13; I Corinthians 13;
John 14:1-3
St. John's Episcopal Chruch, Grand Haven,
Michigan
August 01, 2013
Grace, Community of Faith, Profile in Love
All Saints Day Prayer
All Saints Day
November 01, 2009
Community of Faith, All Saints' Day, prayer
A Final Act of Grace
Sunday Social Gathering
Grand Haven Community Center
May 04, 2008
Community of Faith,
Practice of Grace
Institution and Community
Epiphany VII
Psalm 84; Ephesians 3:14-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 23, 2003
Community of Faith, Spiritual Quest,
Openness
A Promise Full of Potential: All Things Are Yours!
Pentecost XV
Jeremiah 29:4-14; I Corinthians 3:1-15, 21-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 21, 2003
Community of Faith
For the Joy Of It All
Harvestfest;
Pentecost XVIII
I Chronicles 29:10-13, 22; II Corinthians 8:1-4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 12, 2003
Community of Faith
You Need Never Walk Alone
Confirmation Sunday;
Eastertide V
I Corinthians 11:17-26; John 21:9-14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 05, 2002
Community of Faith
What's the Holy Father To Do With a Mother Like Rosie O'Donnell?
Mothers' Day;
Eastertide VI
Matthew 19:14; I Corinthians 13:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 12, 2002
Empathy, Community of Faith
The Gift of Sabbath
Labor Day Weekend;
Pentecost XV
Exodus 29:8-11; Mark 2:23-28
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 01, 2002
Community of Faith, Open Mind
Mary: Mother of God or Jewish Mother?
Mothers' Day
Eastertide IV
Luke 1:35; Mark 3:21; Acts 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 13, 2001
Community of Faith, Mothers' Day
July 05, 2001
Nature of Religion, Spirit, Freedom,
Community of Faith
Signs of Community
Pentecost XI
Deuteronomy 6:4-12; 12:20-25; Mark 14:22-25
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
August 12, 2001
Sacraments, Baptism, Lord's Supper,
Community of Faith, Experience of Sacred
October 01, 2001
Fundamentalism, Critical Thinking, Inclusive,
Nature of Religion, Community of Faith
Remember Me Where My Heart Dwells
Memorial Day Weekend;
Eastertide VI
Psalm 84:2; I Corinthians 5:35-36; John 19;40
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 28, 2000
Community of Faith, Remembering
Mystery, Manifestation and Community
Pentecost III;
Father's Day
Exodus 3:2; Mark 1:11; Acts 9:3
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 25, 2000
Community of Faith, Spirit of God,
Inclusive
The Gift of Sabbath
Pentecost XIII
Exodus 20:8; Deuteronomy 5:12, 15; Mark 2:27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 03, 2000
Awareness, Community of Faith, Worship
Peter: A Rocky Road
Eastertide VI;
Mother's Day
Acts 10:9-16, 34-35; Galatians 2:11-14; Matthew
16:13-23; 26:69-75
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 09, 1999
Inclusive, Community of Faith,
Mother's Day
Scheduled to Death With Good Things,
Education Sunday;
Pentecost XVII
Joshua 4:6; 24:15; Psalm 78:4-7; Matthew 18:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 12, 1999
Consciousness, Intentional,
Community of faith
Keep Caring - It Matters
Pentecost XXII
Jeremiah 22:15-16; James 1:27; Matthew 25:40
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 17, 1999
Community of Faith, Compassion,
Theology of Grace
Every Family Has a Story
Mother's Day;
Eastertide V
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 20; Mark 3:19b; Acts 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 10, 1998
Community of Faith, Traditioning,
Story of Faith
What Will You Do With the Story?
Confirmation Sunday;
Eastertide VI
Luke 24:31; Romans 8:38-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 17, 1998
Journey of Faith, Community of Faith
The Church: Has It a Place in the Spiritual Life?
Pentecost XIX
Mark 7:8; I Corinthians 12:7; 12:27; 13:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 11, 1998
Community of Faith, Prophetic Voice,
Nature of Religion, Spiritual Quest
The Church: The Celebration of Life and Death
Pentecost XXII
Ecclesiastes 3:2; 3:22; Romans 14:8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 01, 1998
Community of Faith, Mystery, Worship
The Awe of Worship
Pentecost XXIV
Isaiah 6:1,3; Revelation 5:13
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 15, 1998
Community of Faith, Worship, Awe,
Divine Mystery
Love Hurts
Lent IV
Luke 2:35; John 19:25-27
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 09, 1997
Community of Faith, Unconditional Love
What Defines a Family?
Mother's Day; Ascension
Sunday; Eastertide VII
Mark 3:35; Acts 1:14
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 11, 1997
Mother's Day, Community of Faith
Shall the Fundamentalists Win?
Pentecost XVIII
Acts 5:38-39; Matthew 5:17-21
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 21, 1997
Inclusive, Worldview, Fundamentalism,
Re-imagining the Faith, Community of Faith
The Holy Catholic Church
Eastertide VII
Mark 11:28; Ephesians 4:4
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 19, 1996
Community of Faith, Authority, Prophetic
Voice, Nature of God, Graceof God
Pastoral Prayer 1996
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 02, 1996
Prayer, Community of Faith
A Love Letter
Pentecost IV
Philippians 1:2
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 23, 1996
Nature of Community of Faith, Trust,
Gratitude, Grace of God
From Feasting to Fasting
Mardi Gras Sunday
Ephesians 1:17-19
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
February 26, 1995
Liturgical Calendar, Community of Faith,
Psychology
?Father, into Thy Hands...
Maundy Thursday
Luke 23:46
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 31, 1994
Maundy Thursday, Trust, Historical
Jesus, Community of Faith
Baptism: A Sign of Belonging
Pentecost IV
Genesis 17:7, 13; Acts 2:39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 19, 1994
Pentecost, Baptism, Ritual, Worship,
Community of Faith, Faithful God
Marks of Leadership
Epiphany III
I Chronicles 12:32; Romans 12:6; Mark 10:43
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 24, 1993
Holy Spirit, Community of Faith, Church,
Servanthood
Suffering: The Need For Another
Maundy Thursday
Luke 22; 14-24
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 08, 1993
Community of Faith, Passover, Suffering,
Job, Empathy
The Spirit Beyond All Human Religion
Trinity Sunday
John 4: 21-24; Acts 10:34-35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 06, 1993
Trinity, Community of Faith, Global
Community, God of Grace
The Risk of Seeing Too Soon
Pentecost II
Matthew 23:37; Acts 7: 54-55
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 13, 1993
Pentecost II, Spirit of God, Inclusive,
Community of Faith, Universality
Something's Happening
Pentecost VII
Esther 4:14; Mark 9:40
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
July 18, 1993
Community of Faith, Global Community,
Pluralism, Inclusiveness
A Means of Grace; A Sign of Belonging
Pentecost II
Genesis 17:11; Acts 2:38-39
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 21, 1992
Sacrament, Baptism, Universal Grace,
Community of Faith
Faith-Full Generations
Pentecost XV
Psalm 78: 5-7; II Timothy 1:5
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
September 20, 1992
Community of Faith, Meaning, Bible,
Unconditional Love, Nature of Faith
Moses: Somebody Has To Believe!
Pentecost XXII
Exodus 3:11; Hebrews 11:1
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 08, 1992
Moses, Community of Faith, Interfaith,
Institutional Religion, Trust
Do You Really Think He Is Going To Come?
Advent I
Acts 3: 11-21; Revelation 22:8-12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 29, 1992
Advent, Revelation, Spirit of God,
Community of Faith, Grace
Letting Go - Reaching Out
Ascension Sunday
Mark 3:35
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
May 12, 1991
Eastertide, Ascension Day, Mothers Day,
Community of Faith, Inclusive, Mary
April 01, 1990
Church, Journey of Faith, Community of Faith, Inclusive, Reformation, History of Faith
Introduction to Dr. Ira Progoff
Midweek Lecture
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 30, 1989
Progoff, Transformation, Hope, Spiritual
Journey, Symbol, Emergence, Insight, Spirit,
Interfaith, Consciousness, Nature of Religion,
Community of Faith, Global Community,
Revelation, Nature of Religion, Psychology
April 01, 1987
Diversity, Community of Faith
Leadership With a Difference - An Installation
Pentecost III
Joel 2:28; Mark 10:43-44
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 28, 1987
Church, Servanthood, Community of Faith
The Gospel of Radical Grace: No Human Invention
Pentecost XX
Galatians 1:11-12
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
October 18, 1987
Radical Grace of God, Worship, Presence of
God, Transforming Love, Community of Faith,
Tradition
Free to Care
Thanksgiving Sunday;
Pentecost XXV
Galatians 6:2, 9-10
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
November 22, 1987
Community of Faith, Radical Grace of God,
Freedom, Judgment, Unconditional Love to
Others
Life Turned Upside Right
Lent III
Philippians 3:10-11
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
March 02, 1986
Lent, Transformation, Divine Intention,
Covenant of Grace, Community of Faith
It is An Easter World
Eastertide III
I Corinthians 15:20
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
April 13, 1986
Eastertide, Resurrection, Eschatology,
Sin, Forgiveness, Freedom, Hope, Shalom,
Community of Faith
Christ Community: A People Who Belong
Pentecost IV
I Corinthians 3:21-23
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 15, 1986
Reformed Church, Community of Faith,
Ecumenical, Pluralism, Diversity
Living from Commitment
Epiphany I
Luke 14: 27, 33
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
January 20, 1985
Spiritual Quest, Epiphany, Followers of Jesus,
Institutional Religion, Nature of Religion,
Transcendence, Worship, Community of Faith
The Church: From Tradition to Mission
Pentecost V
Acts 6: 5, 8
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
June 30, 1985
Community of Faith, Followers of Jesus, Grace, Pluralism, Non-exclusive, Nature of Theology, Stephen, Creeds, Traditionalsim, Mission
November 10, 1973
Church, Reformed, Community of Faith,
Team Ministry