The Rev. Dr. Bill McNabb

Preaching during Pride Month, the preacher celebrates God's inclusive love and focuses on what he calls "the greatest verse in the Bible": Romans 5:1, which declares that believers are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ. He argues that after describing humanity's brokenness, Paul delivers the astonishing good news that God has reconciled humanity to himself.

Using the humorous story of Chippy the Parakeet, the sermon explores how suffering can suddenly disrupt life. Paul does not teach that suffering is enjoyable, but that God uses it to produce endurance, character, and hope. The Greek word hypomonē—the ability to "hang in there"—becomes a central theme. The sermon concludes by affirming that God's love remains present even in hardship, summarized in Karl Barth's famous answer: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

The Rev. Dr. Bill McNabb

Returning to the pulpit after five years, the preacher reflects on finding a spiritual home at All Souls and celebrates a faith marked by joy, inclusivity, and life. Drawing on Jesus’ images of salt and light, he calls Christians to enhance the world with delight rather than gloom and to shine visibly against fear and oppression. Through stories from history, personal memory, and scripture, the sermon affirms that love, joy, and small acts of light can become hinge moments that change the world.