Date: November 30, 2025

Speaker: Rev. Jason Coker

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1–5

Welcome to the first week of Advent at The Collective Table. In this episode, Co-Lead Minister Jason Coker explores the season's first theme: Hope.

We often think of hope as a childish wish for magic—like the anticipation of Santa Claus on Christmas morning. But what happens when we grow up and face the inevitable disillusionment of the world? Jason guides us through the journey from "childish naiveté" through adolescent cynicism, and finally into what philosopher Paul Ricoeur calls a "Second Naiveté"—a mature, chosen hope that believes in peace even when the world is at war.

Drawing from the prophet Isaiah, we look at the radical vision of a God who teaches wisdom rather than conquest, and an invitation to turn our swords into plowshares right here and now.

• The Evolution of Hope: Moving from the "childish magic" of believing in Santa Claus to the "adult magic" of realizing we are loved by people who truly see us.

• Tribal Warrior vs. Universal Teacher: How Isaiah 2 shifts the image of God from a tribal chieftain of war to a universal source of wisdom and instruction.

• The Second Naiveté: Overcoming cynicism not by forcing God’s hand, but by choosing to believe in goodness and righteousness despite the evidence around us.

• Walking the Talk: A celebration of the Oceanside Sanctuary community’s 150th Anniversary and a reminder that our actions provide the evidence that this "naive" hope is real.

"When you go and try to conquer on that God's behalf, you have fundamentally said you do not believe in a God of goodness and righteousness and peace."

"We can be the evidence for the rest of the community... that this naive hope is worth believing."

• This Podcast is a production of The Oceanside Sanctuary.

• Scripture Reference: Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

• (00:00:00) - Advent Podcast
• (00:01:14) - Advent Message
• (00:09:16) - Isaiah 2:8-9
• (00:24:59) - Oceanside Sanctuary 150th Anniversary

In this special Sunday Sermon, we celebrate a monumental milestone: the 150th anniversary of Oceanside Sanctuary Church. Joining us to mark this occasion is guest speaker Yvonne Gilmore, who brings a powerful message on the legacy of "spiritual audacity" and the enduring power of community.

Drawing from Psalm 46, Yvonne explores the concept of God not just as a static refuge, but as an active force that "stirs the oceans" and transforms landscapes. She weaves together the ancient wisdom of the Sons of Korah with the modern resilience found in Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World—reminding us that true hope is a practice we perform even in the midst of global turmoil.

Listen in as we reflect on what it means to sing songs that hold true on both our best and worst days, and how a community deeply rooted in love can weather any storm to bring about a different manner of weather for the world.

• Celebrating 150 Years: A look back at the "spiritual audacity" that has sustained the community for a century and a half.

• The Power of Psalm 46: Understanding God as a "very present help" who calls us to be still and know—not to withdraw, but to witness the shifting tides of justice.

• Songs of Resilience: How Louis Armstrong’s masterpiece, recorded during a time of national unrest, mirrors the call to see beauty and grace despite chaos.

• Community as Refuge: Why our "best songs" are the ones we can sing together through both triumph and tragedy.

• Poetic Wisdom: Insights from Tracy K. Smith’s poem An Old Story on how our collective singing can transform the atmosphere around us.

• Support the Work: oceansidesanctuary.org

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to Oceanside Sanctuary Church's Podcast
• (00:00:44) - Spirit of the Living God
• (00:03:20) - Psalm 46
• (00:04:51) - What a Wonderful World
• (00:13:16) - An Old Story: Songs of Refuge

Welcome to The Collective Table, the podcast of The Oceanside Sanctuary Church, where we celebrate the intersections of Jesus, justice, and joy. Each week we share a Sunday teaching that connects scripture to the bigger conversations happening in our community and beyond.

This fall we launched a new series: “Unseen Witnesses.”
The biblical narrative is often dominated by a few famous names, but what about the countless others whose stories are just as powerful? In this series, we uncover the lives of lesser-known biblical figures who lived on the margins—yet whose faith and actions inspire hope, compassion, and justice.

Each episode explores the narratives of courageous women, marginalized outsiders, and quiet heroes who modeled compassion and fought for justice. These unseen witnesses challenge us to live more justly, love more deeply, and recognize God’s presence in unexpected places.

This week’s message, "Son of Encouragement", taught by Jason Coker from Acts 13: 1-3, was recorded on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at The Oceanside Sanctuary (OSC) in Oceanside, CA.

Listen now to discover how these overlooked stories invite us into a deeper experience of faith, hope, and justice. Learn more or support our work: https://oceansidesanctuary.org

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