129 Madison Avenue 
New York, NY 10016

- Baptist. Just not like you expect!
  
  A joyful, justice-minded church in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.
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- Sunday Services
  - 11:00am ET
  - 129 Madison Ave, New York,NY Between 30th and 31st Streets
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  Nov 08th, 2026 | 11:00 am
  Sunday Worship Service
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- Music has been in our DNA since our founding.
  
  Our music program has historically served as a focal point of our worship. From Cher to Gospel music, we’ve got it all.
  Music Program
  - Madison Sounds Concert Series
  - Emerging Artist Fellowship
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  Nov 20th, 2026 | 7:00 pm
  Sankofa Sounds: America 250
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  Not in NYC? No problem – we offer many ways our Global Family can be a part of our community.
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  Nov 15th, 2026 | 12:00 pm
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worshipLive Stream Sunday Service

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Sunday Services

What happens when Jesus tells you to love your enemies, and your enemy has eight legs? In this sermon, Rev. Susan Sparks recounts a chilly morning encounter with a very unwelcome cabin guest and discovers an unexpected lesson in Jesus’ challenging words from Matthew 5: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Through humor, scripture, and a little sympathy for a shivering spider, Susan explores how we can begin to see beyond our fear, anger, and assumptions. Praying for our enemies doesn't mean excusing harmful behavior or abandoning the fight for justice. It means refusing to let someone else's actions determine who we become. When we make room for the possibility that others have struggles we cannot see, even the hardest hearts may begin to soften.

This week, consider the “spiders” in your own life: the people who frustrate you, challenge you, or seem beyond the reach of your compassion. You may not have to like them, agree with them, or invite them into your bedroom. But perhaps you can begin by praying for their well-being.

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ iTunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we're glad you're here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR

Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF

Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov, Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children's Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Pray for the Spiders | Rev. Susan Sparks

Pray for the Spiders | Rev. Susan Sparks

Nov 02, 2026

Welcome to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation where humor, compassion, and justice share the same pew. Who are the “spiders” in our lives, the people we fear, avoid, or struggle to love? Drawing on Matthew 5:1-10, 43-48, Rev. Susan Sparks's sermon, “Pray for the Spiders,” explores Jesus’ radical call to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, and how that kind of prayer can change us.

Today’s musical offerings feature tenor Ramon Tenefrancia, MABC Emerging Artists Program Fellow, who sings a 19th century aria “Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth” from Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn, an 18th century German Singspiel “Frisch zum Kampfe” from Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Mozart, and closes the service with a 20th century Filipino art song (kundiman) “Madaling Araw” by Dr. Francisco Santiago. Doug Shapiro sings contemporary Christian “O Calvary’s Lamb” by Chaz Bosarge, Bill George, and Tommy Greer © 1989 Word Music / Steps of a Good Man Music. We also gather around the communion table, remembering Christ’s welcome to all.

Meditation Questions

Who are the “spiders” in your life?
What role does fear play in how you see other people?
How can we show compassion while holding people accountable?
How might praying for an enemy change you?
Who is one person you could begin praying for this week?

For more videos like this, check out this playlist: Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ itunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR
Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF
Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov , Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, November 1, 2026 at 11:00 am

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, November 1, 2026 at 11:00 am

Nov 02, 2026

What does it mean to dream for generations we may never meet? Preaching from Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Rev. Patrick B. Reyes, Ph.D., President of Auburn Theological Seminary, reflects on Moses on the mountain, who sees the Promised Land but does not enter it. With help from volunteers in the congregation, he looks closely at Moses and his sister Miriam, and at what grief may have had to do with Moses’ final days. He asks what happens when we know precisely what we are against but have no picture of what we are for. Then he offers a vision of a world where children are at the center, where they can see the stars, and where we honor the ancestors who dreamed for us. Along the way, the sermon holds space for grief over children lost to gun violence and invites us to imagine a future shaped by care. It closes with a guided meditation to remember an ancestor who smiled on us, and a question to carry out the door: what song will we sing to our descendants?

Sermon Meditation Questions:
What does being a good ancestor mean to you?
What future are you making possible for future generations?

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ iTunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we're glad you're here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR

Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF

Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov, Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children's Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Good Ancestors | Rev. Patrick B. Reyes, Ph.D. | Deuteronomy 34:1-12 | Madison Avenue Baptist Church

Good Ancestors | Rev. Patrick B. Reyes, Ph.D. | Deuteronomy 34:1-12 | Madison Avenue Baptist Church

Oct 25, 2026

Welcome to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation where humor, compassion, and justice share the same pew. What does it mean to leave something worth inheriting? Drawing on Deuteronomy 34:1-12, today’s sermon, “Good Ancestors,” reflects on Moses standing at the edge of the Promised Land, able to see it but not to enter. It invites us to consider the work we do now for a future we may never fully witness, and how faithfulness today becomes a gift to generations still to come. Preaching today is Rev. Patrick B. Reyes, Ph.D., President of Auburn Theological Seminary.

Today’s musical offerings feature cellist Nurmira Salimbaeva-Greenberg, who plays “Amazing Grace” (traditional), arranged by Thomas Quigley, and “Elegy” by Muratbek Begaliev. Brian Long sings “I Need You Now” by Kelly Shiver (© 2000, EMI April Music, Inc.). The service concludes with Nurmira Salimbaeva-Greenberg playing “Happy Dance” by Kalyi Moldobasanov.

Sermon Meditation Questions:

What does being a good ancestor mean to you?
What future are you making possible for future generations?

For more videos like this, check out this playlist: Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ itunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR
Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF
Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov , Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 25, 2026 at 11:00 am

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 25, 2026 at 11:00 am

Oct 25, 2026

What do a record-breaking 3,156-pound pumpkin and Linus waiting in the pumpkin patch have in common? Both are stories of hope, but only one involves getting up every morning to do the work.

In this sermon, the final message in the five-part series “Good Grief: Learning to Carry What We Cannot Change,” Rev. Susan Sparks invites us to take the last step in the G-R-I-E-F journey: moving forward in faith. Using the true story of a Rhode Island farmer who grew the largest pumpkin in history alongside Charlie Brown’s “Great Pumpkin,” she asks a tender question: when grief leaves us waiting for a miracle, how do we find the courage to plant something new?

What makes this message so encouraging is that it never asks us to rush our grief. Sparks honors the seasons when simply surviving is all we can manage, then gently points toward one small step. Drawing on Lamentations, one of the rawest expressions of grief in Scripture, she shows that even in the ruins, hope can take root: God’s mercies are new every morning.

If you are carrying grief today, we hope this message offers a little light. Please share it with someone who might need it.

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ iTunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we're glad you're here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR

Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF

Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov, Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children's Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Tale of Two Great Pumpkins: Moving Forward in Faith After Grief | Rev. Susan Sparks

Tale of Two Great Pumpkins: Moving Forward in Faith After Grief | Rev. Susan Sparks

Oct 18, 2026

Welcome to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation where humor, compassion, and justice share the same pew. What do we do when grief keeps us awake at night, makes it difficult to face the morning, or prevents us from seeing the good still unfolding around us? Drawing on Lamentations 3:19–24, 31–33, today’s sermon explores the relationship between grief and hope, reminding us that even in seasons of deep sorrow, compassion and new possibilities remain. Sometimes hope begins with something small: a seed planted today that may grow into something meaningful tomorrow.

Today’s musical offerings feature mezzo-soprano Daiyao Zhong performing Bizet’s “Agnus Dei” followed by “Dopo notte” from Handel’s Ariodante. Jenny Lindsey, soprano, performs “Listen” and “Snake” by Heggie during the offertory. The service opens with the prelude “Blessed Quietness” and concludes with the MABC Choir performing Handel’s “And the Glory of the Lord” from Messiah.

Sermon Meditation Questions:
• What keeps you up at night? And what gets you up in the morning?
• When has grief caused you to miss something good happening right in front of you?
• What is one small seed you could plant today that might grow into something meaningful tomorrow?

For more videos like this, check out this playlist: Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ itunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR
Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF
Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov , Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 18, 2026 at 11:00 am

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 18, 2026 at 11:00 am

Oct 19, 2026

Welcome to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation where humor, compassion, and justice share the same pew. What if the struggles we carry, the past we cannot change, and the grief we feel about the world could become sources of hope and healing? Drawing on Jacob’s wrestling match in Genesis 32:22–31, today’s sermon explores how we make peace with our past, make room for both sorrow and joy, and discover how our own struggles can help others find their way forward.

Today’s musical offerings feature baritone Will Kim performing two selections from the classical repertoire: J.S. Bach’s “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein” from St. Matthew Passion, an aria of spiritual reflection and renewal, and “Di Provenza il mar, il suol” from Verdi’s La Traviata, a moving reflection on home and family. Richard Binder and Alex DeSuze (BinderSuze) also perform “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,” written by Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, and Andrea Gibson, and released by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment (2026).

Sermon Meditation Questions:
•What are you wrestling with in this season of your life?
•Jacob was returning home to face a past he could not undo. Is there something in your own past that you are still struggling to make peace with?
•What is happening in our world today that weighs most heavily on your heart? How might you turn that grief into meaningful action?
•Have you ever felt guilty about experiencing happiness or laughter during a time of loss? What might change if you gave yourself permission to experience both sorrow and joy?
•How might your own story of struggle become a source of hope or healing for someone else?

For more videos like this, check out this playlist: Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ itunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR
Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF
Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov , Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 11th, 2026 at 11:00 am

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 11th, 2026 at 11:00 am

Oct 11, 2026

What if some things in life cannot be fixed, but they can be witnessed? In the third week of our five-part “Good Grief” series, Rev. Susan G. Sparks reflects on an unexpected conversation at an airport and what it taught her about grief, community, and the power of simply being present with another person’s pain.

While waiting for a delayed flight at O’Hare, Susan meets a stranger named Harry. After hearing her frustrated sigh, Harry responds: “I’ll trade ya.” What follows is a deeply personal story about his wife’s sudden heart attack and the two days he spent beside her in a cardiac ICU. Susan realizes that Harry wasn’t looking for a solution. He needed someone to know his story.

Drawing on Romans 12 and Paul’s call to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep,” Susan explores the third step in our Good Grief series: I — Invite Others In. Grief does not have to be carried alone. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is not offer advice, explain the pain, or try to fix it, but simply put our hands underneath the weight and help carry it.

Susan also considers how grief moves beyond individuals into families, neighborhoods, institutions, generations, and entire communities. Through the stories we tell, the art we create, and the ways we respond to collective suffering, grief can find a public voice — sometimes through writing, organizing, marching, volunteering, advocating, and voting.

“Good grief” names what has been wounded. “Good trouble” asks what love requires us to do about it.

For more videos like this, check out this playlist:
Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ iTunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR

Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF

Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov, Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

"I’ll Trade Ya" | Rev. Susan G. Sparks

"I’ll Trade Ya" | Rev. Susan G. Sparks

Oct 04, 2026

Welcome to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation where humor, compassion, and justice share the same pew. This week, we gather around the Communion table and reflect on Romans 12:9–15, considering what it means to live out a faith grounded in genuine love, shared burdens, and care for one another. Through worship, prayer, music, and Communion, we are invited to consider what we might trade, share, or give up in order to build a stronger community.

Today’s music features guest artist Will Kim, baritone, who performs “Domine Deus” from J.S. Bach’s Mass in A major and “Betrachte, Meine Seele” from Bach’s St. John Passion. Brian Long offers the offertory, “My Blessings Come from You” by Larry Shackley.

Sermon Meditation Questions:
• What does it mean for my love to be genuine rather than simply something I say?
• Where am I being called to share another person’s burdens?
• What might I need to trade or let go of in order to strengthen my relationships and community?

For more videos like this, check out this playlist: Sunday Service: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXgZ86vvsz33kIx-zGPiYZTR4CKZBSBB

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ itunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we’re glad you’re here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR
Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF
Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov , Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children’s Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 4th, 2026 at 11:00 am

Sunday Service at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, October 4th, 2026 at 11:00 am

Oct 05, 2026

In part two of our five-part sermon series on grief, Rev. Susan Sparks explores what it means to "Remember the Rituals" — the small, sacred practices that help us carry loss rather than escape it.

Cooking her late mother's pot roast recipe during a fierce Nor'easter, Rev. Sparks stumbles into an unexpected reflection on memory and grief — and a troubling news story about funeral homes using AI chatbots to recreate the voices of loved ones who have passed. That collision leads into Psalm 77, where a grieving psalmist moves from despair to hope through the simple act of remembering.

Drawing on stories shared by members of our own MABC community — a Christmas Eve tradition, a father's pocket watch, a mother's morning ritual — Rev. Sparks reminds us that good grief doesn't ask us to let go of what we've lost. It asks us to carry it differently: through a taste, a sound, a story told one more time.

This sermon is part of our five-week series on grief, following the path: Grieve honestly, Remember the rituals, Invite others in, Embrace what has changed, and Move faithfully forward.

SUBSCRIBE to the MABC channel for inspirational videos every week:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mabcnyc?sub_confirmation=1

More at http://mabcnyc.org/
▶︎ Instagram: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ Twitter: @madavebaptist
▶︎ Facebook: @madisonavenuebaptist
▶︎ iTunes: http://bit.ly/Mabcpodcast

A DIVERSE FAMILY, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FAITH, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME

We welcome you to our YouTube Page! Our church is committed to being one which is inclusive regardless of race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic situation. Jesus gave us the supreme example of inclusiveness. In our human way, we attempt to follow.

If you are a visitor, we're glad you're here! This is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. We hope to see you again!

MABC CHOIR

Jenny Lindsey - Soprano (she/her/hers)
Karen Rich - Mezzo-Soprano (she/her/hers)
Alexandra de Suze - Alto (she/her/hers)
Richard Binder - Tenor (he/him/his)
Brian Long - Baritone (he/him/his)
Doug Shapiro - Bass (he/him/his)

MABC STAFF

Rev. Susan G. Sparks, Senior Pastor (she/her/hers)
Rev. Ashley Bair, Pastoral Fellow (she/her/hers)
Aza Sydykov, Minister of Music, Education and Cultural Programs (he/him/his)
James Clifford, Operations Director (he/him/his)
Troy Gordon, Property Manager (he/him/his)
Elizabeth Pustinger, Director of PR and Communications (she/her/hers)
Precious Gordon, Children's Church Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Reghu Ram, Head Sound Technician (he/him/his)
Travis Dover, Head Video Technician (he/him/his)

MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

129 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
MABCNYC.org

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: @madisonavenuebaptist

Chatbot Grief: Remember the Rituals | Rev. Susan Sparks | Sermon Series on Grief (Part 2)

Chatbot Grief: Remember the Rituals | Rev. Susan Sparks | Sermon Series on Grief (Part 2)

Sep 27, 2026

Other ways to worship with Madison Avenue

Bible Study

Every morning before service we meet for a Bible Study series.
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Dial In

Dial in on your phone to hear a recording of the most recent Sunday sermon!
- Dial in number 1-833-765-0617
On TV

In partnership with Manhattan Neighborhood Network, MABC also now broadcasts highlights from our church service on local cable access.

“Madison Avenue Baptist Church,” will air every Saturday at 7:00 AM EST.

WHERE TO WATCH IN MANHATTAN
- FIOS 35
- RCN 84
- Spectrum 1997

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