Earlier this year I was researching my mom’s grandparents, my mom’s mom’s family, and I found my great-grandfather’s application for citizenship in this country. My grandmother’s parents emigrated from Italy in the early 1900’s and they settled in Maine. They … Continue reading Translating the Gospel: Sermon for Pentecost, June 4, 2017
An audio recording of this sermon is available here. When you’re telling a story, there are two ways to do it. One is that you can focus on a very short period of time, like a year, or even a … Continue reading Our Story: Sermon for the 379th Anniversary of the Congregational Church in Exeter, April 2, 2017
From time to time someone will email me asking for help in finding a church. Quite often they are looking because they experienced some sort of rejection from a former faith community. If I know of a a church in … Continue reading Does “All Are Welcome” Really Mean “All Are Welcome”?: Some tips on finding a welcoming church
1 Samuel 16:1-13 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the … Continue reading What God Sees, and What We Miss: Sermon for March 30, 2014
Matthew 21:23-32 21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 21:24 Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say … Continue reading “Jesus Doesn’t Reject People” – Sermon for September 25, 2011
