Sermon Text: Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration of Jesus Grace to you, and peace, from God our creator and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Mountaintop experiences. We’ve all had them. I invite you to think about your personal mountaintop experiences. They could be anything. Maybe yours was something huge and visible and shared like a wedding or a graduation. Or maybe… Read more →
Category: Sermon
Loopholes? Or justice and kindness? A sermon for First Parish of Newbury
Texts Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 1Hear what the Lord says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3“O my people, what have I done… Read more →
Searching for the kingdom of heaven: A sermon for First Parish of Newbury
Text Matthew 4:12-23 12Now when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea,… Read more →
The Holy Spark of Recognition: A sermon for First Parish of Newbury
Text: John 1:29-42 29The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him; but for this I… Read more →
Conversations to open up the future in God’s realm – A sermon for First Parish of Newbiry
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you in the name of God, our creator, redeemer, and sustaining spirit. Amen. For the people of First Parish in Newbury. Conversations. Let’s have a conversation about conversations. Texts: Isaiah 7:10-16 Matthew 1:18-25 When I imagine God’s realm of peace, mercy, and justice, I imagine it’s buzzing with conversations. Maybe it’s like a café… Read more →
Hope –be careful when you put it to the test – A sermon for First Parish of Newbury
For the people of First Parish of Newbury. Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God our creator and our redeemer Christ Jesus. Amen Texts: The Song of Mary: Luke 1:46-55 Isaiah 35:1-10 Matthew 11:2-11 How do you like this season of the year? Does it bring you lots of joy? Do you enjoy listening to Bing Crosby crooning Chestnuts… Read more →
November 20, 2016. Sheep, or goat?
This sermon was delivered to First Parish Church, Newbury, Massachusetts. This service was partially led by the young women and men of the First Parish Sunday School Texts: MATTHEW 22:36-40, 25:31-26:2 Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from Jesus our sovereign Lord, in the name of the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the creator of all that has… Read more →
October 30, 2016. Jesus Turns Evil to Good
This sermon was delivered to First Parish Church, Newbury Mass. Texts: Habbakuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 Luke 19:1-10 p 78 (Zacchaeus) Grace to you and peace, from God our creator and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen. In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues on his way to Jerusalem, to his confrontation with the temple authorities and the Roman regime, and from there… Read more →
October 23, 2016. The Tax Collector and the Pharisee in the shadow of the cross
This sermon was delivered to First Parish Church, Newbury. Texts: JOEL 2:23-32, LUKE 18:9-14 Sermon Grace to you, and peace, from the one who is, and who was, and who is to come. Amen. In these past weeks we’ve heard quite a few Gospel accounts of Jesus in our weekly readings in church. We’re hearing them the way the people of his… Read more →
October 16, 2016. The Covenant Written On Our Hearts
This sermon was given for the people of First Parish, Newbury Massachusetts. Texts: Jeremiah 31:27-34 . Luke 18:1-8 Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our creator and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Let’s take some time this morning to puzzle over the idea of covenant. Jesus sent his disciples –that’s us – into the world with the… Read more →