Acts 2:1-18 Pentecost Sunday, 2022 A big question about Pentecost is not just, “Did it happen?” But is it still happening? Are we celebrating a past event or the continuing work of the Spirit in the life of the Church? Is God still speaking? God is still speaking has been our “branding” statement for the … Continue reading Listening for the Still Speaking God
Acts 16:16-40 The plot line in Acts 16 keeps shifting on the theme of who is free and who is not. Follow along. A slave girl is freed from a demon. She loses her tremendous financial value, so her masters want her liberator, the Apostle Paul, locked up. An earthquake frees Paul and Silas from … Continue reading Breaking the Chains
100th Anniversary of Harry Fosdick’s sermon May 22, 2022 Sermon note: Harry Emerson Fosdick spent summers here in Boothbay Harbor, where he wrote many sermons and books. He occasionally preached here at the Congregational church and many of our older members remember his sermons. Fosdick married our minister of music’s parents, and was often seen … Continue reading Shall the Fundamentalists Win?
Acts 9:1-19 May 15, 2022 Saul’s confrontation with Christ on the road to Damascus has one of the best plot lines- the bad guy gets humbled and becomes the good guy. We love it when the villain has a change of heart and becomes a hero. Scrooge and the Grinch discover the true meaning of … Continue reading In Praise of Ananias
Psalm 139 May 1, 2022 – Befriender Sunday A few weeks ago, I met with the Befrienders, and I was intrigued by their four principles, especially that "God is present." What does it mean to believe that God is present? What difference does it make to think that God is somehow present when we stop … Continue reading God is Present
John 20:1-18 April 17, 2022 The earliest Easter artwork, in the 4th century of Christianity, shows two Roman soldiers keeping watch at the tomb; one is asleep and sees nothing, and the other is awake and staring at the empty tomb. I love the mystery in this artistic portrayal. If you aren’t watchful and awake, … Continue reading Woman, Why Are You Weeping?
John 18:28-40 March 27, 2022 What is truth? Imagine that your life legacy came down to one three-word question caustically spoken under pressure. I doubt Pilate realized this episode would become the most crucial action of his life, marking his place in history. Most Roman emperors are forgotten, even though their power shaped history. But … Continue reading What It Truth?
John 13:1-17 March 13, 2022 I'm taking an online class for Lent about Jesus. You would think I know enough about the founder of Christianity after all these years, but I'm still curious. One of the books for the class is titled "Jesus: Lord, Liar, Lunatic…or Awesome!" It so happens that I have that book … Continue reading Leave My Feet Alone
Luke 9: 28-36 Feb. 27, 2022 So, Jesus is talking with Moses and Elijah, and I want to know what they were saying? Was it like clergy meetings where stories are told of difficult people, hybrid worship, or was theology parsed and argued? Were they lamenting the challenges of people who say they are “spiritual … Continue reading Shine: Transfiguration Sunday
Luke 6:27-38 February 20, 2022 I lean towards being a people-pleaser and peacemaker, yet I have managed to have enemies. Some conflicts resulted from my carelessness and a few from standing on principle. When I wrote an editorial defending the rights of women to make their own choices for reproductive health, a few people thought … Continue reading Why Should We Love Our Enemies?
With all my soul 