A Different Way
A sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min. January 1, 2012 Matthew 2:1‑12 (Common English Bible) Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? I have: spend more time with family and fewer evenings working, tone up this 6-decade old body, and enjoy life more. Sound familiar? Same resolutions I make every year. In fact, these [...]
What Kind of Greeting is This?
Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation I’ve been feeling nostalgic. Christmas does that. I’ve even gotten my annual Christmas cold to make everything feel familiar. By my count this is the 40th Christmas season I’ve preached, now 23 with you all. Each year we’ve had four Advent Sundays and two or more services on Christmas [...]
Shining in the Darkness
A Sermon By The Rev. Elsa A. Peters John 1:5-9, 19-28 Who are you? the priests and Levites ask. It doesn’t matter what John says — as they aren’t really listening anyway. They’re too caught up in their expectations. They don’t hear how John repeats himself. They just assume he’s refusing to answer. Then who [...]
God Gets It!
A Sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min. Isaiah 40:1-11 We’re surrounded by mystery; things we can’t understand. You may have heard this past week the British Intelligence agency GCHQ has created an online coded puzzle as a way to identify young adults who have what it takes to become spies. There are screens of [...]
When God is Silent
Sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min., November 27, 2011 Isaiah 64:1-9 On this first Advent Sunday, at the tail-end of Thanksgiving week, there’s a danger of whiplash. Since last Sunday hundreds of pounds of Thanksgiving food have gone out into the community; the red paraments on the altar have gone and the purple [...]
God Makes It Good – Not Always Easy
A Sermon By John Brierly McCall, D. Min. – November 20, 2011 Deuteronomy 8:6-20 Our scriptures are so rich and filled with spiritual wisdom. There’s poetry and prophecy and history and theology and so much more, all wrapped together. As a whole scripture tells us of the relationship of God to God’s people across the [...]
One
John 17:20-26 Seven billion. There are now seven billion people in the world. And Jesus prays that we may be one. Over and over again, he prays. May all be one. As we are one. That they may be one. Completely one. But how? How can seven billion people become one? Completely one? In reading [...]
Dance with God
A Sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min. Joshua 3:7-17 You’ve likely argued with God, probably yelled and shaken your fist, too. Maybe it’s been a lover’s quarrel or a tug-of-war. But have you ever learned to dance with God? Maybe a slow, gentle waltz, or a wild, breathless tango? If you’ve tried – and [...]
Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No!
Sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min., Consecration Sunday, 23 October 2011 Luke 6:27-38 In this complicated world you’ll be a whole lot happier if you just accept reality: there will never be peace among nations; there will always be clashes between rich and poor; there will never be harmony between religions; there will always [...]
The Flip of a Coin
16 October 2011 The Rev. Elsa A. Peters Exodus 33:12-23 and Matthew 22:15-22 You’ve exhausted all other possibilities. You’ve consulted the experts. There are no other options. There’s nothing else to do. You’ve reached that extreme. A decision has to be made. So, you pull out a coin. Tossing it into the air, you [...]
Fresh Every Morning
Today’s message is unusual. You may recall the folks who went on the summer mission trip to Cherryfield had a fund-raising auction in March. I offered a “custom written sermon on the topic or lesson of your choice,” with the caution that the high bidder couldn’t tell me what to say AND wouldn’t get a [...]
Less is More
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 – The Ten Commandments John 15:12-17 – Jesus gives his followers one commandment I was a philosophy major in college. I think it still sneaks through at times. I’ve always liked big ideas. To be honest I didn’t major in philosophy just because it gave me the opportunity to [...]
Bended Knees
Philippians 2:1-13 Every knee should bend, it says. Maybe. Maybe it should be easy to bend — but it never is. It’s not just the movement. There are emotions in each attempt to make that joint actually bend. I’ve noticed this as my father winces in pain. I never seem to have the right reaction. [...]
In the Face of the Unknown
A Sermon By John Brierly McCall, D. Min. – Exodus 32:1-10 Matthew 20:1-16 Eat your vegetables and say your prayers. Always do your very best. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. God helps those who help themselves. Buy low and sell high. The more things change the more they remain the same. [...]
Crossing Our own Seas
Exodus 14:19-31; 15: 20-21 When we read the Bible we sometimes get stuck trying to imagine something that happened long ago and far away. This morning’s reading (which was wonderfully acted out) is a story that is so huge that we might find it hard to believe. Some of us hear it and think of [...]
Carrying Past and Present in our Hearts
A sermon by John Brierly McCall, D. Min. Exodus 12:1-14 We were lucky. The storm of the century turned west, further inland, and left us with minimal damage. Our hearts ache for those who sustained much more serious damage – North Carolina, New Jersey and the substantial losses from flooding especially in Vermont. With the [...]
