For World Communion Sunday Pastor Jeffrey focused on the uniquely powerful role of a shared meal throughout all human culture, both religious and secular. Sharing food . . . and recognizing the larger meanings of that act . . . defines our humanity.
United Church of Christ
Sermons (Page 13)
Drawing on the ancient story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness in need of water, Pastor Jeffrey offers some thoughts about finding “water” for the spirit during our seemingly endless journey through the wilderness of Covid 19, climate disasters and toxic politics.
“The last will be first and the first will be last.” Pastor Jeffrey tackles one of the more challenging concepts in Christianity: that God’s love is not doled out in proportion to our good deeds or hard work. Maturity is understanding that love is a gift, freely given to all, as illustrated in the Parable…
Drawing on biblical parables, today’s’s headlines and his own experience in ministry, Pastor Jeffrey explores forgiveness . . . what it is, what it isn’t, why it is very hard work and why it is essential in our lives.
At the end of a chaotic summer when few if any of us enjoyed a proper vacation, Pastor Jeffrey reminds us that life seldom imposes its needs on a convenient schedule. Real life is a series of interruptions, and it is in these “inconvenient” detours and unplanned moments that God is most likely to reach out to us. This service also includes…
What does it mean to be called? Starting from the mother of all Callings – Moses and the burning bush – Pastor Jeffrey asks why they are so frequent in scripture, and then looks at the quiet, but compelling calls real people experience every day.
Pay Attention! It’s a constant admonishment from parents, teachers and everyone else in our lives. It seems like simple good sense, but, as Pastor Jeffrey explores in this week’s service, listening well . . . being truly open to the quiet messages that could change our lives . . . is a skill that needs…
After a week full of tragedy and fear all over the world, Pastor Jeffrey re-visits the story of the loaves and fishes in both sermon and song (!) as a guide to finding personal peace and a measure of hope for our world. It starts with each of us believing that humanity – – that…
Pastor Jeffrey has returned from his brief vacation, and this Sunday we’re revisiting one of his favorite characters from early scripture, Jacob. In July, we explored Jacob’s vision of a ladder between Heaven and Earth. This time, it’s his famous wrestling match with God. Could it possibly have any serious relevance for us today? Listen…
Michael Meehan is our guest preacher this Sunday, as Pastor Jeffrey takes a weekend off for family. In addition to three Biblical texts, Michael finds a lesson for our year of COVID in the lyrics of “Eleanor Rigby.” As an added treat, Lucinda Ray and Charles Little provide two hymns, complete with piano and banjo…