Sermons | First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH

Exodus 3:13-15 (NRSV) In the play “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim, there’s a wonderful little scene between the two brother princes. The younger brother has met a girl, high in a tower in the woods, with whom he immediately fell desperately in love. Talking with his brother prince about it, he mentions that her […] The post I Am! Has Sent Me appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 16:13-20 (NRSV) A few years ago, Pam and I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Italy for a few days with my clergy group through a grant from the Lily Foundation. It ended up being one of the best trips we’ve ever taken, but it didn’t start out that way. Pam and I […] The post Who Do You Say I Am? appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

John 4:1-15 (NRSV) Whenever I do bible study, I like to encourage people to do more than just read the bible. There’s certainly much to be learned by just reading the bible, but there is a great deal more to be learned if we’re willing to do a little background research. Today’s story is a […] The post The Woman at the Well appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 14:13-32 (NRSV) How are you feeling? No seriously. How are you holding up in the midst of everything that’s going on these days? It’s pretty quiet at our house, most of the time. Like a lot of you, Pam and I have been hunkered down at home for months. There’s not a lot of […] The post Learning From Loneliness appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Romans 8:28-39 (NRSV) Are you familiar with the artwork of Andrew Wyeth? I don’t think I had ever heard of him before going to Maine. But, like a lot of people, after I moved to Camden, I grew to appreciate his work. It seems to be on display everywhere. He’s something of a native son […] The post If God is For Us… appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (NRSV) Lord, You have searched me and known me. You are acquainted with all my ways. You lay your hand upon me…. Let me ask you. What kinds of feelings come up for you when you hear that? Do you like the idea? God knows you inside and out, better than you […] The post The Great Companion appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

John 3:11-17 (NRSV) Once upon a time, way back in my Coast Guard days, I had a chance to attend a football game at North Carolina State University. I’m not an active football fan. Actually, I’m not much of a sports fan of any kind, but I do enjoy watching a game now and then. […] The post God So Loved the World appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV) There’s an old song that Roberta Flack used to sing called “Tryin’ Times.” Tryin’ times, is what the world is talking about. You got confusion all over the land. Mother against daughter, father against son, The whole thing is gettin’ out of hand. But folks, folks wouldn’t have to suffer If there […] The post Hope Does Not Disappoint appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV) Psalm 100 (NRSV) Most of you know that our First Congregational Church of Manchester has a history that goes back to the early 1800’s. But the denomination we belong to, the United Church of Christ, has only been around for 63 years now. The UCC began in 1957 with the joining together […] The post In the Beginning, God… appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

First Corinthians 14:1-2, 6, 12, 18-19 (NRSV) I begin with a story. “Once several members of a Hasidic congregation had become hopelessly lost in a dense forest. They were delighted when unexpectedly they came upon their rabbi who was also wandering through the woods. They implored, “Master, we are lost! Please show us the way […] The post Five Words with My Mind appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Joshua 4:1-7 (NRSV) Most everybody remembers the story of the parting of the Red Sea. Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. The Pharaoh’s Army was hot on their trail and the sea lay before them as an impassable barrier. But then Moses lifted up his staff and the power of God caused […] The post In Living Memory appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

First Peter 3:13-18 (NRSV) Before I came to Manchester, I served a church on the coast of Maine for fourteen years. When I first moved there, I quickly learned that my congregation in Camden was made up of two different kinds of people. There were Mainers, and there were not-Mainers. The not-Mainers were called “people […] The post In the World, But Not Of the World appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Luke 2:41-52 (NRSV) I was hoping that we would all be back in church and I would be able to have a skit to start off my sermon.  However it was not to be, so I am going to read the script, but I want you to use your imaginations.  I was hoping to have […] The post Mother’s Day Sermon appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Psalm 16 (NRSV) I’m sure you all remember the story of Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White; about Charlotte the spider who saves the life of Wilbur the pig by weaving miraculous words into her web. It’s one of our all-time favorite children’s stories. Maybe you also know that E. B. White was a poet […] The post For My Returning appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Ezekiel 37:1-6 (NRSV) Let me tell you about the prophet Ezekiel. Among the major prophets of the Old Testament, Ezekiel is, without a doubt, the most colorful. Read through his book sometime, right off the bat you’re going to be confronted with some of the most fantastic images in the whole Bible. He begins with […] The post Dem Bones appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 5:17-20 (NRSV) Back when I was about halfway through seminary, I took a job as a student pastor for two churches in Heath and Rowe, in Northwestern Massachusetts. Every week, I would travel back and forth to Boston for classes, and every time I did, I would pass by a little church on the […] The post The Lesson of Scripture appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NRSV) Today, we begin the season of Lent, the season leading up to the great passion of Holy Week and Easter. For the next few weeks, I’m going to preach about some of the wisdom from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It can be found in Matthew’s gospel, chapters five through seven. Jesus […] The post The Lesson of Authenticity appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Second Peter 1:16-21 (NRSV) I’d like to tell you a story this morning; a personal story. When I was in the ninth grade, I attended a Methodist youth camp that ended up being my first direct experience with evangelism. I was at a point in my life where things weren’t going very well. My parents […] The post Can I Get a Witness?! appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NRSV) A few years ago, I was driving through Fairfield, Connecticut with my daughter Corinne in the car. We passed by a big, new building, the entire front of which was made of glass. I turned to Corinne and said, “You know what they say about people who live in glass houses.” Turns […] The post Glass Houses appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.

Matthew 16:24-27 (NRSV) Four years ago, when I was still getting my feet on the ground as your new pastor, I preached a sermon on Groundhog Day. Last week, as I was looking ahead at my preaching schedule, I happened to notice that this year Groundhog Day falls on a Sunday: today, in fact. I […] The post Groundhog Day, Again appeared first on First Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.