by Amy Norton, December 08, 2022
This Advent, we are following the series From Generation to Generation from A Sanctified Art. Recalling Mary’s words in the Magnificat: Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48b, 50) On Sunday, we’ll re-read the story of when an angel visits Joseph, encouraging him to step into his role as Jesus’ father and Mary’s husband, despite his hurt and confusion (Matthew 1:18-25). Our Advent curriculum reminds us, “As far as Joseph knows, his new wife has been unfaithful to him and broken their marriage contract. And yet, instead of punishment, he… Read More
by Iuliana Mogosanu, November 30, 2022
This Advent, we are following the series From Generation to Generation from A Sanctified Art. Recalling Mary’s words in the Magnificat: Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48b, 50) On Sunday we’ll re-read the story of Mary’s annunciation, from the Gospel of Luke, the announcement from the angel Gabriel about God coming into Earthly flesh and choosing her as the surrogate mother. In my first sermon with you, I want to share with you how I learned about Mary. I want to lead your imagination into my Greek Orthodox… Read More
by Kent French, November 22, 2022
This Advent, we are following the series Generation to Generation from Sanctified Art. Recalling Mary’s words in the Magnificat: Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48b, 50) On Sunday we’re going to do a little genealogical review. I know, probably not what you come seeking in worship. But apparently Matthew thought it was the best way to begin the story of Jesus. It goes through three sets of 14 generations taking us from Abraham to Jesus. We’ll read all the names out loud, with a little matrilineage thrown in… Read More
by Amy Norton, November 17, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. In our final Sunday before Advent, having moved through themes such as Marveling, Crying Out, Saying Thanks, and Confessing, we arrive this Sunday at Celebrating! And in some ways, this theme encompasses all that have come before, as we hear the Psalmist’s reminder that amidst the sacred work of lamentation, amidst the gratitude lists, amidst the speechlessness at the wonders of creation, we are called to celebrate and praise God. This celebration doesn’t negate our sorrow,… Read More
by Kent French, November 09, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. Many of you know that the most important part of worship for me is the cycle of confession, assurance and passing the peace. Why? Because I really believe the cliché that “confession is good for soul.” We ALL mess up. We ALL get it wrong. It’s natural. It’s human. To admit it and acknowledge our humanity is important, clarifying, grounding. I also believe the cliché “to err is human, to forgive, divine.” The Words of Assurance and… Read More
by Amy Norton, October 27, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. In Sunday’s Gospel story, we hear a story of ten men with skin diseases (assumed to be leprosy) who ask Jesus for help. The story explains that “when Jesus saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a… Read More
by Kent French, October 20, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. O God, how manifold are your works; in wisdom you have made them all. Psalm 104:24 Lately I’ve been watching lots of sunrises. And while I do, I marvel that we still speak of them as the sun rising or setting on us. Or as the French poetically say it in everyday speech, that the sun gets up and lies down. These colorful morning paeans remind me that ever since Copernicus’ 16th century celestial studies forever changed our concept of who… Read More
by Kent French, October 13, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. My friend Lisa is one of the best cooks I know. For years now, Robert and I have enjoyed regular meals with her and her husband Peter in their home, as well as ours. After I had knee surgery, Lisa came over and made a meal in our small kitchen. Once when I overcooked the pork loin, Lisa playfully encouraged me on how to up my game. I even had the privilege of taking a cooking class… Read More
by Amy Norton, October 04, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. This Sunday, however, we take a break from our curriculum for Indigenous Peoples’ weekend and turn to this message that God spoke through the Prophet Jeremiah: “This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those… Read More
by Kent French, September 29, 2022
This autumn, our worship follows our Church School curriculum, Seeking God Together. We are learning in worship alongside the youngest members of our community. This Sunday, we look forward to welcoming the Reverend Carrington Moore, Executive Director of common cathedral, one of our ministry partners that holds worship every Sunday, rain or shine on Boston Common for the city’s unhoused community. Many of you will remember when we have welcomed common cathedral and common art in the past. Reverend Carrington is also the Assistant Pastor for Discipleship at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain. Reverend Carrington writes: There is something very sacred and… Read More
