by Anna Jeide-Detweiler, September 19, 2024
This autumn, we drop into various stories of the Bible sequentially, starting at the beginning — following along with our young people in Church School. We look at the promises God makes with humanity and how those promises get broken. We look at our relationship with God and how we honor and keep it. As we make our way through the book of Genesis, this week we dive into the story of Joseph. Maybe some of you —like me — are familiar with the story of Joseph through the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You might recall that… Read More
by Kent M French, September 12, 2024
This autumn, we drop into various stories of the Bible sequentially, starting at the beginning — following along with our young people in Church School. We look at the promises God makes with humanity and how those promises get broken. We look at our relationship with God and how we honor and keep it. One night many, many years ago, an old guy named Abraham was staring out into the night sky talking with God. He was getting on in years, childless, uncertain about his future, but God assured him: Look up at the sky and count the stars if… Read More
by Kent French, September 05, 2024
This autumn we drop into various stories of the Bible sequentially, starting at the beginning — following along with our young people in Church School. We look at the promises God makes with humanity and how those promises get broken. We look at our relationship with God and how we honor and keep it. This Sunday is our Welcome Back Sunday, when we begin our program year and re-convene after our summertime travel and adventures. It’s a fun, festive day, complete with an after-worship picnic on the lawn. New Beginnings. Many of us are probably well familiar with the second… Read More
by Kent French, August 29, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. NOTE: This Sunday’s homily will not be broadcast on YouTube. Who is God to you? Someone human-like who loves you unconditionally? A severe judge? A taskmaster? Or something more abstract? A rushing wind? A misty cloud? Or maybe a mother hen? A soaring eagle? Is God something or someone as close as your nearest breath or as distant… Read More
by Amy Norton, August 22, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. A long time ago in a land far, far away, Abraham (our foreparent in faith) lived into a new way of relating to God that would have ripples down the millennia: the movable altar. (Ok, there were many things that Abraham did that shaped Judaism as well as what would become Christianity and Islam, but I’m focusing on just… Read More
by Amy Norton, August 15, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. I’ve always loved Psalm 104- it’s an exultant ode to creation, to each part of our beautiful ecosystem. I especially love verse 26, which talks about God creating the ocean, “and [the sea monster] Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.” I find special meaning in the idea that this giant sea monster that strikes fear in the hearts… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, August 08, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. One of my favorite books as a child was Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble. I loved how after a harsh storm, the bounty of the beloved family apple tree was transformed (spoiler alert) into a bounty of a different type of blessings: an indoor swinging vine and a special drawing desk. Our homilist this week, Deb H.,… Read More
by Amy Norton, August 01, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. My sister has often remarked, “thinking about the universe makes my stomach hurt,” and to be honest, I get it. Our homilist this week, Stella L. writes, “How do you feel about the unknown? Does it fill you with excitement—or with fear? The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,… Read More
by Kent French, July 25, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. Summer worship is at 10am in Willett Hall downstairs. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives instructions about how to pray (Matthew 6:7-15). It includes what we call The Lord’s Prayer. As we’ve discussed before, Jesus didn’t necessarily mean for us to quote this verbatim, but more as instructions about how we ought to pray, including praise, thanks, petition, confession, forgiveness, praying for others. How do you… Read More
by Kent French, July 18, 2024
This summer, we delve into the theme of “Sacred Places, Sacred Moments” hearing from our members about locations, physical spaces, situations, or moments in time in which they feel connected to or made room for the Divine. During the height of the pandemic, we tried an experiment with Sacred Hikes and Strolls — taking our worship and prayer outdoors in a time when we wanted to be together and also practice safe social distancing. Remember that? As we walked and talked intentionally in the Blue Hills, along Boston’s Emerald Necklace, Forest Hills Cemetery, Brookline’s Halls Pond, Waltham’s Prospect Hill and other outdoor spaces, I often… Read More
