by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Texts: Matthew 3: 13-17; Matthew 13: 44-45; 2 Corinthians 4: 5-7 Becoming the Beloved A passage from the New Testament that we need to return to often is found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. We have this treasure, Paul writes, and indeed, I can think of...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
O POOREST COUNTRY, THIS IS NOT YOUR NAME: REFLECTIONS ON HAITI Click below to listen to the audio recording. The sermon was opened by Laura, followed by reflections of three SPF members: Claudia Petrie, Garrett Smith and Brynn McGlinchey. (No text is available for...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Texts: I Corinthians 12: 12-26; Romans 8: 31-39 Becoming a Family For One Another: Some Words of Appreciation for Jeff Miller Steve Jungkeit I’d like to divide this time of reflection into three sections. I’ll open with a brief word, and I’ll close as...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
Psalm 139: 1-14 (KJV) John 1:1-5, 8:56-59 and 14:7-12 Colossians 1:17 Reimagining the Divine in All Creation First remarks by Conrad French, Senior High Fellowship Member [Written text hopefully coming soon] Sermon Conclusion by Carleen Gerber This very day,...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Text: Luke 24: 36b-48 “By the Mark” Introductory remarks by Steve prior to the sermon. “I will know my savior when I come to him, by the mark where the nails have been.” That’s a line from a song by Gillian Welch, a song I’ll play for you in just a few...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
It is a pleasure to welcome Tom McDermott and Tom Piazza to our worship service this morning. This marks the second visit to FCCOL for McDermott, who also traveled on our most recent Tree of Life journey to Israel and Palestine. When he’s not in Old Lyme or...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
[A recording of the Hallelujah Chorus by the Senior Choir follows the sermon] Texts: Luke 24: 1-12; I Corinthians 1: 18-21, 26-31 The Parable of the Resurrection “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart).” Those are the words of e.e. cummings, words that...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
AFTER CLICKING BELOW TO LISTEN, YOU MAY SCROLL DOWN TO FOLLOW THE LATIN AND ENGLISH TEXTS [Steve Jungkeit’s opening remarks precede the performance on the recording] This evening’s presentation of Mozart’s Requiem coincides with the night we call Maundy...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
Luke 19:29-41 The Things that Make for Peace This has been the holiest of Holy Weeks. As you know, On Monday at 5 pm a group of us welcomed our beloved new friends, Zahida and Malik. We met as they began their sanctuary stay with us. We formed a small procession as we...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Texts: Romans 9:13; Luke 15: 11-32 Slanted and Enchanted V: The Parable of the Prodigal Son Throughout the season of Lent we’ve been focused on the parables of Jesus, reasoning that the words of Jesus are as important to consider as his actions. Jesus...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Text: Luke 16: 19-31 Slanted and Enchanted IV: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus During the season of Lent, we’ve been focusing on the parables of Jesus, the slanted and enchanted stories that he tells throughout his ministry. We need...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Text: Luke 19: 11-27 Slanted and Enchanted III: The Parable of the Talents The final lines of Shakespeare’s King Lear may well sum up the whole of the Christian Gospel. After all the misrecognitions, all the betrayals, all the bloodshed and heartache,...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Text: Luke 10: 25-37 Slanted and Enchanted II: The Parable of the Good Samaritan “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant,” is how Emily Dickinson begins one of her poems, a line that was shared with me after the sermon last Sunday. It’s a fitting way to...
by Mario Baldessari | Sermons
Texts: Matthew 13: 34-35; Luke 8: 4-15 Slanted and Enchanted: The Parable of the Sower When I was in sixth grade, I got baptized on a Sunday evening, and afterwards my grandparents gave me a Bible – this Bible. It was one of those red letter editions of the...
by Robert McCracken | Sermons
This morning we welcomed the Rev. Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager to the pulpit. Laura will start as our new Senior Associate Minister on March 20th. Following the service a special congregational meeting unanimously affirmed Laura in this new position. Mark 2:1-12...
