Sermons
Most Recent Sermon
Baptized in Love
Who remembers the day of your baptism? Anyone? Maybe a few of us were baptized as adults. Perhaps some of us have not been baptized. But, I imagine most of us were baptized as infants. In some ways, this is really too bad because we cannot remember what it felt like or what it meant in the moment to be baptized.
Please close your eyes and let’s begin to imagine the day of your baptism.
Previous Sermons
A Gift to God
“Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” How we understand what this one verse says, may reveal more about the way we think, than it does about what it actually means. As residents of a country that has...
Peace in the Midst
A day does not go by that I do not hear someone say, “I am just so worried about….” It might be the election, or climate change, or the results of a COVID test, or the health of a loved one… these days, the list goes on and on. We are living in an anxious, a deeply anxious, age.
Changing Us, Changing the World
How many of you have been fortunate enough to share part of your life with an animal? A dog, cat, bird, guinea pig, rabbit, chickens, horse? It’s so wonderful for us to live with animals. Think back to a time when you had to say goodbye - when a creature you loved...
Commemorating the Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Visit
(N.B., Rather than a traditional sermon, we heard from Swami Yogatmananda on "Religion as Realization.")Video of Service
Seasons of Life
(N.B., Rather than give a traditional sermon, Rev. Sue gave a series of reflections on the meaning of “Seasons of Life” for our congregation this year.)One of the unique aspects of who we are as a congregation, is that whether or not someone participates in the...
A Way Out of No Way
Back in August of 2014, David and I traveled from our home in upstate NY to Rockport for the weekend with the intent of finding a place to rent as we started a new chapter in our lives. I had scoured the online resources before we made the trip and only found...
To Take Up the Cross
"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow in my footsteps.” In 1981, when I graduated from high school in Niskayuna, New York (a suburb of Schenectady), I vowed to never again live in Niskayuna or any suburb like...
Sermon & Guided meditation: Harmony of Body, Mind and Spirit
Guest Presiders, Captain James Ashton (Sermon) and Rev. Brigid Beckman (Meditation). Sermon: Hello Everyone I am so happy to be with you this morning and to be alongside my friend Rev. Brigid as we reflect upon our scripture reading. I will be sharing with you a short...
Guided Meditation: Making it Safely to the Other Side
This morning, rather than a traditional sermon, I offered a guided meditation because the scripture we just heard lends itself so well to this form of spiritual practice. Forms of guided meditation are part of many of the world’s religious traditions, including...
The Open Door
By guest preacher, Julie LaFontaineGood morning! It is a pleasure to be here in this meeting house —steeped in 292 years of history and service to the community. I am deeply honored to sit with you in this special place. My name is Julie LaFontaine. Those of you who...
To Create a Miracle
This morning I have two questions for you. Number one: Of all the problems in the world, what are you most concerned about? What really worries you? Second question: Is there anything you can do about it? Be honest with yourself. Do you believe there is anything you...
How Do We Move a Mountain?
By guest preacher, Lindsay CrouseHow do we move a mountain? I think it’s a question I think we’re all asking ourselves at this moment. In the passage in Matthew the mountain seems huge and impassable, and the mustard seed insignificantly small. But Christ is saying...