I Samuel 3:1-10 January 17, 2021 Samuel heard a voice—three times. A child assisting in the temple, he assumed the voice was the aging priest Eli asking for a cup of water. Finally, with Eli’s help, he realized he was being called to holy work. Hard work, for his first task was to bring a […]
Realigning
Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 It happened on Epiphany—the Christian holiday whose name means “awakening.” It was certainly an awakening—to truths we have known for a long time but may have been tempted to ignore. On Wednesday, January 6th, I watched in horror as a mob stormed the Capitol. The images of angry men and women […]
Virtual Epiphany
Dear friends, For the last twenty-four years, we have celebrated Epiphany in a joint worship service with our friends at Plymouth Church. This year, of course, it will look different, as we join together in a combined Zoom worship service on Sunday, January 3. We have invited Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly to preach in her […]
Softly, Listen
Luke 2:8-20 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark December 20, 2020 It was a deceptively peaceful scene, at least as it is depicted in children’s books and Christmas pageants: shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. From our urban and suburban vantage points, we envision gentle people sitting quietly on a […]
Living Bridges
Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark December 6, 2020 On a sunny afternoon in late October, Jeannie and I leapt into my car and headed to Nobscot Reservation for a hike. The day before, in our staff zoom, we had brainstormed creative ways to make scripture come alive–like reading a stormy scripture […]
December Special Offering: Presents for Pathways
Donate online or mail your check by Sunday, December 13During the first two Sundays of December our special offering will be for Pathways Family Shelter in Framingham. We have had a long relationship with Pathways, and most years we invite you to buy items for the children or parents to enjoy as Christmas presents. This […]
December Worship
Throughout December, we will continue to worship in our homes via Zoom Sunday, December 6 at 10:00am, Holy Communion; Second Sunday in AdventThe Gift of Renewal; Lighting the Candle of PeaceIsaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8; Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark preachingPlease prepare elements to join in communion; you will have an opportunity to turn on your […]
Herald of Good Tidings
Dear friends, On a sunny Friday afternoon in November, Nicola and I put on our masks, grabbed our cell phones and hiked up to Tippling Rock. We stopped a few times along the way—at a field where the grass was brown, at a bridge that leveled out the path, and finally on top of […]
Torn Open
Isaiah 64:1-4; Mark 13:24-37 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark November 29, 2020 “Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence.” I love this passage from Isaiah, and I hate it. I am drawn to the poetry that expresses such deep human longing—longing for […]
Into the Deep Water
Luke 5:1-11 November 15, 2020 Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark The story begins with exhaustion and frustration. Simon, James and John are cleaning their nets after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. They are weary. They are discouraged. They are worried. With no fish, how will they feed their families? How will they pay off […]