Exodus 3:1-6, 10-15 “The Power of a Name” I hesitated with my decision to continue with our special June series focusing on our National Parks. I came up with the theme and wrote the plans back in April. I wanted to give us a month of what I call, ‘fluffy’ worship. I wanted to create a month when we […]
Worship for May 31, 2020
Acts 2:1-12 “What Does This Mean?” “What does this mean?” I stopped the scripture there this morning, even though typically on Pentecost Sunday we keep reading. We pass quickly over the question, “What does this mean?” and keep reading about the disciple Peter’s idea of what it means. We keep reading and chuckle when those who were speaking […]
Worship for May 24, 2020
You can find the transcript of the worship service here: https://ucctcm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Eastertide-Service-2020-Read-Only.pdf
Worship for May 17, 2020
John 14:15-21 ‘2020 Commencement Address’ It’s spring. It’s a time for planting and blooming. It is a time of reemergence and beginnings. There are several rituals and traditions that take place in spring, but I think there is one that stands out. Graduation. Spring is a time for learners all around the world to celebrate an accomplishment. To receive recognition for achieving […]
Worship for May 10, 2020
John 14:1-14 “Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled” Two months ago today, the members and friends of First Congregational Church gathered in our sanctuary for worship. Church felt typical. I announced we would be extending our flu season precautions of fist-bumps instead of handshakes during the Passing of the Peace. A practice that we were already doing, […]
Worship for May 3, 2020
When I was a confirmation student, my class volunteered at a free community meal for the poor and homeless in Rochester. It was hosted at a downtown United Methodist Church on Saturdays and the meal was served family-style. That means that people sat around tables with friends and strangers, passing dishes of food. The volunteers were the wait […]
Worship for April 26, 2020
Luke 24:13-27 “Be Transformed” When I was a hospital chaplain, it was often my role to accompany families into hospital rooms to see their loved ones for the first time after a sudden illness or injury. Very early on, I started to notice that almost invariably the first thing they would say upon entering the […]
Worship for April 19, 2020
John 20:19-31 “Tethered” Did you know that you can watch a live stream of a spacewalk, broadcast from the International Space Station and NASA mission control? I found myself watching one last year during an afternoon of procrastination. I didn’t watch the whole thing, in fact most spacewalks go on for about 8 hours. But, for about an afternoon […]
Worship Materials for April 5, 2020
“The Lord Has Need of It” Rev. Danielle K Bartz So often on Palm Sunday, the start of the holiest week for Christians, we have a triumphal service. We shout Hosanna and wave our palms. We celebrate that Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, after a few years of wandering in the countryside and ministering to the most in […]
Worship for March 29, 2020
John 11 Selected Verses Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,[a] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But […]