Head and Heart Sermons: Recent Episodes
Plymouth Congregational
At Plymouth Congregational Church, we take the Bible seriously, not literally. Our sermons engage the head and heart, and follow the Narrative Lectionary (www.narrativelectionary.org). This podcast will take you from Genesis to Acts and the Epistles. New installments every week. Stay tuned!
Plymouth Church Choir sings "In the Garden" in honor of Vivian Miniter, a former member of the choir who passed in June and loved this song.
Prelude: "Sakura" ("Cherry Blossoms") Traditional Japanese, arr. Chris de Silva by Plymouth Congregational
Worship Music for Sunday, May 31, 2020 -- Pentecost. Dr. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano.
Worship Music for Sunday, May 31, 2020 -- Pentecost. Dr. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano.
Worship Music for Sunday, May 31, 2020 -- Pentecost. Dr. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano.
Worship Music for Sunday, May 31, 2020 -- Pentecost. Dr. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano.
Music from the sanctuary on May 24, 2020. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano, and the songleader is Mike Rodehorst.
Music from the sanctuary on May 24, 2020. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano, and the songleader is Mike Rodehorst.
Music from the sanctuary on May 24, 2020. Hugh Hinton on organ and piano, and the songleader is Mike Rodehorst.
Music from May 10, Mother's Day. Three pieces from Scheidt's Magnificat. Dr. Hugh Hinton on the organ.
Music from May 10, Mother's Day. Three pieces from Scheidt's Magnificat. Dr. Hugh Hinton on the organ.
Music from May 10, Mother's Day. Three pieces from Scheidt's Magnificat. Dr. Hugh Hinton on the organ.
Worship music from Sunday, May 3. Dr. Hugh Hinton as organist and Bruce Rogers as song leader.
Worship music from Sunday, May 3. Dr. Hugh Hinton as organist and Bruce Rogers as song leader.
Worship music from Sunday, May 3. Dr. Hugh Hinton as organist and Bruce Rogers as song leader.
Worship music from Sunday, May 3. Dr. Hugh Hinton as organist and Bruce Rogers as song leader.
Unfortunately, we only have recording of the things that took place in the sanctuary - our Zoom readers weren't audible on this recording. Still we captured most of the service.
0:00 - Prelude: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" arr. Dallas Blair, Dr. Hugh Hinton Music Director on organ throughout. 4:50 - Hymn: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" led by Mike Rodehorst (tenor) 9:30 - Children's Message with Puppet 13:00 - Hymn: "Crown Him With Many Crowns" 18:50 - Offertory: "Hail Thee, Festival Day" arr. Dallas Blair 22:20 - Sermon: "Holiness in Emptiness" Rev. Joe Zarro 33:48 - Hymn: "Day of Resurrection" 38:22 - Postlude: "Thine Is the Glory" arr. Dallas Blair
Music recordings from our online Palm Sunday service, April 5, 2020. Dr. Hugh Hinton plays organ and piano, and Betsy Draper is our soprano soloist.
Music recordings from our online Palm Sunday service, April 5, 2020. Dr. Hugh Hinton plays organ and piano, and Betsy Draper is our soprano soloist.
Music recordings from our online Palm Sunday service, April 5, 2020. Dr. Hugh Hinton plays organ and piano, and Betsy Draper is our soprano soloist.
Music recordings from our online Palm Sunday service, April 5, 2020. Dr. Hugh Hinton plays organ and piano, and Betsy Draper is our soprano soloist.
Rev. Joe preaches on Mark 12:28-34, the Great Commandment, and talks about the three aspects of this one commandment: To Love God, to Love Neighbors, and to Love Yourself (as loving your neighbor as yourself requires love for yourself). He then applies this to the upside down world of social distancing and quarantine during COVID-19
Includes the hymn "Our God Our Help in Ages Past" led by Mike Rodehorst, "Offertory" by John Ness Beck sung by Mike Rodehorst, and "He Leadeth Me" as arranged by Mark Hayes, played by our very own Dr. Hugh Hinton
Includes the hymn "Our God Our Help in Ages Past" led by Mike Rodehorst, "Offertory" by John Ness Beck sung by Mike Rodehorst, and "He Leadeth Me" as arranged by Mark Hayes, played by our very own Dr. Hugh Hinton
Includes the hymn "Our God Our Help in Ages Past" led by Mike Rodehorst, "Offertory" by John Ness Beck sung by Mike Rodehorst, and "He Leadeth Me" as arranged by Mark Hayes, played by our very own Dr. Hugh Hinton
Based on Mark 10:32-46, Rev. Joe begins with what is on everybody's mind: the Coronavirus. God does not send plagues to punish us, or to test us, but the spirit of today's scripture tells us that if we wish to be great, we must put ourselves in the service of others. During a time of crisis, that means solidarity, cooperation, compassion and love, not panic, indifference, or selfishness.
The Plymouth Church Orchestra reprises our rendition of the Corelli Christmas Concerto under the leadership of Music Director Dr. Hugh Hinton.
Rev. Joe preaches on Hosea 11:1-9, where God is likened to a father, and Israel to a son. Despite God's anger at Israel's injustice and rebellion, his mercy is stronger than his anger, and shows compassion. Rev. Joe talks about this popular metaphor of God as "father," but argues that God's emotions -- the pain, anger, love, and compassion felt by God and sympathized with by the prophets, is not metaphorical but a divine attribute. We have a God with emotions.
“A Northern Rebellion” [Old Testament Game of Thrones Part 2 Of 3] by Plymouth Congregational
Plymouth's Children's choir sings this fun song for Palm Sunday 2019, led by Eileen Caves with the congregation kicking in at the end!
Rev. Joe preaches on Jacob's marriage to his cousins Rachel and Leah, and how it demonstrates the ways marriage has changed over the centuries -- from arranged, sometimes polygamous and even incestuous, marriages to those based on consent, partnership and love. This sermon addresses the scriptural and theological underpinnings of affirming same-sex marriages, and for how our understanding of marriage can continue to reform and evolve.
Rev. Joe preaches on the Creation Story, and asks the question: Why did God create the world like this? Using Hurricane Dorian as an example of natural suffering built into life, we discuss why there are things like hurricanes and look toward "Creation out of Chaos" instead of "Creation out of nothing" as a potential answer.
Rev. Joe finishes his two part series on Sin and Grace on Romans 6:1-14, exploring what it means to live under Grace, and be saved by Grace, not works.
Outgoing senior Christine Cogswell speaks of a spiritual awakening studying marine biology on the coast of Maine, and her decision to go into a field that seeks to protect and understand nature.
Rev. Joe preaches on God's grace, but needs to talk about sin in order to do that. The two cannot be understood apart. However, once we see how sin is a separation of God, a state of being we all find ourselves in (not doing something wrong), we can see how glorious it is that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Wherever sin increases, grace abounds all the more.
One minute, the Apostle Paul is Hermes on earth, the next he is being stoned and left for dead. Paul learns the dangers of missionary work, and the lesson to truly love and understand the context you are in. You have a truth to share, like Paul, but remember to do it in love. Seek to understand as much as you seek to be understood.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on the Great Commission today, when our call is to speak to groups historically persecuted by the church. Our inclusive welcome of the LGBTQ community is part of living the Great Commission today, but we need to do more than set up shop and hope folks come to us -- we must go out and serve those on the margins.
Rev. Joe preaches that encountering is not flashy and supernatural -- it's not angels dressed in white or fog machines and laser shows. Jesus is among the living, found in our heart and our relationships with others, and is often revealed to us in subtle ways. Preached Easter 2019 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Belmont.
Rev. Joe contrasts two pieces of scripture: the crowds cheering for Jesus on Palm Sunday, and Peter denying Jesus early in the morning of Good Friday. We, too, struggle with how we reveal and "own" our relationship with Christ, but we should not be afraid to witness to our faith.
Rev. Joe preaches on Matthew 25:31-46, the final judgment of the nations and Jesus separating the sheep from the goats. He encourages us to see the good news of God's judgment, that it is not unfair, arbitrary, or tied to an overly literal translation of this passage. God is good, and so is God's mercy.
Rev. Joe preaches on Jesus' miraculous birth, how he is simultaneously perfectly human and perfectly divine. The scripture, Matthew 1:18-25, is about Joseph's internal struggle and being told in a dream to stay with Mary and name the child Jesus.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on Mary being chosen to carry the Christ child, and the leap of faith she took in God. We are all asked to trust in God, and not let comfort keep us from letting God use us for good things.
We say it every worship service -- God is Good! All the Time! -- but sometimes injustice prevails. Habakkuk, in times of trouble and unanswered prayers, complains to God and receives his reply. A vision of hope will see you through, and the righteous live by faith in God's goodness. So even when things are still hard, we still exult God for "God, the Lord, is my strength."
Rev. Heather Lucas preaches on listening to God's messengers in your own life, and in what has been planted in you by God. Scripture is Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on doing justice, using the new Robin Hood movie trailer as an illustration.
Rev. Joe Zarro preaches on Genesis 39:1-23 and how slaves cannot challenge their masters. We see that God is faithful to those in difficult situations.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on Genesis 12:1-9 and how God keeps God's promises. These promises may not be fulfilled in our lifetime but we need to have faith that God is faithful.
God is always creating and re-creating our world. God is an artist and we are a work in progress. Rev. Joe draws on the Hopi Flood Myth to illustrate the ancient and global nature of the flood story, and questions whether humans have improved since the days of Noah, when our wickedness led to our destruction. Reading is long, excerpts from Genesis 6-9, and the preaching begins around the 5:30 mark.
More and more people are leaving behind the label "religious." Rev. Joe preaches on the importance of being both spiritual and religious. We must be honest about the failings of religious institutions, but also the importance of being in community and participating in the Body of Christ. Scripture is 1 Corinthians 12.
On Memorial Day Weekend, Rev. Joe preaches on Isaiah's Swords to Plowshares, and a dream of a Memorial Day when no new names are added to the list of dead. Based on Isaiah 2:3-5.
Anja, Anthony, Helena, Carly and Charlotte share their reflections on the day of their confirmation, Pentecost 2018, May 20th.
Rev. Joe preaches on the three Marys at the foot of the cross, and the mysterious unnamed disciple. Three Marys witness his death, and three Marys witness the empty tomb. Women played a critical role in Jesus' transformational ministry.
Rev. Joe preaches on John 18:12-27, where Jesus faces the High Priest and Peter denies him 3 times. He preaches on how tyrants use torture and false confessions to discredit people and destroy movements. Humans, when they are afraid enough, deny and betray, but Jesus stands strong. Spoiler Alert: Rev. Joe uses an illustration from the ending of Orwell's 1984.
Rev. Joe addresses a tragedy in Belmont, and the nation, and speaks to trusting God in our grief. As Lazarus shows, our fate is not death, but new life. Scripture John 11:1-44, Sermon begins at 5:33 mark.
Rev. Joe preaches on how Jesus knows our stories and sees us. We are known and loved. But do we know God? Do we see Jesus for who he truly is? The Living Water has been served, and we don't have to be thirsty. Based on John chapter 4, commonly known as "the Woman at the Well."
Rev. Joe preaches on John chapter 3, and tackles a big question: "What about our friends and family who are not Christians? Are they condemned?"
Rev. Joe preaches on the Wedding in Cana, where Jesus turns a serious amount of water into wine. The vessels can be a metaphor for our churches, how we must fill them physically and spiritually according to Jesus' instructions, and then watch the miraculous transformation that takes place.
Rev. Joe preaches on Ezekiel 37:1-14, the "Valley of the Dry Bones" with a message of peace. Rev. Joe's nickname for Ezekiel is "The Heavy Metal Prophet" because he is intense and graphic in his visions. Even when things have been stripped to the bone, God can still bring new life. But God makes us do some of the work, through faith and words of encouragement, of asking us to speak to the power of God.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on John 1:35-51, John's account of Jesus calling his first disciples. Daniel contrasts it with the other accounts (the "fishers of men" story) and shows how the different reactions of the disciples to Jesus mirror the way we, too, come to Christ.
Heather Lucas delivers a sermon on John 1:19-34 on the Holy Spirit's abiding presence in our lives.
In this sermon by the Rev. Joe Zarro, he discusses the pain that the exiled Jews faced being separated from the land God had given them and how Jeremiah's prophecy of a prolonged exile scared them. Joe discusses how the that though it is hard to find hope after tragedy, God is the only one that can give us the strength to begin again.
The Plymouth Congregational Church in Belmont's choir sings "He Never Failed Me Yet" with Soloist Lyndsay McCaffery. The score was arranged by Robert Ray.
Sermon by the Rev. Joe Zarro on Isaiah 9:1-9. Joe gives hope to those who feel as though they are trapped in the darkness of this world.
Sermon by guest preacher, the Rev. Megan Snell, co-pastor of the Open Table Dinner Church in Cambridge, MA. Megan connects how caring for our physical needs works to care for our spiritual needs.
Offertory Solo by Bruce Rogers, Tenor. Bruce is singing "The Lord's Prayer" arranged by Albert Malotte.
Sermon by the Rev. Joe Zarro on 1 Samuel 16:1-16. Joe retells the story of David being anointed, while comparing it to other biblical figures such as Samuel and his growth in scripture.
Sermon by the Rev. Joe Zarro of 1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13. Joe discusses humanities attend to confine God in places of worship, but that God is so much greater than our buildings can hold.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches on 1 Kings 19:1-18, and how God comforted Elijah in his deepest despair, and set him back on track for his holy task. God comes to us when we are feeling like we are at rock bottom.
Rev. Joe preaches in Massachusetts as Hurricane Irma strikes Florida, exploring the question of "Is God's Creation Really Good?" When things go wrong, Rev. Joe looks to the many things that have to go "right" for our lives to be possible.
Seminarian Daniel Adam preaches his debut sermon on Exodus 16:1-18, the story of God providing manna from heaven for the Israelites in the wilderness. By trusting daily, and trusting in God to provide for the Sabbath as well, we learn to give up our stresses and worries to God.
Rev. Joe preaches on Pentecost on the "Spirit-led Church" that is guided by faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit, not tradition, dogma or legalistic observances. The reading is Acts 2.1-13, and as is the custom at Plymouth Church, Pentecost has a "Celebration of the Tongues" where lay people read verses of the scriptures in many languages. You will hear Arabic, Hungarian, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, Latin, German, and Italian.
The Plymouth Church Choir, with its very own Lyndsay McCaffery as soloist, present this Gospel classic on God's amazing power to deliver us. "He is My God and I will serve Him, no matter what the test! Trust and never doubt, Jesus will surely lead you out, He never failed me yet."
Rev. Joe preaches on Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21, and how God calls us to be faithful and fruitful. We affirm faith without works (or fruit) is dead, but it is the faith that saves us, and the power of God, not our own actions and deeds.
Rev. Joe preaches on the Council of Jerusalem, technically about Gentiles and circumcision but truly about whether we were to become a global church inclusive of different customs and cultures, and whether we have the courage to follow the Holy Spirit into change.
Former Seminarian Nancy Haynes returns as guest preacher and preaches on Acts 8:26-39, the story of Philip and the eunuch from Ethiopia.
Graduating senior Ben Lowry reflects on his favorite scriptures and his experience of growing up in Plymouth Church. Delivered April 30, 2017.
Taking a break from the Narrative Lectionary we welcome a guest preacher for our Seminarians Series, Amy Norton, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School. She preaches on Moses, Holy Ground, and the need for an "elemental" faith.
Rev. Joe preaches the Resurrection message that Christ is not among the dead, but among the living, in human relationships. Jesus didn't retire to heaven never to be heard from again, but is an active presence in our lives found in community.
Rev. Joe preaches on Palm Sunday on how Jesus is so much better than a King -- Kings are corrupt and violent, but Jesus is the Prince of Peace to show us a better way. Jesus practices power "under" people instead of "over" people.
Rev. Joe preaches on Zacchaeus and his active and searching faith that led to his redemption. Zacchaeus was a rich businessman who worked with the Romans against the interests of the local Jewish population, but turned generous and repentant based on his encounter with Christ. His willingness to ask, seek and knock brought him new life and Grace.
Rev. Joe preaches on food insecurity and justice as a matter of Christian concern, fundamental to our faith. Uses the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man to speak of the many people who are like Lazarus.
Rev. Joe preaches that "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom." This take on the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) focuses on God's reckless, foolish Grace for us, and how we are all the lost sheep in an existential sense.
Former seminarian Diane Seaborn returns to Plymouth with a sermon on Luke 13:1-9; 31-35 on Jesus' care for the people of God.
Former seminarian Nancy Haynes returns with a sermon on the Transfiguration of Jesus from Luke 9. She tells the story of her friend Dick who transformed a tragedy in his life -- the murder of his daughter -- into a state-wide prison project focused on rehabilitative justice.
Rev. Joe preaches on the Woman with the Alabaster Jar ("Allie"), and the way Jesus can truly see her, while Simon only sees a category (what "sort" of woman she is). He admonishes us to entertain the idea that maybe we can be more like Simon, not seeing how much we need Jesus, than Allie, who knows full well how much she needs God.
Rev. Joe preaches on how God's music is playing for us, but too often we find reasons not to dance along. John came neither eating or drinking and we said he had a demon, Jesus came eating and drinking, and we called him a glutton and a drunk. But the message is clear -- now is the time to act, to dance, and to be part of God's kingdom. Preached Feb. 12 on Luke 7:18-35
Rev. Joe preaches on the encounters of the Centurion and Widow with Christ, and how God's kingdom includes the powerful and vulnerable alike.
Rev. Joe preaches the day after the historic Women's March on Washington about how Jesus was the leader of a grassroots movement. He called simple fishermen and used people power to launch the largest and most transforming religious movement in history. Ain't no power like the power of the people 'cause the power of the people don't stop. Uhn.
Rev. Joe preaches on Joel 2:12-13 and 28-29, about the ways God is pouring the Holy Spirit on us -- that it's not about snake handling or speaking in tongues, but the fruits of the Spirit: love, patience, kindness, perseverance and more.
Rev. Joe preaches on Jehoiakim burning the scroll of Jeremiah, and the futility of trying to suppress the truth, as God's Word is indestructible. You can kill prophets and destroy books, but you can never kill prophecy or wisdom.
Rev. Joe preaches on Elijah and the widow, and how Elijah as a refugee and the widow as a host both needed each other, and God's power, to be saved.
Rev. Joe preaches on the Golden Calf. We may not have created a God like the one we have, but it's a good thing. We don't have the power and creativity to imagine or create a God that loves us like this.
Rev. Joe preaches on how the Passover Seder and Communion both tell an essential story of faith, and how food is so much more than fuel for our bodies: food is culture, faith, family, and love. It is at the table that we hear the storied of God's power to deliver and save us.
If you think your family is dysfunctional, read the Old Testament! Rev. Joe summarizes the story of Joseph, shows how God can redeem our bonds of humanity, and compares sibling rivalry to race relations in America. We know which brother has been wronged, sold into slavery, and it is only when we have a conversation with confession and humility that we can work on reconciliation.
The second in our narrative lectionary series, Rev. Joe preaches on the story of Abram being shown the stars and promised greatness. Joe recounts the last time he truly saw the stars, and how God's light is always shining this way, we just rarely see it due to anxieties and distractions.
Rev. Joe kicks off another program year of the Narrative Lectionary with the story of Adam and Eve, and how the forbidden fruit has caused alienation and estrangement in our hearts, and how God's Grace can overcome our separation and reunite us with God and others. John Dominic Crossan and Paul Tillich get well deserved credit on this one.
Rev. Joe preaches a Labor Day Weekend sermon on slavery and how we can see God in the stories of ordinary women and men in their struggle for freedom, and the ways they banded together to build a more just future.
Part one of a sermon series on prehistoric ritual practices, focused on ceremonial burial and evidence of belief in an afterlife (or something beyond life). Long before mastadons and sabretooth tigers went extinct, at the beginning of the last ice age, humans and neanderthals were burying their dead with belongings.
Rev. Joe shares the African proverb "If you can talk, you can sing" and how he went from a skeptic to a believer in the maxim. God has put music inside us, and singing is more accessible than you may think.
Rev. Joe preaches on the importance of being life long learners and the spiritual practice of study.
Rev. Joe preaches on how Omar Mateen didn't have to travel to Saudi Arabia to hear anti-gay messages, and how the Christian church needs to confess and atone for its role in dehumanizing the LGBTQ community. Also, lifting up the message of hope that is our Open and Affirming covenant and the rainbow doors out in front of our church.
Rev. Joe preaches on how even God takes a rest, and that Sabbath is not about doing less, it's about doing better. This is the second in a series on spiritual practices.
Rev. Joe preaches on hospitality as a spiritual practice, the first in a series, and on welcoming and including those on the margins, including the LGBTQ community. Preached on the morning that Plymouth Church adopted its Open and Affirming covenant, declaring itself publicly and explicitly as an inclusive church.
Seminarian Diane Seaborn preaches her farewell sermon on Pentecost and Acts 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:1-13. Each person has spiritual gifts for the common good. Delivered May 15, 2016 at Plymouth Church of Belmont.
Three graduating seniors -- Lowell Haska, Ryan Keeth, and Sarah Paolillo -- share testimony for Youth Sunday at Plymouth Church on May 8 (Mother's Day).
Rev. Amanda Howland preaches on 1 Corinthians 13>1-13 and the need to continually let love in.
Seminarian Diane Seaborn preaches on Acts 17:1-9 and 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, the founding of the church in Thessalonica and the greetings Paul sends them in his first letter to the church. She preaches on the difficulty of doing something new, and facing rejection.
Friend of Plymouth Church Donna Ruvalo, who lives in Belmont with her wife Lauren and two sons, shares her experience as a lesbian in a house of worship, and her work at the Unitarian church in town.
Rev. Joe preaches on St. Peter healing a man at the beautiful gate to the Temple in Jerusalem. Like Peter, we are called to raise up and heal those sitting at our temple wall and bring them inside with us.
Member Cathy Couture gives a personal testimony about her brother and the power of acceptance and the importance of being a welcoming church to lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people and beyond. She speaks of how her faith supported her and helped her do brave things to advocate for LGBT youth, and how a Catholic brother helped her mother love and accept her son.
Rev. Joe preaches on Acts 1:1-17, and emphasizes the concepts of transition and witness: Transition from the Gospel era to the era of the Church, and witnessing then and now to the ways in which God has moved in our lives.
Rev. Joe preaches on Easter Sunday that Christ is not among the dead, but found among the living in relationships and within our hearts. We have to roll away the stone that keeps us from seeing the truth of the empty tomb -- that Jesus is not a heap of bones, but an active and living presence in our world.
The Plymouth Church Choir and Orchestra offer two movements from Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria: "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" and "Domine Filii Unigenite"
Rev. Joe contrasts Jesus with worldly rulers, and a man who claimed to be Messiah, John of Giscala, showing that Jesus was a Prince of Peace, not a Divine Warrior. In His entry to Jerusalem, Jesus parallels a Roman triumph only enough to draw a big difference between him and Caesar.
Diane preaches on Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the Temple as a metaphor for when our Temples, our constructed worldviews, come crashing down and God gives us a new perspective. Delivered March 13, 2016 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Belmont, MA.
Rev. Joe preaches on the Great Commandment and what God truly wants from us -- not the appearance of love, but the reality of love in our hearts. Delivered March 6, 2016 at Plymouth Congregational Church of Belmont
Rev. Joe preaches on "power under" instead of "power over" and reads an excerpt from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon.
Karen Ingwersen and Ben Lowry reflect on the Belmont Religious Council's Interfaith Youth Mission Trip to Birmingham, AL. Karen looks back on over 20 years of leading such trips.
Rev. Joe compares the story of Jairus asking Jesus for help and the woman who secretly touches Jesus' cloak to be healed, and what it tells us about sexism and privilege in society, and God's reaction to it. Scripture is from Mark chapter 5.
Rev. Joe preaches on the nature of parables, and how the parable of the sower relates to the modern church.
Rev. Joe talks about old and new wineskins, our ability to adapt as a church, and the rigidness of the Pharisees. Scripture is Mark 2:1-22, and it was delivered Jan. 10.
Seminarian Diane Seaborn preaches on how the first miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark bring restoration and reconciliation of the afflicted with the community, and asks, where do we need restoration in our lives?
Plymouth Church open sings Handel's Messiah Hallelujah chorus as the postlude on Christmas Eve 2015.
Plymouth Congregational Orchestra plays "Christmas" Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6 No. 8 by Arcangelo Corelli.
A brief Christmas message on the meaning of Christ's birth as the substance of the Christmas season.
Seminarian Diane Seaborn preaches on forging a future that honors the past in the midst of uncertainty. Based on Ezra 1:1-4. 3:1-4, 10-13, a passage where King Cyrus of Persia ends the Jewish exile and allows Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed Temple of Solomon.
Rev. Amanda Howland preaches about embracing unexpected twists and turns in life using Isaiah 5:1-7 and 11:1-5.
Rev. Joe preaches about God's willingness to suffer for the sake of love, and how the "Old Testament God" is the same God embodied by Jesus Christ.
Diane preaches on the importance of putting trust above control, and how the powerful kings Rehoboam and Jeroboam split the once united Kingdom of Israel over their desires for control.
Rev. Joe preaches on how God doesn't belong to our leaders, and doesn't dwell in statues or temples, but belongs to everyone.
Ruth embodies Hesed, or loving kindness, when she clings to Naomi and promises to go where she goes. Delivered Oct. 11, 2015 at Plymouth Congregational Church
Rev. Joe preaches on the triumph of the Spirit of the law over the letter, and reality of moral progress.
Using Exodus 1:8-14 and 3:1-15, we relate Moses' call to liberate the Hebrews to our individual calls to leadership and ministry, and how to navigate the doubts that inherently arise.
Rev. Joe Zarro delivers this sermon on Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7. It preached on Sept. 13, 2015 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Belmont on its "Welcome Sunday" (first Sunday of the program year).