All posts by Bridget Peters

Past Sermons

Sermon, October 25, 2015

“Take Heart; Get Up, He Is Calling You.”
Rev. Thomas Cary Kinder
The Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ,
Bradford, Vermont
October 25, 2015   Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, Reformation Sunday
Psalm 126; Jeremiah 31:7-9; Mark 10:46-52

There is so much joy in today’s scriptures, and in each case the joy comes out of sorrow, when God restores or saves or heals people who have suffered.

We, too, can have the joy of the Psalm: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy!”
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Past Sermons

Sermon, October 18, 2015

Becoming Great
Rev. Thomas Cary Kinder
The Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ, 
Bradford, Vermont
October 18, 2015    Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 91; Isaiah 53:4-12; Mark 10:35-45

Today’s scriptures present a difficult problem to untangle.

Psalm 91 says, “Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you.”  And, “When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them and show them my salvation.”

That is comforting, but Isaiah says of God’s servant, “We accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.”  And, “It was the will of God to crush him with pain.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.  For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  And he said, “The cup that I drink you will drink.”

Here is the problem: Jesus made God his refuge and dwelling place, yet evil befell him.  He called to God on the cross, and God did not answer.  God did not rescue him.
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Mission News

Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Meeting

Dear Church Family,
Last week the Board of Missions and Social Action had it’s October meeting. We brainstormed many ideas to help in our local region and beyond. On Tuesday evening several of us will be attending the event below. If you are interested in joining us please call or e-mail me.
Ginny Moore
VirginiaMJMoore@gmail.com or 222-9675

WORKING TOGETHER, RESPONDING TO THE REFUGEE CRISIS, OCTOBER 20TH, 7:00-9:00 P.M.
14th October 2015

We hosted a series of discussions with Linda Hartke from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service on the Syrian Refugee Crisis, as well as the Central American migration of children and families, September 25th – 27th. It was inspiring to hear how much the people in our surrounding communities want to respond in ways that will be most helpful.

We give thanks to those who signed the petition asking to increase to 100,000 the number of Syrian Refugees to be admitted to the US in Fiscal Year 2016. Calling the President and your Congressional Representatives about this would be a good follow-up, since the Administration will be making the decision very soon on the number to be admitted.
Many signed up to continue conversation as a working group to explore our options in the Upper Valley and possibly beyond.
A follow-up meeting will be held here at Our Savior Lutheran Church & Campus Ministry, 5 Summer St., Hanover, NH 03755 [1] (603-643-3703) on Tuesday, October 20th, from 7-9 p.m.
Now that we know, based on the information we received over the weekend, that “sponsoring a refugee family” is a rather different process than it was in the past, we can move ahead to:
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Past Sermons

Sermon, October 11, 2015

Through the Needle’s Eye
Rev. Thomas Cary Kinder
The Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ,
Bradford, Vermont
October 11, 2015 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 90; Mark 10:17-31

Several years ago a Gallup poll asked people why they attended church. The leading answers were for spiritual growth and guidance, and to feel grounded and inspired. Some answered simply, “to worship God.” A small and declining number said they were just brought up that way—they went to church because it was what their family had always done. If we went around the sanctuary some of us might give answers like these, and others say we are here for the music or for our children or to be a part of a loving community or to serve.
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