March 31, 2024 Mark 16:1-8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.   Amazed is an interesting word. In English it means to be overwhelmed with surprise or sudden wonder. It is abrupt, immediate, unexpected. It is paired here with terror, which may seem…

March 24, 2024 Mark 11:1-11 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. People took off their cloaks and laid them down along the road. They plucked branches from any handy tree.…

March 3, 2024 Exodus 20:1-17 This morning, I will begin with a bit of history. On October 7, 1801, the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut sent a letter to then President Thomas Jefferson. Baptists in early America had been the subject of religious difficulties and frequent persecution. Other religious groups were more integrated into society and were often directly supported by the…

February 25, 2025 Mark 8:31-38 – 8:31 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Jesus was explaining to the disciples that he would suffer and be killed only then to…

February 18, 2024 Genesis 9:8-17 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,  and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark…” The…

February 11, 2024 2 King 2:6-12 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit. What does this mean? What does a double share give you? And what…

Feburary 4, 2024 Luke 2:25-35 This weekend marks a special day, the day of Imbolc. Did you get your shopping done? Imbolc is a traditional Gaelic festival. It represents the beginning of spring. Arguably, this is a hopeful estimation, though the climate of Ireland was historically mild in comparison to here in New England. The day goes by many other names, however,…

January 28, 2024 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. What is a prophet? Someone who speaks on behalf of God. Not just someone who says they speak on behalf of God,…

January 21, 2024 “In the Belly of the Whale,” by Rev. Mark Caggiano, 1/21/24 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 [Jonah] cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” From the story of Jonah, people most often remember him being swallowed by a whale. But there is a lot more to the story. Jonah was running away. God had asked him to travel…

“Listening,” by Rev. Mark J.T. Caggiano, 1/14/24 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel was trying to sleep, but he heard a voice. Not knowing where the voice was coming from, Samuel kept going to ask his master, Eli, to see what the older man wanted. Eli was confused and likely annoyed with the boy for the…