Where do great sermons come from?

A little while ago, I listened to an interview with Rossanne Cash and Krista Tippett on "On Being". They talked about where songs come from. "Are songs caught or composed? Is mathematics discovered or invented".

Here is a 6 minute snippet that stirred my imagination:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20791822/public%20resources/Rosanne%20Cash%2C%20Time%20Traveler%20%28January.mp3)
from the full interview that can be found at (http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2012/time-traveler/_)
Enjoy.

Ian's Ordination Service.

April 22, 2012.  Old South Church in Boston.

It was an amazing and special day, breath taking and spirit-filled.

My family came from places near and very far.  Dear people from all parts of my life came: folks from First Church Swampscott, Payson Park Church, First Church Somerville, South Acton Congregational Church, and of course Old South Church; friends from Kronos, IBM and Northeastern University, and dear neighbors from Westford too.

Beautiful music from Carrie Cheron (soloist), Harry huff (piano), Willie Sordillo (saxophone) and Sam Ou (cello).

Here are a few photos of my family taken by friend David Kerr at First Church Swampscott, and then of the ordination --photos.  And more taken by George Delinedies a friend from Old South more photos.

Here is a link to a video of the service produced by my friend Lee Ingram - video.

Here is a link to a higher quality audio recording of the full service - high quality audio recording. 

Here is a link to the order of service.

The sermon makes reference to a famous picture by Holbein called The Ambassadors.

Ian's Listening list

I spend a lot of time in my car.  But I listen to a number of podcasts from different sources to keep me entertained and learning while I stuck on RT3, I93, 128 or ...

Discussion Programs on religion and faith 
On Being: with Krista Tippett  
Web page: http://being.publicradio.org/
Podcast link:  http://onbeing.org/podcast/podcast.xml

Interfaith Voices
Web page: http://www.interfaithradio.org/
Podcast link:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/interfaithvoices-hour

Sermons from around the country.
I like to listen to other preachers, those with similar theologies to mine, and to those with whom I disagree.  There is always something to learn.

Mars Hill Bible Church, Grand Rapids MI.  
Formerly Rob Bell, then Shane Hipps as pastor.
Web page;  http://marshill.org/

Podcast link:  http://feeds.feedburner.com/marshill/podcast

Old South Church, Boston, MA.  

Nancy Taylor, Senior Minister.

Web page;  http://oldsouth.org/ 

Podcast link:  http://www.oldsouth.org/sermons/oldsouthSermons.xml

Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA.  

M. Craig Barnes, Senior Pastor.

Web page; http://www.shadysidepres.org/

Podcast link: http://www.shadysidepres.org/audio/feed/xml

The Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS.  
Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor.
Web page; http://www.cor.org/
Podcast link: http://www.cor.org/worship/sermon-podcast.xml

Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA.  
Rick Warren, Senior Pastor.
Web page;http://www.saddleback.com/
Podcast link:  http://www.saddleback.com/mc/archives/podcast/

Entertainment

Story Telling.  Preaching often involves a lot of story telling.  So, I like to hear it done really well.
The Moth

Web page: http://themoth.org/
Podcast link:  http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast

This American Life

Web page: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/
Podcast link:  http://feeds.thisamericanlife.org/talpodcast

General interest stories.

Fresh Air 
Web page: http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/
Podcast link: http://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=13

Worship Services
Taize Worship Services from the Taize community in France.
Beautiful music. Multilingual universal worship.
Web page: http://www.taize.fr/en
Podcast link: http://www.taize.fr/podcast

Welcome

Hello readers,  this web site contains recordings of sermons I have preached, together with other artifacts of my ministry.  I have gathered these together as a resource for search committees considering me as a potential pastor for their church.


On Oct. 16, 2011, the congregation of First Church Swampscott voted to call me to serve them as their next Senior Minister.  I start there on Nov 21.  Thanks be to God. Peace
--- Ian