Audio Sermon Recordings

Recent Sermons
These MP3 audio files can be played directly from this site by clicking your left mouse button on the name of the sermon or downloaded to your computer by clicking on the right mouse button and selecting the "save as" menu option.  Peace.

Sermons at First Church Swampscott, MA.

... a man your age ...  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1.  June 10, 2012.  Has a doctor ever told you, upon hearing your complaint, "ah, that can be expected for a man your age"?  Paul writes: "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day."  Knowing we are going to die someday, how shall we live?  How will live into the amazing gift of life we have received day by day, breath by breath?

Starting from scratch  John 3:1-17.  June 3, 2012.  What does it mean to be "born again" or "born from above"? Do these phrases mean anything to you? Are they indicative of a kind of Christianity you are wary of? What might this passage say to us today?  Would a fresh start be a good thing in your life?We start off today with some help from the children.

Pentacost Sunday — What’s new? Acts 2:1-15.  May 27, 2012.  “The key to being a vital congregation is to know the answers to three questions: Who are we? Who is our neighbor? Who is God calling us to be and become? ”  As we consider the birthday of the Christian Church, who are we? What are we called to do, who are we called to serve? Can we be the first church in Swampscott to do something surprising, radical?  Is “First Church” part of our history, just part of our name, or is it part of our character?

Easter Sunday - Cliffhanger Mark 16:1-8.  March 8, 2012. Easter Sunday Sermon.  The strange ending of Mark’s Gospel.  It is a cliffhanger.  How will it end? The reason it does not have a proper ending is because we are writing the continuing chapters through the witness of our own lives. How will we write the continuation of the Good News of Jesus Christ? How will we live? Let’s roll back the stone and reject the tomb. Let’s become fully alive and be the Gospel. Let’s be the Body of Christ.

Let’s Get Busy  Mark 9:2-9.  Feb 19, 2012. What do we do when faced with an intense experience – something painful – something joyful – something scary – grief – love – God!  Some of us distract ourselves with work.  We get busy.  We hide from the truth with frenzied activity.  It helps us feel in control.  It helps manage our anxiety.  The Gospel message directs us otherwise – turn towards Jesus – turn towards his truth, his way, his light.

Rejoice  Philippians 4:4-9.  Feb 12, 2012. Are we a joyful people?  Are we joyful Christians? Paul challenges us Rejoice, always Rejoice! and be at peace. Today we celebrate a wedding in our service. What a great start to the Valentine week!  And a good way to follow Paul’s challenge to us.

Come Out Of Him!  Mark 1:21-28.  Jan 29, 2012. Demons, possession, exorcism!  Jesus’ first miracle in the Gospel of Mark is an odd one. What should we take away from the this story?  The world of the Ancient Near East is so different from ours.  Their understanding of spiritual warfare, illness, and ritual impurity impacted their thinking on demons and unclean spirits. But we have demons in our lives and in our world too – addictions of all kinds, abuse, and hatred.  Jesus has something to say to us about these demons and about our responsibilities as the Body of Christ.

Repent and Believe  Mark 1:14-20.  Jan 22, 2012. When you hear the phrase “Repent and Believe” what do you think about, what comes to mind?  Perhaps you are thinking about an ‘old school’ preacher laying down a word of fire and brimstone.  Perhaps you are thinking about a doctrine of propositions that true believers are supposed to agree to unconditionally.  Are these ideas and images stumbling blocks to entering into a conversation with God?  Jesus simply asks us to follow him.  It’s not complicated.  It’s not easy, but it is not complicated.  Turn towards him and trust him.

Hospitality, Dignity  John 1:43-51.  Jan 15, 2012.  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathaniel asks this about Jesus.  But on this Martin Luther King Sunday, we consider the variations "Can anything good come out of Georgia?"  "Can anything good come out of Iran, Iraq, or Afghanistan?"  and closer to home "Can anything good come out of the church?"  If Martin challenges us to meet hate with love, what is our response?

Good People  Luke 2:22-40.  Jan 1, 2012.  Jesus of Nazareth comes from "good people." People who are faithful, and obedient to God's Law.  His family has great credentials.  His story is not a story of a rugged individual - but it is understood in the light of the traditions and faith of the people of Israel. His ministry is not a ministry of an individual acting alone - it is a ministry of community formation.  Who are our 'people'?  What are our traditions, who do we claim as our community?  Following the way of Jesus will lead us to community, tradition, purpose, and identity.

Yes, Here I am  Luke 1:26-38.  Dec 18, 2011.  Mary responds to the Angel Gabriel's news of her pregnancy first with a challenge "how can this be?" and then with an assured acknowledgement "Here am I ... let it be with me according to your word."  Would we be so brave in our response to a call from God?  This Christmas how are we being called to bring God's love into the world?

Our Voice  Luke 1:46-55.  Dec 11, 2011.  Mary, a pregnant teenager, perhaps only 14 years old and unmarried.  What does she have to say to us today, and will we listen? Will we afford her the dignity and respect that God bestowed on her, and really listen to her startling declarations about the poor and rich? Whose voices do we listen to most often, and who do we speak for?

The Promises of God   Isaiah 40:1-11. Dec 04, 2011. What does God promise us ... health, wealth, and good teeth?  Life after death .. only? No.  God promises forgiveness and peace through forgiveness.

Waiting.   Isaiah 64:1-9,Mark 13:24-37. Nov 27, 2011. My first sermon as senior pastor at Swampscott. The questions for this day were  "What are we waiting for, what are we hoping for, this Christmas?"

What's at stake?. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Oct 16, 2011.  This sermon was part of my candidating service at First Church Swampscott, Congregational.  The congregation later that day voted to call me to be their senior minister.  Thanks be to God. May God help us all.  What's at stake for us personally, and for the world, in following Jesus, or not?


Remembrance and Response. Exodus 14:19-31, Sept. 11, 2011.  This sermon was delivered on the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001.  I was the guest preacher at North Congregational Church, Woburn, MA. I ask the questions: "What do we remember, and how will we respond today?"

Tossing and Turning. Genesis 32:22-31. August 31, 2011. I was the guest preacher at the historic Old South Church in Boston.


Sermons at First Church Somerville.
These are MP3 audio files of sermons recorded at First Church Somerville, UCC in Somerville, MA where I served from July 1, 2010 to June 5, 2011

Endings and Beginnings,  Acts 1:6-1, June 5, 2011.  This is my last sermon at First Church Somerville as their support Pastor.  Rev. Molly Baskette returned from her medical leave in good health and ready to resume as their senior minister.  Thanks be to God!

Leaving  John 14:15-2,  May 29, 2011.  This is another sermon time with the children and our 9-year old little boy "Josh" the puppet.  On Jubilee Sundays the children are in church for the whole service.

Believing and\or doing   John 14:1-1, May 22, 2011.

In-Between   Psalm 23, and John 10:1-1. May15, 2011.  This sermon followed a powerful and emotional rendition of Psalm 23 by the choir using the arrangement by Bobby McFerrin (dedicated to his mother).  Our organist Hugh Hinton played the melody on the piano underneath my sermon.

Created Anew  Genesis 1:1,  May 1, 2011.   A soundtrack of thunder, rainfall, forest sounds, animal noises and whale song, people, traffic and a baby crying was played underneath the reading of Genesis 1.  The reading of scripture was interleaved with a description of evolution from the time of the Big Bang.

Second Chances   John 11:1-45, April 10, 2011.

Seeing Is Believing  John 9:1-41, April 3, 2011.

Wrong Person, Wrong Place, Just Right!  John 4:5-42, March 27, 2011.  This is a sermon with the children and the "First Church Players."

Born Again?  John 3:1-17, March 20, 2011.

Expecting the Unexpected  Matthew 4:1-11, March 13, 2011.

Good Company in Thin Places  Matthew 17:1-9, March 6, 2011.

Worry Not!  Matthew 6:24-34, February 27, 2011.  This is a sermon with the children and 'Josh' the puppet.

Made New  Matthew 5:38-48, February 20, 2011.

Sermons at South Acton Congregational Church.
The following are two notable sermons from my time at South Acton Congregational Church.  The first one retells my own journey towards membership in a UCC church given that I was brought up as a Catholic in Ireland.
The Mystery of Membership  January 11, 2009

The second one from Advent 2008 connects the story of Mary with an unwed, pregnant teenager in Ireland.
Mary and Anne   December, 14, 2008.