Sermons Page 13: January-June 2015
Lectionary Year B
Epiphany ~ Lent ~ Easter

Special Sermon Series: "Genesis - Our Beginnings"
January 11, 18, 25, February 1 & March 1, 2015

January 11, 2015
(Baptism of the Lord)
"Deep Waters"
Genesis 1:1-5 (Mark 1:4-11)

January 18, 2015
(Epiphany 2)
"God's Likeness"
Genesis 1:25-31 (Mark 1:12-13)

January 25, 2015
(Epiphany 3)
"The Other Creation Account"
Genesis 2:4b-10, 15-25

February 1, 2015
(Epiphany 4)
"The Invention of Sin"
Genesis 3:1-15

Special Sermon Series

In 2014 I began preaching in a way that I had never embraced, "The Sermon Series."  Since becoming a solo pastor in January 1994, I had almost exclusively followed The Revised Common Lectionary.  However, for various reasons, but based primarily upon feedback from church members, I decided to break out of my comfort zone and string together several sermons into a series.  I tried to fit these into the liturgical calendar.  Sometimes there are gaps.  For instance from 02/01/15 to 03/01/15!  During February 2015 a heating oil leak, a major snow storm (both canceled worship) and a vacation, meant a one month gap before I could deliver the final sermon in this series.

March 1, 2015
(Lent 2)
"The Consequence of Sin"
Genesis 3:22-24 & 4:1-16

Special Sermon Series: "Genesis & Exodus in Lent: A Covenant Experience"
March 8, 15 & 22, 2015

March 8, 2015
(Lent 3)
"The 1st ~ Noah"
Genesis 6:11-14, 17-22 & 9:8-13

March 15, 2015
(Lent 4)
"The 2nd ~ Abraham & Sarah"
Genesis 12:1-3 & 22:9-18

March 22, 2015
(Lent 5)
"The 3rd ~ Moses and the Law"
Exodus 20:1-21

Special Sermon Series for Palm & Easter Sundays:
"The Final Covenant ~ Jesus the Christ"
March 29 and April 5, 2015

March 29, 2015
(Palm Sunday)
"The Final Covenant Arrives!"
John 12:1-19

Crucifixion & Resurrection:
A Covenant Connected

In the Christian faith we cannot have life without death.  This seems almost counter intuitive, yet it remains as a foundation principle for those who proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth, is the Son of God and a member of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus himself, experienced both life and death.  He was born, grew as a child into a man, and in the processed experienced all that earthly life can offer, the joys, the sorrows, the extreme moments of happiness and grief.  Jesus even experienced death, by a painful crucifixion before he would return to be with the Father in a heavenly eternal life.

April 5, 2015
(Easter Sunday)
"The Personal Covenant"
John 20:1-18

Back to the Lectionary: May and June 2015

May 10, 2015
(Mother's Day)
"Pruning Dead & Live Wood"
John 15:1-8 & Acts 8:26-40

May 24, 2015
(Pentecost)
"Bones"
Ezekiel 37:1-14 & Acts 2:1-21

June 14, 2015
(Ordinary 11)
"Human? Or Heavenly?"
Second Corinthians 5:6-17

June 28, 2015
(Ordinary 13)
"A Transfer of Wealth"
Second Corinthians 8:7-15

The Gap:
What Happened in April 2015?

Immediately after Easter on April 5, 2015, my wife Ginger and I decided to do something we had never done in the past. I took off 4 plus weeks from the church and we headed south in order to avoid the end of winter and mud season here in New Hampshire.

First we traveled to Panama City Beach on the panhandle of NW Florida.  For one weekend we visited our daughter and son in law in Nashville.  We returned to Panama City Beach until the end of April.  We then finished our trip by traveling to East Texas where I conducted the wedding for our niece.

When we returned to NH on May 6th, we arrived in time to watch the last patch of snow melt, and the beginning of a glorious spring!

One goal of the trip was to rest.  That was accomplished very successfully!  I was able to read several books, enjoy the beach and sunshine, and ride my bike, a new Dahon Speed 7 which I had bought at TJ MAXX earlier in 2015 for $150.  During the time in Florida I was able to ride over 400 miles.  I felt great!

A second goal was to do a sort of "mini sabbatical" and plan for the future of KCPC.  This was not achieved! Basically I learned that when a pastor leaves for sabbatical, the first priority is to rest and recharge.  This probably takes 4-6 weeks.  Obviously I did not budget enough time!

May 17, 2015
(Ascension)
"Memory Day"
Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:1-11

June 7, 2015
(Officer Ordination)
"Why? Jesus!"
John 3:1-21

June 21, 2015
(Ordinary 12 & Father's Day)
"Top This!"
Second Corinthians 6:1-13

The Dahon in Florida
April 2015