This is a list of sermons given at Grace Congregational Church at Sunday Services, Holidays and other services. Each PDF document contains the sermon text, followed by the Scripture readings for that Sunday’s Service.
The sermons starting in November 2022 are by our new Senior Minister, Rev. Terry Hanley.
The sermons from early May 2022 through October 2022 are by our Bridge Minister, Rev. Rhonda Myers.
The sermons from September 2020 through early May 2022 are mostly by our Interim Minister, the Rev. Alberta Wallace. As we occasionally have guest preachers or Grace members speaking, in those cases, their names will appear next to the sermon title.
2022
Sunday, November 27, 2022 – Unwrapping the gift of HOPE
(Pastor Terry Hanley)
First Sunday in Advent
Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5
Sunday, October 23, 2022 – Holy Boats (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 8:23-27
Sunday, October 16, 2022 – Age of Wonder (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Sunday, September 25, 2022 – Tomorrow is a Promise (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Sunday, September 18, 2022 – Payback (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Luke 16:1-13
Sunday, September 11, 2022 – Minus One (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Luke 15:1-10
Sunday, September 4, 2022 – On the Rocks (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6; Matthew 16:13-20
Sunday, August 28, 2022 – The Bigger Picture (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Luke 13:10-17
Sunday, August 7, 2022 – Treasure Hunt (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Luke 12-32-40
Sunday, July 17, 2022 – Guest Room (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: Genesis 18:1-10 and Luke 10:32-42
Sunday, June 26, 2022 – In Their Footsteps (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Luke 9:51-62
Sunday, June 19, 2022 – The Namesake (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Juneteenth and Father’s Day Sunday
Scripture: Luke 8:26-39
Sunday, June 5, 2022 – Fire Starters! (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Pentecost Sunday
Scriptures: Acts 2:1-21
Sunday, May 22, 2022 – Welcome Home (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Revelation 21:10; 21:22-22:5; John 14:23-29
Sunday, May 15, 2022 – Always Choose Love (Pastor Rhonda Myers)
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Revelation 21:1-6 (Contemporary English version)
Sunday, May 8, 2022 – Life Giving (Pastor Alberta)
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Pastor Alberta’s Final Sunday as Intentional Interim Minister
Psalm 23 (New Life version); Revelation 7:9-17 (The Message)
Sunday, May 1, 2022 – Detour Ahead
Rev. Rhonda Myers, new Bridge Minister
Third Sunday of Easter
Scriptures: Acts 9:1-20 and John 21:1-19
Sunday, April 10, 2022 – We Belong to Each Other
Palm Sunday
Scriptures: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; Luke 19: 28-40
Sunday, April 3, 2022 – The Burden of Love
Fifth Sunday of Lent – Chapel Service
Scriptures: Psalm 103: 1-5,13-16; John 12:1-8
Sunday, March 20, 2022 – Worthy Manure!
Third Sunday of Lent
Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-9; Luke 13:1-9
Sunday, March 13, 2022 – So Much is Out of Control
Second Sunday of Lent – Chapel Service
Scriptures: Psalm 27; Luke 13:31-35
Sunday, March 6, 2022 – Shiny Things
First Sunday of Lent
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
Sunday, February 27, 2022 – Mirror, Mirror
Transfiguration Sunday
Scriptures: Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-36
Sunday, February 20, 2022 – Hear My Prayer!
Third Sunday of Black History Month
Pulpit swap with Fair Haven Congregational Church (Pastor Alberta)
Scriptures: Psalm 72:1-4
Sunday, February 13, 2022 – Balancing Holding
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
Scriptures: Jeremiah 17: 5-10 and Luke 6: 17-26
Sunday, February 6, 2022 – Glad to Be in God’s Service
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
Scriptures: Isaiah 6: 1-13 and Luke 5: 1-11
Sunday, January 23, 2022 – Good News / Good Ways
Third Sunday After Epiphany
Scriptures: Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10 and Luke 4: 14-21
Sunday, January 9, 2022 – Sermon Who Am I?
Scriptures: Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
Sunday, January 2, 2022 – Affirmed by Love
Scriptures: Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV); Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
2021
Sunday, November 28, 2021 – The INN/Housing the Holy: Making Room – Hope
First Sunday of Advent
Scripture: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 and Psalm 25: 4-5
Sunday, November 7, 2021 – All Saint’s Day: Altars Everywhere
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7; Timothy 6:18-19
Sunday, October 24, 2021 – Draw the Circle Wide
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7; Acts 15:7-12
Sunday, October 10, 2021 – Around Every Corner
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 (The Voice translation); Isaiah 41:10
Sunday, October 3, 2021 – Tower of Power (Terry Hanley)
Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9
Sunday, September 19, 2021 – “Are You Ready to Let Go of Why?”
Beguiled by Beauty, The Beauty of a World Without a Why
Scripture: Song of Songs 4:1-7 (from The Inclusive Bible)
Sunday, September 12, 2021 – “Are You Ready To Let Go Of Expectations?”
Beguiled by Beauty, Awakening to Beauty: Falling in Love with the World
Scripture: Psalm 135:1-3; 13-21 (from The Inclusive Bible)
Sunday, September 5, 2021 – “Are You Ready For A New Life?”
Beguiled by Beauty, Awakening to Beauty: Falling in Love with the World
Scripture: Psalm 147:1-11 (from The Inclusive Bible)
Sunday, August 22, 2021 – To Whom Can We Go? (Terry Hanley)
Scripture: John 6:47-69 (NRSV)
Sunday, August 8, 2021 – The Tie That Binds: Moving to the Beat
Sermon by Pastor Alberta (read by Terry Hanley)
Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26 (NRSV)
Sunday, August 1, 2021 – The Tie That Binds: Lifted to Connect
Scripture: John 13:1-17 (NRSV)
Sunday, July 25, 2021 – The Tie That Binds: Poured
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (NRSV)
Sunday, July 11, 2021 – The Tie That Binds: Formed
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9 ; Psalm 112 (both Common English Bible)
Sunday, July 4, 2021 – Earthenware Jars: Hope for the Future
Scripture: Psalm 146, Jeremiah 32: 1-15
Sunday, June 20, 2021 – Shards—Still My People
Scripture: Jeremiah 4:11-12; 22-28
Sunday, June 13, 2021 – Potter’s Wheel: Reworked Not Thrown Away
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11
Sunday, June 6, 2021 – Devotion for Annual Meeting
Sunday, May 30, 2021 – Journey with Jeremiah: Containers as Mouthpieces
In-person Service
Scriptures: Psalm 71:1-6; Jeremiah 1:4-10
Sunday, May 30, 2021: Journey with Jeremiah: Containers as Mouthpieces
Online Service
Scriptures: Psalm 71:1-6; Jeremiah 1:4-10
May 23, 2021 – The Spirit Pours Out (meditation by Michelle Fountain)
May 16, 2021 – Gone Up With a Shout: Clap Your Hands!
Scriptures – Psalm 47:1-6; Luke 24:44-53
May 9, 2021 – Who Can Withhold: Break Forth!
Scriptures – John 15:9, 11-15a; Acts 10: 44-48
May 2, 2021 – From You Comes My Praise: Guide My Steps
Scriptures – Psalm 22:25-31; Acts 8:26-39
April 25, 2021 – By This We Will Know: The Dance of Love
Scriptures – John 10:11-17; 1 John 3:16-18, 23-24
April 18, 2021 – While in their Joy: Dancing Sure
Dare to Dance Again!
Scriptures – Luke 24:36b-48; 1 John 3:1-3
April 11, 2021 – With Great Power: Dancing Together
Scriptures – Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2,2; John 20:19-31
April 4, 2021, Easter Sunday – For All Peoples a Feast: Dare to Dance Again!
Scriptures – Psalm 118; Isaiah 25:6-9
March 28, 2021 – The Garden: Risking Temptation
Entering the Passion of Jesus, Putting Ourselves in the Story
Scriptures – Mark 14:32-36; Ephesians 6:11-17
March 21, 2021 – The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
Entering the Passion of Jesus, Putting Ourselves in the Story
Scriptures – Luke 4:16-21; John 13:3-16
March 14, 2021 – The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
Entering the Passion of Jesus, Putting Ourselves in the Story
Scriptures – Psalm 23; Mark 14: 3-9
March 7, 2021 – The Teaching: Risking Challenge
Entering the Passion of Jesus, Putting Ourselves in the Story
Scriptures – Matthew 22:15-22; Matthew 4:1-11
February 28, 2021 – The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger! (Beverly Anderson)
Entering the Passion of Jesus, Putting Ourselves in the Story
Scriptures – Psalm 69:8-16; John 2:18-22
February 21, 2021 – The Parade: Risking Reputation
Scriptures – Matthew 21:1-11; Zechariah 9:9-10
February 14, 2021 – God Is Holding Your Life: The One is Shining Forth
Scripture – Psalm 50:1-6 (Modern English Version)
February 7, 2021 – God Is Holding Your Hand: We Wait, We Hope, We Stay
Scriptures – Psalm 147:1-11; 20c (NRSV)
January 31, 2021 – Reflection (Wendy DeCroteau)
Sayings That Make My Heart Beat
January 24, 2021 – Holding Steady
Scriptures – Psalm 62:5-12 (NRSV)
January 17, 2021 – Ready
Scriptures – Exodus 3:7-12; Luke 6:27-36 (NRSV)
January 10, 2021 – Defining Moments: Seeking Higher Ground
Scriptures – Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)
January 3, 2021 – Journey Sunday
Scriptures – Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12
2020
December 13, 2020 – I Believe in God: Ode to Joy
Scriptures – Isaiah 57:14-19; Luke 1:1-4; 26-56
December 6, 2020 – I Believe in Love: Daring Right Relationship
Scriptures – Isaiah 7:1-14; Matthew 1:1-23
November 29, 2020 – I Believe in the Sun: Hope for Tomorrow
Scriptures – Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-15
November 22, 2020 – Reigning Compassion
Scriptures – Ezekiel 34:11-16; 20-24; Matthew 25:31-46
November 15, 2020 – Let Your Voice Be Heard (Dave Hoffenberg, Deacon)
Scriptures – Ecclesiastes 3:7-8 (ESV); 1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
November 8, 2020 – Tending God’s Light
Scriptures – Psalm 78:1-7; Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16; Matthew 25:1-13
November 1, 2020 – The Tie That Binds
Scriptures – Psalm 34:1-10, 22; John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
October 25, 2020 – Giving Ourselves
Scriptures – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46
October 18, 2020 – Seeking Reassurance (by Michelle Fountain)
Scriptures – Exodus 33:12-23; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
October 11, 2020 – Worthy and Chosen
Scriptures – Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14
October 4, 2020 – Wisdom for the Way
Scriptures – Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:23-46
September 27, 2020 – The Glow
Scriptures – Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32
September 20, 2020 – Tensions to Peace
Scriptures – Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16
September 13, 2020 – Rising Above Limited Potentials Held
Scriptures – Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18: 21-35