Sermons for August 2012


The Process of Becoming

Sun, August 26, 2012; Psalm 139: 13-18; Matt. 6:22-34; 1 Cor. 13; Selections from the Velveteen Rabbit
A sermon preached by Stacey Gassman, Associate Minister
First Congregational Church of MN, UCC

What makes us “real?” What does it mean when someone is described as being real? [Invite congregation to speak them out loud. Genuine, authentic, honest, straight forward, not deceitful, etc.] When someone is real, you can see who they really are in an unobstructed way. You see how they are made. We even have the… Read More

Laying down our lives

Sun, August 19, 2012; John 15: 12-17 Scenes from Harry Potter, books 1 & 7, J.K. Rowling
A sermon preached by Rev. Jane McBride
First Congregational Church of MN, UCC

Last week, we talked about friendship — a deep and challenging kind of friendship that is rooted in love of God— that means loving one another with the same kind of love God has for each of us. I want to continue that conversation today. The Greek language has four words for love: eros, romantic… Read More

I have called you friends

Sun, August 12, 2012; Deuternomy 6: 1-9, Matthew 22: 34-40; A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead
A sermon preached by Rev. Jane McBride
First Congregational Church of MN, UCC

Our theme this morning is friendship. A deep and challenging kind of friendship that is rooted in love of God— that means loving one another with the same kind of love God has for each of us. This community of faith, this body of Christ, is a place where we can learn this kind of… Read More