Sermons
I am a storyteller. My hope is to help people engage with Biblical stories by connecting the themes to their daily lives. I preach from the lectionary, a schedule of Biblical reading for each Sunday. For many years I preached from the Revised Common Lectionary, but after the seventh time through the same readings I began to feel called to find a new angle for my preaching. I learned about the Narrative Lectionary which is a story based lectionary. It begins with stories from the Hebrew Bible in the fall, moves on to Gospel stories in the winter and turns to stories from the Epistles in the Spring. I switched to preaching the Narrative Lectionary and have found it refreshing and challenging. Sometimes the readings are long because they try to give you the beginning, middle and end of the story rather than just a small piece. The Narrative Lectionary lends itself to metaphorical and artistic expression of the Biblical Stories. Sermons are meant to be heard, not read so I have included audio links for you to hear some of my preaching.

Recorded Sermons
Please scroll to the bottom for the most recent sermons
Sermon Series: Got Faith?
January 7, 2018 - Come and See
Scripture Lesson - John 1: 35-51
January 21, 2018 - Water Into Wine
Scripture Lesson - John 2: 1-11​
January 28, 2018 - Darkness and Light
Scripture Lesson - John 3: 1-21​
February 4, 2018 - Deep Wells
Scripture Lesson - John 4: 2-42
February 11, 2018 - Seeing with New Eyes
Scripture Lesson - John 9: 1-41
February 18, 2018 - Listening to Jesus' voice
Scripture Lesson - John 11: 1-44
February 25, 2018 - Feet, Feet, Feet
Scripture Lesson - John 13: 1-17
March 4, 2018 - Parallel Stories
Scripture Lesson - John 18: 12-27
March 11, 2018 - What is Truth?
Scripture Lesson - John 18: 28-40
March 18, 2018 - Where is the Power?
Scripture Lesson - John 19: 1-16a
March 25, 2018 - Palm Sunday
Scripture Lesson - John 12: 12-27
March 25, 2018 - What Does Death Mean
Scripture Lesson - John 19: 16b-22
April 1, 2018 - Easter: Wait For It!
Scripture Lesson - John 20: 1-18
April 8, 2018 - Conversion of the Disciples
Scripture Lesson - Acts 20: 19-31
April 15, 2018 - Yes, No, Maybe So!
Scripture Lesson - Acts 9: 1-19a
May 6, 2018 - Thank You!
Scripture Lesson - Philippians 1: 1-18a
May 13, 2018 - Alive in Me
Scripture Lesson - Philippians 2: 1-13
May 20, 2018 - Fresh Winds of the Spirit
Scripture Lesson - Acts 2: 1-21 and Philippians 4: 4-7
I was on sabbatical for June, July and August of 2018. I returned to preaching in September with a sermon series "Where Do You Put Your Heart?" that is based on the Narrative Lectionary and connects with the Sunday School program. The heart below is a visual that hangs from the pulpit. A "piece of the puzzle" is added each week with a symbol representing the Biblical story for the week.

September 2, 2018 - A Change of Heart
Genesis 6: 5-22; 8: 6-12; 9: 8-17
September 16, 2018 - Following Your Heart
Genesis 12: 1-9; Matthew 7: 7-18
Equal Access Celebration and Dedication
September 23, 2018 - Choices of the Heart
Genesis 39: 1-23; Matthew 5: 11-12
​
September 30, 2018 - Family Sunday Mediation: Getting Unstuck
Exodus 14
​
October 7, 2018 - Where Do You Put Your Heart?
Exodus 20: 1-17
​
October 14, 2018 - A Servant Heart
Joshua 24: 1-15; Matthew 4:8-10
​
October 21, 2018 - Teach Me the Truth in My Secret Heart
2 Samuel 12: 1-9; Psalm 51: 1-9
​
November 4, 2018 -A Clean Heart
2 Kings 5: 1-14; Matthew 8: 2-3
​
November 11, 2018 - What Does the Lord Require?
Micah 5: 2-4; 6: 6-8; Matthew 9: 13
​
November 18, 2018 A Heart-Centered Vision
Isaiah 36: 13-20; 37:1-7, and 2: 1-4
Matthew 6: 21
Advent Sermon Series: Proclaiming Christ's Coming
December 2, 2018 Proclaiming Christ's Coming
Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 2-4; 3: 17-19
Luke 3: 2-6
December 9, 2018 Peace and Justice
Isaiah 42: 1-9
Matthew 12: 15-21
December 16, 2018 Who Needs a Savior?
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Matthew 1: 18-25
December 23, 2018 Christmas Cantata
"Go Sing it on the Mountain"
Epiphany Sermon Series: On the Way
​
January 6, 2019 Epiphany
Matthew 2: 13-23
January 13, 2019 Baptism of Fire
"Matthew 3: 1-17
January 20, 2019 Overcoming Temptation
"Matthew 4: 1-17
February 3, 2019 Co-Creators on the Way - Cultivate
"Matthew 6: 7-21
February 10, 2019 Co-Creators on the Way - Connect
"Matthew 7: 1-29
February 17, 2019 Co-Creators on the Way - Inspire
"Matthew 13: 24-43
February 24, 2019 Co-Creators On the Way: Trust
Family Sunday - Two Short First Person Stories
Matthew 14: 13-33
March 3, 2019 Co-Creators On the Way: Transform
Transfiguration Sunday - Holy Communion
Matthew 16: 24 -17:8
Lenten Sermon Series: You Want Me to Do WHAT?
March 6, 2019 You Want Me to Do WHAT?
Ash Wednesday - Holy Communion
Matthew 18: 1-5
March 10, 2019 You Want Me To Do WHAT? - To Forgive
First Sunday in Lent
Matthew 18: 15-35
March 10, 2019 You Want Me To Do WHAT? - To Receive
Second Sunday in Lent
Matthew 20: 1-16
March 24, 2019 You Want Me To Do WHAT? - To Invite
Third Sunday in Lent
Luke 14: 7-24
April 7, 2019 You Want Me To Do WHAT? - To Incarnate
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Matthew 25: 31-46
April 14, 2019 Two Hosannas
Sixth Sunday in Lent - Palm Sunday
Matthew 25: 31-46
April 32, 2019 What Are We Holding On To?
Easter Sunday
Matthew 28: 1-10
April 28, 2019 Lorax/Lo I am With You Always
Earth Day Celebration - First Sunday after Easter
Matthew 28: 16-20
May 5, 2019 God Shows No Partiality
Second Sunday after Easter
Acts 1-17; 34-48
May 19, 2019 Mental Health Sunday
Fifth Sunday after Easter
Luke 8: 26-37
June 2, 2019 Grace-Full
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Matthew 6: 24
Romans 6: 1-14
June 9, 2019 Pentecost: Fresh Winds of the Spirit
Pentecost
Acts 2: 1-21
Romans 28: 18-39
June 16, 2019 Wisdom - The Spirit of Truth
First Sunday after Pentecost
Proverbs 8: 1-4, 22-31
John 16: 12-15
June 23, 2019 What Are You Doing Here?
Second Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19: 1-4, 8-15
Luke 8: 26-38
June 30, 2019 Youth Mission Trip Reflections
Third Sunday after Pentecost
John 13: 33-35
Galatians 5: 16-23
Who is My Neighbor Sermon Series
July 7, 2019 Neighbors: Sending and Sharing
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20
​
July 14, 2019 Neighbors: Healing and Supporting
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10: 25-37
Colossians 1: 1-14
​
July 21, 2019 Neighbors: Listening and Learning
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10: 38-42
Colossians 1: 15-19
​
July 28, 2019 Neighbors: Seeking and Finding
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 11: 1-13
Acts 8: 26-38
Family Sunday, Baptism Stories and four baptisms
Congregational stories about baptism, seeking and finding God
August 4, 2019 Neighbors: Caring and Giving
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 107: 1-9, 43
Luke 12: 13-21
August 11, 2019 Looking Back, Looking Ahead, Living Today
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8 – 16
Luke 12: 32-40
August 18, 2019 A Just World For All
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Micah 6: 6-8
Luke 13: 10-17
​
August 25, 2019 Reflections
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Farewell Service
Isaiah 8: 1-8
1 John 4: 7-12
​
August 25, 2019 Reflections
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Farewell Service
Isaiah 8: 1-8
1 John 4: 7-12
​
Sermons from
First Congregational Church of Canandaigua
September 8, 2019 Reflections
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Rally Day and Welcoming Day (Dawn's first Sunday in Canandaigua)
Isaiah 6: 1-8
Matthew 19: 13-15
​
September 15, 2019 Let Everything that Breathes
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Celebration of Edie Rice's 20th Anniversary as Choir Director
Psalm 150
Colossians 3: 12-17
​
September 22, 2019 Prodigal Love
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 113
Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
​
September 29, 2019 The Face at the Gate
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 146
Luke 16: 19-34
​
October 6, 2019 World Communion Sunday
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Communion Service from the Iona Community
1 Corinthians 11: 23-25
We read the scripture lesson in eight different languages and used the Iona Communion Service. Two of those litanies are recorded below. There was no traditional sermon on this day.
​
October 13, 2019
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 29: 1, 4-7
Luke 17: 11-19
​
October 20, 2019
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 32: 22-31
Luke 18: 1-8
​
October 27, 2019
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Reformation Sunday
Joel 2: 23-32
Luke 18: 9-14
​
November 3, 2019
All Saints Sunday
Psalm 149
Luke 6:20-31
​
November 10, 2019
Veterans Day Sunday
Job 19: 23-27a
2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17
​
November 17, 2019
Re-dedication of Organ and Bell Tower
Isaiah 65: 17-25
2 Corinthians 5: 16-20
​
November 24, 2019
Thanksgiving Sunday
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11
Philippians 4: 4-9
​
December 1, 2019
First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 2: 1-5
Matthew 24: 36-44
​
December 8, 2019
Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 3: 1-12
​
December 15, 2019
Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 1: 47-55
​
December 22, 2019
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7: 10-16
Matthew 1: 18-25
​
December 24, 2019
Christmas Eve
Jesus the Light of the World
Luke 2: 1-20
​
​
Sermon Series: Christian Cliches
​
January 5, 2020
Epiphany Sunday
Christian Cliches Sermon Series
God Never Gives You More Than You Can Handle
Matthew 2: 1-12
​
​
January 12, 2020
Christian Cliches Sermon Series
Which is it? "Let Go and Let God" or
"God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"?
Matthew 3: 13-17; Isaiah 42:1-9
​
​
January 19, 2020
Christian Cliches Sermon Series
"The Bible Clearly Says..."
Psalm 40: 1-11; John 1:29-42
​
​
January 26, 2020
Christian Cliches Sermon Series
"When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window"
Psalm 27: 1, 4-9; Matthew 4: 12-23
​
​
Sermon Series "If The Church Were Christian..."
Reflections on the Lectionary and Phillip Gulley's book 'If the Church Were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus"
February 9, 2020
"If The Church Were Christian" Series
Gracious Behavior Would be More Important Than Right Belief
Isaiah 58: 1-9a; Matthew 5: 13-16
February 16, 2020
"If The Church Were Christian" Series
Jesus Would be a Model for Living rather than Just an Object of Worship
Deuteronomy 30: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9
February 23, 2020
"If The Church Were Christian" Series
Personal Exploration Would Be More Important than Communal Conformity
Exodus 24: 12-18; Matthew 17: 1-9
March 1, 2020
"If The Church Were Christian" Series
Inviting Questions Would Be More Important
than Providing Answers
Psalm 13; Matthew 4: 1-11
March 8, 2020
"If The Church Were Christian" Series
Affirming our Potential Would Be More Important Than
Condemning Our Brokenness
Genesis 12: 1-4a; John 3: 1-17
March 15, 2020
Fear and Hope
Corona Virus Response
Exodus 17: 1-7; Romans 5: 1-5
​
March 22, 2020
New Eyes to See
Corona Virus Response
1 Samuel 16: 1-13; John 9: 1-11
​
March 29, 2020
Breath of God
Corona Virus Response
Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45
​
April 5, 2020
Hosanna, Save Us!
Palm Sunday
Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-26; Matthew 21: 1-11
April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday
I Come to the Garden Alone
Genesis 9: 8-17; John 20: 1-18
I have begun to post sermons on the First Congregational Church of Canandaigua website. You will find audio sermons and then video sermons followed by live streamed sermons. Please go to canandaiguachurch.org for services and sermons starting after Easter 2020.