Because You May

“A Year of Little Easters”

Because You May — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:25:14 +0000

Date: September 7th, 2025 (13th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Matthew 28:1-10

This message was preached during our church’s annual “Gathering Sunday.” A busy Sunday filled with Blessing of our Sunday School, reception of new members, and Holy Communion. It also marked the begining of my Sabbatical.

“A Taste for Bitter Honey”

Because You May — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:41:20 +0000

Date: August 31st, 2025 (12th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Psalm 81:1 & 10-16

“Everything”

Because You May — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:53:23 +0000

Date: August 17th, 2025 (10th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Matthew 25:31-46

“Invitations, Not Answers”

Because You May — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 17:00:44 +0000

Date: August 3rd, 2025 (8th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Matthew 13:31-32, 33 & 44

“Flock of Hope”

Because You May — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 17:03:10 +0000

Date: July 20th, 2025 (6th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Romans 12:9-21

“The Plumb Truth”

Because You May — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 19:15:32 +0000

Date: July 13th, 2025 (5th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Amos 7:7-17

“By the Marks”

Because You May — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 16:53:13 +0000

Date: June 29th, 2025 (3rd Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Acts 6:1-7

“Just Breathe…”

Because You May — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 15:51:04 +0000

Date: June 15th, 2025 (1st Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Acts 2:42-47

“Then They Remembered…”

Because You May — Sun, 25 May 2025 17:24:34 +0000

Date: May 25th, 2025 (6th Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 24:1-9

Climate Change: ‘Befriend, Tend and Mend’*

Because You May — Sun, 18 May 2025 16:21:22 +0000

Date: May 18th, 2025 (5th Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Matthew 5:1-2

* For this title and sermon, I am indebted to Rabbi Ora Nitkin Kaner and the 2024-2025 EcoPreacher cohort of the BTS Center and Lexington Theological Seminary

“Borne on Vulture’s Wings”*

Because You May — Sun, 04 May 2025 17:27:36 +0000

Date: May 4th, 2025 (3rd Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s):
– Genesis 15:9-11
– Leviticus 11:13
– Jeremiah 15:1-3
– Micah 1:16
– Luke 17:31-37

*Title taken from a chapter on vultures in “Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible,” by Debbie Blue

“Holy Spirit?”

Because You May — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 19:34:31 +0000

Date: April 27th, 2025 (2nd Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): John 20:19-23

“Al-le-lu-ia!”

Because You May — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:12:23 +0000

Date: April 20th, 2025 (Easter Sunday)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 24:1-12

“Parable of the Path”

Because You May — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:29:32 +0000

Date: March 30th, 2025 (4th Sunday in Lent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): John 5:2-9

“God Sympathy, People Sympathy”

Because You May — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 17:36:36 +0000

Date: February 2nd, 2025 (4th Sunday after Epiphany)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Jeremiah 1:4-10

“A Personal Mission Statement”

Because You May — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 19:32:25 +0000

Date: January 26th, 2025 (3rd Sunday after Epiphany)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 4:14-21

“A Letter to MLK 2025”

Because You May — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:40:16 +0000

Date: January 19th, 2025 (2nd Sunday after Epiphany)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Delivered on MLK Sunday 2025

“Goodbye, Umbrella”

Because You May — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:07:43 +0000

Date: January 12th, 2025 (First Sunday after Epiphany)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 3:15-17 and 21-22

“Filling the Manger”

Because You May — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 23:14:00 +0000

Date: December 24th, 2024 (Christmas Eve)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 2:1-20

This brief meditation was delivered at the 5pm Christmas Eve service of Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

“Smoothing”

Because You May — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:18:13 +0000

Date: December 8th, 2024 (2nd Sunday in Advent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 3:1-6

“Not Weighed Down”

Because You May — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 18:10:28 +0000

Date: December 1st, 2024 (1st Sunday in Advent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 21:25-36

“Something God Alone Can See”

Because You May — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:16:38 +0000

Date: November 17th, 2024 (26th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Isaiah 43:16-21

“Incline My Ears”

Because You May — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 21:20:03 +0000

Date: November 10th, 2024 (25th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Mark 12:38-44

“Permissions for God’s Silence, Distance”

Because You May — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 16:36:55 +0000

Date: October 20th, 2024 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Job 23:1-9, 16-17

“Our Hands”

Because You May — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:57:50 +0000

Date: October 13th, 2024 (21st Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Acts 3:1-10

This week we begin our 2025 Annual Stewardship Campaign, celebrating the ways we’re using “Our Hands” at CCC.

“Filling the Chalice”

Because You May — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 16:40:27 +0000

Date: October 6th, 2024 (20th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

“Circle of Care”

Because You May — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 16:51:44 +0000

Date: September 22nd, 2024 (18th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): John 13:33-35

During this service we relaunched our “Circle of Care” ministry to give structure to our church’s overall “culture of care,” as we ask one another: “what are you going through?”

“Tending the Fire”

Because You May — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 16:55:33 +0000

Date: September 15th, 2024 (17th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): James 3:1-12

“In Love with the Beloved”

Because You May — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 19:54:24 +0000

Date: September 8th, 2024 (16th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Psalm 146

“As Many Creatives as Possible”

Because You May — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 13:39:07 +0000

Date: September 1st, 2024 (15th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Exodus 31:1-11

Delivered on the Sunday before Labor Day, 9/1/2024

“Fragrant”

Because You May — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 16:22:42 +0000

Date: August 11th, 2024 (12th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Ephesisans 4:25-5:2

“Even Though”

Because You May — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:21:16 +0000

Date: July 21st, 2024 (9th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): selected readings about discernment

“Sifting Well”

Because You May — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:37:33 +0000

Date: July 7th, 2024 (7th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): selected readings about discernment

“Holy Disappointment”

Because You May — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 15:59:03 +0000

Date: June 30th, 2024 (6th Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 23:44-46

“Is It Healing?”

Because You May — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:20:30 +0000

Date: June 16th, 2024 (3rd Sunday after Pentecost)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Matthew 4:23-5:3

This sermon was preach as part of the annual healing service of Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC) in Charlotte, VT

“Messy, Imperfect”

Because You May — Sun, 05 May 2024 20:56:02 +0000

Date: May 5th, 2024 (6th Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Mark 5:21 and 25-34

“Unceasing Prayer: Loving One Another”

Because You May — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 20:48:32 +0000

Date: April 21st, 2024 (4th Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 John 3:16-24

Part 3 of a 3-part sermon series: “Unceasing Prayer”

“Unceasing Prayer: Table & Word”

Because You May — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:42:52 +0000

Date: April 14th, 2024 (3rd Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Luke 24:26b-38

Part 2 of a 3-part sermon series: “Unceasing Prayer”

“Unceasing Prayer: Breathe”

Because You May — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:25:18 +0000

Date: April 7th, 2024 (2nd Sunday of Easter)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and John 20:19-23

Part 1 of a 3-part sermon series: “Unceasing Prayer”

“Guiding Light”

Because You May — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 23:24:05 +0000

Date: March 31st, 2024 (Easter Sunday)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): John 20:1-18

Happy Easter!!

“The Lovely Bouquet”

Because You May — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 17:18:56 +0000

Date: March 3rd, 2024 (Third Sunday of Lent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Exodus 20:1-17

“Radical Candor”

Because You May — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:10:42 +0000

Date: February 25th, 2024 (Second Sunday of Lent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Mark 8:34-38

“Lifting”

Because You May — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 17:35:42 +0000

Date: February 18th, 2024 (First Sunday of Lent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Psalm 25:1-10

“Ascend, Encounter, See”

Because You May — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 18:05:04 +0000

Date: February 11th, 2024 (Epiphany 6/Transfiguration)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Mark 9:2-8

“This Liberty”

Because You May — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 17:15:01 +0000

Date: January 28th, 2024 (Epiphany 4)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

“Learning to Let Go”

Because You May — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:38:50 +0000

Date: January 21st, 2024 (Epiphany 3)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“A Certain Kind of Fire”

Because You May — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 17:21:46 +0000

Date: January 14th, 2024 (Epiphany 2)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): 1 Samuel 3:1-10

“Afloat on the Loving Breath of God”

Because You May — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 19:49:48 +0000

Date: January 7th, 2023 (Epiphany 1)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Genesis 1:1-5 and Mark 1:4-11

“One Word”

Because You May — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Date: December 24th, 2023 (Christmas Eve)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): The Christmas Story

“Field Guide to Waiting”

Because You May — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 17:45:17 +0000

Date: December 3rd, 2023 (First Sunday in Advent)

Message Delivered at: Charlotte Congregational Church (UCC)

Key Text(s): Psalm 25:1-10