The Adventures of Mo. Lauren and Fr. Kenny

Hello Friends!

As Church Year A winds down, we get our last Matthew parable (phew!), the so called Parable of the Talents.  A talent was a form of money, not a skill that you have (I’ll talk about that more in the sermon).  This parable is on the long side and there are so many ways to approach it.  Something I learned from my awesome preaching professor in seminary (yay Mo. Mittes), is that you can’t cover everything so you do your best to cover 1 or 2 topics and relate them to your current situation.  I try to do that with every sermon and this week it spins into stewardship territory.  Not financial stewardship, rather caring for God’s creation for the short time that we are living.  Anyway, take a listen!

Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon, Proper 28, Year A, Nov. 19, 2017

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

This week we hear the familiar, yet complex, parable of the 10 bridesmaids.  I am always reminded of a funny video a friend of mine made for this parable back in seminary (shout out to Fr. Tim!), but that video, while amusing, didn’t help with the sermon.  5 bridesmaids are “foolish” and 5 are “wise” but why?  What is this parable all about and how does it relate to our 2018 Pledge Drive?  If you have wondered all of these things, please take a listen:

Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon, Proper 27, Year A, Nov. 12, 2017

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

The Susan Hylen article I quote can be found here.

The Photo from the video can be found here.

Hello Friends!

We’re back, with a brand new sermon to boot!  Most churches celebrated All Saints’ Day on Nov. 5th (transferred from Nov. 1st).  I chose not to do that, I am not big into transferring feasts, but in talking with colleagues, it seems that I am one of the few who opted out of All Saints’.  Oh well.  Because of All Saints’ this part of Matthew is not often heard in the pews, but it is a very important narrative and one that is very relevant to present times.

Matthew 23:1-12

Sermon, Proper 26, Year A, Nov. 5, 2017

To borrow a phrase (screen shot) from one of my favorite new TV shows, “The Good Place”

(credit to spoliertv.com)

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

It has been a while since I posted, no, nothing bad has happened.  I was on vacation, then my parish started it’s 2018 Pledge Drive which has featured 3 weeks of guests.  We had a great guest preacher on Oct. 15th, then a fabulous lay preacher on the 22nd, and finally a group of witness talks on the 29th.  So, I haven’t been preaching in a which.

But, i preached on this week’s text 3 years ago, so here is the sermon from 2014 in lieu of something new.  I am back “on” next Sunday, Nov. 5th!  So here it is:

Text: Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon, Proper 25, Year A, Oct. 26, 2014

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

This week, Jesus talked about authority, who has it, and why.  Also, we hear another great parable about 2 brothers.  Authority/power is a complicated topic, especially these days.  How do we get power?  The better question is, how do we use it?

Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon-Proper 21-Year A-Oct. 1, 2017

I am on vacation this week, back on the 15th with another sermon.

Thanks for stopping by,

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

This week we had another great parable in Matthew.  This one is about a landowner hiring workers for the vineyard and ends with the workers crying “that’s not fair!”  Well, thank God it isn’t fair, it is generous…take a listen:

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon, Proper 20, Year A, Sept. 24, 2017

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends,

Sorry for the late post.  There is no reason for it, I just forgot.  Forgive me!  This story’s main theme is forgiveness and how the grace/forgiveness of God has no bounds.  Easy right?  Well….

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon, Proper 19, Year A, Sept. 17, 2017

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

This week we get one of Jesus’ rare teachings where he directly tells us what to do.  I know, wow.  No parables or riddles, just instructions, yet, we still don’t follow them.  In the end, it is all about forgiveness, and forgiveness is a very hard thing (more about that next week), but the road to forgiveness always starts with communication.  Take a listen:

Text: Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon, Proper 18, Year A, Sept. 10, 2017

Thanks for stopping by!

-Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends!

After 1 Sunday off for my birthday, I am back!  Today’s portion of Matthew is a very rich text and full of great lessons.  As my preaching professor taught me, you have to pick 1 (maybe 2 tops) aspect of the reading to preach on, otherwise you will end up with mixed messages.  I have always taken that advice to heart, which is why my sermons are on the short side (in some people’s opinions).  Anyway, what is the theme for this week?

Take a Listen:

Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon, Proper 17, Year A, Sept. 3, 2017

Thanks for stopping by!

Rev. Lauren

Hello Friends,

This week’s story from Matthew is very timely, and no, I don’t get to choose which readings we read, the Lectionary was set up many years ago.  The two portions of the story seem a little disjointed, but they really go together like PB and J.

Matthew 15:10-28

Sermon, Proper 15, Year A, August 20, 2017

I’m on vacation (well, staycation with a few church activities thrown in) until the 29th!

Thursday night in Billerica, the town is having a Candlelight Vigil for Unity.  I’ll be there, 7pm in the town square.  Join us!

~Rev. Lauren