What is Your Only Comfort?

Sermon for April 27, 2008

This morning's sermon at the Greenpoint Reformed Church is based on Psalm 66, Acts 17:22-31, and John 14:15-21. Pastor Ann Kansfield is preaching.

Sermon for April 27, 2008

This morning's sermon from the Greenpoint Reformed Church is based on Psalm 66 and Acts 17:22-31 and John 14:15-21. Pastor Ann Kansfield is preaching.

Room for All song

Some of you are aware that I am on the board of the Room for All, an organization working toward full inclusion of LGBT people in the Reformed Church in America. Recently, Lorraine Nelson Wolf, an RCA member and musician wrote a song in honor of the work that Room for All is doing. Hopefully, if I've worked the technology correctly, you should be able to listen to it here. It will also be available for download on iTunes, and for congregations who would like to sing the song, music and lyrics are also available.

Sermon for April 20, 2008

This week the Greenpoint Reformed Church welcomed five new members into the life of the congregation. Following worship, we held our annual congregational meeting and elected a new elder and a new deacon.

Today's sermon is based on John 14:1-14. Pastor Ann Kansfield is preaching.

Sermon for April 13, 2008

Sunday's sermon from the Greenpoint Reformed Church is based on Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10. Rev. Jennifer Aull, preaching.

A little bit of heaven

While I'm not a fan of a literal understanding of John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions," I admit to the occasional fantasy about what such a house might look like. As one who won't discount the potential that in God's sovereign providence all might be saved, my image of the heavenly house is one that would be increasingly full, yet with a flashing "vacancy" neon sign next to the door. In my imagination, Martin Luther rooms next to Pope Leo X and John Winthrop is across the hall from Anne Hutchinson. Wolves lie down with lambs and everyone sings kumbyah.

Well, I couldn't help but giggle at something I could only imagine happening in heaven... Watching today's Papal ecumenical service, Jen and I jumped with delight when we saw our very own ecclesiastical leader John Thomas, President of the United Church of Christ. And who's sitting right by him?

Yup, it's Pat Robertson.

Must be a little heaven not three miles away from Greenpoint!

Worship for April 6, 2008

Worship this morning was absolutely wonderful thanks to having the Red Hook Ramblers jazz band with us. The music was so great that we decided to upload the entire worship celebration. Hope you enjoy it!

The sermon of the day is based on Luke 24:13-35. Rev. Jennifer Aull celebrated communion, Ann Kansfield preached and Jason Benjamin led the music.

Music from Worship on March 30, 2008

To go along with the themes of the John 20 text, Rob Kendt played this great version of U2's song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

As you can tell, I'm still looking for a better way to record music in church. But for now, the handy voice recorder will have to do. It's much better for sermons than it is for things like music. If you happen to know of a good way that a small church might be able to record music from worship, feel free to let me know.

Sermon for March 30, 2008

On the first Sunday after Easter, we encounter some fearful disciples. One of them seems to have a few extra questions for Jesus. This sermon on doubt and faith from the Greenpoint Reformed Church affirms those who are brave enough to admit they want to know more about Jesus, and aren't afraid to ask for some evidence.

The text of the day is John 20:19-31 and the preacher is Rev. Jennifer Aull.

Sermon for Easter Sunday 2008

This Easter, the Greenpoint Reformed Church experienced its own miracle. For the first time in several decades we had so many people we had to set-up folding chairs. We read the Easter story from John 20:1-19 and listened to the ultimate in miracles as Mary Magdalene encountered the empty tomb.