The Wonder of Miracles
March 6, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings : Isaiah 66: 10-13, MT 17: 1-10 Dictionary.Com defines the word “miracle” as an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural. As we learn more and more about the laws of nature many events […]
You Are Precious to Me
February 28, 2016—Nancy Bancroft First Reading: Psalm 139 Second Reading: Skit – Woman at the Well, adapted from a story by John Shae I’ve heard and read the story of the Woman at the Well numerous times, but it wasn’t until I read John Shae’s presentation of it, from which our actors and I […]
The Little Church with the Big Heart
February 21, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: Isaiah: 58: 6-8, Mt 25:31-40 After a break for Valentine’s Day, I return to my three-part sermon on church. And like the first one on creed, and the second on how we worship, this one on code, the behavioral expectations that we have of ourselves as a worshiping community, […]
Forty Day Fitness Program for Love
February 14, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: Psalm 136: 1-9, 23-26, I Corinthians 13: 4-7 Because today is Valentine’s Day our scripture readings focus on love: God’s undying love for us and what that love, the love that we are called to imitate, is supposed to be like. The Gospel reading that is traditionally used on the […]
Ash Wednesday 2016
February 10, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: Joel 2:12-13, Matthew 11:28-30 A couple of years ago, the Associated Press carried a story about a woman in Olney, England, named Dawn Gallyot who defied snow and a biting wind to beat seven other women to the finish line in the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race. In her first […]
Take Off Your Shoes
February 7, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, Luke 5: 27-34 Last week I said that I would offer three sermons based on your thoughts about Union Church. Last week was about Creed – what we believe. This week is on Cult – How we worship. I’ve titled this sermon Take Off Your Shoes after […]
Children’s Story—Blind Men and the Elephant
January 31, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: Psalms 66:1-9;16-20. Acts 2: 1-12 Sung: “Sixteen Counties of our State are Cumberland and Franklin, Piscataquis and Somerset, Aroostook, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc and Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox and Hancock, Waldo, Washington and York, Oxford and Penobscot.” Now, I invite you to close your eyes. I promise you that you will be safe. Close […]
Peace and Presence by the Sea
January 24, 2016—Nancy Bancroft Readings: Psalm 84, Luke 24: 13-35 Well, Jan is gone. Our beloved pastor has left us. We pray that she will enjoy a long and happy, well-deserved retirement. But for us, it’s a great loss. We know how the disciples on the road to Emmaus felt. We can see them: Dragging […]