Lessons in Winter
February 23, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert Our Gospel reading today from Matthew is read each year before the beginning of the Lenten Season. It is a story that takes place towards to the end of Jesus’ public life when he’s heading to Jerusalem. He understands in some way what is before him and […]
The Power of Love
February 16, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert “An entire army made of lovers would be invincible.” Plato, Symposium It is said the Eskimos in North America have 50-100 unique words for snow. Many Native communities have incredibly nuanced terms for plants, ground, and jungle structure which help them describe and navigate their surroundings, make […]
Meditation for February 2nd
February 2, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert Matthew 5:1-12 This morning, we heard a reading from a section of Matthew’s Gospel that we have come to know as the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew collected the sayings of Jesus, and he includes them in this one great Sermon, a portion of which we listened […]
Looking Back…Looking Ahead
January 26, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert I imagine that almost everyone knows that this year Maine marks the bicentennial of its statehood in 1820. As we gather today, we are mindful of the contributions of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and so many other men and women who courageously led the Civil […]
Reflections on Service and Faith
January 12, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert Brief Reflections after Martha Jacques: We’re so grateful to Martha for joining us today and sharing some stories from her important work at Alternative Pathways. I know that several people from our church have been dedicated volunteers there in recent years and that it has meant a […]
On the Epiphany
January 5, 2020 — Rev. Paula Norbert Our reading from Matthew’s Gospel about the visit of the Magi to the infant child has long been a part of the Christmas story which is told each year during this Season. This story reads in some ways like a fairy tale; there is a star, there […]
Hearts of Compassion
December 29, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert Isaiah 63: 7-9, Matthew 2:13-23 I hope that you all enjoyed a lovely Christmas filled with much joy and peace. As we gather on this Sunday, just a few days after all the celebration, we are invited in our reading from Isaiah to think about the kindness […]
Christmas Eve Meditation
December 24, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert Over two centuries ago in a quiet corner of the world in a little town called Bethlehem, a child was born who would change the world in ways his parents may never have imagined. Tonight, we gather to listen to this story once again, to imagine what […]
Quiet Joy and Peace
December 22 — Rev. Paula Norbert Isaiah 7: 13-15, Matthew 1: 18-25 Today is our fourth Sunday in Advent and in just two days, we will celebrate Christmas Eve. We have slowly been making our way through some of the wonderful readings of the prophet Isaiah, listening to his writings about the hopes and […]
Joy Beyond Measure
December 15, 2019 — Rev. Paula Norbert On this third Sunday of Advent, we continue to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the hymn, Joy to the World. As we listen to those words in a new way, “heaven and nature sing,” we may ask, how do we join in with this song? How do […]