Sunday, June 28, 2020 ~ Pentecost 6 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2020, Dr. Tamilio The word “kind” means both to be nice and it means type — as in category. For example, an ornithologist might ask what kind of bird is that? (Actually, an ornithologist would know what kind of bird it is, […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Most seminarians (at least those who went to Andover Newton) have to do a year of field education. This is when you work at a church for 10 to 15 hours a week as a student minister. You come-up with a learning covenant that details what […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Suffering produces perseverance. In other words, sorrow, grief, misery, woe, and anguish produces persistence, determination, grit, insistence, and resolution. Perseverance produces character. In other words, persistence, determination, grit, insistence, and resolution produces personality, resolve, integrity, soul, and depth. Character produces hope. In other words, personality, resolve, […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Today is the first Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday. I always felt that this was one of those days when preachers are tasked with the impossible: to explain what appears inexplicable. How does Christianity, which is a monotheistic religion, explain how God can be one yet […]
Sermon: “It’s Good to Be Back Home” (Acts 2) Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor John Denver said it best: Hey, it’s good to be back home again Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend Yes, and hey, it’s good to be back home again It’s good to be back at the […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Gospel Lesson: Matthew 28:1-10 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio So, let me state the obvious first: I do not think any of us can remember Easter Services being cancelled in our lifetime. Even those of you who lived through World War II were able to worship on the Sabbath. The September […]
Second Sunday of Lent Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor The Book of Genesis is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It begins “in the beginning” and follows us all the way to the story of Joseph in the land of Egypt. The first three chapters are mesmerizing. Actually, these chapters tell two different […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Gospel Lesson: Matthew 17:1-9 When I was eight years old, my parents bought a camp on Mousam Lake in Maine. It remained in the family until recently. In later years, my siblings and I would divide weeks throughout the summer to spend time at “the camp” with our respective families. […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Next Sunday, we will reflect upon the Transfiguration of Jesus. Three days later, we will enter the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Then, we will walk the penitential path of deep spiritual reflection and formation for forty days. So, this really is the last Sunday of Epiphany. It sounds […]
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2020, Dr. Tamilio When I was working on my Master’s in English, I took a course in utopian literature. We read authors such as Sir Thomas More, Jonathan Swift, and Voltaire. One of the first things that an author of a utopian narrative does is […]