Today, on this fourth Sunday of Easter, we read the passage from John’s Gospel where Jesus refers to himself as the good shepherd. It makes perfect sense that the creators of the Revised Common Lectionary would include the 23rd Psalm as today’s Psalter reading. Jesus probably had this Psalm in mind when he was speaking […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, March 18, 2018 ~ Lent V Sermon: “It’s in the Heart” Gospel Lesson: Jeremiah 31:27-34 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio John Wesley, the co-founder of the Methodist Church, was an interesting character. He collaborated with his brother Charles to pen many hymns. (It is said […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, April 8, 2018 ~ Easter II Sermon: “Because I Said So” Gospel Lessons: John 20:19-31 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio My youngest son Thomas is aptly named, because he questions everything I say. I think all kids do that, which is why hair loss is […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018 Sermon: “The Greatest Trick of All Time” Scripture Lessons: Mark 16:1-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio I About a month ago, in a sermon about whether or not the Devil exists, I quoted the nineteenth century French poet […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, March 25, 2018 ~ Palm Sunday Sermon: “Joyous Salvation” Gospel Lesson: Mark 11:1-11 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio I Every year around this time, we celebrate Palm Sunday: the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem. This is the day that begins the holiest of holy weeks […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, March 11, 2018 ~ Lent IV Sermon: “God ‘So’ Loved Us, or Why I Am an Evangelical” Scripture Lessons: John 3:14-21 and Ephesians 2:1-10 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio At heart, I am an evangelical. I don’t say that too loud, because I am afraid […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, March 4, 2018 ~ Lent III Sermon: “Righteous Anger” Gospel Lesson: John 2:13-22 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio Have you ever seen the other side of someone? Did you ever think that you knew someone quite well, but then they say or do something that […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor February 11, 2018 ~ Transfiguration Sunday Sermon: “Jesus Was Transfigured, We Are Transformed” Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:2-9 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio I There are moments in our lives when we change. I am not talking about physical changes: going through puberty or realizing that you […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, February 4, 2018 ~ Epiphany V Sermon: “The Chestnuts of Our Faith” Hebrew Bible Lesson: Isaiah 40:21-31 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio I I am going to go in a totally different direction with today’s homily. Inspiration comes in strange forms. I went home after […]
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sunday, January 28, 2018 ~ Epiphany IV Sermon: “Why Believe?” Scripture Lessons: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Mark 1:21-28 © 2018, Dr. Tamilio Why believe in God? Why believe in Jesus? Isn’t there sufficient evidence to show that religion is primitive, that it just isn’t based on truth? […]