Sermons
Please click on a link to listen to a sermon (pdf transcripts are also available in some cases). Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome! Feel free to contact the minister by phone (603-448-4281) or email.


Sermons Preached by the Rev. Stephen R. Silver

9/17/2023 - Exodus 14:19-31
“What Is ‘Living Water’?”

9/10/2023 - Romans 13:8-14/Matt 18:15-20
“Some Rules for Living”

9/3/2023 - Ex 3:1-15/Matt 16:21-28
“Is Seeing Believing?”

7/30/2023 - Gen 25:19-34/Matt 13:31-33, 44-52
“Looking for Buried Treasure”

7/23/2023 - Matt 13:24-30
“Wheat or Weeds?” (no recording)

7/16/2023 - Gen 25:19-34/Matt 13:1-9
“High-Yield Investing”

6/25/2023 - Matthew 10:24-39
“Rocking the Boat”

6/18/2023 - Matthew 9:35-10:23
“Jesus’ Talent Pool”

6/4/2023 - Matthew 28:16-20
“It’s a Mystery”

5/28/2023 - Acts 2:1-21
“A World on Fire”

5/21/2023 - Luke 24:44-53
“Up”

5/14/2023 - John 14:15-21
“Not Home Alone”

5/7/2023 -
(Rev. Gordon Rankin, guest preacher - no recording)

4/30/2023 - John 10:1-10
“God’s Got Your Back”

4/23/2023 - Luke 24:13-35
“Walking, Talking, and Chewing Gum”

4/16/2023 - John 20:19-31
“Believe Me”

4/9/2023 (Easter Sunday) - Matthew 28:1-10
“The Weirdest Story Ever Told”

4/7/2023 (Good Friday) -
Reflection

4/6/2023 (Maundy Thursday) -
Homily

4/2/2023 (Palm Sunday) - Matthew 21:1-11
“I Love a Parade”

3/26/2023 - Ezekiel 37:1-14/John 11:1-45
“A Fresh Start?”

3/19/2023 - John 9:1-41
“Can You See?”

3/12/2023 - John 4:5-42
“Not Another Gated Community”

3/5/2023 - John 3:1-17
“Fumbling in the Dark”

2/26/2023 - Matthew 4:1-11
“Choices, Choices”

2/19/2023 - Matthew 17:1-9
“Stop Talking”

2/12/2023 - Matthew 5:21-37
“Our State of the Union”

2/5/2023 - Matthew 5:13-20
“Good Salt”

1/29/2023 - Matthew 5:1-12
“Mission Statements”

1/22/2023 - Matthew 4:12-23
“Career Change”

1/15/2023 - John 1:29-42
“Looking for Trouble”

1/8/2023 - Matthew 2:1-12
“What Just Happened?”

1/1/2023 - Matthew 2:13-23
“The Long Run”

12/25/2022 - John 1:1-14
“Word”

12/24/2022 -
Christmas Eve Meditation

12/18/2022 - Matthew 1:18-25
“Spare”

12/11/2022 - Matthew 11:2-11
“Hopey, Changey Stuff”

12/4/2022 - Matthew 3:1-12
“Is Anybody Really Listening?”

11/27/2022 - Matthew 24:36-44
“Almost Here...”

11/20/2022 - Luke 23:33-43
“Leading by Example”

11/13/2022 - Isaiah 65:17-25
“Dream Big”

11/6/2022 - Luke 6:20-31
“Live Like a Saint”

10/30/2022 - Luke 19:1-10
“The Long and the Short of It”

10/16/2022 - Luke 18:1-8
“Looking for Justice”

10/9/2022 - Luke 17:11-19
“Faith in Surprising Places”

10/2/2022 - Luke 17:5-10
“Let’s Be Honest Here”

9/25/2022 - Luke 16:19-31
“Painfully Clueless”

9/18/2022 - Amos 8:4-7
“What Do We Believe Is Almighty?”

9/11/2022 - Exodus 32:7-14 and Luke 15:1-10
“Giving Forgiveness”

9/4/2022 - Philemon 1:1-25
“Seeing Things Anew”

8/28/2022 - Luke 14:1,7-14
“Preferred Seating”

8/21/2022 - Isaiah 11:1-10 and Galatians 3:23-29
“My Good Book Report”

8/7/2022 - Luke 12:32-40
“Waiting for God(ot)”

7/10/2022 - Luke 10:25-37
“The Neighbor Next Door”

6/26/2022 - 2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14
“Blowin’ in the Wind”

6/19/2022 - Luke 8:26-39
“A New Identity”

6/5/2022 - Acts 2:1-21
“The Winds of Change”

5/29/2022 - Luke 24:44-53
“Where’s God?”

5/22/2022 - Acts 16:9-15
“People Helping Out”

5/15/2022 - Revelation 21:1-6
“All Things Made New”

5/8/2022 - Acts 9:36-43
“Men and Women at Work”

5/1/2022 - Acts 9:1-30
“Pick of the Litter”

4/24/2022 - John 20:19-31
“Believe Me. Really.”

4/17/2022 - John 20:1-18
“Seeing Is Believing”

4/15/2022 -
Good Friday Reflection

4/14/2022 - John 13:1-7, 31b-35 -
Maundy Thursday Homily

4/10/2022 - Luke 19:28-40
“Shouting Stones”

4/3/2022 - John 12:1-8
“An Open House”

3/27/2022 - Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
“Coming Home”

3/22/2022 - Ukraine Prayer Service (
Meditation)

3/20/2022 - Luke 13:1-9
“Towering Inferno?”

3/13/2022 - Genesis 15:1-12,17-18
“Stargazing”

3/6/2022 - Luke 4:1-13
“Arguing with Satan”

2/27/2022 - Luke 9:28-36
“Eyewitness News”

2/20/2022 - Luke 6:27-38
“Can’t We All Just Get Along”

2/13/2022 - Luke 6:17-26 / 1 Cor 15:12-20
“Back to Basics”

2/6/2022 - Luke 5:1-11
“Hook, Line, and Sinker”

1/30/2022 - Jeremiah 1:4-10/Luke 4:21-30
“The Power and Peril of Clichés”

1/23/2022 - Nehemiah 8:1-10/Luke 4:14-21
“Everybody Is Needed”

1/16/2022 - John 2:1-11
“Do Whatever He Tells You”

1/9/2022 - Luke 3:1-22
“Zero to Sixty”

1/2/2022 - Matthew 2:1-12
“Star Turn”

12/26/2021 - Luke 2:41-52
Reflection

12/24/2021 -
Christmas Eve Meditation

12/19/2021 - Luke 1:39-55
“Promises You Can Count On”

12/12/2021 - Luke 3:7-18
“Rejoice!”

12/5/2021 - Luke 3:1-6
“The People That Matter”

11/28/2021 - Luke 21:25-36
“Something’s Coming...”

11/22/2021 - Matthew 6:25-33
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Reflection

11/21/2021 - John 18:33-37
“Long Live the King!”

11/14/2021 - Mark 13:1-8
“Creative Destruction”

11/7/2021 - Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17
“Motivation”

10/31/2021 - Revelation 21:1-6a
“All Things New”

10/24/2021 - Mark 10:46-52
“Ever Reformed”

10/17/2021 - Job 38:1-7,34-41
“Twenty Questions with God”

10/10/2021 - Job 23:1-9,16-17
“Yo, God! I’m Talking to You!”

10/3/2021 - Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
“What Are You Looking At?”

9/26/2021 - Mark 9:38-50
“What Is Going On Here?” (no recording)

9/19/2021 - Mark 9:30-37
“Child’s Play”

9/12/2021 - Mark 8:27-38
“Who Do We Say We Are?”

8/15/2021 (Rev. Beth Hilgartner, guest preacher) - 1Kings 2-3 and Ephesians 5:15-20
“Live Wisely”

8/1/2021 - 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
“J’Accuse!”

7/25/2021 - John 6:1-21
“Not Another Fish Story”

7/18/2021 - 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
“A House for God” (no recording)

7/11/2021 - Mark 6:14-29
“Promises, Promises”

7/4/2021 - Mark 6:1-13
“Who Will You Listen To?”

6/27/2021 - Mark 5:21-43
“The Meaning of Mark in Just 23 Verses”

6/20/2021 (Rev. Jo Shelnutt, guest preacher) - Job 38-40 (excerpts)
“Conversation with a Fault-Finder”

6/13/2021 - Children’s Sunday
(no sermon)

6/6/2021 - 1 Samuel 8:4-20
“Your Parents Were Right”

5/30/2021 - John 3:1-17
“This Is What It’s All About”

5/23/2021 - Ezekiel 37:1-14
“Dry Bones... Again”

5/16/2021 - Acts 1:1-11
“Stand Up and Get Going”

5/9/2021 - John 15:9-17
“Being a Friend”

5/2/2021 - Acts 8:26-40
“AAA for the Soul”

4/25/2021 - John 10:11-18
“Are You a Sheep or a Shepherd?”

4/18/2021 - Luke 24:36b-48
“Not Another Ghost Story”

4/11/2021 - John 20:19-31
“Reasonable Doubt”

4/4/2021 (Easter) - Mark 16:1-8 “Like a Rolling Stone”
(unavailable)

4/2/2021 (Good Friday) -
Reflection

4/1/2021 (Maundy Thursday) -
Homily

3/28/2021 (Palm Sunday) - Mark 11:1-11
“Dead Man Walking”

3/21/2021 - John 12:20-33 “Sightseeing”
(unavailable)

3/14/2021 - John 3:14-21 “John’s Troublemaking Verse”
(unavailable)

3/7/2021 - Genesis 20:1-17 “Rules for Living”
(unavailable)

2/28/2021 - Mark 8:31-38 “Do-It-Yourself Theology”
(unavailable)

2/21/2021 - Mark 1:12-13
“Into the Wilderness” (recording only)

2/14/2021 - Mark 9:2-9
“On Being Transfigured” (recording only)

2/7/2021 - Mark 1:29-39
“What Are You Looking For?” (recording only)

1/31/2021 - Mark 1:21-28
“On Good Authority” (recording only)

1/24/2021 - Jonah 3:1-5,10/Mark 1:14-20
“Fish Tales” (recording only)

1/17/2021 - 1 Samuel 3/John 1:43-51
“Called” (recording only)

1/10/2021 - Genesis 1:1-5/Mark 1:4-11
“From the Top” (recording only)

1/3/2021 - Matthew 2:1-12
“Hope or Fear?” (recording only)

12/27/2020 - Luke 2:22-40
“What Do You See?” (recording only)

12/24/2020 - Christmas Eve
Meditation (recording only)

12/20/2020 - Luke 1:26-38 “The Most Important Conversation”
Text/Recording

12/13/2020 - Isaiah 61:1-4 “Manifesto for Living”
Text/Recording

12/6/2020 - Mark 1:1 / Isaiah 40:1-2 “Good News”
Text/Recording

11/29/2020 - Mark 13:24-37 “Welcome to Advent!”
Text/Recording

11/22/2020 - Deuteronomy 8:7-18 “By the Grace of God”
Text/Recording

11/15/2020 - Matthew 25:14-30 “Buried Treasure”
Recording

11/8/2020 - Matthew 25:1-13 “Be Prepared”
Recording

11/1/2020 - Revelation 7:9-17 “Hope”
Text/Recording

10/25/2020 - Matthew 22:34-46
“Love, Actually”

10/18/2020 - Matthew 22:15-22
“In God We Trust?”

10/11/2020 - (Outdoor Service) Exodus 32:1-14
“Holy Cow!”

10/4/2020 - Exodus 20:1-20
“Law or Love?” (pdf only)

9/27/2020 - Matthew 21:23-32
“Says Who?” (pdf only)

9/20/2020 - (Outdoor Service) “Lemons or Lemonade?”

9/13/2020 - Matthew 18:21-35
“To Infinity and Beyond” (pdf only)

9/6/2020 - Exodus 12:1-14
“The Importance of Ritual” (pdf only)

8/30/2020 - Matthew 16:21-28
“The Hard Truth” (pdf only)

8/23/2020 - Matthew 16:13-20
“A Vote of Confidence” (pdf only)

8/16/2020 - Genesis 45:1-15
“A Matter of Perspective” (pdf only)

8/9/2020 - (Outdoor Service)
“Back to School”

8/2/2020 - Genesis 32:22-31
“Wrestling with the Almighty” (pdf only)

7/26/2020 - Genesis 29:15-28
“Bait and Switch” (pdf only)

7/19/2020 - Genesis 28:10-22
“Climbing the Ladder” (pdf only)

7/12/2020 - Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
“Some Pitfalls of Gardening” (pdf only)

7/5/2020 - Mark 3:20-30
“A House Divided” (pdf only)

6/28/2020 - Matthew 10:40-42
“Just Reward” (pdf only)

6/21/2020 - Matthew 10:24-39
“Matthew’s Dumpster Fire” (pdf only)

6/14/2020 - Galatians 5:22-26
“Fruit of the Spirit” (pdf only)

6/7/2020 - Matt 28:16-20 / 2 Cor 13:11-13
“Love Incarnate” (pdf only)

5/31/2020 - Acts 2:1-21
“Dreaming Dreams, Seeing Visions” (pdf only)

5/24/2020 - Acts 1:6-14
“The Joy of Waiting” (pdf only)

5/17/2020 - Acts 17:22-34
“It’s All Greek to Me” (pdf only)

5/10/2020 - John 14:1-14
“Room for You and Me” (pdf only)

5/3/2020 - Psalm 23
“Meaning-Making” (pdf only)

4/26/2020 - Luke 24:13-35
“A Long, Strange Trip” (pdf only)

4/19/2020 - John 20:19-31
“Peace Be With You” (pdf only)

4/12/2020 (Easter Sunday) - John 20:1-18
“Moment of Discovery” (pdf only)

4/10/2020 (Good Friday) - Psalm 22:1-5
“Why?” (pdf only)

4/9/2020 (Maundy Thursday) - John 13:1-17, 31b-35
“Love One Another” (pdf only)

4/5/2020 (Palm Sunday) - Matthew 21:1-11
“Who Is This?” (pdf only)

3/29/2020 - John 11:1-45
“The Light and the Dark” (pdf only)

3/22/2020 - John 9:1-41
“Perfect Vision” (pdf only)

3/15/2020 - John 4:5-42
“The Other Side of the Coin” (pdf only)

3/8/2020 - John 3:1-17
“Night Shift”

3/1/2020 - Matthew 4:1-11
“Don’t Tempt Me”

2/23/2020 - Matthew 17:1-9
“Peaks and Valleys”

2/16/2020 - Matthew 5:21-37
“How to Be a Law-Abiding Citizen of the Kingdom”

2/9/2020 - Matthew 5:13-20
“Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb”

2/2/2020 - Matthew 5:1-12
“The Grammar of God”

1/26/2020 - Matthew 4:12-23
“Thanks for All the Fish!”

1/19/2020 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Sermon:
“God’s Justice for All” (pdf only)

1/12/2020 - Matthew 3:13-17
“Do Your Job”

1/5/2020 - Matthew 2:1-12
“MacGuffins at the Manger”

12/24/2019 - Luke 2:8-16
Christmas Eve Homily / pdf version

12/22/2019 - Romans 1:1-7
“First Things First”

12/15/2019 - James 5:7-10
“How Long Will This Take?”

12/8/2019 - Romans 15:4-13
“Dreaming of One Future”

12/1/2019 - Romans 13:11-14
“It’s Time to Wake Up”

11/24/2019 - Hebrews 13:9-16
“Give ’Til It Feels Good”

11/17/2019 - Isaiah 65:17-25 “Hope Beyond Hope” (
Part1)(Part2)
(Note: This sermon was interrupted by a fire drill.)

11/10/2019 - Haggai 1:15b-2:9
“The Golden Age”

11/3/2019 - Luke 6:20-31
“Life in the Cloud”

10/27/2019 - Luke 18:9-14
“Look in the Mirror”

10/20/2019 - Luke 18:1-8
“An Honest Judge”

10/13/2019 - Luke 17:11-19
“The Outlier”

10/6/2019 - Luke 22:7-20
“Why We Do What We Do”

9/29/2019 - Luke 16:19-31
“You Still Don’t Get It”

9/22/2019 - Luke 16:1-13
“Surely, You Mean Someone Else”

9/15/2019 - 2 Peter 1:3-8
“Alphabet Soup”

9/8/2019 - Luke 14:25-33
“Letting Go”

9/1/2019 - Luke 14:1,7-14
“Where’s My Seat?”

8/25/2019 - Luke 13:10-17
“Sabbath Healings”

7/14/2019 - Luke 10:25-37 “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
(unavailable)

7/7/2019 - 2 Kings 5:1-14
“In God We Trust”

6/23/2019 - 1 Kings 19:1-18 / Luke 8:26-39
“Doubting Is Believing”

6/16/2019 - John 16:12-15
“Do the Math”

6/9/2019 - Genesis 11:1-9/Acts 2:1-21
“Talking Nonsense”

6/2/2019 - John 17:21
“Who Are We?”

5/26/2019 - John 14:23-29
“Where Were We?”

5/19/2019 - John 13:31-35
“Glory and Love”

5/12/2019 - John 10:22-30
“What We Say Matters”

5/5/2019 - John 21:1-19
“Another Chance”

4/28/2019 - John 20:19-31
“Prove It”

4/21/2019 (Easter) - John 20:1-18
“The Dream Come True”

4/19/2019 (Good Friday) -
John 19:16b-42

4/18/2019 (Maundy Thursday) -
John 13:1-17

4/14/2019 (Palm Sunday) - Luke 19:28-40
“Cognitive Dissonance”

4/7/2019 - John 12:1-8
“Something New”

3/31/2019 - Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
“Forgiven”

3/24/2019 - Luke 13:1-9
“We’re All Going to Die!”

3/17/2019 - Luke 13:31-35
“Free to Choose”

3/10/2019 - Luke 4:1-13
“Who’s on Trial Here?”

3/3/2019 - Luke 9:28-43a
“Listen Up!”

2/24/2019 - Luke 6:27-38
“Heavy Lifting”

2/17/2019 - (guest preacher; no recording)

2/10/2019 - Luke 5:1-11
“Drop Everything!”

2/3/2019 - Luke 4:21-30
“The Truth Hurts”

1/27/2019 - Luke 4:14-21
“It Means What I Say...”

1/20/2019 - Romans 12:1-8
“To the Mountaintop” (pdf only)

1/13/2019 - Luke 3:15-22
“The Shape of Water”

1/6/2019 - Matthew 2:1-12
“Looking for Love in All the Right Places”

12/24/2018 -
Christmas Eve Homily

12/23/2018 - Luke 1:39-55
“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”

12/16/2018 - Luke 3:7-20
“What Should We Do?”

12/9/2018 - Luke 3:1-6
“Preparing a Way”

12/2/2018 - Luke 21:25-36
“What Signs Are You Looking For?”

11/25/2018 - Joshua 4:4-7
“Past as Prologue”

11/11/2018 - Deut 4:9-14; John 15:9-17
“The Armistice: Why Remember?”

11/4/2018 - Luke 18:9-14 (Dr. Randall Balmer, Guest Preacher) “The Pharisee’s Lament”

10/28/2018 - Matthew 22:15-22
“This. Is. Not. Normal.”

10/21/2018 - Job 38:1-7,34-41
“A Bit of Perspective”

10/14/2018 - Job 23:1-17
“Raging at God”

10/7/2018 - Job 1:1, 2:1-10 “Evil Is Real”
(unavailable)

9/30/2018 - James 5:13-20 “Is Anybody Listening?”
(unavailable)

9/23/2018 - Joshua 4:1-9 (Dr. Margaret Bendroth, Guest Preacher for Anniversary Sunday)
“Telling Stories” (pdf only)

9/16/2018 - Mark 8:27-38
“What Were You Expecting?”

9/9/2018 - Mark 7:24-37
“Surprised”

9/2/2018 - Mark 7:1-23
“Telling It Like It Is”

8/26/2018 - Ephesians 6:10-20
“Armed and Ready”

8/12/2018 - John 6:35,41-51
“Who Are You?”

8/5/2018 - John 6:24-35
“Wonder Bread”

7/29/2018 (Praise in the Park) - John 6:1-21
“A Day at the Beach”

6/24/2018 - 1 Samuel 17:32-49
“What’s Going on Here?”

6/17/2018 - Romans 13:1-7
“Are You Serious?”

6/10/2018 - Luke 18:15-17
Children’s Sunday Sermon

6/3/2018 - Mark 2:23-3:6
“Are We Pharisees?”

5/27/2018 - John 3:1-17
“I Believe...”

5/20/2018 - Ezekiel 37:1-14
“Dry Bones”

5/13/2018 - Luke 24:44-53
“Where’d He Go?”

5/6/2018 - John 15:9-17
“BFF”

4/29/2018 - 1 John 4:7-21
“God Is Love. So What?”

4/22/2018 - John 10:11-18
“Wanted: Shepherd”

4/15/2018 - Luke 24:36b-48
“What We Proclaim”

4/8/2018 - John 20:19-31 (50th Anniv of MLK Assassination)
“The Road from Memphis”

4/1/2018 (Easter) - Mark 16:1-8
“It’s Not a Joke”

3/25/2018 - Mark 11:1-11
“Just Visiting?”

3/18/2018 - John 12:20-33
“Please Answer the Question”

3/11/2018 - John 3:14-21
“God So Loves the World”

3/4/2018 - John 2:13-22
“‘Gentle’ Jesus, ‘Mild and Meek’”

2/25/2018 - Mark 8:31-38
“Profit and Loss”

2/18/2018 - Mark 1:9-15
“Into the Wilderness”

2/11/2018 - Mark 9:2-9
“Up and Down”

2/4/2018 - Mark 1:29-39
“Run for Your Life”

1/28/2018 - Mark 1:21-28
“Who’s Talking?”

1/21/2018 - Mark 1:14-20
“Gone Fishin’”

1/14/2018 - 1 Samuel 3:1-20
“Questioning the Call”

1/7/2018 - Matthew 2:1-12
“Looking for Answers”

12/31/2017 - Luke 2:22-40
“Not Such Bit Players”

12/24/2017 - Luke 2
Christmas Eve Meditation

12/24/2017 - 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
“House of God, House for God”

12/17/2017 - John 1:6-8,19-28 and Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
“Are We Really Ready for This?”

12/10/2017 - Mark 1:1-8
“Who Is This Guy?”

12/3/2017 - Mark 13:24-37 “Keep Watch, Stay Awake”
(recording unavailable)

11/26/2017 - Matthew 25:31-46
“Last Judgment”

11/19/2017 - Acts 4:32-5:6
“Drop Dead!”

11/12/2017 - Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25
“Let’s Make a Deal”

11/5/2017 - Joshua 3:7-17
“Boundary or Bridge?”

10/29/2017 - Romans 1:14-17
“Reformation Reflections”

10/22/2017 - Matthew 22:15-22
“Caesar or God”

10/15/2017 - Exodus 32:1-14
“It’s Complicated”

10/8/2017 - Exodus 20:1-20
“The Ten Commandments: Do We Really Care?”

10/1/2017 - Matthew 21:23-32
“What Do You Think?”

9/24/2017 - Exodus 16:2-15
“Is That All?”

(Rev. Silver on sabbatical, May-Sept 2017)

5/14/2017 - John 14:1-14
“How Can We Know the Way?”

5/7/2017 - Acts 2:42-47
“A Church for the Ages”

4/16/2017 (Easter) - Matthew 28:1-10
“It’s Easter. Don’t Be Afraid!”

4/9/2017 - Matthew 21:1-11
“But Wait, There’s More...”

4/2/2017 - Ezekiel 37:1-14
“Built to Last”

3/26/2017 - 1 Samuel 16:1-13
“What Do You Want to Find”

3/19/2017 - Exodus 17:1-7 “What to Do With Lemons”
(recording unavailable)

3/12/2017 - Genesis 12:1-4
“Roadside Assistance”

3/5/2017 - Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
“This Is No Time to Pass the Buck”

2/26/2017 - Matthew 17:1-9
“Taking a Risk”

2/19/2017 - Matthew 5:38-48
“Law for Living”

2/12/2017 - Matthew 5:21-37
“Free to Choose”

2/5/2017 - Matthew 5:13-20
“Sacred Seasoning”

1/29/2017 - Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 5:1-12
“Present Tense”

1/22/2017 - Exodus 20:1-6 and 32:1-14
“American Idol”

1/15/2017 - Isaiah 49:1-7
“A Light to the Nations?”

1/8/2017 - Matthew 2:1-12
“Foreign Affairs”

12/25/2016 - Matthew 2, Luke 2, John 1
“All of the Above”

12/24/2016 - Luke 2:1-20
“What’s New?”

12/18/2016 - Isaiah 7:10-16
“Give Me a Sign”

12/11/2016 - Isaiah 35:1-10
“Foolproof”

12/4/2016 - Isaiah 11:1-10
“Crazy Man”

11/27/2016 - Matthew 24:36-44
“Expect the Unexpected”

11/20/2016 - 2 Samuel 6:12-19
“Sing to the Lord”

11/13/2016 - Isaiah 65:17-25
“Dare to Dream”

11/6/2016 - Haggai 1:15b-2:9
“Now What?”

10/30/2016 - Luke 6:20-31
“The Sanctity of Time Travel”

10/23/2016 - Luke 18:9-14
“Get Off the High Horse”

10/16/2016 - Luke 18:1-8
“Approaching the Bench”

10/9/2016 - Luke 17:11-19
“Thankworthiness”

10/2/2016 - Luke 17:5-10
“You Can Do It!”

9/25/2016 - Luke 16:19-31, “Go to Hell!”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

9/18/2016 - Luke 16:1-13
“Time for a Haircut”

9/11/2016 - Lamentations 1:1-5
“Fifteen Years On”

8/21/2016 - Luke 13:10-17
“Give It a Rest”

8/7/2016 - Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
“Living Faith”

7/31/2016 - Luke 12:13-21
“What Really Matters”

7/24/2016 - Genesis 18:20-32
“Let’s Talk”

6/26/2016 - Luke 9:51-62
“Undivided Attention”

6/19/2016 - Genesis 1:26-27, “Created Equally in God’s Image: A Reflection on Orlando”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

5/29/2016 - Luke 7:1-10
“Outside Looking In”

5/22/2016 - John 16:12-15
“The New Math”

5/15/2016 - Acts 2:1-21
“God Is Red”

5/8/2016 - Acts 16:16-34
“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

5/1/2016 - Revelation 21:1, 22-22:5
“Sacred Geography”

4/24/2016 - Revelation 21:1-6
“We’re Just Guests Here: A Sermon on Caring for God’s Creation”

4/17/2016 - Psalm 23
“The Old Words Are Best of All”

4/10/2016 - Acts 9:1-20
“What Do You See?” (The Conversion of St Paul by Benjamin West)

4/3/2016 - John 20:19-31
“Peace Be With You”

3/27/2016 - Easter Sunday - Luke 24:1-12
“Idle Tales”

3/25/2016 - Good Friday - John 19:16b-42
“At the Cross”

3/24/2016 - Maundy Thursday - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
“When He Had Given Thanks”

3/20/2016 - Luke 19:28-40
“In and Out”

3/13/2016 - John 12:1-8
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”

3/6/2016 - Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
“I Want My Fatted Calf!”

2/28/2016 - Luke 13:1-9
“Lousy Theology”

2/21/2016 - Luke 13:31-35
“All Roads Lead to...”

2/14/2016 - Luke 4:1-13
“Let’s Make a Deal”

2/7/2016 - Luke 9:28-36
“Peak Performance”

1/31/2016 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

1/24/2016 - Nehemiah 8:1-10
"Book of Wonders"

1/17/2016 - Exodus 3:7-12
"Special Delivery"

1/10/2016 - Luke 3:21-22
"H2O"

1/3/2016 - Epiphany - Matthew 2:1-12
"A Different Way"

12/27/2015 - Congregational Carol Sing
(no sermon)

12/24/2015 - Christmas Eve - Luke 2:15-18
"Christmas Traditions"

12/20/2015: - Luke 1-46b-55 (The Magnificat)
"The Most Powerful Woman in the World?"

12/13/2015 - Luke 3:7-20
"Great Introductions"

12/6/2015 - Luke 3:1-6
"Crazy Like A Fox"

11/29/2015 - Luke 21:25-36
"What Happens in Advent ..."

11/22/2015 - Matthew 6:19-21
"Hide and Seek"

11/15/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

11/8/2015 - Romans 8:35-39
"Enduring Spirit: A Reflection for Native American Sunday"

11/1/2015 - Revelation 21:1-6a and John 11:32-44
"Saints Alive!: A Reflection for All Saints Day"

10/25/2015 - Into the Whirlwind: Sitting With Job 4 - Job 42
"Anatomy of a Happy Ending"

10/18/2015 - Into the Whirlwind: Sitting With Job 3 - Job 38:1-7, 34-41
"How Will You Make Yourself Known?"

10/11/2015 - Into the Whirlwind:Sitting With Job 2 - Job 23:8-9
"God, Where Are You?"

10/4/2015 - Into the Whirlwind: Sitting With Job 1 - Job 1:1, 2:1-10
"Who Do You Trust?"

9/27/2015 - James 5:13-20
"The Open Door of Prayer"

9/20/2015 - Mark 9:30-37
"Get in Line"

9/13/2015 - Mark 8:27-38
"Words of Encouragement"

9/6/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

8/30/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

8/23/2015 -
Listening to the Word: Paul's Letter to Philemon (Questions for Reflection)

8/16/2015 -
Listening to the Word: The Book of Jonah (Questions for Reflection)

8/9/2015 - John 6:35, 41-51 and Ephesians 4:25-5:2
"Wonder Bread"

8/2/2015 - John 6:24-35
"The Fab Four: John - The Mystic"

7/26/2015 - Praise in the Park - No Sermon Available

7/19/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

7/12/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

7/5/2015 -
Abraham Lincoln, Theologian (Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address: read-pdf)

6/28/2015 - Luke 1:1-4
"The Fab Four: Luke - The Historian"

6/21/2015 - Amos 5:21-24, “Confessing America’s Original Sin: A Response to the Shootings at Emmanuel AME in Charleston, S.C.”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

6/14/2015 - Matthew 5:13-20
"The Fab Four: Matthew - The Insider"

6/7/2015 - Children's Sunday -
Acts 11:19-30 "A Great Place to Meet"

5/31/2015 - Mark 11:12-25
"The Fab Four: Mark - Rebel With A Cause"

5/24/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

5/17/2015 - Job 39:26-30
"Green-Letter Bible"

5/10/2015 - John 15:9-17
"What A Friend!"

5/3/2015 - Acts 8:26-40
"The Man With No Name"

4/26/2015 - Psalm 23
"Churchill Was Right"

4/19/2015 - Luke 24:36b-48
"Applied Resurrection: On Friendship, Death, and New Life"

4/12/2015 - John 20:19-31 and Acts 4:32-35
"Can You Believe It?"

4/5/2015 - Easter Sunday - Mark 16:1-8
"The Future Has Arrived"

4/3/2015 - Good Friday - Psalm 22
"A Good Friday Reflection"

4/2/2015 - Maundy Thursday - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"A Maundy Thursday Reflection"

3/29/2015 - Palm Sunday - Mark 1:1-11
"Why Are You Doing This?"

3/22/2015 - Jeremiah 31:31-34
"The New Deal"

3/15/2015 - John 3:14-21
"In or Out?"

3/8/2015 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

3/1/2015 - Mark 8:31-38
"Have I Got A Deal For You!"

2/22/2015 - Mark 1:9-15
"Into the Wild"

2/15/2015 - Mark 9:2-9
"That's Inconceivable!"

2/8/2015 - Mark 1:29-39
"What Time Is It?"

2/1/2015 - Mark 1:21-28
"Action Reaction"

1/25/2015 - Mark 1:14-2
"Catch and Release"

1/18/2015 - 1 Samuel 3:1-20
"Who's Calling?"

1/11/2015 - Mark 1:4-11
"Seal of Approval"

1/4/2015 - Matthew 2:1-12
"Unexpected Visitors"

12/28/2014 - Congregational Carol Sing
(no sermon)

12/24/2014 - Luke 2:1-14
"A Christmas Reflection"

12/21/2014 - Luke 1:26-38
"Enunciating Annunciation"

12/14/2014 - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
"Homecoming"

12/7/2014 - Isaiah 40:1-14
"Breaking News: From the Rivers of Babylon to Staten Island, New York"

11/30/2014 - Mark 13:24-37
"Staying Awake"

11/23/2014 - 2 Corinthians 9 6-15
"Giving with Heart and Soul"

11/16/2014 - Isaiah 5:1-2
"On the Centenary of the Great War: Aftermath"

11/9/2014 - Amos 5:18-24
"On The Centenary of the Great War: The Great War - A Holy War?"

11/2/2014 - Deuteronomy 20:1-4
"On The Centenary of the Great War: A Reflection"

10/26/2014 - Matthew 22:34-46
"¡Hola! Greetings from San Jose Villanueva"

10/18/2014 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

10/12/2014 - Genesis 12:1-3, “God of Israel: A Response to the Proposed NH-UCC Conference Resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

10/5/2014 - Exodus 20:1-20
"Carved in Stone?"

9/28/2014 - Matthew 21:23-32
"Reasonable Questions"

9/21/2014 - Matthew 20:1-16
"A Fair Wage"

9/14/2014 - Romans 14:1-12
"One Big Happy Family"

9/7/2014 - Matthew 18:15-20
"Do We Have a Quorum?"

8/17, 24, 31 - Guest Preachers (sermons not available)

8/10/2014 - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
"Origin Stories: On Superheroes and Scripture"

8/3/2014 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

7/27/2014 - Praise in the Park
(sermon not available)

7/20/2014 - Genesis 28:10-19a
"Everything is Awesome"

7/13/2014 - Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
"Seeds and Weeds"

7/6/2014 - Deuteronomy 10:17-21 and Matthew 5:43-48
"The First Liberty"

6/29/2014 - Romans 6:21-23
"At The Fork In The Road"

6/22/2014 - Matthew 10:34-39
"Josef's Story or 'I Bring Not Peace But a Sword' Explained" (NY Times Article - PDF)

6/15/2014 - Genesis 1:1-2:4a
"The Stories People Tell"

6/8/2014- Acts 2:1-21
"A Mighty Wind"

6/1/2014 - Acts 1:6-14
"What Are You Looking At?"

5/25/2014 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

5/18/2014 - John 14:1-14
"A Difficult Text"

5/11/2014 - Acts 2:42-47
"Church: Noun or Verb?"

5/4/2014 - Luke 24:13-35
"Hearts on Fire: A Communion User's Manual"

4/27/2014 - John 20:19-31
"The Last Word"

4/20/2014 - Easter Sunday - Matthew 28:1-10
"Tested and Triumphant"

4/18/2014 - Good Friday - Psalm 22
"Midnight"

4/17/2014 - Maundy Thursday - John 19:13-16
"The Church's Original Sin"

4/13/2014 - Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11
"House of Cards"

4/6/2014: - John 19:25b-30
"Where Are You? Part 4: Loss"

3/30/2014 - Job 31:35-40
"Where Are You? Part 3: Suffering"

3/23/2014 - Jonah 3:10-4:3
"Where Are You? Part 2: Resentment"

3/16/2014 - Ruth 1:19-22
"Where Are You? Part 1: Abandonment"

3/9/2014 - Matthew 7:21-29
"Authority Figure"

3/2/2014 - Matthew 6:24-34
"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

2/23/2014 - Matthew 5:28-28
"Subversive, Not Subservient"

2/16/2014 - Matthew 5:21-37
"Now For the Hard Part ..."

2/9/2014 - Matthew 5:13-20
"What Will They See?"

2/2/2014 - Matthew 5:1-12
"The Future is Now"

1/26/2014 - Matthew 4:12-23
"Risky Business"

1/19/2014 - John 1:29-42
"A Spiritual Rorschach Test"

1/12/2014 - Matthew 3:13-17
"Promises, Promises"

1/5/2014 - Matthew 2:1-12
"Look Again: Recollections of a Magus"

12/29/2013 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

12/24/2013 - Luke 2:1-14
"Christmas Eve Meditation"

12/22/2013 - Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
"Look at Me"

12/15/2013 - Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
"What Are We Waiting For?"

12/8/2013 - Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
"The Candidate"

12/1/2013 - Psalm 122
"Are We There Yet?"

11/26/2013 - Deuteronomy 26:1-11
"Once In A Lifetime: A Thanksgiving Reflection"

11/24/2013 - Deuteronomy 26:1-11
"Q"

11/17/2013 - Sirach 35:12-17
"The Return on Your Investment: A Stewardship Sermon"

11/10/2013 - Haggai 1:15b-2:9
"What Do You See?"

11/3/2013 - Luke 19:1-10
"The Company He Keeps"

10/27/2013 - Genesis 22:1-19
"History of our Faith in Three Objects - 3: The Binding of Isaac in Stained Glass and our Relationship with God" (Stained Glass Window: image)

10/20/2013 - Ezra 1:1-11
"History of our Faith in Three Objects - 2: The Cyrus Cylinder and the Return of the Exiles" (The Cyrus Cylinder: image)

10/13/2013 - Luke 1:39-56
"History of our Faith in Three Objects - 1: The Duccio Madonna and Child and the Magnificat" (Duccio’s Madonna and Child: image)

10/6/2013 - Luke 17:5-10
"Gone to Seed"

9/29/2013 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

9/22/2013 - Luke 16:1-13
"Do The Hustle"

9/15/2013 - Luke 15:1-10
"We Are The One Percent"

9/8/2013 - Jeremiah 18:1-11
"Modeling Clay"

9/1/2013 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

8/25/2013 - Jeremiah 1:1-10
"I Want YOU!"

8/18/2013 - Hebrews 11:29-12:2
"Heartbreak Hill"

8/11/2013 - Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
"The Show-Me State"

8/4/2013 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

7/28/2013 - Guest Preacher
(sermon not available)

7/21/2013 - Luke 10:38-42
"Get Over Yourself"

7/14/2013 - Luke 10:25-37
"Closer Than We Think"

7/7/2013 - "Calvin Coolidge, Congregationalist”
(listen) / (read-pdf) / (photo)

6/30/2013 - 2 Kings 2:1-14
"What Do You See?"

6/23/2013 - Confirmation Reflections - Steve Silver, Emma Petersson, Eric Petersson

6/16/2013 - 1 Kings 21:1-21a
"I Know What's Mine"

6/9/2013 - Luke 7:11-17
"True Greatness"

6/2/2013 - Luke 7:1-10 -
"Why Bother?"

5/26/2013 -
(sermon not available)

5/19/2013 -
(sermon not available)

5/12/2013 - John 17:20-26, “Great Slogans”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

5/5/2013 - Acts 16:9-15
"Here, There, Everywhere"

4/28/2013 - Revelation 21:1-6
"Get Out of Jail Free"

4/21/2013 - Psalm 23 -
"Running With God"

4/14/2013 - John 21:1-19 & Ephesians 5:25-33
"Be Ye Kind One to Another" - Guest preacher: The Rev. Dr. Richard R. Crocker

4/7/2013 - Revelation 1:4-8
"Caution: Easter in Progress"

3/31/2013 - Easter Sunday - Luke 24:1-12
"A Bucket List for the Christian"

3/29/2013 - Good Friday - John 19:17-42
"Here is The King"

3/28/2013 - Maundy Thursday - John 13-17, 31b-35
"Love as Service, Service as Love"

3/24/2013 - Palm Sunday - Luke 19.28-40
"Omega to Alpha"

3/17/2013 - John 12:1-8
"Bang for the Buck"

3/10/2013 -
(sermon not available)

3/3/2013 - Luke 13:1-9
"The Fine Print"

2/24/2013 -
(sermon not available)

2/17/2013 - Luke 4:1-13 “Knowing Your Price”
(read-pdf)

2/10/2013 - Isaiah 6:1-13
"Calling Cards"

2/3/2013 -
(sermon not available)

1/27/2013 -
(sermon not available)

1/20/2013 - John 2:1-11
"Life of the Party"

1/13/2013 - Isaiah 43:1-7
"Under Water"

1/6/2013 - Matthew 2:1-12
"What Are You Looking For?"

12/30/2012 - Luke 2:41-52
"The Forgotten Man"

12/24/2012 - Luke 2:1-20
"Bridges: A Christmas Eve Meditation"

12/23/2012 - Luke 1:39-45
"Jump for Joy!"

12/21/2012 - Isaiah 40:1-4
"A Meditation for a Blue Christmas Service"

12/16/2012 - Luke 3:7-18
"Action, Reaction"
A sermon on gun violence and how the church might respond

12/9/2012 - Luke 3:1-6
"#JohntheBaptist"

12/2/2012 - Luke 21:25-36
"Welcome to Advent"

11/25/2012 - John 18:33-37
"The Church's Original Sin: A Reflection on the Church and Anti-Semitism"

11/18/2012 - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
"Priceless: A Reflection on Stewardship"

11/11/2012 - Isaiah 2:1-15
"11:00, 11/11: A Meditation for Armistice Day"

11/4/2012 - Mark 12:13-17, “Faith & Politics, Church & State”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

10/28/2012 - Mark 10:46-52, “What Do You Want?”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

JESUS: THEN AND NOW - A Five-Part Series on Jesus
Pt 5: 10/21/2012 - Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, “Past, Present, Future” (listen) / (read-pdf)
Pt 4: 10/14/2012 - Mark 15:16-32, “Hail to the Chief”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
Pt 3: 10/7/2012 - Mark 5:25-34, “The Doctor Is In”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
Pt 2: 9/30/2012 - Matthew 13:1-23, “Back to School with Jesus”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
Pt 1: 9/23/2012 - Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-7, “Mrs. Jesus”
(listen) / (read-pdf) (St. Martin-in-the-Fields, East Window: Image 1 Image 2)

9/16/2012 - Mark 8:27-38
"The Paradox of Grace"

9/9/2012 - Kick-off Sunday - Mark 10:13-16
"Growing Younger"

9/2/2012 - Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
"Down and Dirty"

7/1/2012 - Micah 9:9-11
"Is America a Christian Nation?"

4/29/2012 - Acts 4:5-12
"Confidence"
a sermon about faithful discipleship and our response to violence

11/13/2011 - Luke 12:32-34
"Things We Don't Talk About in Church: Money"

11/6/2011 - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
"Things We Don't Talk About in Church: Sex"

10/30/2011 - Romans 14:7-12
"Things We Don't Talk About in Church: Death"

10/16/2011 - Amos 7:7-17, “Things We Don’t Talk About in Church: Politics”
(listen) / (read-pdf)

9/11/2011 - Matthew 18:21-35
"Freedom from Fear"
a sermon on the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001

7/3/2011 - Isaiah 58:1-12, “Lebanon at 250”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
A reflection on the occasion of Lebanon's 250th birthday

6/29/2011 - Matthew 10:40-42, “Strangers Welcome. Really.”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
A sermon about marriage equality

5/8/2011 - Luke 24:13-35, “What a Long, Strange Trip It Has Been”
(listen) / (read-pdf)
A sermon about Steve's faith journey

4/24/2011 (Easter) - John 20:1-18
"Surprised By Hope"


Selected Sermons Preached By Guest Preachers

10/23/2011 - Matthew 13:47-50
"Claimed by a High Commitment" - Rev. Dr. James W. Crawford

5/22/2011 - Acts 7:55-60
"Christianity's Unique Claim" - Rev. Richard R. Crocker


Selected Past Sermons Preached By Steve Silver


Genesis 1:26-30
"Who's Minding The Store?"
a sermon about stewardship of the environment

Micah 6:1-8
"The Gospel at Gettysburg" (July 4, 2010)

1 Kings 1-21a "Guess What? You're In Charge!"

John 20:19-31 "Community: More Than A Buzzword"

Matthew 5:38-48
"The Road Less Traveled"

Luke 4:1-13
"The Candy Bomber"

Luke 9:28-36
"Coming Up Next"

Luke 14:1, 7-14
"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

Luke 19:1-10
"Go Climb a Tree"

Luke 24:1-12
"Much Ado About Nothing"

Acts 4:32-5:11
"Drop Dead Serious"
a sermon about stewardship of the community

2 Timothy 2:8-15
"The Gospel in Just 11 Words"