The Kingdom of God is a place where we find each other: where we care about each other’s lives. It is where we care about the economy of the planet, and long for it to be equitable. This is the story of a martyr, and how his courage helped save the world.
Category Archives: sermons
Invitation to Dance – September 12, 2021
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh My friends Yael and Sherri got married during the pandemic. It was a zoom affair mostly, with a rabbi in a big open space and the two of them, and their relatives in 9 states and 17 countries, including a beloved aunt and uncle in Israel, up in the middle ofContinue reading “Invitation to Dance – September 12, 2021”
“OUR” – September 5, 2021
A Meditation on the First Word of the Lord’s PrayerRev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh I always was a scrapper. I took up my fists first to defend my siblings, because sometimes times were tough at home. But being a scrapper, I often got it wrong, sometimes giving the opposite of what they needed. Sometimes I hurtContinue reading ““OUR” – September 5, 2021″
Binding the Strong Man: A Sermon for Memorial Day 2021
REBECCA: We have six legacies for you: stories for you about six veterans of First Church, Black and White veterans who died this year. We are the anti-racism task force here at First Church, we have been reading Ibram Kendi, and Ched Myer, Michelle Alexander, and we would like to tell you about overlapping imagesContinue reading “Binding the Strong Man: A Sermon for Memorial Day 2021”
Understanding – May 23, 2021
by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. I have a sermon about understanding. My friend Jan, who was born and raised in Belgium, is a part of my Circle 12 study group withContinue reading “Understanding – May 23, 2021”
Peace, and the sons of Korach – May 16, 2021
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh, Clergy Jill Bryant is a friend of our church member Charlotte Lindgren. She lives in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and she came to visit us at church with Charlotte two years ago. Last year, she noticed that her church was going through staggering losses, and she decided to collect people’s stories andContinue reading “Peace, and the sons of Korach – May 16, 2021”
Mother’s Day, May 9, 2021
–Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh John 15:15: I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends. Today I will speak about equality. I want to start with a story about my tenth grandmother Ots-Toch. She was born in 1600, wasContinue reading “Mother’s Day, May 9, 2021”
Nourishment and Care – April 18, 2021
A sermon for Earth Day Rebecca Pugh, clergy Luke 24: 36: “Peace be with you.” … 42: he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”. They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Doug Tallamy and Rick Darke have written a 2014 book calledContinue reading “Nourishment and Care – April 18, 2021”
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh This is a sermon about preaching peace — You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is the most high. – Peter, Acts 10:36 There was an actor in the third century, a comedian named Genesius, from Ethiopia. The emperor Diocletian hiredContinue reading “Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021”
First Church in Ipswich, MA, UCC 