Good Words
Our Mission

The First Congregational Church in Thetford, Vermont, United Church of Christ, i s a progressive, Open and Affirming congregation, Open to All. We are diverse p eople on a journey together following the way of Jesus Christ. We find unity in the shared quest for truth rather than in one common creed. Our church provide s a sanctuary for spiritual nurture and growth through services of word, music a nd silence, and through education, discussion and mutual support. We feel calle d to promote Christ's way of nonviolence, creating a loving, just society for al l. We care especially for our youth, for the struggling people of our world and community, and for the health of God's creation. We expect there to be a cost t o our faithful discipleship, a cost of our time, talent and substance, and of ou r selfless love, humble service and personal risk. This is a church of courage and of comfort. This is a church of passion and of humor. This is a church of Christ and of solidarity with people of all faiths who are striving to create a world of peace and justice, mercy and love.

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Past Sermons (Archive)

Click on any of the titles below to bring up a page with that day's sermon.

Date
Title
 Pastor/author
1/29/12 Our Whole Mission Tom Kinder
1/15/12 Our Whole Mission Tom Kinder
1/08/12 With You I Am Well Pleased Tom Kinder
1/01/12 A Different Realm, A Different Road Tom Kinder
12/11/11 Light Through a Magnifying Glass Tom Kinder
12/04/11 The Light That Guides to Peace Tom Kinder
11/27/11 Hope for the Light IS Light Tom Kinder
11/06/11 Being Advent Wise Tom Kinder
10/30/11 Metanoia Part VI: Reforming and Reconciling Tom Kinder
10/23/11 Metanoia Part V: Abiding in Love and Light Tom Kinder
10/16/11 Metanoia Part IV: Finding the Way Tom Kinder
10/09/11 Metanoia Part III: Connecting to the Source of Comfort and Healing Tom Kinder
10/2/11 Metanoia Part II: Humility, Maturity and Unity Tom Kinder
09/25/11 Metanoia Part I: Get Yourself a New Heart and a New Spirit Tom Kinder
09/18/11 Meditating, Celebrating, Emulating Tom Kinder
09/04/11 Hearing, Seeing, Speaking, Turning Tom Kinder
07/31/11 Harmony of the Earth Is Heaven-Made Tom Kinder
07/24/11 Selling All That We Have to Buy God's Realm Tom Kinder
07/17/11 Seeing, Hearing and Responding Tom Kinder
07/10/11 Are You Not of More Value Than They? Tom Kinder
06/26/11 Happy Are the People Who Walk in the Light Tom Kinder
06/19/11 What Are Human Beings? Tom Kinder
06/12/11 Renewing the Face of the Ground Tom Kinder
05/29/11 How Can We Know the Way? Tom Kinder
05/15/11 Restoring the Soul Tom Kinder
05/08/11 They Responded by Asking, "What Should We Do?" Tom Kinder
04/24/11 Resurrection: The Secret Garden Tom Kinder
04/17/11 Darkness Covered the Earth Tom Kinder
04/10/11 Love, Trust, Grief, Faith, Power, Resurrection Tom Kinder
04/03/11 Give Me This Water Tom Kinder
03/27/11 Night and Day Tom Kinder
03/20/11 Go to the Land That I Will Show You Tom Kinder
03/13/11 Where Are You? Tom Kinder
03/06/11 The Practice of Belonging to God, Part Three Tom Kinder
02/20/11 The Practice of Belonging to God, Part One Tom Kinder
02/13/11 The Choice That Leads to Life Tom Kinder
02/06/11 Salty Solution and Light on the Hill Tom Kinder
01/23/11 Peace in the Heart, Peace in the Home Tom Kinder
01/16/11 Deemed Worthy to Suffer Tom Kinder
01/09/11 This Way to Fulfill All Righteousness Tom Kinder
01/02/11 Lift Up Your Eyes and Look Tom Kinder
12/12/10 Yes or No? Tom Kinder
12/05/10 Fill the Whole World with Heaven's Peace Tom Kinder
11/28/10 Hope in the Night Tom Kinder
11/21/10 Believing In Bread Tom Kinder
11/07/10 The Way Through Death Tom Kinder
10/31/10 A Reforming and Reconciling Force Tom Kinder
10/24/10 Dwelling In God Tom Kinder
10/03/10 All One Tom Kinder
09/26/10 Happy Are Those Who Hope in God Tom Kinder
09/19/10 On Being Shrewd Tom Kinder
08/29/10 Righteousness and the Lowest Seat Tom Kinder
08/15/10 You Call Yourself a Christian? Charlie Buttrey
08/08/10 Paying Attention Martha Rich
07/25/10 A Church Formed by Prayer Tom Kinder
07/18/10 Lectio Divina: Divine Reading, Life-Changing Prayer Tom Kinder
07/04/10 Materna: America As Beautiful Mother Tom Kinder
06/27/10 Deliver My Soul from the Sword Tom Kinder
06/13/10 Speak, Lord, for Your Servant Is Listening Tom Kinder
06/06/10 You Restored Me to Life Tom Kinder
05/23/10 If There Is Anything Worthy of Praise Tom Kinder
05/16/10 Journey Of Hope Bess Klassen-Landis
05/09/10 Spiritual Disarmament Tom Kinder
05/02/10 The Repentance That Leads to Life Tom Kinder
04/25/10 I Shall Not Want Tom Kinder
04/18/10 Gandhi and the Creation of a Culture of Nonviolence Tom Kinder
04/11/10 Through Locked Doors Tom Kinder
04/04/10 Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time Tom Kinder
03/21/10 I Am About to Do a New Thing Tom Kinder
03/14/10 Reconcile Tom Kinder
03/07/10 Remember That You Are Dust Tom Kinder
02/28/10 And You Were Not Willing Tom Kinder
02/21/10 You Will Not Dash Your Foot Against a Stone Tom Kinder
02/14/10 The Light of Possibility and Joy and Hope Tom Kinder
01/31/10 Gandhi and Jesus Tom Kinder
01/24/10 He Leadeth Me... For His Name's Sake Tom Kinder
01/17/10 Starting Over at the Beginning Tom Kinder
01/10/10 Baptized by Fire Tom Kinder
01/03/10 Kneeling Before Mystery Tom Kinder
12/13/09 Blessed Is She Who Believed Tom Kinder
12/06/09 To Guide Our Feet into the Way of Peace Tom Kinder
11/29/09 Be On Guard So That Your Hearts Are Not Weighed Down Tom Kinder
11/22/09 Do Not fear; Be Glad and Rejoice Tom Kinder
11/15/09 Prison Justice Sermon Betty Edson
11/01/09 Bound By Love II Tom Kinder
10/18/09 Out Of Anguish, We Shall See Light Tom Kinder
10/11/09 What Must I Do? Tom Kinder
10/04/09 Let No One Separate Tom Kinder
09/27/09 Separation, Connection, Healing, Joy Tom Kinder
09/13/09 Precious In The Sight Of God Tom Kinder
09/06/09 No Partiality Tom Kinder
08/30/09 Choosing The Way Of The Heart Tom Kinder
08/23/09 People Power and Courage Edith Rasell
08/16/09 Wisdom Quest Commentary Frances R. Haugen
08/02/09 Choosing The Food That Endures Tom Kinder
07/26/09 Something To Work With Tom Kinder
07/19/09 I Will Raise Up Shepherds Tom Kinder
07/05/09 They Shall Know There Has Been a Prophet Among Them Tom Kinder
06/21/09 Sent Out to Proclaim and Heal Tom Kinder
06/14/09 Thirsting for Springs, Longing for Home Tom Kinder
06/07/09 Thinking Outside The Box Tom Kinder
05/31/09 The Force Tom Kinder
05/24/09 He Withdrew: Absence and Presence, Emptiness and Fullness Tom Kinder
05/10/09 Abiding in a Disarming Love Tom Kinder
05/03/09 I Have Other Sheep Tom Kinder
04/26/09 For the Love of Precious Things Tom Kinder
04/19/09 Grace: Vision and Unity, Power and Peace Tom Kinder
04/12/09 Yes! The Way of Joyous Love Tom Kinder
04/05/09 The Way Of Suffering Love Tom Kinder
03/29/09 The Firmament, Bread and Blankets Jim Hughes
03/22/09 A Progressive Christian's Guide to Reading the Bible Tom Kinder
03/15/09 We Pledge to Work to End Oppression and Discrimination Tom Kinder
03/8/09 The Grief That Makes For Joy Tom Kinder
03/1/09 All the Paths of God: Teach Me Your Paths Tom Kinder
02/22/09 Transformation, Transfiguration, Transmission Tom Kinder
02/15/09 If You Choose... I Do Choose Tom Kinder
02/01/09 Jesus' Mission Statement Pam Lucas
01/25/09 We Expect There To Be A Cost Tom Kinder
01/18/09 We Had to Celebrate and Rejoice Tom Kinder
01/11/09 Depending on the Holy Spirit to Guide and Empower Us Tom Kinder
01/04/09 Mystery Now Revealed, Wisdom Now Made Known Tom Kinder
12/21/08 Blessed Are You Tom Kinder
12/07/08 The Things That Make For Peace Tom Kinder
11/30/08 Hope In The Darkness Tom Kinder
11/23/08 Seeing Thanks, Giving Thanks, Living Thanks Tom Kinder
11/09/08 Stewards Of The Light Tom Kinder
11/02/08 The Greatest Among Us Tom Kinder
10/26/08 Bound By Love Tom Kinder
10/19/08 Living by the Spirit: God’s Way of Truth Tom Kinder
10/12/08 Being Worthy of a Place Open to All Tom Kinder
09/28/08 Let the Same Mind Be in You Tom Kinder
09/14/08 How Often Should I Forgive? Tom Kinder
09/07/08 You Know What Time It Is Tom Kinder
08/25/08 Reflection Doug Miller
08/10/08 Jealous Or Zealous Jim Hughes
08/03/08 Countless Gifts Of Love Rhonda Myers
07/27/08 Water Lessons Rhonda Myers
07/20/08 The Hope Of Things Unseen Rhonda Myers
07/13/08 Low Down And Dirty Rhonda Myers
07/06/08 Celebration and Remembrance Rhonda Myers
06/29/08 If Necessary, Use Words Rhonda Myers
06/22/08 Fire In My Bones Rhonda Myers
06/15/08 Proclaim The Good News Rhonda Myers
06/01/08 Gifts of Life Rhonda Myers
05/25/08 Wireless Connections Rhonda Myers
05/11/08 Visions and Dreams Tom Kinder
04/27/08 Come See What God Has Done Tom Kinder
04/20/08 If You Love Me Tom Kinder
04/06/08 Made Known in the Breaking of the Bread Tom Kinder
03/30/08 Always Before Me Tom Kinder
03/23/08 Something Happened (Sunrise Service)
Grace In The Wilderness (10 a.m. Service) 		Tom Kinder
03/16/08 This Man Tom Kinder
03/09/08 Those Who Walk During The Day Tom Kinder
03/02/08 That God’s Work Might Be Revealed Tom Kinder
02/17/08 From Where Will My Help Come? Tom Kinder
02/10/08 In Whose Spirit There Is No Deceit Tom Kinder
01/27/08 Being of One Mind Tom Kinder
01/20/08 Courage And Kingdom Tom Kinder
01/13/08 Here Is My Servant Tom Kinder
01/06/08 Transforming Epiphanies Tom Kinder
12/23/07 The Lame Leap Like a Deer, The Speechless Sing for Joy Tom Kinder
12/16/07 Humility And Love Tom Kinder
12/09/07 The Night Watch Tom Kinder
12/02/07 Advent Orientation Tom Kinder
11/25/07 Your Redemption Is Drawing Near Tom Kinder
11/18/07 Think About These Things Tom Kinder
11/04/07 Be Reconciled Tom Kinder
10/28/07 Justified Tom Kinder
10/21/07 Pray Always and Do Not Lose Heart Tom Kinder
10/14/07 Then I Called, "Save My Life!" Tom Kinder
10/07/07 All People May Take Refuge Tom Kinder
09/23/07 Acting Shrewdly Tom Kinder
09/09/07 Choosing To Give Up All Tom Kinder
09/02/07 Humble and Exalted Tom Kinder
07/15/07 Interpreted By Love Tom Kinder
07/08/07 There Is A Balm Tom Kinder
07/01/07 Christ Has Set Us Free Tom Kinder
06/03/07 The Making of a Counter-Culture Part II Tom Kinder
05/27/07 The Making of a Counter-Culture Part I Tom Kinder
05/13/07 That They May All Be One Part II Tom Kinder
05/06/07 That They May All Be One Part I Tom Kinder
04/29/07 A Two-Way Gate Tom Kinder
04/15/07 Unlocking Tom Kinder
04/08/07 But Peter Got Up: On Rising Again Tom Kinder
04/01/07 The Sacrifice We Choose Tom Kinder
03/25/07 How to Live in End Times Tom Kinder
03/18/07 While I Kept Silence My Body Wasted Away Tom Kinder
03/11/07 My Soul Thirsts Tom Kinder
03/04/07 Being Tempted: Spiritual Physiology Tom Kinder
02/25/07 Being Tempted Tom Kinder
02/18/07 Being Transformed Tom Kinder
01/28/07 Rise in the Darkness as a Light Tom Kinder
01/21/07 In Your Light We See LightFor Which It Stands Tom Kinder
01/14/07 For Which It Stands Tom Kinder
01/07/07 Bodies of Light Tom Kinder
12/24/06 A Magnifying Glass Tom Kinder
12/10/06 The Dawn from On High Tom Kinder
12/03/06 Earth's Hope Tom Kinder
11/26/06 Living in the New Jerusalem Tom Kinder
11/19/06 Love and Hope Tom Kinder
11/05/06 The Well-Fought Fight Tom Kinder
10/29/06 Restore Us Like Watercourses in the Desert Tom Kinder
10/22/06 It Is Not So Among You Tom Kinder
10/15/06 Seek Good That You May Live Tom Kinder
10/08/06 Those Who Seek Shall Praise and Serve Tom Kinder
10/01/06 Be At Peace With One Another Tom Kinder
09/24/06 Choosing Between Two Wisdoms Tom Kinder
09/17/06 Resetting Our Mind Tom Kinder
09/10/06 Longing for the Flow Tom Kinder
09/03/06 The Things That Come Out Tom Kinder
07/23/06 Following the Paths of Righteousness Tom Kinder
07/30/06 If God Is For Us Tom Kinder
07/23/06 Following the Paths of Righteousness Tom Kinder
07/16/06 Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me Part II Tom Kinder
07/09/06 Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me Part I Tom Kinder
07/02/06 A City Built On A Hill Tom Kinder
06/25/06 Why Are You Afraid? Tom Kinder
06/18/06 This Seed Will Sprout Tom Kinder
06/11/06 Then You Shall Know Tom Kinder
05/28/06 If Necessary, Use Words Tom Kinder
04/30/06 Forsaken and Delivered Tom Kinder
04/09/06 Demands My Soul, My Life, My All Tom Kinder
04/02/06 The Writing on the Heart Tom Kinder
02/26/06 Some Here Will See Tom Kinder
02/12/06 Interrupting Racism Tom Kinder
02/05/06 Discovering a Ministry Tom Kinder
01/22/06 Follow and Change Tom Kinder
11/27/05 When You See These Things Tom Kinder
11/20/05 Calm Of a Call Obeyed Tom Kinder
11/06/05 Keeping the Lamps Trimmed and Burning Tom Kinder
06/12/05 Teaching Courage and Endurance Tom Kinder
06/05/05 Walking With God Tom Kinder
04/03/05 Through Believing You May Have Life Tom Kinder
03/27/05 The Stone That the Builder Rejected Tom Kinder
03/20/05 Let Us Be Going Tom Kinder
12/12/04 Bearer of Light Tom Kinder
11/28/04 Let Us walk in the Light Tom Kinder
11/21/04 When you Come into the Land..... Tom Kinder
11/07/04 Blessing God Who Blesses Us Tom Kinder
10/31/04 Be Still Tom Kinder
10/24/04 We Look For Peace, For A Time of Healing Tom Kinder
06/06/04 Could Not He Have Kept This Man from Dying Tom Kinder
05/30/04 Many Wonders and Signs Tom Kinder
05/16/04 Teaching Vision Tom Kinder
05/09/04 Just as I Have Loved You Tom Kinder
05/02/04 Laying Life Down to Take It Up Tom Kinder
04/18/04 We Must Obey God Rather Than Human Authority Tom Kinder
04/11/04 Choosen By God As Witnesses Tom Kinder
04/04/04 Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday Tom Kinder
03/07/04 Longing for Flowing Streams Of Living Water Tom Kinder
02/29/04 Led by the Sprit Tom Kinder
02/22/04 The Night Is As Light Tom Kinder
02/15/04 Woe To You Who Are Rich Tom Kinder
02/08/04 A Hard Call Tom Kinder
01/18/04 For They Shall Inherit the Earth Tom Kinder
01/11/04 I Will Be With You Tom Kinder
01/04/04 Lift Up Your Eyes Tom Kinder
12/21/03 The Secret of All Joy Tom Kinder
12/07/03 Being Instruments of Peace Tom Kinder
11/30/03 The Hope of All the Earth Tom Kinder
11/23/03 Celebrating in God's Own Field Tom Kinder
11 /09/ 03 Lifting Up Those Bowed Down Tom Kinder
11 /02/03 Love Only Knows Tom Kinder
10/26/03 Suffering, Reforming, Following Tom Kinder
8/31/03 Making Drudgery Divine Tom Kinder
8/17/03 Standing Against Tom Kinder
8/10/03 Wait, Be Strong, Take Courage Tom Kinder
8/3/03 Food That Endures Tom Kinder
7/26/03 Bringing Forth What is Within You Tom Kinder
7/13/03 Clothed With Joy Tom Kinder
7/6/03 The Patriots Nations Need Tom Kinder
6/29/03 Seed for the Sowers Tom Kinder
6/22/03 They Were Glad Because They Had Quiet Tom Kinder
6/8/03 Guidance, Comfort and Power Tom Kinder
6/1/03 Good Soil Tom Kinder
5/25/03 What Does God Require of You? Tom Kinder
5/18/03 Teaching Love Tom Kinder
5/11/03 Shepherded and Shepherding Tom Kinder
4/20/03 Opening Tom Kinder
4/13/03 Choosing The Cross Tom Kinder
4/6/03 That the Darkness May Not Overtake You Tom Kinder
3/23/2003 A House of Prayer for All Tom Kinder
3/16/2003 To You They Cried and Were Saved Tom Kinder
3/9/2003 On the Importance of Being Empty Tom Kinder
3/2/2003 Listen to Him! Tom Kinder
3/4/2001 Led Into Freedom and Power Tom Kinder

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