A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut In a cultural moment where we are constantly bombarded with reports of immanent societal, political, and technological collapse the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians may hold some surprisingly helpf…

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. When Jesus met the two women by the empty tomb, he told them not to be afraid. The Bible tells us not to be afraid. Fear gives rise to anger. It triggers a fight-or-flight response to the real or perceived threat. It limits our ability to respond creatively. How can we not be afraid when we face serious problems…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Dr. Brandon Unruh A psychiatrist and expert in treating personality dysfunction explores how the narcissistic spectrum touches us all and our need for the reordering and regulation of self-esteem not through self-made i…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Dr. Brandon Unruh A psychiatrist and psychotherapist considers specific elements of our current "crisis of meaning" through the lens of personality dysfunction, and what current treatment paradigms reveal about the limi…

The title of today’s reflection is “See for Yourself.” It is about seeing. Through the eyes of a child. With the heart. Goethe said, “Thinking is better than knowing but not as good as looking.”Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

Today is the Second Sunday in Lent. The basic theme of our reflection this morning was "Christianity--It's Not a Religion; It's a Relationship." It's about what it means to be a Christian.Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

Today is the first Sunday in Lent. The theme of my reflections over the six Sundays in Lent will be on Jesus' life and teachings that immediately preceded his death and resurrection. Today's reflection drew from the teachings of the prophet Joel who tells us that God calls us to "rend our hearts." What does this mean?…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua and Sarah Chestnut Join Joshua and Sarah as they offer reflections on mental health and the life of faith, sharing practical "everyday interventions" to help us steward our minds, hearts, and emotions. The Copyri…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut In her 2013 book Flora and Ulysses, beloved children's author Kate DiCamillo uses a remarkable phrase to describe a certain George Buckman, calling him a man who was "very capacious of heart." This means…

This really isn’t a sermon; it’s a story, perhaps a parable. It’s entitled “The Rabbi’s Gift.”Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Jeff Banks How do you break free from compulsive pornography use? Many approaches to freedom focus on behavior modification, but that is not enough. In this lecture, guest speaker Jeff Banks argues that pornography use …

Greetings! This reflection is about how our identity as individuals, as a church, as a nation, and as a world is formed by our past but also by our vision of who or what we can be. The occasion is the celebration of our 160th annual meeting as a church! Blessings! PaulRev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Sarah Chestnut Can an hour with an onion make us more human? Taking inspiration from the most mundane of vegetables, we will deepen our understanding of what it means to "follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved…

This morning’s reflection focused on listening: as a kind of presence as a creative energy in our relationship with other people in our relationship with ourselves in our relationship with God God called Samuel by name. Is God calling you?Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Mardi Keyes In the early 2000s, I participated in the Stress Reduction Program founded by the Zen Buddhist physician and author Jon Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness meditation was central to the program. Since then, mindfulness …

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ hosted by Sarah Chestnut This the concluding discussion of our first Winter Theme Weekend "Our Fractured Relationship with Time". The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you …

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes This the second lecture of our first Winter Theme Weekend "Our Fractured Relationship with Time." The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut This the first lecture of our first Winter Theme Weekend "Our Fractured Relationship with Time." The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this b…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Dick Keyes The question asked in the lecture's title has two senses: First, why was the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac not censored as inappropriate for respectable Bible readers? And second, what does …

Jan 19, 2025 This morning, as we experienced a deep gratitude to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his contributions to our nation, to both Blacks and Whites. The theme of our reflections is stupidity.Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Esther Dalton The Thirty Years War was a period of ongoing hardship and devastation in Europe that proved to be a major turning point towards modernity in world history. What can we learn from the prolific German hymn w…

The theme of today’s reflection was how to change the future. I assume you think it needs changing. Are you curious?Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

This morning, we reflected on the theme of Epiphany. It involves a search. It leads to a discovery, a realization. I read T. S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi,” which I like. I also include a quote on becoming seekers by Peter Matthiessen, who wrote “In Search of the Snow Leopard.” Are you a seeker? What (whom) do you seek?…

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The theme of our reflections this morning is hope. The spiritual experience of hope is deeper than wishing. The opposite of hope is despair. We really need to receive the spiritual gift of hope in our nation and around the world this Christmas season!Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

This sermon is about building - our self - our church - our nation - our world - with what we already have. It is entitled, "Building With Rubbish" (no offense) It is about building on rock, on The Rock.Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut Being a man or woman, relating to oneself, and relating to the opposite sex are not uncomplicated matters in 2024. In this lecture, I will look at the writings of a few contemporary feminists who loosely…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Esther Dalton "Glory" is a common theme in the Bible, but what is it and why does it matter? What does it imply when the angels say the earth is full of God's glory? In this lecture, I want to be curious about glory and…

This sermon is about The Widow’s Coins. It is also about an unusual experience I had many years ago.Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

Today, in our church, we observe a mixture of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We remember those who have a profound impact upon our lives and our spiritual formation. Then we remember that we, also, are called to be saints!Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Dick Keyes We will be looking at Christian Nationalism, issues from the current election, and what they might mean for the future of church and country. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fe…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Scott Walker, of Life/Work Direction The third lecture from our Fall 2024 Theme Weekend Vocation: Participating with God's Work in the World. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. W…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Sarah Chestnut The second lecture and discussion from our Fall 2024 Theme Weekend Vocation: Participating with God's Work in the World. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask …

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Karen Kupelian, Physical Therapist, Nashville, TN The opening lecture and discussion from our fall 2024 theme weekend Vocation: Participating with God's Work in the World. The Copyright for all material on the podcast i…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes Other than its ability to fly, one of the most noticeable things about a bird is all the noise it makes! Birds make a huge variety of vocalizations, many of which serve specific practical purposes. This third …

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Esther Dalton The account of Jesus being led out into the wilderness to be tested by the devil is familiar and is found in all three Synoptic Gospels. Like tests in school, the question behind the challenges Jesus faces…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Marta Crilly Discussions about America's past and how we remember (or forget) it have spurred some of the most charged debates both inside and outside of the United States. Our understanding of our personal, family, and…

This morning, on a communion Sunday, we think about the different calls, the different invitations that are extended to us by John the Baptist and by Jesus, though they may be two sides of the same coin. In inviting us to be yoked to him and to each other, Jesus invites us to a life of abundance, not in terms of material possessions but in care, co…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut While we may intuitively think of a life of lazy resignation as being diametrically opposed to a life of hyperactive busyness, our ancestors in the faith may have seen things differently and understood t…

This morning our church renewed the covenant between pastor and parishioner that we first shared October 7, 1997. The renewal of our covenant marked the 27th anniversary of my call to be the settled pastor of First Community Church. I talk about the four dimensions of our covenant as members and friends of our church.…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes When we think about the role that faith plays in the life of the Christian, we often (rightly) think of Paul's theology of salvation: we are saved by grace, through faith, to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). …

In today's sermon we look at how Taoism and Buddhism can help us understand Jesus' relationship with the woman who was a "sinner." Once again, I believe the gospel lesson is not about forgiveness; it is about love. This reflection begins to grapple with Baruch Spinoza's assertion that "this is the best of all possible worlds." Aren't you just a lit…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Mary Frances Giles The 2023 blockbuster film Barbie has been both praised and censured by critics and moviegoers alike. One reviewer referred to it as "joyous from minute to minute," while another claimed it is "very pr…

The title of this sermon is “The Way to Heaven.” If you have ever despaired of qualifying, take heart! You may already be there! (I know, it doesn’t always feel that way. But just listen.)Rev. Dr. Paul Sanderson

This sermon, which focuses on the elder brother in Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son, looks at the parable from a Jungian psychological perspective. If you happen to be Freudian (or are so inclined for any other reason), you may stop listening now. If you happen to think, as I do, that Carl G. Jung just might help us understand the spiritual life …

I would like to continue the exploration we began last week of Jesus’ encounter with the unnamed Samaritan woman by the side of Jacob’s well. The woman’s life was radically changed through this encounter. Even though there is some teaching in the exchange, e.g., around the issue of sacred space, it seems to me that the most important part of what h…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes This lecture explores two fundamental human desires: the longing to seek new experiences and the longing to come home. Drawing on examples from literature, we will explore the nature of these two longings and …

This reflection, the third in my summer series sermons about little known people in the Bible, is about Jesus’ encounter with the unnamed Samaritan woman at the well. It raises the question of which is more important: what Jesus gives to us or what Jesus asks of us. It is about religious experience, specifically William James’s distinction between …

This sermon is part of a series that Charley Eastman of Pilgrim Church and I have been preaching in our two churches this summer. It is about some of the little-known or lesser-known people in the Bible. Today we are taking a look at Jacob. I took the liberty of reading the story of Jacob and Esau from the Children's Bible--I highly recommend it! J…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Esther Dalton In his sermon, "No Little People, No Little Places," Francis Schaeffer demonstrates how becoming infected with our culture's "syndrome of size" causes all kinds of problems for us regarding our identity an…

A lecture given at L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking …