“Steampunk Ecclesiology” A Sermon by Revs. John E. Gibbons & Megan Lynes Delivered March 4, 2012 At The First Parish in Bedford Rev. John Gibbons: Last week, when I asked how many of you had any idea what steampunk is, a surprising number of hands were raised and I have since learned that there are … Read more

“Church is for Losers” A Sermon by Rev. John E. Gibbons delivered on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts   A long time ago, when I was candidating for this ministry, before the congregation voted to call me, I met many parishioners in members’ homes where everyone had an opportunity … Read more

“Art Shapes the World” A Sermon by Rev. Megan Lynes Given at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts On Sunday, February 5, 2012     Opening Words “Monet Refuses the Operation” by Lisel Mueller Doctor, you say there are no haloes around the streetlights in Paris and what I see is an aberration caused by … Read more

“A State of the Parish Address” A Sermon by Rev. John E. Gibbons delivered on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts Opening Words: You must understand this is no dead pile of stones and unmeaning timber. It is a living thing. When you enter it you hear a sound as … Read more

“Thinking Other Thoughts, Hearing Others’ Stories” A sermon by Joe Cleveland, Ministerial Intern delivered on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts I try not to think too much using my own brain. I am not disparaging my brain. I think I have a quite satisfactory cognitive organ and I hope … Read more

“Balance” A Sermon by Rev. John E. Gibbons with words from Mark Bailey delivered on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts “Positive Outcomes in a Precarious World” by Mark Bailey John asked me to come up and talk about why I do this form of self-expression. My work intends to … Read more

“Possibility” A sermon by Rev. John E. Gibbons delivered on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts   Readings From “The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander BEN:  “Waiter,” I said, in an exuberant mood, “I have a perfect life, but I … Read more

“More Ponderings about Our Theological Good News” A sermon by Rev. John E. Gibbons Delivered on Sunday, January 9, 2011 At The First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts Readings: From Michael Krasny’s, Spiritual Envy, An Agnostic’s Quest I was struck by a memorable line from the British writer Julian Barnes, who said, “I don’t believe in … Read more

“Our Great Gifts, Fit for a King” A Sermon by Rev. Megan Lynes Delivered on Sunday, January 2, 2011 At the First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts Opening Words There is no beginning or end to what we have started, And to what we can do together. This morning we awoke — The sun was streaming … Read more