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July 12, 2020 Esther 2:5-11, 15-18, 4:1-17 Rev. Kristen Kleiman   In the classic Disney movies from the 1940’s and 50’s, the heroine was always a beautiful, meek, young woman who showed her loving heart by singing to animals and being kind to all, winning the prince with her... Read More →

July 5, 2020 Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman When some people say, “You need to come to Jesus”, what they really mean is “You need to fix your behavior.” In a previous ministry life, I had a “come to Jesus” moment with an entire youth group who had behaved... Read More →

June 28, 2020 Matthew 10:40-42 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   Over fifteen years ago, the First Congregational Church community began a process the United Church of Christ calls Open and Affirming. The process was designed to help local congregations discern how God was calling... Read More →

June 14, 2020 Romans 5:1-5 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   For anyone who has ever mastered a difficult musical piece, for anyone who has ever graduated high school or college, for anyone who has ever done any of those things online during a pandemic, you perhaps have experienced... Read More →

Have you ever thought of yourself as a super hero? Maybe you have given it a lot of thought and know what kind of costume you would wear or what your super hero name would be: The Kindness Kid? the Quilt Lady? or even Super Dad? Maybe you have never given it much thought. Maybe... Read More →

May 24, 2020 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 1 John 4 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   Recently, I have been listening to a Lewis Center for Church Leadership podcast about discipleship. The guest, Kay Kotan said we sometimes complicate things when it comes to defining discipleship. In her... Read More →

May 17, 2020 Acts 18:1-4, 24-28 1 Corinthians 16:13-20 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   What do the Black Panther, Mr. Rogers, and the Apostle Paul all have in common? No, it’s not a joke, nor I have gone stir-crazy crazy. The Black Panther, Mr. Fred Rogers, and the Apostle Paul... Read More →

May 10, 2020 Acts 17:1-9 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   While I was familiar with the tune of “Rejoice in God’s Saints”, I’m not sure I have ever sung this hymn. Did you notice the words?   Some march with events to turn them God’s ways; some need to... Read More →

May 3, 2020 Acts 3:1-10 Matthew 19:26 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman What a journey it had been for Simon Peter. 60 days ago, he had begun the day totally despondent. After following Jesus for 3 years, after being called the rock, the peter, on which Jesus would build his community,... Read More →

April 26, 2020 Luke 24:13-35 Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman   Years ago, long before I was a parent, I was walking with a friend and her two little girls. The four year old kept getting in and out of the wagon we pulled along. She would stop; she would dawdle; and her mother’s... Read More →