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Inspiration Blog (Page 2)

Whose Order? A reflection on change

Sermon delivered August 13, 2023 by Rev. Mark Seifried @ Haydenville Congregational Church, UCC.Publication here is for devotional purposes and not for duplication. Based upon Exodus 1:8-2:10, Mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally renowned retreat leader Cynthia Bourgeault shares a great little tale in her book, The Wisdom Way of Knowing. Bourgeault spins her parable this way:Once upon a time, in a…

Building Your Sacred Tool Box

By Annie Turner Sermon delivered July 2, 2023  at Haydenville Congregational Church READINGS: ISAIAH 43: 16-21 & 1 JAMES: 12-18. “SEE I AM DOING SOMETHING NEW; NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH, DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?” HELLO, MY DEAREST PEEPS. I HOPE YOUR DAY IS GOING WELL, AND I PRAY THAT MY WORDS WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND UPLIFT IN THIS DAY AND…

The roots of our social justice calling

Haydenville Congregational Church is committed to social justice work. On Sunday, March 26, Doug Renick offered this message about the social justice mission as part of opening words. Friends, the following two passages are the foundation of our peace and justice work here at HCC: From Matthew 25 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)  ‘Come, you that are blessed by God, inherit the…

Hope and the human connection

By Rev. Andrea Ayvazian I was recently interviewed on a local radio program about my reflections on the state of the peace and justice movement in the Valley and around the country. At the end of the show, the host asked: “So Andrea, what keeps you going? What gives you hope?” Those are good questions, and I should have predicted he would…

Welcome to our church and all it stands for

Sermon delivered by Anne Turner on Homecoming Sunday, September 18, 2022. This is Welcome Sunday, so I want to extend a wide and loving welcome to everyone here and everyone listening in. As you know from the earlier words, the Haydenville Congregational Church is known for and proud of its welcome. This is not braggadocio (only English majors get to use this…