Alright, I think it is safe to say that our Gospel reading for today was not chosen by monks back in the 8th century in an effort to make my job any easier. Which is to say, nobody picked today’s scripture with an eye toward welcoming everyone back to church after summer vacation so we could get this year started off right.

I can assure you that ...

Today's sermon was given by the Rev. Chris Mereschuck.

Here’s to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world. They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself. They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible. Look for them in this present darkness. Light your candle with their flame. And then go. Build bridges. Hold hands. Bring light to a dark and desperate world. Be the hero you are looking for. Peace is possible. It begins with us. ~ L.R. Knots


We lost a singular person this week in Dolly Parton, and you could feel it. I don’t know what you all saw on television, but across social media I saw pictures of churches, buildings, and bridges lit up in pink and purple, and pride flags flown at half mast. I knew...

As we move into the book of Exodus, we are beginning to emerge from the mythic storytelling of Genesis into something closer to historical record. But for the sake of transparency, you need to know that we’re not really there yet. For instance, we have no extra-biblical evidence that Moses existed. I’m not saying he didn’t exist. I’m just saying that there is no reliable historical record that goes back that far, so it makes sense to approach the Exodus stories more like legends.

If this were an historical account, we would know that ...

(Today's worship was truly powerful from start to finish, but kudos to Kimaya Diggs for her powerful singing. Read on for Sarah's sermon or click on the right to watch the service. ).

Alright, my friends, I am back which means that the summer of 2026 is slowly but surely winding down. But what a summer it has been. I hope you’ve had some time to rest amidst all the wildfire smoke, the extreme heat, and the explosive…cyclospora.

(Lettuce, man…who knew?)

I hope you all know who Jimothy is…

Hiding in a cave-like crevice on Mt. Horeb, Elijah trembles. Around him the earth shakes as boulders fall, sparking fire that is whipped up by a great wind. All of Elijah’s senses are assaulted: dust and smoke fill his eyes and throat with soot, crashing rock and trees felled by wind reverberate their sounds in the mountain. Stinging winds and heat and debris pepper his body as he tries to shelter himself. All he can see around him is the earth in chaos. Earthquake, wind, fire. What was he doing there?

About today’s guest minister: The Rev. Joanne M. Graves (pronouns she/her) is a familiar face to First Churches. A member since 2005, she sings in the choir and serves on the Member Care Committee. An authorized minister in the UCC, she has served churches in Hampshire and Franklin Counties since her ordination in 1995. She does homecare with elders, is an occasional guest preacher as well as a comedic and sacred storyteller; sometimes both at the same time! Her next story is at the Wendell Meeting House (wendellmeetinghouse.org) on August 15 and 16, as part of the Stories of Franklin County series.

Hear, everyone who thirsts;
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread
and your earnings for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 Now you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

It’s a beautiful story, right? Everyone, come and luxuriate in rich foods and drink of clear waters! Whoever you are, whoever you love, wherever you’re from, and no matter how much wealth you have, this table is for you! You, who have spent your life and your earnings on things that just bring more pain and misery, I have great news! God says that there’s enough for all of us, and that it’s all going to be okay.

God, is it really that simple?

All week people have been asking me if I am ready for vacation and by ready, I don’t think they mean all packed up and ready to go - though I am. I think they mean ready as in, does it feel like it’s time for a break - are you ready for a break?



And as a pastor, let’s be honest, I feel like you have to strike the right tonal balance when you answer that question. You want to speak from a place...

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ~ Matthew 10:30-31

 How lovely is your dwelling place, O God!         
Even the sparrow finds a home at your altars   ~ Psalm 84.1, 3



It was war time, which may explain why people went to such extremes.

In the year 1852, having suffered the ravages of invasion long enough, the good people of New York City paid to have natives from Europe brought here to fight on their behalf. The mercenaries arrived by ship and were initially housed by the city (https://hatchingcatnyc.com/2014/10/04/english-sparrows-in-new-york-city/#:~:text=Having heard that the house,sparrows from England in 1850.)

But when these newcomers proved unsuccessful at defeating the enemy, the good people of New York turned on them.

They called them “lazy” for ....

On the banks of the river Seine, right across from Notre Dame, is a bookstore called Shakespeare and Co..

All of the books are in English, because the man who founded it back in 1951 was an American, named George Whitman.

But Shakespeare and Co is no ordinary book shop. After traveling the world with almost no money and encountering the kindness of strangers wherever he went, George wanted to create a soft landing place for English speaking creatives from all over the world. His motto was simple:

“Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise.”

Todays' service brings together members of St. Johns Episcopal Church, Edwards Church, Haydenville Congregational Church, and First Churches to celebrate Pride. Our preacher was the Rev. Reilly Paige. Click on the link to watch the service. There is an echo and if we can retrieve better audio, we'll reload the service in the near future.

Do you ever wonder if God really said…. any of this….“let there be light,” and all that? We recite these words with such confidence, but it’s not like anyone was around to hear God and write it down for posterity. So how do we know?

Honestly, now a days, the internet being what it is....