Seekers recognizes that any member of the community may be called upon by God to give us the Word, and thus we have an open pulpit with a different preacher each week. Sermons preached at Seekers, as well as sermons preached by Seekers at other churches or events, are posted here, beginning with the most recent.
Click here for an archive of our sermons.
Feel free to use what is helpful from these sermons. We only ask that when substantial portions are abstracted or used in a written work, please credit Seekers Church and the author, and cite the URL.
Christmastide – Waiting Together by Peter Bankson
December 31, 2017
Christmastide
Opening
It is not news that we are living through unsettled, troubling times. War and starvation; political and cultural oppression; climate crises; population explosion all contribute to the rising tide of suffering, for all life and the planet that sustains it. On the surface it seems like everything we value is threatened or coming apart. How can we cope? And how can our faith community help us stand faithfully in this turbulent time?
On this last day of 2023 I’d like to offer a few observations on this, focusing on hope, blessing, and the potential value of community.
“The No-Rehersal Christmas Pageant” by Deborah Sokolove
Third Sunday in Advent
December 17, 2023
This “No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant” is borrowed from Rev. Dan Harper, who adapted and modified it for use at First Unitarian in New Bedford from Rev. Jory Agate of First Parish in Cambridge, who got it from someone else. This version was modified by Deborah Sokolove for Seekers Church from the Harper version found at https://www.danielharper.org/archive/?p=40, which says that it is in the public domain.
Parts: Mary, Joseph, Caesar Augustus, Herod, Wise Persons, Stable Animals, Star, Angels, Shepherds, Sheep
Places: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Fields, Jerusalem
“A Service in the Style of Taizé for Advent 2023”
Second Sunday in Advent
December 10, 2023
From time to time, Seekers Church takes time out from its regular preaching schedule for a service of chant, prayer and reflection modeled on the worship of the Taizé Community in France. This Sunday was one such time. Repeating the chants together until they die away into the silence provides rest for our world-weary spirits as well as an opportunity for individual reflection on our faith journeys. This time, as we joined in spirit with the monks at Taizé, we were nourished by their faithfulness as well as by their music and accompanied by the sounds of recorders played by the Sligo Creek Recorder Club.
“Apocalypse, Lament, and Advent” by Jeanne Marcus
First Sunday in Advent
December 3, 2023
One of the unexpected blessings of having an energetic young grandson living in New York City is that if a wild, wet, windy day comes along while we’re visiting, we join the family heading out on their favorite rainy day activity—taking the bus to the American Museum of Natural History. This is how it’s happened that I’ve been blessed with three times experiencing the WORLDS BEYOND EARTH space show in the Museum’s awesome Planetarium.
Memorial Service for Vincent Juarez Shepherd
November 26, 2023
[Our service this Sunday was memorial for our friend, member and Steward, Vince Shepherd. Below is a biography of Vince followed by Trish Nemore’s eulogy.]
Vincent Juarez Shepherd – Biography
Vincent Juarez Shepherd was born September 20, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, where he remained as a young adult, working at Bankers Life and Casualty. He moved to San Diego, California, in the early 2000s, then came to Washington, DC. Here Vince worked as a cook at Charlie’s Place, a feeding program for the homeless out of Saint Margaret’s church in DC, then in the kitchen of the Hebrew Home in Rockville, Maryland. He was a lover of music, films, photography, professional sports, and cooking. Vincent was open to new ideas when he learned vegetarian cooking after he was asked to cook for this church’s adult education classes. He was so devoted to his own mission group that he became a church Steward when previous Stewards moved away and the group was in danger of losing its mission group status. Known for his dapper appearance, Vince had a keen eye for quality goods at yard sales and secondhand stores. After retirement, he volunteered at Charlie‘s Place.