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Organizations to Check Out
- Andover Newton Theological School My alma mater and a partner with the New England Pastoral Institute
- City Mission Society Great organization where I used to chair the board
- Interim Ministry Network Center for training interim ministers. I’m on their faculty.
- The Center for Progressive Renewal Organization planting new churches and helping with church vitality
- The Congregational Library Holds library and archives for all branches of Congregationalism. The director is my roommate.
- The Inner City Christian Federation Great organization where I worked as Development Assoc.
- The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ Great resources for local UCC pastors
- The New England Pastoral Institute Organization where I direct their Clergy and Church Resource Center
- The United Church of Christ My denomination
Author Archives: Norman Bendroth
The Community of the Reconciled
Matthew 25: 15-20 Lent 5C March 13, 2016 The apostle Paul was way ahead of his time when he described the Church as the Body of Christ. While it is a helpful metaphor to describe the Church of Jesus Christ … Continue reading
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Prelude to Forgiveness
Prelude to Forgiveness Third Sunday in Lent 2016 Luke 23: 32-43 I have a colleague and a friend who told me that after the Charleston church massacre he was talking with someone who told him that he thought it was … Continue reading
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The Forgiveness Factor
1 John 1: 1-10 Second Sunday in Lent February 21, 2016 A number of years ago in 1983 a powerful play called The Black Angel by Michael Christopher, explored the thick and thorny problem of human forgiveness. The play was … Continue reading
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“Don’t Tempt Me!”
Luke 4: 1-13 First Sunday in Lent C, February 14, 2016 Every day we read yet another story about how a politician, a sports celebrity, a business executive or a pastor was caught embezzling, lying, or philandering and fell headlong … Continue reading
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Six Prepositions for Communion
1 Corinthians 11: 17-34 Epiphany 5C, February 7, 2016 This morning, on this communion Sunday, I want to give you six guidelines for making use of this Great Supper that Christ has given us; six prepositions, six great looks that … Continue reading
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Celebrating the Story in Worship
Psalm 95; John 4: 21-24 When the Church adopted Sunday as the Sabbath, the day of worship, it was because the resurrection happened on a Sunday and every Sunday thereafter was a “little Easter.” We derive our word worship from … Continue reading
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What Matters?
Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Luke 10: 25-28 Third Sunday after Epiphany January 24, 2016 Two years ago my younger brother David was diagnosed with a disease called “Myelodysplastic syndrome.” It is a blood and bone marrow disorder which is essentially pre-leukemia. … Continue reading
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The Transforming Power of Jesus
John 2: 1-11 Norman B. Bendroth January 17, 2016/ Second Sunday after Epiphany It was at a wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle. It was at a wedding when Jesus gave the first sign of who he was and … Continue reading
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Would You Like to Hold the Baby?
Christmas Eve 2015 Episcopal priest, author and speaker Martin Smith tells a story about how he was at some out of the way chapel in England. He was startled by a simple limestone statue there of the Madonna and Child. … Continue reading
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Christmastide
Christmas officially begins at midnight on December 25th. For Christians, the season of Christmastide extends from December 25th until January 6th, Epiphany. That’s where we get our twelve days of Christmas. You cannot live long in this culture without experiencing … Continue reading
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