Middlebury Congregational Church UCC

This week is the beginning of a 5 week sermon series on Hebrews. The series will be broken up a bit by shared worship with St. George's Episcopal Church and vacation. We start the series in chapter 5 where the author gives a diagnosis for why the church is struggling: they're spiritually immature. They need get their spiritual foundation right and go back to basics before moving forward. Back to B...

As we celebrate the end of the program year, we look at the wisdom in Romans 12 about how to live as Christians within the church and how to live as Christians out in the world. Celebration Sunday Homily Romans 12:3-21 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church 6/21/26

In Exodus 17, the Israelites start doubting the Lord's presence and provision. We go through times where we definitely feel that way, but if we look around us we can see evidence of God's provision for creation. The Lord is among us. Is the Lord among Us or Not? Exodus 17:1-7, Luke 9:10-17 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church June 14, 2026

We look at Luke 12:13-21, the parable of the Rich Fool, and what Jesus is telling us about greed, wealth, and possessions. Abundance for What? Luke 12:13-21 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church June 7, 2026

On Trinity Sunday, we look at Matthew 28:16-20, commonly called the Great Commission. We look at the disciples worshiping and doubting Jesus, and what it means to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Doubt and Worship Matthew 28:16-20 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church May 31, 2026

On this Day of Pentecost we look at the Pentecost account in Acts 2. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit, and it shows us that God is a God of possibility. The God of Possibility Acts 2:1-21 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church May 24, 2026

The Ascension represents a major transition in the lives of the disciples. It's a moment where they need to let go of the past and embrace the future God is building. The Power of the Past Acts 1:1-11 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church May 17, 2026

In John 14, one of the fears Jesus is addressing with the disciples is the fear of being alone, and it's through the work of the Holy Spirit that God ensures we are never left orphaned or alone. Never Alone John 14:15-21 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church May 10, 2026

In John 14, Jesus describes the place awaiting us in his Father's house and says he's the way, the truth, and the life. In looking at this passage we discover the good news that Jesus is both our way and our destination. The Way and the Destination John 14:1-14 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church May 3, 2026

In the gospel according to John, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd and as the gate. Let's take a look at the good news of us being sheep, of abundant life, and what it means to say Jesus is the gate. Gates, Sheep, and Abundant Life John 10:1-21 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church April 26, 2026

The gospel accounts of Jesus' resurrection take pains to show that Jesus is physically risen from the dead. he has a body. What is the good news for the risen Christ having a body? See His Hands and Side John 20:19-31 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church April 12, 2026

Through the faithfulness of the female disciples of Christ, we learn the good news of the resurrection. In Christ, God shakes apart the old order of sin and death and brings us to eternal life. Shaking Up the World Matthew 28:1-10 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church April 5, 2026

The passion narrative reminds us of our participation in the collective sins of the world, the sins that put Jesus on the cross. Holy Week also reminds us that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

On Palm Sunday we explore how Jesus shows us a different view of what heroes look like and how we humans are keen to build people into heroes and also sometimes even more keen to tear those same people down. The Rise and Fall of a Hero Matthew 21:1-11 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church March 29, 2026

The valley of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus are lessons about hope and possibility. They tell us there is possibility for us, for our church, and for our world

In 1 Samuel 16, it says God does not see as mortals see; God looks on the heart. What does it mean to see as God sees? And what does the selection of a lowly shepherd boy as king tell us about how God sees? Seeing as God Sees 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church March 15, 2026

In John 4, Jesus decides to return to Galilee by going through Samaria. In Samaria, he meets a woman at a well, and in that encounter we realize that Jesus goes through Samaria to show the scope of God's salvation. Jesus goes to a place no one would expect, and the Samaritans show themselves to be model disciples. Finding God in the Last Place You’d Look John 4:3-42 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebu...

2/15/26 Sermon: On the feast of the Transfiguration, how do we hold together the Jesus we see in the transfiguration and the Jesus we see in Calvary? Jesus is bringing God’s kingdom, and the kingdom of God involves turning the world’s expectations and values upside down The Mountain(s) Matthew 17:1-9 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church February 15, 2026

2/8/26 Sermon: What does it mean in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells the church you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world? What is the purpose and good news of being salt and light? A Dash of Salt and a Spark of Light Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church February 8, 2026

2/1/26 Sermon: Proclaiming and worshiping a crucified savior requires a radical redefinition of values. We see the values of our crucified savior in the beatitudes, where Jesus calls the church to live kingdom values in a world that often values different things The Values of the Kingdom 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church February 1, 2026

1/25/26 Sermon: In 1 Corinthians, the First Church of Corinth is dealing with a church fight. What can we learn from how the apostle Paul addresses the conflict and how that applies to our own bitterly divided times? Division & Conflict in Corinth 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church January 25, 2026

1/18/26 Sermon: In John 1, Jesus calls the first disciples and speaks for the first time. Jesus asks “what are you looking for?” Jesus in John is all about inviting us into closer relationship with him Seeking and Relationship John 1:29-42 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church January 18, 2026

1/11/26 Sermon: This Sunday was the day the Church commemorates the baptism of the Lord Jesus. It’s a time for us to both remember Jesus’ baptism and our own baptisms. What does baptism mean for us? What does God promise us in baptism? Baptism, the Church, and Ministry Matthew 3:13-17 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church January 11, 2026

1/4/26 Sermon: The magi follow a star to find Jesus. This is the main event the western church commemorates on Epiphany. What can the magi teach us about following Christ? Following the Star Matthew 2:1-12 The Rev. Katrina Manzi Middlebury Congregational Church January 4, 2026

2/22/26 Sermon: The season of Lent always begins with a gospel lesson about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. What does this wilderness temptation mean? This year we’ll examine how this wildness time is a temptation to embrace the satanic powers of empire instead of the power of the cross #jesus #lent #christian #temptation #sin Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent February 22, 2026 Scripture: M...