The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2022, Dr. Tamilio We are stuck in between two days. Epiphany, the day that the Magi come to the manger to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, was last Thursday, and since we do not have worship on Thursdays, we commemorate this twelfth day of […]
The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III I was not the student who reminded the teacher to assign homework, but I have to confess that part of me was always glad to start the new school year. Don’t get me wrong: I always wished that summer could be longer, and I was a bit sad when […]
The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Advent is such a somber time. Although we are preparing ourselves to commemorate the birth of Jesus — and the Gospel readings show us that we also use this time to prepare for Christ’s return at the end of time — it seems to […]
Advent II: Peace The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ~ John 14:27 I have never been one prone to rest. My wife, Cindy, is […]
ADVENT I REFLECTION: HOPE The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III Last summer, as many of you know, I was on sabbatical. I spent those months doing a lot of reading, research and praying. My focus was on both congregational care and evangelism. Unfortunately, when I returned, I was hit with several funerals in September and […]
The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Well, it was when I wrote this. I wrote the first few sentences of this sermon in North Conway at my in-law’s house where we went for Thanksgiving. This sentence was written the night before the meal. So was this one. […]
Dr. John Tamilio III Thanksgiving is upon us once again. This is our holiday — and by “our” I mean that this is a holiday with deep roots in the Congregational tradition. We all know the story: how the pilgrims in the Puritans set sail from the new world arriving in 1620. We all know […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio This was one of those weeks where none of the readings in the revised Common Lectionary struck me. I am not saying that I do not like any of the readings that were slated for today. I love all of them — it’s just that none […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio The great Greek philosopher, Socrates, was tried and executed for three reasons: one of them was that he was corrupting the youth of Athens. He wasn’t contributing to the delinquency of minors, mind you, nor did he behave inappropriately around them. He did, however, have a […]
Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio This is one of those two-in-one Sundays: it is Reformation Sunday and, since tomorrow is All Saints Day, it is the day that we remember those who have passed — who are now part of the great cloud of witnesses. This is the day that we […]