3-21-2021 “Original Sin” Psalm 51:1-12

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio You could do a lot worse than the Book of Psalms as a resource for Lenten reflections.  The Psalms offer words of praise as well as lament, words of thanksgiving as well as pleas for mercy.  There is a reason why people love the 23rd Psalm […]

3-14-2021 “God So Loved the World” John 3:14-21

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio If you were to make a list of the Bible verses people have memorized the most, John 3:16 would be in the top three, if it wasn’t number one.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not […]

3-7-2021 “Righteous Anger” John 2:13-22

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio When I was working on my Masters in English at Northeastern University, I took a course with Prof. Mary Loeffelholz.  Dr. Loeffelholz is a world-renowned Emily Dickinson scholar, and, on the surface, she is a lot like Emily Dickinson, at least the way I imagine the […]

2-28-2021 “What’s In a Name?” Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio William Shakespeare wrote, ““What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Actually, this is Juliet speaking of Romeo, saying that he would be just as handsome a man if he had a different name.  She would love him […]

2-21-2021 Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:9-15

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Last year, Lent began on February 26: about two weeks before the world as we know it went into lockdown mode.  The Coronavirus had swept through Asia and Europe and had finally infected America.  People started wearing masks.  Some wore rubber gloves and face shields.  People […]

1-24-2021 “The Greatest Fish Story” Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio I love to fish.  It is my way to unwind.  I used to fish for large-mouth bass every summer up in Maine.  I’ve noticed that the further away I get from the fish I have caught in the past, the bigger they get.  I think the […]

1-10-2021 The Baptism of Jesus “Being with the Broken” Mark 1:4-11

The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Throughout the Christmas season, we reflect upon the Incarnation: how Jesus is God in the flesh.  He is the one born without sin.  This begs an important question that challenges the Gospel Lesson for today: Why did Jesus have to be baptized? This assumes […]

1-3-2021 The Sunday Before the Epiphany “The Real Miracle” Matthew 2:1-12

The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio There are some holidays and special liturgical days that we have to celebrate the Sunday before they occur, because they occur during the week.  Epiphany is one of them, at least this year.  The Christian Church will commemorate the visit of the Magi (AKA […]