Listen Now

This is the tenth sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explore the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. As always, I invite you to take time to reflect on the scripture. Here are some questions to help guide your own time of reflection.: Why do you think the disciples continue to be confused? What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus? How can you practice discipleship this week? Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, Pastor, The Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 8 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached March 15, 2020

This is the ninth sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explore the conclusion of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. In this episode we meet the Syrophoenician woman and wonder about her verbal exchange with Jesus. Was it a moment in which Jesus was caught in a very human, tired state, the woman changing his mind? Was it a performance moment for the good of those gathered?Was it a time for her to testify to her faith? Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, Pastor, The Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 7:24-37 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached March 8, 2020

This is the seventh sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explore the remaining sections of the sixth chapter. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. In this section we read about Jesus feeding the 5,000. How did he do it? We explore some ideas in this sermon. At the end of this chapter Jesus walks on water, a sign of how he calms the storms in our lives.Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 6:30-56 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached February 23, 2020

This is the sixth sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explore the sixth chapter. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. We hear of Jesus teaching in his hometown and sending out his disciples. And, in a moment of "intercalation" we read about King Herod's pondering about who Jesus is and reflecting on John the Baptist's death. Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 6:1-29 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached February 16, 2020

This is the fifth sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explores the fifth chapter. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. In this chapter we learn about the "secrecy motif"in the Gospel of Mark. And, we meet Jesus the HEALER- who heals IMMEDIATELY in this fast-paced Gospel.  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 5 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached February 9, 2020

This is the fourth sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explores the fourth chapter. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark. This chapter begins and ends with Jesus in a boat-- first preaching and finally calming the storms. In this chapter we meet Jesus the TEACHER. In the midst of this chapter he uses many images, particularly about seeds and light.  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 4 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached February 2, 2020

This is the third sermon in our 2020 worship series on The Gospel of Mark.In this Sermon:We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and explores the third chapter. We will be reading through the entire Gospel chapter by chapter over the upcoming weeks, increasing our Biblical literacy and understanding, as we listen for God's word in Mark.  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 3 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached January 26, 2020

How many Kings were there in that story of the wise ones coming to find Jesus?What did the gifts the magi brought say foreshadow about Jesus' life and death?This is the seventh sermon in our December 2019/ January 2020 worship series on Incarnation and Embodiment. This is a three part sermon, the first regarding Epiphany, the second featuring music from Lisa Haley, and the third discussing Star Words. In this Sermon:"Friends, we have been talking a good amount this morning about “stars”-- that which guides us in our quest for further relationship with the Sacred.  This morning, you will have the opportunity to receive a “Star Word” for the year ahead. This is a ritual apt on this Sunday of Epiphany, as we consider the magi who followed the star to find baby Jesus, bringing their gifts. We too, as a church are also seeking Jesus! And so, we consider our stars, bring them into our awareness,  and  see how God’s light may be revealed to us in new ways this year.  There is a quote from writer t s eliot that says this “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and this year’s words await another voice.” The words that guide our day to day intentions matter. And thus, this morning- we’ll each get a positive word to couple with our intentions to draw nearer in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. " Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC) & Lisa HaleyScripture: Matthew 2: 1-12 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached January 5, 2020

How do we manifest Jesus' mission for the Church in the year 2020?How do we live into our values as a church in practical ways?How do we work together as a team: Pastor, Congregation, and the Holy Spirit?This is the sixth sermon in our December worship series on Incarnation and Embodiment. This is Rev. Megan's "State of the Church" address for 2019. In this Sermon:"Here are the takeaways from this morning’s scripture: The Christ child’s very early life was one in which his parent’s had to trust in God immensely in order to keep him safe.  Christ was a threat to the powers and principalities of the day even from his infancy.  The early life of Christ was seen as a fulfillment of the words of Prophets long ago." "So as we go into 2020 together, let’s band together to make this a great year for our church. Let’s get comfortable being uncomfortable for the sake of making our church that much more of a safe and affirming place for all God’s people. Let’s pledge to have open communication with one another as we learn and grow and stretch ourselves. Let’s commit to learning God’s word together and being a beacon of light not just in Nahant, but in this whole region. There are people at home this morning, waiting for an invitation to be in worship with us. Let’s extend that invitation. And, when they get here-- let’s make it clear that this is a community that sees them as God sees them- beautiful, worthy, beloved, and belonging in this church that follows Jesus. " Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached December 29, 2019

What unites us from year to year with others who celebrate Christmas Eve?What is the story of the Christmas Truce?What is the story behind Silent Night?Who did the first radio broadcasted worship, right here in Massachusetts?This is the fifth sermon in our December worship series on Incarnation and Embodiment. In this Sermon:Rev. Megan Snell tells three stories of Christmas Eve accompanied by three prayerful blessings for the congregation. Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached December 24, 2019

When was the first time you became aware of an outside influence commenting on your body/appearance etc?Do you have the feeling of being "too much" or "not enough" in your body?These are questions we ponder together in this sermon on what it means to be embodied people.This is the fourth sermon in our December worship series on Incarnation and Embodiment. In this Sermon:Guest preacher, Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath calls us to a greater awareness of and appreciation for our bodies as a part of who we are God's beloved ones. Preacher: Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath, (UCC), Chaplain, Philips Exeter AcademyScripture: Romans 12:1-2 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached December 22, 2019

Why would God come to Earth as a person, in Jesus?What does Jesus' experience with the human condition have to do with our own experiences of being human?This is the second sermon in our December worship series on Incarnation and Embodiment. From the Sermon:"God knows and sees all those parts of ourselves. All those lovely shiny parts- our compassion, our creativity, our laughter, our joy, our caring. And God knows and sees all those other parts of ourselves- our stress, our confusion, our hurt, our anger, our anxiety. And knowing and seeing all of this, God chooses love. God chooses unconditional love such that nothing we can do can separate us from that great love. God chooses us. Moves closer to us, calls out to us, sticks with us. God chooses us. " Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC) Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached December 8, 2019

How do we live lives of gratitude? How do we cultivate our relationship with Jesus as one of thanks-giving?From the Sermon:"I was overwhelmed with gratitude for their faith, which influenced my mom who has been a woman of great faith her whole life, which in turn influenced me to listen for my own call to be a Christian.  Have you ever had a moment like that in your life?  A moment in which you are bowled over with gratitude? That kind of gratitude that seeps into every fiber of your being such that you cry a bit and pray a prayer of thanksgiving? Maybe it’s that gratitude that brings you to your knees? Or lifts up your hands?" This is the third sermon in our worship series on Honor, Service, and Gratitude. This Sunday is our Gratitude Sunday service in which we welcome all those who work tirelessly to keep our town functioning and thriving to be recognized in the service.  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Colossians 1:11-20 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached November 24, 2019

What are the issues facing today's military service members?How can we as a mainline protestant church be welcoming to military families? From the sermon: "The number of servicemember and veteran suicides is also continuing to climb. We lose 22 service members or veterans each day to suicide. We have lost more service members to suicide than we have to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.""To think that military people are “other” and exist outside of our more progressive churches is a falsity. And, it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. To support military personnel and their families is in fact very much in line and intersecting with a liberating call to put our faith into action in regards to compassionate care and justice work. To not support military personnel and their families is a way of making clear to them that they are not welcome in our churches." Preachers: CPT Nicole Battaglia, United States Army National Guard, Massachusetts & Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Mark 10:42-45Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached November 10, 2019

This recording begins with a performance of "Keep Your Lamps" by our own Nahant Village Church choir. After the song, you'll hear the sermon.This is the third sermon in our series on communication and civil discourse here at the Nahant Village Church. This sermon was a part of a congregational discussion. At the end of the sermon, Rev. Megan asks three questions which the congregation then responded to. 1. When has someone spoke life and love into your life? What did they say? How did that feel? 2. How do you want to grow in your communication skills? 3. What is your prayer for the church, the town, and the world regarding communication and civil discourse? From the sermon:  "My prayer is that we speak as humanity from a place of love. That we endeavor to build one another up with our words and our deeds. And, that we listen deeply to one another- lifting up especially the voices from the margins of society, those that have been oppressed and discarded. I want to center those voices and listen deeply for God’s call in our lives. "Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Psalm 19 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached October 27, 2019

Do your words speak life and encouragement into others? What does Jesus have to say about words and how we use them?This is the second sermon in our series on communication and civil discourse here at the Nahant Village Church. From the sermon: So often we think our job is to speak. To talk. To fill silence and spaces with our words. To fix and make clean with our words. But, more often than not, when others bear their truth to us, our holy job is to witness and to use words sparingly. And when we do have words pass through our lips- let them be the words from the Holy Spirit, let them be words from the heart, let them be words of life and grace, let them be words that are evidence of good fruit,love and truth.  Out of the good that is stored up in you, let goodness and God’s love  flow out through the words that you speak.  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Matthew 12:33-37 and Matthew 15:10-20 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached October 13, 2019

****AUDIO FORTHCOMING****Installation sermon by Rev. Quinn G. CaldwellFrom the sermon:  Preacher: Rev. Quinn G. Caldwell (UCC)Scripture: ------ Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached September 29, 2019

Who in your life needs more rest? More renewal? More Sabbath?What is keeping them from enjoying that time of renewal? How can you help others to have access to Sabbath?From the sermon: Who decides who deserves access to Sabbath?  What factors determine who among our society receive the experience of Sabbath and who do not? Are some people more worthy of that seventh day of rest and time with self and the sacred?  The thing about looking into our faith critically and thinking about the spiritual practices (such as the keeping of Sabbath) that are the building blocks of a lived-out Christian faith is that sooner or later-- we will run up against the issue of justice. Justice-- intricately linked with worthiness.  Who is worthy of Sabbath?  Is it not a natural extension of our Christian practice of Sabbath to advocate that all people should have access to rest?  Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: James 2:14-19 Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached September 29, 2019

How do we develop habits in our lives that contribute to our spirit's well-being?What does it mean to be a human being rather than a human doing?What is "restorative self care" and what is "indulgent self care" and why do we need to engage in both? From the sermon: God wants us to practice Sabbath. But to do so, we need to build habits that make that practice sustainable. We need to become accustomed to putting on our own oxygen masks first. But, what if you don’t know what your oxygen mask even looks like? Start with thinking about self care (restorative and indulgent) and go from there.  This week I’m going to ask you to try three things. If you have a pen handy, jot them in your bulletin. If you have notes on your phone put them there. If you are better at remembering things than I am, just listen.: Remember that you are human and God is God: Try not to get those mixed up because as soon as you do, things will fall apart. You are a human BEING not a human DOING.  Put on your oxygen mask first: Notice when you are trying to secure everyone else’s oxygen mask before your own. Stop. Secure your own first.  Practice self care (both types: Think about what in your life is restorative self-care and what is indulgent self care. Try some of each. Remember that you are worthy of both.  Practice restorative and indulgent self-care. Secure your oxygen mask first. You are human, not God. Preacher: Rev. Megan Snell, MDiv., Pastor, Nahant Village Church (UCC)Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached September 22, 2019

This is the third sermon in our series on Sabbath here at the Nahant Village Church. In this sermon we welcome United Church of Christ Member in Discernment, Megan Berkowitz into the pulpit as our guest preacher.  Preacher: Megan Berkowitz,  Member in Discernment,  Metro Boston Association (UCC)Scripture: Mark 7:24-30Find out more about our church and ministry at: Nahantvillagechurch.orgPreached September 15, 2019