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Larry's recent sermons
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Sermon, Be Opened - First Presbyterian Church Weedsport, September 8, 2024 11:15 Service
What Jesus and the deaf man did next was extraordinary. Jesus took the man aside, away from the crowd. Being deaf and unable to speak, he was vulnerable. Yet he came. Away from the crowd he was able to focus his attention on Jesus. Jesus dealt with this cure his own way, not the way the crowd expected. Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears clearly letting the deaf man know what he was about to do. Then with the man’s attention fixed on Jesus, Jesus looked to heaven invoking God the Father, connecting it to heaven. Jesus showed how God meets us where we are with whatever limitations we have or think we have, and proceeds to do for us what and how God determines is best for us and for all.
Sermon, Be Opened - First Presbyterian Church Marcellus, September 8, 2024 9:30 Service
The back story in Mark’s gospel is this: Jesus was born into an occupied country under the thumb of a foreign army, the Roman empire. The Jewish people were essentially enslaved by Rome, and as slaves in their own country had little hope. The Jewish faith in Jesus’ time offered a sense of community, of solidarity in tradition. But other than the prophets’ promise of a better but distant future, no immediate hope. Jesus’ teaching was exciting, but seemed very strange, very untraditional. Even Jesus’ disciples had trouble believing him. The disciples had grown up as traditional God-fearing Jews. Familiarity and tradition can dig a very deep rut in our road.
Sermon, A Love Story 2 - United Ministry of Aurora, August 25, 2024
The universities of Babylonia and the fortresses and principal European cities of the Roman Empire had a network of synagogues preserving and teaching the lessons and promises of the Jewish Old Testament. Jesus’ Jewish mother Mary understood, believed and accepted the annunciation that she would give birth to the promised Savior. Jesus’ disciples, all believing Old Testament Jews were ready to announce the Messiah, the second generation of faith in the One God now immanent in the world. They announced it first in Judea, then Samaria, then to Syria, Anatolia, Greece, Italy and throughout the synagogues of the wider Roman Empire. Think on that, and use it. It is for you. This is a love story.
Sermon, A Love Story - First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, July 28, 2024
If we haven’t sinned already, we very likely will. We are just human. God encourages us to do a clear-eyed inventory of both our shortcomings and our gifts. First acknowledge where we’ve followed temptation and done wrong. Repent and put it in God’s hands to re-balance. This will clear your decks from the murky cloud of sin. Then, with clear eyes search for your gift, you will uncover it. Now, offer it to God for his multiplication.
Sermon, Be Jesus To Someone - First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, July 21, 2024
Some fundamentalists claim Christianity has replaced, or succeeded Judaism, that God’s promises to Abraham, Moses and David are canceled, and that Jews have outlived their usefulness. A replacement theory. It’s an easy step from there to Jew hatred, Jew persecution and final solutions to the Jewish problem. The current wave of world-wide antisemitism is just the latest of many over the centuries. But Jews and Gentiles are bound together by God’s promises and the hope and reality of the Messiah. Be Jesus to someone.
Sermon, It Takes Practice - United Ministry of Aurora, June 23, 2024
Faith isn’t theology and it’s not intellectual. Faith is an experience, a feeling of trust in the God you cannot see, but whose work is all around us. Faith is peace of mind in the middle of chaos and disappointment. Faith is comfort when attacked by badly motivated people doing you wrong. Faith is happiness, even joy driving out anxiety and fear and disappointment. But faith takes practice.
Sermon, A Simple Prayer - United Ministry of Aurora, May 26, 2024
Jesus on prayer: “Keep it short.” No need to explain to God, let alone over-explain. Accept you are not in charge and God is. Then only two big asks: Basic needs. And forgiveness. The last thing Jesus prayed was to ask the Father to forgive us, for we knew not what we were doing. Church helps us realize what we are doing, and also what we truly need. Jesus’ last prayer on the cross has been answered in his Church.
Sermon, An Unnatural Life - United Ministry of Aurora, April 14, 2024
We prefer violence, physicality, and revenge to gentleness, forgiveness and self-restraint. In today’s shorthand, we admire jocks more than nerds. The consequence is that humans value self-reliance and independence more than passivity and contemplation. There’s a lot of good in self-reliance and action. But the dark side of self-reliance is it makes it hard to be reliant on God. We think we're fine just as we are. But you don’t have to look far to know humanity as a whole is not just fine.
Sermon, Easter is Coming - Jamesville Community Church, March 17, 2024
Today we hear the prophet Jeremiah declare the coming end of the written Law of Moses. Something new is coming, a new covenant, this time written in our heart. Yes, Jeremiah tells us God will replace the long set of written rules for how to be holy with a new law of love written into our human hearts. A new way of living.
Sermon, Lenten Glory - First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, Feb. 25, 2024
God wants to show us the un-showable, teach us the unteachable, explain to us the inexplicable. Many churches place the Transfiguration readings on this second Sunday of Lent. And they celebrate the Transfiguration again later in the year, during Ordinary time. Why this emphasis on the Transfiguration? We humans are practical people, level-headed and rational. We find a way to dismiss things that don’t fit our world view. We often need a shock to wake us up. Jesus gave Peter and James and John the shock of a real peak experience on the mountaintop.
Sermon, Hope of Glory - United Ministry of Aurora, Feb. 11, 2024
God wants to show us the un-showable, teach us the unteachable, explain to us the inexplicable. But we humans are practical people, level-headed and rational. We find a way to dismiss things that don’t fit our world view. Jesus knew Peter and James and John needed a shock to wake up. He gave them the juice of a real peak experience on the mountaintop.
Sermon, Gift Horse - First Presbyterian Church of Scipioville, Nov.19, 2023
Gifts from God are meant to be used and then exchanged. Sort of a divine “regifting”. God’s gifts are on loan to us, and God hopes to receive them back well-used, honed, polished and multiplied. The gifts of God are redeemable at the end for Pearls of unimaginably Great Price. Now, if the use of our gifts is so important, what is it that holds us back? Jesus suggests it’s an unhealthy picture of GOD that holds us back. It’s a picture of God that makes us afraid of God rather than helping us be God-fearing. To be afraid of God, is to be apprehensive, anxious, worried that God is dangerous and wants to judge and harm you. To be God-fearing is to be in awe, in humble reverence at the majesty of God.
Sermon, Begin At The End - United Ministry of Auraora, Nov. 12, 2023
Our human tendency if what we want doesn’t look like it’s going to appear in a reasonable time, we give up in disappointment, or decide we really didn’t want it anyway or decide we really want something else. But if what we want is truly valuable, say, like a pearl of great price, or a buried treasure in a field, or the promise of eternal life, it pays to keep our eyes on the prize. If you want to make it to the end: Begin at the end. There’s no better way to persevere than keeping the goal always in front of you. Daily practice of religion is designed to keep the end always before our eyes. Daily prayer, weekly meeting. Scripture reading. Spiritual conversation. These keep the end goal present in the moment. Some may feel, “I don’t need “organized religion”, but without the discipline of daily practice, your lamp can run out of oil when you need it most.
Sermon, Four On The Floor 2 - First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, October 8, 2023
For many of us, our religious childhood started with the Nativity and Noah’s ark, then jumped straight to the rules and list of things we ought to get busy and do. Work in that vineyard, pay the rent, obey the big guy. These were the first steps of our Christian life. Good steps, but is it enough?
Prayer is the base we need to support our Christian mission of worship, adoration, charity and love. Before we can be changed into people of love, we need to shift gears to become people of prayer.
Sermon, Four On The Floor 1 - United Ministry of Aurora, July 23, 2023 I’d like to do something a little different today. Let’s take a look at one of the less emphasized aspects of our Christian life. One that I think our kids and grandkids are hungry for. Something I think that we here today are hungry for. I think we are all hungry for spiritual experience, the taste of heaven Jesus promised. We’re good at doing good works; we protest injustice, we help the needy. We worship on Sunday. We repent. We love our neighbor. But there’s a nagging something we’re missing. And it’s something God is eager to give us. So let’s take a fresh look this morning.
Sermon, Off-Road Adventure - First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, May 21, 2023 Caught between Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost, the disciples want clarity and certainty about God's strategic plan. Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? Are the Romans going to be thrown out? Will we be in charge? What’s God’s plan and strategy? Jesus gently sets them straight on all they need to know about what's going to happen, and what they are to do. The same instructions apply to us.
Sermon, Peace to a Doubting World - United Ministry of Aurora, April 16, 2023 Our readings today remind us that we are not alone in the face of danger. The Passover was fraught with danger, our world today is full of threat. In weeks that followed our Gospel reading, the disciples were clearly in danger. Jesus had been crucified and the authorities certainly hadn't given up on stamping out the rest of those heretical Christian Jews. The danger was still there, yet Peter stood up boldly preaching Jesus' message.
Sermon, Transformation 5 - February 26, 2023 United Ministry of Aurora Transformation into the Good is not about doing good. It’s a complete change of heart. Jesus asks us to change. Not just do more nice things and fewer evil things. Jesus wants us to change our hearts, to think and feel in a new way, complete transformation. And we do everything possible to avoid it. It’s hard and it goes against our human nature. But, God has plans for us.
Sermon, The Baptism of Baptism - January 8, 2023 United Ministry of Aurora The Baptism of the Lord marks the close of the Christmas season and the beginning of Jesus ministry. It begins at Cana, where he transformed the ritual water of Old Testament Mikvah into the spiritual wine of New Testament Baptism.
Sermon, Money, Money, Money - September 25, 2022 United Ministry of Aurora Is Jesus telling us that unless we repent of our sins in life our sins persist after death? The nameless rich man is unchanged by death! Not even a respectful, “Hello Lazarus, nice to see you. Glad it worked out well for you. Say, could you perhaps spare a little drink of water.” Nope. We hear, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me and order Lazarus over here with at least a sip of water!”
Sermon, Do You Want To Be Made Well - May 29, 2022, First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango Jesus knew the man at the Bethesda pool had been in this terrible condition for a long time. Why did the man sit there all these years expecting something different each day? Jesus asked him, "Do you want to be made well?" Instead of answering, YES, the sick man gave the Lord reasons why he was still sick. The joy of living in Christ in this world and the next is right here. But we need to answer YES, to Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made Well?
Sermon, Do You Want To Be Made Well - May 22, 2022, United Ministry of Aurora (Note this sermon was given on two successive Sundays end of May, 2022) The joy of living in Christ in this world and the next is right here. But we need to answer YES, to Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made Well?
Sermon, If Today You Hear A Voice - April 24, 2022, United Ministry of Aurora Hearing the Spirit isn’t always easy. Most of us are better talkers than listeners. Particularly men. There’s a reason why the term “man-splaining” has become a meme. We all pay a lot of attention to what we say; less to what others say to us. We're pretty good at our outbound messaging to God. Think a minute about how you pray. We do as we’ve been taught: We close our eyes and bow our heads respectfully. In church, Catholics kneel, Protestants crouch. We speak quietly and reverently to God. We don’t harangue God or nag. We never, ever raise our voices. We are sensible and rational. Even when we pray silently, it’s usually in a quiet, reasonable mental tone. Maybe we’ve overdone the restraint, but we are okay at our outbound messaging. But somehow we don't pay nearly as much attention to how to hear the inbound voice.
Sermon, God is Big - March 16, 2022, First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango Lent is a good time to reflect on the greatness of God, and the absolute wonder of God's wanting to be with us, to comfort and encourage each one of us. We sometimes lose track of that assurance and even shut down the lines of communication. Jesus reminds us that the people of God often stoned their prophets. Yet the prophets persisted in listening to the voice of God, and responding. Today, people who hear or see visions are called delusional or mistaken. I suspect the reason behind this is fear. We humans are uncomfortable with things out of the ordinary. But God continues to reach out to us.
Sermon, Let's Take a Break - January 16, 2022, First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles The Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath. The Creator set up cycles of work and rest weekly, yearly, and daily. Taking time out to rest and reset aligns with our biochemistry. The one who made us knows our needs better than we do. The Creator has our best interest and well-being in mind, so we should pay attention. Even God rested after the sixth Day of creation. A good example for we over-worked and stressed out people.
Sermon, Winter Is Past - August 29, 2021, United Ministry of Aurora As I begin to age, The Song of Songs makes more and more sense to me. Some think it's crazy to have an erotic love story plopped into the middle of the Bible. Lovers peeking around corners, sensual touches, intimacy. What's this doing in the Bible. This is serious business! After all, isn't God the Judge on the Bench? Well, no. The whole Bible is one gigantic, endless love story. It's too easy to forget that.
Sermon, Under God - July 4, 2021, First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles It's not a placebo, it's the Faith Effect. Your cells have ears. When you believe with all your heart and soul and might, all the cells of your body “get the memo.” If we give the spirit the chance to work, the Spirit can work. If we deny the Spirit, the Spirit cannot work.
Sermon, Bible Literacy at Easter - April 11, 2021 , First Presbyterian Curch, Skaneateles Last week at Skaneateles we began a new Bible Study series connecting the lectionary readings for the week to come. Jesus often taught by making connections. This Sunday's sermon explains to the Church how this solid Christian Education for adults can be helpful.
Sermon, Connecting with Bible Literacy - March 21, 2021 , United Ministry of Aurora Our carefully selected lectionary readings are helpful, they are connected. Asking each of the four readings to shed light on the others, we see more than the plotline and message of the individual readings. This is reading beyond the “letter” of the Bible. Jesus in his life, so often taught about scripture by making connections. This is another way we Christians can follow in his footsteps.
Sermon, Lenten Rainbow - February 21, 2021 , United Ministry of Aurora — YouTube Video — First Sunday of Lent - God is pleased with Noah, and only Noah. Everything else that breathes air, God is done with. The humans were so corrupt, they corrupted everything alive - except for the fish. Restart. We're the new kids. How are we doing in our turn?
Sermon, Intimacy With God - January 17, 2021 , United Ministry of Aurora — YouTube Video — In recent years many mainline Protestant churches no longer proclaim the full lectionary each Sunday. The lectionary includes an Old Testament reading, a responsorial Psalm, a reading from the New Testament Letters or Acts, and the Gospel. These four readings have been selected under the guidance of the Spirit. Hearing and reflecting on the four readings can be a powerful teaching method, since each reading amplifies and comments on the other readings. If we permit our full lectionary to speak to us every Lord's Day, the Bible itself can teach us with connections, hints and glimpses of truths for which there are no adequate words.
Sermon, Vast Resources of Power - November 15, 2020 , United Ministry of Aurora The LORD has assignments for each one of us. By mid-life most of us have some sense of what we’re called to do. Maybe it's teaching, maybe building a family life, maybe giving joy as a performer, maybe being the squeaky wheel. We don't need to understand how our job fits in the divine plan; that's beyond humans' pay grade. But, the Lord provides vast resources of power to those with the faith to accept their assignment wholeheartedly.
Sermon, Voice In The Cloud - October 18, 2020 , United Ministry of Aurora Our faith tradition stops educating us too soon. What’s missing? We’re solid with the ABCs, yet the Letter to Hebrews exhorts us to move beyond elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity. God may speak with us in a voice undetectable by eardrum, but heard in our understanding. God may attract our attention in various ways. But we have to cooperate. We have to agree to listen.
Sermon, Music and Me'odechoh - September 20, 2020 , First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles — YouTube Video — This is a reminder of the powerful role of music in worship. Me'odechoh means, "With all your might!" Music played, sung and listened to "with all our might," can help us open up, unwrap our tightly bound selves to experience the full power of faith.
Sermon, Jesus On Opposition - September 13, 2020 , First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles — YouTube Video Every human being deep down wants to be at peace, the peace of wholeness and happiness. Yet we see contention everywhere around us. The Bible teaches us the natural state of the world, perhaps of life itself, is contention and opposition. In a way, we can look at the Bible as a textbook teaching us how to deal with contention and opposition.
Sermon, No Argument - August 30, 2020 , United Ministry of Aurora Few places on earth have had more argument per square foot of land than Israel. This was true in Abraham’s time, true in David’s time and true in Jesus’ time. Religious orthodoxy opposing apathy, pagan Roman troops opposing civilians, prophets opposing apostates, Sadducees opposing Pharisees, extremist assassins opposing those who just wanted to get along, and, of course, political factions all opposing each other. There is nothing new under the sun. Jesus acknowledged opposition. And Jesus' teaching method is a graduate text on how to overcome opposition.
Sermon, Let It Go - August 16, 2020 , First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles These are not only unusual times, they are difficult times. Things had been going so well for us for so long, we kind of forgot that life is generally full of problems. Scripture tells us that life here outside the Garden of Eden will be troubled. Both Old Testament and New Testament are filled with lessons on how to navigate the expected injustices, stresses and difficulties of life.
Sermon, We are Here - July 19, 2020 , United Ministry of Aurora — Video of outdoor service
Sermon, Family Feuds - June 21, 2020 , United Ministry of Aurora
Sermon, Paul Preaches at Athens - May 17, 2020 Sixth Sunday of Easter, United Ministry of Aurora — Video
Sermon, April 19, 2020 - Second Sunday of Easter, United Ministry of Aurora — Video of Service
Sermon, Soft Center, United Ministry of Aurora, March 22, 2020 — Video — Video of Service
Sermon, Transfiguration 2.0, United Ministry of Aurora, Feb 23, 2020
Sermon, Come and See, and Stay Awhile, United Ministry of Aurora, Jan. 19, 2020
Sermon, Rejoice and be Thankful, United Ministry of Aurora, Dec 29, 2019
Sermon, Trajectory, United Ministry of Aurora, Aug 25, 2019
Sermon, Shalom, Not Pax Romana, United Ministry of Aurora, Aug 18, 2019
Sermon, The Double-Edged Sword, United Ministry of Aurora, July 21, 2019
Sermon, The Parable of the Ignorant Lawyer, United Ministry of Aurora, July 14, 2019
Sermon, Good, Better, Best, United Ministry of Aurora, NY June 16, 2019
Sermon, Our Lord's Prayer 2, United Ministry of Aurora, NY June 2, 2019
Sermon, Lord's Prayer 1, First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, NY May 26, 2019
Sermon, Spring Training, First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, NY March 24, 2019
Sermon, Unbounded Kingdom, United Ministry of Aurora, NY November 25, 2018
Sermon, God In The Box , First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, NY Sept. 9, 2018
Sermon, The Missing Link, United Ministry of Aurora, NY August 5, 2018
Sermon, Science And Sin, First Presbyterian Church of Scipioville, NY July 29, 2018
Sermon, Little Boxes, First Presbyterian Church of Scipioville, NY July 22, 2018
Sermon, He Is Out Of His Mind, First Presbyterian Church of Scipioville, NY June 10, 2018
Talk, Gods, Goddesses and Monotheism , First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, NY April 15, 2018
Sermon, Easter Feast, United Ministry of Aurora, NY April 1, 2018
Sermon, Use It, Don't Lose It, First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, NY Feb. 25, 2018
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UNDEROOS Ethics A minister asked if I had ever brought a business ethics conflict to a clergyman. He was forming views on the role of the church in teaching business ethics. I have a point of view; teach Jesus, not rules. This was my response.
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