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Sermons and Services

June 29, 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: Always and Never About Us - Rev. Martin Riekert

June 22 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "A First Fruit" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

June 15 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "A New Way" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

June 8 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Just Breathe"

 

June 1 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Protest- Rev. Jack Soper

 

May 25 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "E Pluribus Unum"

 

May 18 2025

Link to full service here.

 

May 11 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Worthy Companions"

May 4 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Multiple Journeys"

 

April 27 2025

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Unlock the Doors"

April 20 2025 (EASTER):

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Thought Experiments" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

April 13 2025 (Palm Sunday):

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "The Gift of the Jews" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

April 6 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Perfect" - Rev. Jack Soper

 

March 30 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Christchurch redux" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

March 23 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Going to Samaria" - Dr. Scott Larson

 

March 16 2025:

INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY SERVICE

Link to full service here.

March 9 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Untrammeled by Man" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

March 2 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Listen to Him"

 

February 23 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "All Changing -- Remain the Same"

 

February 16 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "An Interesting Social Function"

 

February 9 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Fraught Conversations"

February 2 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "A Really Impressive Engineering Feat"

 

January 26 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Seven Mountains"

 

January 19 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "MLK Lite" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

January 12 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Epiphany in a Box" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

January 5 2025:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Grace Upon Grace" - Rev. Jack Soper

 

December 29 2024:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Uncommon Wisdom" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

December 24 2024 (Christmas Eve):

Link to full service here.

Homily: "Away from the Manger" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

December 22 2024:

Link to full service here.

Link to Christmas Pageant here.

 

December 15 2024:

Link to full service here.

Link to Christmas Concert here.

December 8 2024:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Born in the Middle of Our Messiness" - Rev. Jack Soper

 

December 1 2024:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Reliable Solidarity" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

November 24 2024:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "The Jazz of Jesus" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

November 17 2024:

Link to full service here.

Sermon: "Good Trouble" - Rev. Martin Riekert

 

November 10 2024:

INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY SERVICE

Link to full service here.

November 3 2024:

Sermon: "Avoiding Sainthood" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Corinthians 1:1-3

Link to full service here.

 

October 27 2024:

Sermon: "Servanthood Is the Way" - Rev. Alex Shea Will

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Link to full service here.

 

October 20 2024:

Sermon: "The Righteous Live By Their Faith" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

Link to full service here.

 

October 13 2024:

Sermon: "A Chapter Not the Story" - Larry Atkins

Scripture: Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:6-8

Link to full service here.

 

October 6 2024:

Sermon: "Clearing the Mind" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 12:54-56

Link to full service here.

September 29 2024:

Intergenerational Family Service

Link to full service here.

 

September 22 2024:

Sermon: "A Substitute Ark" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Samuel 4:1b-11

Link to full service here.

September 15 2024:

Sermon: "We the Sacrament" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Corinthians 13

Link to full service here.

 

September 8 2024:

Sermon: "The Canary" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Corinthians 16:13-18

Link to full service here.

 

September 1 2024:

Sermon: "A Lamp to My Feet and a Light to My Path" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Deuteronomy 21:18-21, Ephesians 5:21-24, 6:5-8

Link to full service here.

 

August 25 2024:

Sermon: "Confidence If Not Certainty" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Mark 5:24-34

Link to full service here.

August 18 2024:

Sermon: "Affirmation and Evolution" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Romans 16:1-5b; Galatians 2:11-14

Link to full service here.

 

August 11 2024:

Sermon: "A Mixed Crowd" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Kings 12: 12-19 & Jeremiah 1:1-2

Link to full service here.

 

August 4 2024:

Sermon: "A Fairly Recent Development" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Link to full service here.

July 28 2024:

Sermon: "Where to Begin" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28a, 31 and Genesis 3:8-13

Link to full service here.

 

July 21 2024:

Sermon: “What Do You Want” - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Link to full service here.

 

July 14 2024:

Sermon: “What Are You Groaning About” - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27 and 12:1-2

Link to full service here.

July 7 2024:

Sermon: “When We Are Wise, Therefore, We Always Walk Slowly” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

Link to full service here.

 

June 30 2024:

Sermon: “It Would Be Wise To Avoid That Word” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Link to full service here.

June 23 2024:

Sermon: “John Was Under Suspicion- Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: John 8:12-20

Link to full service here.

June 16 2024:

INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY SERVICE

Link to full service here.

June 9 2024:

Sermon: "Remember Your Ancestors..." - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-8

Link to full service here.

 

June 2 2024:

Sermon:  "Therefore We Have to Speak" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Deuteronomy 22:5-12, Leviticus 20:6-10, Luke 6:27-36

Link to full service here.

 

May 26 2024:

Sermon: "No One Ever Thanked Me' - Larry Atkins

Scripture: Job 42:1-6

Link to full service here.

 

May 19 2024:

Sermon: "Deep Listening" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Acts 2:1-8 and 11-13

Link to full service here.

May 12 2024:

Sermon: "As Yogi Said"

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22 - Rev. Martin Riekert

Link to full service here.

May 5 2024:

Sermon: "Of Course It Matters What We Believe" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8

Link to full service here.

April 28 2024:

Link to full service here.

April 21 2024:

Sermon: "The Productivity  and Personality of God" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17

Link to full service here.

 

April 14 2024:

Sermon: "More on Maps- Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24, Luke 24:28-31

Link to full service here.

 

April 7 2024:

Sermon: "You Will End Up in Pennsylvania" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Link to full service here.

 

EASTER: March 31 2024

Sermon: "That Was Then ... This Is Now" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: John 20: 1-10

Link to full service here.

March 24 2024:

Sermon: "Judea Capta" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Link to full service here.

March 17 2024:

Sermon: "Idle Tales" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Link to full service here.

March 10 2024:

Roots of Peace - Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor A'wad

Scripture: Psalm 133, Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 11:1-9, Matthew 5:1-9

Link to full service here.

 

March 3 2024:

Sermon: "Raising Cain"- Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Link to full service here.

 

February 25 2024:

Sermon: "The Last Word" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Link to full service here.

 

February 18 2024:

Sermon: "Longing for My Beloved Country" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15

Link to full service here.

 

February 11 2024:

Sermon: "Time to Go" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Link to full service here.

 

February 4 2024:

Sermon: "Healing of the Past" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: John 4:1-15

Link to full service here.

 

January 28 2024:

Sermon: "Calle and His People" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-8

Link to full service here.

January 21 2024:

Sermon: "The Salty and Shining Behavior of the Blessed" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Link to full service here.

January 14 2024:

Sermon: "Immediately" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-23 and 7:21

Link to full service here.

 

January 7 2024:

Sermon: "A Lot of Noise" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22

Link to full service here.

 

December 31 2023:

Sermon: “An Appropriate Yardstick” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: I Kings 16: 23-28, Matthew 16: 24-27

Link to fill service here.

December 24 2023:

Sermon: "Home Alone" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 1: 26-33 and 46-55, Luke 2: 1-20

Link to full service here.

December 17 2023

Sermon: “Sanctus” (or "Benedictus") - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Link to full service here.

 

December 10 2023:

Children's Christmas Pageant

Link to full service here.

December 3 2023:

Sermon: “Tear Open the Heavens and Come Down” - Rev. Marti Soper

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Link to full service here.

 

November 26 2023:

Sermon: “The Time Is Near” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8

Link to full service here.

November 19 2023:

Sermon: “Discretion Is Advised” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Acts 4:32-5:11

Link to full service here.

 

November 12 2023:

Sermon: “Could It Be The Church?” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 17:20-21

Link to full service here.

November 5 2023:

Sermon: “Where Are You?” - Rev. Jack Doper

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-13

Link to full service here.

 

October 29 2023:

Sermon: “Warning To Sensitive Viewers” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Matthew 2:13-18

Link to full service here.

October 22 2023:

Sermon: “Dove of Truth” - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10; 4:1-4

Link to full service here.

 

October 15 2023:

Homily: "Building Bridges" - Larry Atkins

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Matthew 25:35-40

Link to full service here.

 

October 8 2023:

Sermon: “We Are Extremely Fortunate” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Proverbs 30: 32-33; Matthew 5: 21-26

Link to full service here.

October 1 2023:

Sermon: “Bread and Water” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32 and John 4:1-15

Link to full service here.

 

September 24 2023:

Sermon: "Going Home" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 4:14-19

Link to full service here.

 

September 17 2023:

Sermon: "The Ark Of The Covenant” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Link to full service here.

 

September 10 2023:

Sermon: “Coming Home….Going Places” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 13: 1-2; Luke 5: 33-37

Link to full service here.

 

September 3 2023:

Sermon: "Missing Church" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Acts 2: 43-47

Link to full service here.

August 27 2023:

Discourse: "Church Simplified" - Steve Whelan

Scripture: Matthew 22: 34-40; Luke 15: 20-30; John 4: 11-14

Link to full service here.

 

August 20 2023:

Sermon: "Choose Life" - Rev. Marti Soper

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30: 11-20

Link to full service here.

 

August 13 2023:

Sermon: "In Praise of Persistence" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Luke 11: 5-8

Link to full service here.

 

August 6 2023:

Sermon: "The Optimism of Radical Love" - Rev. Marti Soper

Scripture: Luke 15: 11-32

Link to full service here.

 

July 30 2023:

Sermon: "The Ice Cold Blob Matters" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

Link to full service here.

 

July 23 2023:

Sermon: "There Is Always Something" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: 1 Kings 16: 24-28, 1 Corinthians 14: 26-37

Link to full service here.

 

July 16 2023:

Sermon: "A Match Made On Earth" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Job 38:28-33 & Mark 4:26-29

Link to full service here.

 

July 9 2023:

Sermon: "Talking Jesus- Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 19: 16-22, Mark 10: 17-22, Luke 10: 25-28

Link to full service here.

July 2 2023:

Sermon: "What Does This Mean?- Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: Acts 2: 1-12

Link to full service here.

June 25:

Sermon: "The Story Is Not Finished" - Mr. Larry Atkins

Scripture: Luke 15: 11-32

Link to full service here.

 

June 18:

Sermon: "I Will Sing a New Song" - Mr. Larry Atkins

Scripture: Psalm 127 and Luke 24:50-53

Link to full service here.

June 11:

Sermon: "What Do Animals Think?" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Job 39: 9-18

Link to full service here.

June 4 2023:

Sermon: "An Imaginative Task" - Rev. Marti Soper

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-20

Link to full service here.

 

May 28 2023:

Sermon: "A Damned Bit of Difference" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: II Samuel 1:17-27

Link to full service here.

 

May 21 2023:

Sermon: "On the Effectiveness of Aluminum Foil Helmets" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:16- 4:3; Matthew 5:27-28, 33-35

Link to full service here.

 

May 14 2023:

Sermon: "I Smell a Rat" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Genesis 27: 1-30

Link to full service here.

 

May 7 2023:

Sermon: "Holding onto Faith in a Cynical Age" - Rev. Craig Whitcher

Scripture: John 17: 1-11

Link to full service here.

 

April 30 2023:

Sermon: "Unlike Russian Dolls” - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6: 1-9, Matthew 22: 34-40

Link to full service here.

 

April 23 2023:

Sermon: "Stay With Us" - Rev. Marti Soper

Scripture: Luke 24: 13-35

Link to full service here.

 

April 16 2023:

Sermon: "So, What's Next?" - Rev. Jack Soper

Scripture: John 21: 1-17

Link to fill service here.

 

April 9 2023 (Easter):

Sermon: "Taking Time Out" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: John 20: 1-10

Link to full service here.

 

April 2 2023:

Sermon: "He Made Sure They Got It" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40 & 45-48

Link to full service here.

 

March 26 2023:

Sermon: "Unlike Making Sausage" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

Link to full service here.

 

March 19 2023:

Sermon: "Wrong Time for a Faulty Water Tank" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 28: 16-20

Link to full service here.

 

March 12 2023:

Sermon: "The Samaritan Woman" - Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew

Scripture: John 4: 5-42

Link to full service here.

 

March 5 2023:

Sermon: "The Present Time" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Luke 12: 54-56

Link to full service here.

 

February 26 2023:

Sermon: "A Good Parting" - Rev. Amy Bruch

Scripture: Luke 8: 4-15,

Link to full service here.

 

February 19 2023:

Scripture: Micah 6: 1-8

Link to full service here.

 

February 12 2023:

Sermon: "I Just Couldn't Quit" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 6: 6b-13

Link to full service here.

 

February 5 2023:

Sermon: "History Remembered" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 2: 16-18, Matthew 4: 12-17

Link to full service here.

 

January 29 2023:

Sermon: "360" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Acts 27: 13-20

Link to full service here.

 

January 22 2023:

Presentation: "Healing the World Resulting from Fear of the Other" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 22: 34-40

Link to full service here.

 

January 15 2023:

Sermon: "Stigma" - Rev. Amy Bruch

Scripture: Luke 8: 40-56

Link to full service here.

 

January 8 2023:

Sermon: "God for All" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Matthew 2: 1-15

Link to full service here.

 

January 1 2023:

Sermon: "Carmenere" - Rev. Martin Riekert

Scripture: Mark 2: 18-22

Link to full service here.


     

Join us for worship!

Sundays at 9:30 am

 In-person or via Zoom

The Congregational Church of Topsfield
9 East Common Street
Topsfield, MA 01983
Phone: (978) 887-2101
General email: office@topsfieldchurch.org

Useful links

The Church Office is in the Emerson Center at 9 East Common St. across from the Town Common.

Office hours are

Mon. – Fri. 10 AM – 1 PM and by appointment.

Summer Office hours are

Tues. - Thurs. - 10 AM - 1 PM and by appointment

            

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