Middlebury Congregational Church UCC

This week we look at the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. What does the parable mean, and where is the good news in the middle of a parable with a lot of destruction, outer darkness, and weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Dinner Attire

Matthew 22:1-14

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

October 11. 2026

This week we look at the parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21 and the issue of forgetting the importance of stewardship #jesus #faith #christian #church #stewardship

Whose Vineyard?

Isaiah 5:1-7, Matthew 21:33-46

Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

October 4. 2026

In the parable of the twos sons, Jesus says the tax collectors and prostitutes are getting into the kingdom of heaven ahead of the religious authorities. This week we take a look at why that is and what Jesus might be trying to tells us about the coming kingdom.

When God Shows Up

Matthew 21:32-32

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

September 27, 2026

We're looking at the parable of the laborers in the vineyard this week and examining the idea of God being good but not fair.

Fairness vs. Goodness

Matthew 20:1-16

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

September 20, 2026

This Sunday we celebrated the success of our capital campaign and the 230th anniversary of our church! We celebrated seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Foundations for Our Future

Psalm 27:13-14,1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 6:47-48

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

September 13, 2026

We're finishing up our summer sermon series on the book of Hebrews. Here we look at chapter 13 and some of the admonitions for Christian living. We focus on the Christian values of welcoming the stranger and showing hospitality.

Entertaining Angels

Genesis 19:1-12, 24-25, Hebrews 13:1-9

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

September 6, 2026

What does it mean to have faith? And how does the memory of the past give us hope for the future? These are the questions we look at as we go through chapter 11 and 12 of Hebrews.

Faith, Assurance, and Hope

Hebrews 11:1-3, 29-12:3

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

August 9, 2026

We're continuing our Hebrews series this week, and we're looking at Hebrews 10. This passage summarizes two arguments that recur throughout the book about God being faithful to promises and Jesus being the great high priest. But, the lesson introduces a new idea about the power of memory to inspire hope into the future.

From Memory to Hope

Hebrews 10:19-39

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

August 2, 2026

This week we're continuing on in a series from Hebrews, and we're looking at what it means when Hebrews says hope is the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul and when it describes Jesus as our great high priest.

The Anchor of Hope

Genesis 12:1-9, Hebrews 6:13-20

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

Middlebury Congregational Church

July 26, 2026

The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 reminds us our life comes from connection to God, and that the Church is called to spread the grace of God around indiscriminately, even when it seems like a lost cause

Sowing the Kingdom

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

The Rev. Katrina Manzi

St. George’s Episcopal Church & Middlebury Congregational Church

July 12, 2026