(231)-889-4081 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m
(231)-889-4081 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m
Engage with our most recent sermons.
“Beautiful Dreamer” A sermon based on Genesis 37:1-4; 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6;16-22;45b and Romans 10:5-15 delivered on Sunday, August 9, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
When Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which was first performed in 1968 to a less than enthusiastic audience, they could not have known just how popular it would become. It wasn’t until after the success, amid controversy, of their Rock Opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1971 that the Joseph musical was remembered and revitalized. Its original Broadway production ran for 747 performances and there have been more than 20,000 performances since in various venues.. . .
“Buried Treasure” A sermon based on Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 139:1-12;23-24; and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 delivered on July 19, 2026, by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
Jesus mostly spoke in parables. This section of Matthew’s Gospel is nothing but one parable after another strung together like pearls on a necklace. These parables, each one a gem in itself, are often called the “Parables of the Kingdom.” Jesus spoke in parables because he was trying to describe, by use of metaphor, by storytelling and examples, something that is indescribable. What would God’s kingdom be like? Inquiring minds want to know! . . .
“Cutting the Mustard” A sermon based on Psalm 119:129-136, Romans 8:26-39 and Matthew 13:31-32 delivered on Sunday, July 26, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan,
Mustard and I have a troubled relationship. When I use it on some type of food or other or cook with it, I somehow get it somewhere on my body or on my clothes. The worst incidence of this was when I flew back from a Mission Trip in Honduras. I was really hungry because we had not been able to eat before we left. So, I got a couple of hotdogs with mustard and onions at the Boston airport. As I walked out of the restaurant, I looked down and realized I had somehow dropped copious amounts of mustard on my light blue dress—everywhere! I needed to change but had left all the clothes I had brought with me at the mission for their distribution for those in need. I only had the Mumu type dress, I had bought as a souvenir, so I had to wear that when we flew to Portland. It was huge, because I bought it as a gift, but at least it didn’t have mustard all over it!
Mustard plants come in three major varieties: White Mustard, also
called yellow mustard (the one I usually have problems with!), which produces mild-flavored seeds that are white to light yellow, you have one taped to your bulletin this morning;. . .
“Sow What?” A Sermon based on Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:9-13 and Matthew
13:1-9, 18-23 delivered by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs on Sunday, July 12,
2026 at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
I have always been a little confused by our Matthew passage this morning.
Most of the time Jesus tells a parable, makes a point or gives an historical
reference and then gives no real explanation—he often tells his disciples “Let those
who have ears, listen!” (Matt 11:15; Mark 4:23; and Luke 14:35) and leaves it at
that, as if they will somehow be able to intuitively understand what he is trying to
say.. . .
“A Republic . . . Can We Keep It” A Sermon based on Isaiah 61:1-2a;8-9; Galatians 5:1;4-5; and Luke 4:16-21 delivered on July 5, 2026 for Independence Weekend at the Village Park with the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs.
I think it is pretty safe for me to say, in this particular group, that we all grew up placing our hands over our hearts and reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag each morning to begin our school day. The closing hymn that Bruce Brooks wrote to the tune of Auld Lang Syne uses those familiar words in various ways to remind us of those foundational ideas.
On this 250th Birthday of our nation, the words feel comforting to us, like an old friend. You remember them, don’t you? The pledge starts out with these words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of and to the Republic for which it stands.” The pledge became so familiar by repetition, that I know I never really thought about our country as a Republic. We talked a lot about democracy in school but . . .
A Cup of Cold Water A sermon based on Proverbs 25:19-28, Romans 6:12-23 and Matthew 10:40-42 delivered on Sunday, June 28, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at the First Congregational UCC 0f Onekama, Michigan.
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me…. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (vv. 40 & 42) Whoever receives you receives me, Jesus reminds us. What an awesome thought! What a powerful call to practice hospitality! . . .
A Family Affair” a sermon based on Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86, Romans 6:1b-11 and Matthew 10:34-39 delivered by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at the Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
There are probably not two more difficult passages to preach on than our Hebrew scripture and our Gospel lesson this morning! When I saw the lectionary, I thought, “Aaagh! I think I’ll talk about something safe–say like Psalm 86.” But then I realized once again that sometimes it is important to grapple with the scriptures, no matter how difficult they seem.
So, here I go! In our Genesis passage we wince as we hear God instructing Abraham to follow Sarah’s wishes . . .
“Belly Laughs” A sermon based on Genesis 18:1-15; Psalm 116:1-2;12-19 and Romans 5 :1-8 delivered on Sunday, June 14, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at The First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
There is nothing more infectious than a baby when he or she learns to belly laugh. You know what I mean: that deep down heartfelt rich laugh that seems to come from someplace so far down in their bodies that it resonates and echoes like it has come from an ancient cavern. And, indeed, I believe it has.. . .
“Hearts to Heaven” A sermon based on Luke 24:44, John 17:20-26 and Acts 1:1-11 preached on Ascension Sunday, May 17, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
We know from John’s Gospel that the resurrected Jesus, who appeared in some kind of eventually recognizable bodily form, usually after naming names or breaking bread, plans to ascend into the realm of God soon. On Easter morning, when Mary Magdalene finally recognizes him as Jesus and not the gardener, he asks her not to try to hold on to him because he has not yet ascended to the Father” and then asks her to go to the disciples and to tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17) From this, we gain a picture of a process” of ascension beginning with the Resurrection, for Jesus says “I have not yet ascended,” but “I am ascending.”
. . .
“Stabat Mater” A sermon based on Psalm 66:8-20, Acts 17:22-31 and John 14:15-
21 delivered on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2026 by the Rev. Alison Dutton Jacobs at
the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.
We do not know what Antonin Dvorak’s relationship with his mother was
like, but we suspect that he had a special feeling for mothers and their role in the
world as two of his most famous works honor mothers. What we do know is that
he was the oldest of eight children and that oldest sons often hold a pivotal place in
the family in relationship to their mothers.. . .
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