Virtual Worship and Preaching during
COVID-19
July 5, 2020 through the Pandemic's End in 2021?

In mid-March 2020, a State of Emergency was declared in New Hampshire and the US.  On March 15th worship at KCPC was canceled due to the spreading coronavirus infection.  A pandemic began that would last through the rest of the year, thus canceling the remainder of in-person worship during 2020. I was on Sabbatical from March 15th until June 30th.  When I returned, I did not follow the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A.  
Pastor Bob Merrill 
​December 1, 2020
Update: June 25, 2021
While the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, the success of New Hampshire's vaccination program which began in late December 2020, has lowered the current infection rate to near zero in the surrounding Kearsarge-Lake Sunapee region.  On July 4, 2021, the elders decided to reopen for in-person worship.  Two identical services will be offered at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.  
​Pastor Bob Merrill

Preaching the Apostle Paul's Letter to the
Romans
During a Pandemic:
July ~ August ~ September ~ October
2020

July 5, 2020
"Sabotaging Best Intentions"
Romans 7:14-25​

July 12, 2020
"Cleaning the Air"
Romans 8:1-4

​July 19, 2020
"The Invisibility Cloak"
Romans 8:5-11

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​July 25, 2020
"Anticipation"
Romans 8:18-25

August 2, 2020
"Tired of Waiting"
Romans 8:26-30

August 9, 2020
"Jesus Loves Us ~ This I Know"
Romans 8:31-39

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August 16, 2020
"Who Created Whom?"
Romans 12:1-3

August 30, 2020
"Body Parts"
Romans 12:4-8

September 6, 2020
"Exponential Advise"
Romans 12:9-21

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September 13, 2020
"Responsibilities"
Romans 13:1-7

​September 20, 2020
"Boots on the Ground"
Romans 13:8-14

​September 27, 2020
"All Christ's Guests"
Romans 14:1-5

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October 4, 2020
"Our Ps and Our Qs"
Romans 14:12-14, 19-21, 22-23

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...about the Revised Common Lectionary

The Lectionary provides churches of all denominations and nationalities with a schedule of Scripture Readings for use in Sunday worship services.  More can be learned here:  https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

October 11, 2020
"The Chorus of Earthly Saints"
Romans 15:1-6

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October 25, 2020
"The Message"
Romans 15:17-21

October 18, 2020
"Satisfied!"
Romans 15:14-16, 13

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...about these Sermons

The content of Pastor Bob's sermons and prayers are unique and original.  If any portion sounds similar to another person's work or writing, it is coincidental.  If you feel credit needs to be given, please reach out to Bob on the Staff Contacts page.  He will make every effort to provide credit and transparency.

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...about the Scripture readings and printed Scriptures contained in Each Video

All of the primary scripture readings for the sermons from July through October are from The Message: A Contemporary Version of the Bible.  This popular paraphrase of scripture was written by Presbyterian Pastor Eugene Peterson (1932-2018).  More can be learned about Pastor Peterson in this Wikipedia article. 

Most of the Psalms, read and printed in the videos are from The New Revised Standard Version.

Sunday
November 1, 2020
All Saints' Sunday

​"Making Saints"
from
​Matthew 6:16-21

Pictured to the left, at the beginning of the All Saints' Sunday service is Hazel Nilson (August 21, 1908-November 20, 2019. Hazel was 111 years old when she joined the Church Triumphant.  As she would say, "the angels finally found me!"

Preaching the Letter from
Jude
during a Pandemic in November 2020

November 8, 2020
​"Infiltration of the Ranks"
from Jude 1-7

November 15, 2020​
"Black Holes & Lost Stars"
from Jude 9-13

November 22, 2020
"Made Up Religion"
from Jude 14-25

Virtual Services During
Advent ~ Christmas ~Epiphany 
​2020-2021

​Sunday November 29, 2020
The First Sunday in Advent
​"Nothing Has Changed"
from Second John 1-6

Sunday December 6, 2020
The Second Sunday in Advent
​"Staying Faithful"
from Second John 7-13

Sunday December 13, 2020
​The Third Sunday in Advent
​"Truth Companions"
from Third John 1-8

Sunday December 20, 2020
The Fourth Sunday in Advent​
"Resisting Evil"
from Third John 9-14

December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve
​"Withdrew to Heaven"
from Luke 2:15-18

Sunday January 10, 2021​
The Twelve Days of Christmas
(originally scheduled for
​December 27, 2020)

The Pandemic Continued....
During November and lasting into mid-January, the infection rate and deaths caused by Covid-19 continued to climb, across the nation and in New Hampshire.  We continued to worship virtually.  During Advent I utilized the Second & Third Letters of John, short one-chapter Epistles from the end of the New Testament.  These readings are not included in the Revised Common Lectionary.  The pandemic provided a unique opportunity for me to travel over the Christmas-New Year's holidays.  The December 20th and Christmas Eve services were recorded early in the month.  The Epiphany Service was recorded from my former church in McDonough, Georgia.  The 12 Days of Christmas Service was delayed due to a scheduling glitch.  However, this gave the staff a well-deserved break from recording a service! 
Pastor Bob Merrill (January 18, 2021)

Sunday January 3, 2021​
Epiphany Sunday
"Light Houses for the Lord"
from Isaiah 60:1-6 & Matthew 2:1-12

Virtual Services After Epiphany 
​ January & February 2021

We Continue to Persevere:
Vaccinations Underway!
However, Infections Climb
and Deaths Increase 

Sunday January 17, 2021
Confirmation of  Youth
​John 1:43-51 
"Until We Can Be Together"

Even as more residents of New Hampshire received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, infections and deaths rose in the weeks which followed Christmas.  By the end of January KCPC's Reopening Task Group began to meet via Zoom.  By the end of February, the alarming rates began to drop.  Hope was on the horizon!

Sunday January 24, 2021
Mark 1: 14-20
"Abandoning Nets"

Sunday January 31, 2021
Mark 1: 21-28
"Casting Out COVID-19"

Sunday February 7, 2021
​Mark 1: 29-39
"What Are We Supposed to Do?"

February 14, 2021~    Fat Sunday 
Evangelist Robert J.C. Davids preaches from
Matthew 9:27-38 & Mark 1: 40-45
"Smoke and Mirrors!?! No!"

During February, and during parts of March, I worked remotely, due to the need to continue keeping the building closed.  At first the roll-out of NH's vaccination rate seemed slow (early to mid-January).  However, by the end of January and through February, the vaccination rate increased steadily.  By the end of February, nearly 10% of NH residents were fully vaccinated!
Pastor Bob

Virtual Services During Lent and Holy Week 
​ February 21-April 2, 2021

For most of Lent and Holy week, I followed the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel readings for each Sunday.  I did make two exceptions, notably on March 14th, when I preached a slightly modified version of the sermon I wrote for March 15, 2020, the first service canceled at the start of the pandemic.  Also the March 21st lesson was for the 4th Sunday in Lent, and not the 5th.

Sunday February 21, 2021
Mark 1: 9-15
"40 Days"

Sunday March 14, 2021
First Corinthians 4:14-21
"Letting Out Hot Air"

Sunday February 28, 2021
Mark 8: 31-38
"Hard Truths"

Sunday March 21, 2021
John 3:14-21
"Maundy What?"

Sunday March 7, 2021
John 2:13-22
"Distracted by the Sheep and Cattle"

Palm Sunday March 28, 2021
​Mark 11:1-11
"Ahead"

The end of March, the Session set target dates for reopening! July 4th with restrictions.  September 12th for some kind of "new normal!"  Will the pandemic wind-down to a conclusion?  Only vaccination and infection rates will tell.  Stay posted!

Maundy Thursday 
April 1, 2021 

Good Friday 
April 2, 2021

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Virtual Services During Easter
​ April 9-May 16, 2021

Easter Sunday, and the Easter Season which follows, is all about hope and renewal.  We were buoyed by the increase in the vaccination rate and the decrease in the infection rate! We began formalizing plans to reopen for worship on July 4th.  In the meantime, Pastor Bob took some much-needed vacation and the Rev. Sam Schreiner filled the pulpit and provided leadership for the virtual services on April 18th and 25th. 

Sunday April 4, 2021
​Easter Sunday
Mark 16:1-11
"A Trinity of Women"

Sunday April 11, 2021
John 20:19-21
"Doubt Verses Belief"

May 2, 2021
John 10:11-18
"A Wolf in the Flock"

Sunday April 18, 2021
​Psalm 90
"Facing Changes with the Changeless One"

May 9, 2021
Acts 8:26-40
"Someone to Guide"

April 25, 2021
Matthew 18:11-35
"A 'Shock and Awe' Saying of Jesus"

May 16, 2021
Acts 1:6-26
"Tough Choices"

Virtual Pentecost and Trinity Sundays

May 23, 2021
Pentecost Sunday
Psalm 104:24-30
"There Go the Ships"

May 30, 2021
Trinity Sunday
Skye Murray Preaching
Isaiah 6:1-8 & Romans 8:12-17
"Called as God's Children"

June 2021 ~ Ordinary Time
and
KCPC's Final Four Sundays of
​COVID-19 Virtual Services

Sunday June 6, 2021
Mark 3:20-35
"Strength"

Sunday June 20, 2021
Mark 4:35-41
"Sleeping on the Job?"
​

Sunday June 13, 2021
Mark 4:26-34
"The Kingdom"

Sunday June 27, 2021
Mark 5:21-34
"Hmmmmm! The High Cost is Nothing New!"

June 30, 2021
Is the COVID-19 pandemic over?  Far from it!  However, as reported by the CDC on this last day in June, New Hampshire had fully vaccinated 51% of the population and 62% was partially vaccinated.  26 new cases were reported on this day for a total of 99,481 total cases for the State.  There were no new COVID fatalities, however the fatal cases remained at 1371. 

According to WMUR's town by town tracker, none of the towns in the Kearsarge School District, or Andover, Enfield, Goshen, Grantham, Hanover, Hopkinton, or Sunapee (other towns where KCPC members and friends reside) had any infections.  Only the towns of Lebanon and Newport were each reporting 1-4 current infections.  The decision to wait until July 4, 2021, to resume in-person worship had been a wise one.

KCPC's Online Media Resources Team

Pastor: Bob Merrill
​Music: Fran Steven-Putnam, Jason Paquette and Gerry Putnam 
Production and Technical Assistance: Lyndsay Lund Harkins & Pastor Bob Merrill
Office Manager: Maria Barnard
Children's and Youth Resources: Roberta Hollinger

YouTube Channel: KCPC Worship Services are kept here: Click to watch!

SoundCloud Channel: KCPC Recorded Music is kept here: Click to listen!