God’s Acre on the Go

Stephen Chapin Garner
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  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

God’s Acre on the Go Podcast, from The Congregational Church of New Canaan and hosted by Rev. Dr. Stephen Chapin Garner, features weekly sermons and reflections from the church’s pastors, exploring biblical themes and their relevance to contemporary life. This podcast is for anyone seeking spiritual growth and thoughtful engagement with Christian faith, particularly those interested in exploring how faith intersects with everyday experiences and challenges.

  1. 6H AGO

    The Anxiety Antidote

    In Matthew 6:25–33, Jesus calls his followers out of the exhausting cycle of worry. He points to birds and lilies—creatures with no control over their future—yet God faithfully provides for them. If God cares for them, Jesus says, God will certainly care for us. Today’s world is filled with anxiety—about money, politics, global events, safety, and personal well‑being. Even those with full closets and stocked kitchens feel overwhelmed. But Jesus offers a surprising antidote: shift your attention from worry to God’s kingdom. The kingdom isn’t a place but the lived reality of God’s vision for the world—mercy, justice, peace, generosity, humility, and love. When we practice these things, our focus moves from fear to purpose, from scarcity to trust. This doesn’t dismiss real mental‑health struggles, but it does challenge the everyday worries fueled by screens, comparison, and a sense of “never enough.” Jesus invites us not just to stop worrying but to start living in ways that align with God’s dream for the world. And as we do, we discover that God truly gives us what we need.

    17 min

  2. FEB 1

    The Olive Press

    In Matthew 26:36–46, Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane as the weight of betrayal, violence, and uncertainty closes in. Rather than clinging to certainty or escaping fear, Jesus prays a prayer of surrender: “Not my will, but yours be done.” This message reflects on Gethsemane—whose name means “olive press”—as a place where pressure reveals what is most precious. Drawing on Proverbs 3:5–6, we are invited to trust God beyond our own understanding and to resist the temptation of rigid certainty. Prayer becomes an act of vigilance and humility, opening us to God’s Spirit when clarity is absent. In a world marked by fear and division, surrender may be the very way God’s compassion, empathy, and love are released through our lives.

    20 min

  3. JAN 25

    Beyond the Fence

    In Luke 10:25–37, Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question about eternal life by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that challenges how we define “neighbor.” This message explores the fences we build to protect ourselves and how those same boundaries can limit our compassion, growth, and joy. Through personal reflection and Jesus’ own example of crossing cultural and social lines, we’re reminded that faith is lived beyond comfort and convenience. Jesus does not ask us to do everything, but he does ask us to do more than we think we can. Eternal life, Jesus teaches, is not only about the future—it begins now, when we risk mercy, allow interruption, and step beyond the fence into a wider, richer life shaped by love.

    24 min

  4. JAN 18

    The Firm Foundation

    What are you doing with your “one wild and precious life”? This week’s message draws inspiration from Mary Oliver’s famous question and Jesus’ parable in Luke 6:46–49. Jesus warns that listening alone isn’t enough—only when we act on his words do we build lives with solid foundations. The sermon challenges us to move beyond performative faith into real obedience. It reflects on justice, compassion, and action as essential to Christ-like living. Personal stories from Puerto Rico highlight how small communities like The Happy Givers embody faithful action every day. Come, listen, and act—that is the invitation and the foundation for a meaningful life.

    17 min

  5. JAN 11

    An Awful Story

    The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is often remembered for its violence and tragedy—the first act of fratricide, a chilling question of moral evasion, and divine judgment. But this week’s sermon invites us to look deeper: What if this awful story also lays the groundwork for a better one? Through this message, we explore how Jesus responds to Cain’s ancient question—“Am I my brother’s keeper?”—by teaching us to love our neighbor, even the ones we’d rather avoid. Drawing on the larger arc of the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 12, 18, 22), we are reminded that God’s blessing is meant to extend through us, not terminate with us. Power and privilege are not ends in themselves, but tools for blessing others. Jesus reads these ancient stories not as endorsements of domination but as invitations to mercy, grace, and healing. Even in exile, God offers protection. Even in failure, there is the hope of redemption. Even in us, the story continues to unfold.

    19 min

  6. JAN 4

    Epiphany Message

    This special Epiphany episode explores what it means to find God’s light in the midst of life’s darkness. Rev. Chapin Garner begins with the story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1–12, who follow a star during a dark and dangerous time—“in the time of King Herod.” Their journey is a model for anyone searching for light in uncertain seasons. We’re then joined by guest speaker Ashley Tedford, who shares her inspiring testimony of losing her eyesight in college and learning to walk by faith through uncertainty, medical hardship, and spiritual growth. Her story reveals how even when our sight fades, God’s light never does. From the journey of the Magi to Ashley’s modern journey of faith, this episode reminds us that God’s light leads us forward—not with force, but with hope. Even in our darkest moments, Epiphany assures us: the light still shines, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    19 min

  7. 12/28/2025

    Already Found

    Every year, Jesus' family went to Jerusalem for Passover. Every year. That repeated phrase in Luke 2:41–52 sets the tone for this story—not one of crisis, but of rhythm and trust. But amid that faithful rhythm, something unexpected happens: Jesus stays behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph, believing him to be safe among the caravan, realize he is missing. After three days of searching, they find him—not afraid, not lost, but sitting among the teachers, fully at home in his Father’s house. Through a poignant personal story of being accidentally left on a Manhattan-bound train as a child, Kelly Antonson reflects on how faith is formed not only in moments of clarity, but in confusion, return, and trust. Just as Jesus’ first words reveal his rootedness in the rhythms of faith, our lives are shaped not only by spiritual highs but by steady habits and community care. This episode invites listeners to consider: What if what feels lost is actually being held? What if what seems absent is quietly growing?

    17 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    God's Acre On the Go: Innkeepers ALL

    In this moving Christmas Eve sermon, Rev. Chapin Garner explores the often-overlooked line in Luke’s nativity: “There was no room for them in the inn.” With tenderness and clarity, he unpacks the deeper meaning behind the absence of hospitality and how it foreshadows the life and ministry of Jesus—who was repeatedly rejected by the world he came to save. Far from a sentimental retelling, this message invites listeners to reflect on where they’ve closed their hearts and how Christ still seeks to dwell not in buildings, but within us. Drawing on Ephesians 3:16–17, Chapin reminds us that we are all modern-day innkeepers—with the power to say “yes” to the One who brings light to every dark corner of our lives.

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

God’s Acre on the Go Podcast, from The Congregational Church of New Canaan and hosted by Rev. Dr. Stephen Chapin Garner, features weekly sermons and reflections from the church’s pastors, exploring biblical themes and their relevance to contemporary life. This podcast is for anyone seeking spiritual growth and thoughtful engagement with Christian faith, particularly those interested in exploring how faith intersects with everyday experiences and challenges.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephen Chapin Garner
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2015 . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    God’s Acre on the Go