The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Chapman
Pastor | Creative | Bad Ass
Writings
I began writing as a hobby in 2012 to chronicle my move from Georgia to Connecticut, my work with Westfield Church, and my ideas, sermons, and notions. In the time since, a little of everything has been posted here, and I think that’s the way it’ll stay.
The Latest
Two Times Too Many: Another Letter to the Town I Love
Dear Killingly, I last wrote to you a few months ago when we were deep into dark winter months. It was just after New Year's Day, and, if you recall, it seemed like we just couldn't catch a break. There was one student death. Then another. Then a teacher and another...
Sermons
From the Rooftop
I preached this sermon on June 22, 2014. Earlier in the month, after a couple of months of ongoing conversation, our church voted nearly unanimously (there was one abstention) to become Open and Affirming (ONA). ONA is an official, denominationally-sanctioned...
The Answer is Yes
In exciting things, my congregation is launching a capital campaign. Here's the sermon I gave to start our work on this project. The scripture is Ezekiel 37. Ezekiel had grown accustomed to being snatched up by God. In fact, Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of The...
Life Isn’t Fair
Scripture: Matthew 5: 38 -48 Life isn’t fair. Raise your hands. How many of you have heard that from someone? Or said that to someone? Life isn’t fair. It’s perennial, parental advice. I’ve heard it from my folks. “Well, son, sometimes life isn’t fair.” Before we...
Letters to Killingly
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Visual Worship
The Lent and Easter Rundown
Well, it seems I've finally recovered from the Holy Week gauntlet which was paired this year with a funeral of a beloved member just two days after our resurrection celebrations. Just in case you're not familiar what that's like, here's an example: The woman...
Resurrection Fabric
Happy Easter, dear friends! Easter at Westfield this morning was glorious. The day started early with an Easter Sunrise service that was simply beautiful. The good folks over at Allen Hill Tree Farm in Brooklyn, CT have been hosting the service for years. We gathered...
A Place at the Table
I love holy week. It's a time when we experience the whose span of human emotion. I really couldn't choose a favorite part of the week, but I am particularly fond of Maundy (Holy) Thursday. It's on this night we remember Jesus' offering of the new commandment...
Stoles
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Mama’s Boy
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