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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.
Episodes

5 days ago
God's Acre On the Go: Genius of Jesus
5 days ago
5 days ago
What makes Jesus’ teachings so powerful and compelling? In this episode, we explore the genius of Jesus—his ability to distill all of Scripture into two life-giving commandments and his radical call to love our enemies. From his interaction with the Pharisees to his life-changing encounter with Saul, we see how love is the most powerful force in the world. We also share a modern-day story of kindness that illustrates the transformative power of love in action. Join us as we consider how embracing the genius of Jesus can reshape our hearts, relationships, and the world around us.

Sunday Mar 16, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Making a Masterpiece
Sunday Mar 16, 2025
Sunday Mar 16, 2025
Sometimes, life falls apart. Our dreams collapse, relationships break, and our carefully built plans unravel. But what if those moments of brokenness are not the end of the story? In this episode, we explore how God, the Master Potter, takes what seems ruined and reshapes it into something extraordinary. Looking at the words of Jeremiah and the actions of Jesus, we’ll uncover how setbacks can be a prelude to renewal, how destruction can lead to transformation, and how God is constantly at work, crafting something beautiful out of the broken pieces of our lives.

Sunday Mar 09, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Lenten Experience
Sunday Mar 09, 2025
Sunday Mar 09, 2025
As we begin the season of Lent, we reflect on its purpose—not just as a time of fasting, but as an opportunity to intentionally draw closer to God. This sermon explores why Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and how his experience parallels Moses’ time on Mount Sinai. Jesus sought communion with God, modeling a spiritual discipline we can also embrace.
Lent invites us to imitate Christ, creating space for God’s presence through fasting, prayer, and self-reflection. It’s not about deprivation, but transformation. Whether by setting aside distractions, deepening prayer practices, or engaging with scripture, this season offers an opportunity to receive a word from the Lord and reflect God’s presence in our lives.
What will you give up—or take on—this Lent? How might imitating Jesus’ journey bring you closer to God? Join us as we explore the invitation to walk in Christ’s footsteps and prepare ourselves to fully receive the joy of Easter.

Sunday Mar 02, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Gift of Lostness
Sunday Mar 02, 2025
Sunday Mar 02, 2025
Getting lost isn’t always something to fear—sometimes, it’s a gift. In this episode, we explore the power of lostness, both literal and spiritual, as a path toward deeper faith and renewal. From wandering the streets of Jerusalem to a college nightclub, we reflect on how God is always searching for us, no matter how far we may feel.
Through the lens of the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, we consider how our disorientation can lead to discovery. What if the moments when we feel most distant from God are actually the moments when God is closest? What if grace is found in the very act of being found?
Join us as we discuss how our stories of being lost can become testimonies of being found—and how an old song, a forgotten band, and a timeless invitation to come as you are can still change lives today.

Sunday Feb 23, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Living the Questions
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Raymond Fellow, David Stuart shares the message with us this week. The scripture reference in "Living the Questions" is Matthew 7:7-11.

Sunday Feb 16, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Modern Miracles
Sunday Feb 16, 2025
Sunday Feb 16, 2025
Miracles aren’t just moments of divine intervention in the past—they’re happening all around us today. While some struggle to believe in biblical miracles like the parting of the Red Sea or Jesus walking on water, the greatest ongoing miracle is the spread of Christianity from a small group of unlikely disciples to a global faith of 2.4 billion people.
In this episode, we explore how God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called. Jesus chose fishermen, tax collectors, and outsiders to be His disciples—not because they were powerful, but because they were willing to follow. Their simple "yes" changed the world.
How does that same invitation extend to us today? Whether it’s stepping into a new role, helping someone in need, or embracing an unexpected opportunity, God continues to work through ordinary people who dare to trust His plan.
Join us as we discuss how saying “yes” to God’s call—especially when we feel unqualified—can lead to the most incredible miracles of all.

Sunday Feb 09, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Plaid Prophets
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
What does it mean to be a prophetic witness in a divided world? In this episode, we explore the calling of the prophet Jeremiah and how his ministry speaks to us today. Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 1:4-19 were both challenging and hopeful, reminding God’s people of both impending consequences and future restoration.
But prophecy isn’t just an individual calling—it’s a communal one. How does our church, a gathering of people with vastly different backgrounds, perspectives, and politics, serve as a living testimony to God's desire for unity? Can we be a prophetic community not by erasing differences, but by weaving them together in love?
We’ll reflect on what it means to be a “Plaid Church”—distinct threads of red and blue, woven together to create something stronger, warmer, and more beautiful. In a world eager to pull people apart, could choosing to stay together in love and commitment be the most prophetic act of all?
Join us as we consider how our faith calls us to resist division, embrace one another, and be the kind of church—and nation—that bears witness to God's unifying love.

Sunday Feb 02, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Pardon the Forgiveness
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Forgiveness is at the very heart of the Christian faith, yet it is often one of the hardest things for us to practice. In this episode, we explore the powerful story of the woman who anoints Jesus as told in Luke 7:36-50, an act of love and gratitude that unsettled the religious leaders around her. Why is it that we can so readily accept God’s grace for ourselves, yet struggle to extend it to others?
We’ll reflect on the depth of Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness—how it frees us, heals relationships, and transforms lives. We’ll also examine why some people resist forgiveness and how understanding our own need for grace can help us become more merciful toward others. Finally, this episode offers a moment of reflection—a space to truly accept the forgiveness Christ offers and, in turn, extend it to those who have wronged us.
If you’ve ever wrestled with forgiving someone—or with believing you yourself are forgiven—this episode is for you. Let’s step into the radical grace of Jesus together.

Sunday Jan 26, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: A Word to Live By
Sunday Jan 26, 2025
Sunday Jan 26, 2025
How do we endure hardships, navigate life's disappointments, and maintain our character in the face of challenges? In this episode, we explore Jesus’ homecoming to Nazareth as told in Luke 4:16-30 and how his grounding in Scripture gave him a clear sense of purpose and mission. Jesus’ reading from Isaiah, declaring his call to bring good news to the poor and release to the oppressed, provides a powerful example of how knowing who you are and what you’re called to do can sustain you through even the darkest times.
We’ll reflect on practical ways to find your own “word to live by”—through Scripture, prayer, community, and discernment. Whether you're facing a season of transition or longing for direction, this message reminds us that clarity of purpose not only helps us endure life's challenges but also empowers us to live a life of meaning, service, and faith. Let’s discover how embracing God’s call can lead us to transformational living.

Sunday Jan 19, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: GG's Jar
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
In this week's episode, Senior Youth Director Kelly Antonson shares a powerful message about Jesus's first miracle at the wedding in Cana, John 2:1-11. Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, Kelly explores how God transforms our moments of emptiness into abundance.