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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

Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Gods Acre On the Go: Promise in the Pause
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
In this message from Isaiah 40:28–31; 43:18–19, we explore the often-overlooked holiness of the “in-between” seasons of life. The people of Israel knew it in exile—caught between what was and what would be. We know it in our own transitions: the end of summer, a career shift, a health change, a move. Scripture reminds us that waiting on the Lord is not passive. In Hebrew, “wait” (qavah) means to bind together—like weaving strands into a cord. In the pause, God strengthens us as we tether ourselves to His presence, promises, and people. This isn’t lost time; it’s God’s workshop, preparing us for the “new thing” He is already bringing forth, even in wilderness places. Whether your season is exciting, unsettling, or both, discover how the sacred pause can renew your strength and ready you for what’s next.

Sunday Aug 10, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: The Gospel of "Enough"
Sunday Aug 10, 2025
Sunday Aug 10, 2025
What if we believed we truly had enough—not just in our wallets, but in our spirits? In this week's message from Acts 4:32–35, we explore the radical generosity of the early church, where trust and connection replaced fear and scarcity. In a world that often insists we must hustle for worth and hoard for safety, the Gospel of Enough invites us into a different rhythm—one of grace, sufficiency, and shared life. We’re reminded that the most powerful thing we might offer is not our wealth but our presence, and that receiving help can be just as holy as giving it. From practical generosity to spiritual presence, this message invites us to reflect on how we can be the church: open-hearted, open-handed, and deeply connected to the God who provides.

Sunday Aug 03, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Repentance, Repair, Reconciliation
Sunday Aug 03, 2025
Sunday Aug 03, 2025
In this challenging and grace-filled message, Pastor Kent reflects on Paul’s declaration that in Christ, we are made new—and entrusted with a holy calling: the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17–19). But what does that mean in a world still deeply shaped by racism, division, and injustice? With humility and courage, this sermon names the hard truths of racial inequity, explores the sacred call to repentance, and offers concrete ways for communities of faith to engage in repair and healing. Reconciliation, we’re reminded, is not about erasing the past—but about building honest, justice-rooted relationships that reflect God’s love. As part of the “Be the Church” series, this message invites listeners to reject complacency and embrace the ongoing work of gospel transformation. Because new creation isn’t magic—it’s discipleship.

Sunday Jul 27, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Faith with Feet
Sunday Jul 27, 2025
Sunday Jul 27, 2025
This week in our Be the Church series, we hear Jesus declare his mission: to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed. And he invites us to join him. In this powerful message from Luke 4:16–21, we explore what it means to have “faith with feet.” It’s not enough to believe—we’re called to act. Whether feeding the hungry, confronting injustice, or stepping out of our comfort zones, faith becomes real when it moves. Stories from our congregation remind us that love doesn’t stay in the sanctuary. It shows up—in soup kitchens, schools, shelters, and sidewalks. Justice is not a side issue; it’s the heartbeat of the gospel. If you’re wondering how to follow Jesus today, the answer is simple: walk where he walked—toward the hurting, the silenced, and the unseen.

Sunday Jul 20, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Creation is Not a Commodity
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
What if protecting the environment wasn’t a political issue, but a spiritual one? This week in our “Be the Church” series, we explore what it means to till and keep the earth as God’s sacred gift. Genesis 2:15 reminds us that the first human calling wasn’t to build churches, but to tend a garden. From thin places to neighborhood compost bins, we reflect on how awe, gratitude, and reverence can lead us into lives of faithful stewardship. With wisdom from poets, prophets, and Jesus himself—who pointed to birds, seeds, and soil to reveal the kingdom—we remember that creation isn’t just scenery. It’s sacrament. Tune in to hear how care for the earth becomes care for our neighbors, both now and seven generations from now.

Sunday Jul 13, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: R & R
Sunday Jul 13, 2025
Sunday Jul 13, 2025
In this quiet yet powerful message from Isaiah 30:15–18, we’re invited to embrace a different kind of strength—one rooted not in hustle, but in trust. “In returning and rest you shall be saved,” God says, but so often, like the people of Judah, we flee. We grasp at control, race ahead, and forget that we are already being carried. Through a tender reflection on a child’s birthday wish and a surprising moment at an airport, this sermon reminds us that even in our frantic world, God waits to meet us in stillness. What if rest is not a pause from faith—but a way to experience it more deeply? What if God’s version of “R&R” means returning and resting in divine love? This week, may you find courage not in motion, but in mercy—and may you trust that grace is already moving you forward.

Sunday Jul 06, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Not A Building, But A Way Of Life
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
This week begins our new summer series, “Be the Church,” rooted in a bold truth: the church isn’t a building—it’s a way of life. In this opening message, we turn to Matthew 5:13–16, where Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt flavors what it touches; light illuminates where it shines. In the same way, followers of Christ are called not only to gather, but to go—living out our faith in everyday acts of kindness, courage, justice, and mercy. We remember the early Christians, who had no steeples or sanctuaries, only a movement of love in motion. And we hear a powerful story from a church that meets outdoors with “bread and Jesus—and that’s enough.” Wherever we are this week, may we shine brightly and love boldly. Because, as one Katrina-wrecked church sign declared, “The church has left the building.”

Sunday Jun 29, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Set Free for Something More
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
As the Fourth of July brings fireworks and flags, many of us pause to celebrate independence. But what kind of freedom are we really celebrating—and what kind of freedom does Scripture invite us into? In Galatians 5:1, 13–25, the Apostle Paul redefines freedom not as the right to do whatever we want, but as the gift to love well. True freedom, Paul says, comes through Christ and is lived out through the Spirit. It’s not freedom from all expectations—but freedom for something greater: for love, for community, for fruit that blesses others. This week’s message explores how Spirit-led freedom shapes our habits, deepens our relationships, and challenges our cultural definitions of liberty. With stories, honest questions, and practical insight, we’re invited to walk by the Spirit and let our freedom bear fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness aren’t rules—they’re signs of a transformed life.

Sunday Jun 22, 2025
God's Acre On The Go: Ordinary Time, Extraordinary Work
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
This week’s sermon takes us to the wild and wonderful story in Luke 8:26-39, where Jesus heals a demon-possessed Gentile man—someone cast aside by society but chosen by Jesus for restoration. We encounter not just a dramatic healing but a moment rich in meaning: Roman military metaphors, echoes of Israel’s liberation, and a striking reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach. Why does Jesus cross a stormy sea just to heal one outsider? And what does that say about who matters to God? On this Juneteenth weekend, during Pride Month and after Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that Jesus’ mission—liberating the oppressed and restoring the weary—is still ours to carry forward. Ordinary Time may seem quiet, but it’s the season to live out our extraordinary calling: to build a world where everyone belongs.

Sunday Jun 15, 2025
God's Acre On the Go: Worship in the Garden
Sunday Jun 15, 2025
Sunday Jun 15, 2025
This week’s message invites us to slow down and listen—to the birdsong, to the breeze, to the voice of God speaking through creation. Drawing from Psalm 8 and related scriptures, Pastor Chapin reflects on how summer gives us space not just to rest, but to be re-created. Nature isn’t just beautiful—it’s holy. From newborn babies to starlit skies, the created world reveals the glory of God and restores our weary souls. But it also gives us a calling: to care for this sacred world, and to resist the constant busyness that threatens to dull our joy. Tune in for an invitation into Summer Sabbath: a chance to soak in wonder, be renewed by creation, and rejoice in the day the Lord has made.
