The First Word from First Church

We’re glad to have you join us for this week’s episode of The First Word from First Church. For Flag Day, Pastor Dave talked about the history and the symbolism of the Christian Flag. Learn about the origin, the meanings of the colors, and the symbol on the field. Learn, too, what is the true Banner of the Church and the Christian. Please subscribe to The First Word from First Church channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace!

We’re glad to have you join us for this week’s episode of The First Word from First Church. Our service this past Sunday observed Memorial Day weekend. Pastor Dave talked about the “Last Full Measure of Devotion,” honoring those who gave it in service of our country, and explaining who truly gave the FULL measure of devotion to us. As the message is a bit short, we have included our final song by the Choir, Mansions of the Lord. We pray that you are moved more than entertained by the message and the music. Please subscribe to The First Word from First Church channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace!

Thank you for joining us for The First Word from First Church. This week, Pastor Dave talks about the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus, on the eve of his greatest trial and sacrifice, prays for the people whom the Father has given over to his care. He prays for the restoration of the Son’s glory in the Father, even through the events that are to come. Hear how Jesus, as our Great High Priest, cares and prays for his first disciples, and for us. Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace! Pastor Dave

Thank you for joining us for The First Word from First Church. This week, Pastor Dave talks about the Apostle Paul’s visit to Athens, and his commentary on finding a monument dedicated To the Unknown God. As we still live and work in a culture full of potential idols clamoring for our attention, it is more important than ever that we know who that God is! Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace! Pastor Dave

Thank you for joining us for The First Word from First Church. This is a special episode, for the National Day of Prayer (Thursday, May 7). For this who cannot join with a local gathering, Pastor Dave leads in Scripture and prayer (even a song) for the main points being observed in prayer gatherings across the nation. Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace! Pastor Dave

Thank you for joining us for The First Word from First Church. This week, Pastor Dave talks about Philip’s request, “Show us the Father!” Jesus’ response still avails for us today. Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace! Pastor Dave

We’re glad to have you join us for this week’s episode of The First Word from First Church. This week, Pastor Dave talks about Jesus’ teaching that He is the “door of the sheep.” Yes, in the context of the day, his saying makes sense. Learn a bit about shepherding in Jesus’ day and in that part of the world. Learn why we need Him at the door today. Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace!

We’re glad to have you join us for this week’s episode of The First Word from First Church. This week, Pastor Dave talks about the encounter with Jesus of two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the afternoon of that first Easter. Hear about having the sun in our eyes, and getting the right Son in our eyes. Please subscribe to the channel. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full videos of our worship services and special events. www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton For more information about First Church, please visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net, to find links to our podcasts, videos, and events. To support us in continuing this and other ministries, go to www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give. PayPal and Venmo links are available through QR codes on that screen. Blessings and peace!

Thank you for joining us for The First Word from First Church. Hear Pastor Dave speak about “Doubting Thomas,” the apostle. Hear, too, about the blessing of believing without seeing. We pray that you will be taught, inspired, perhaps even challenged by The First Word, that is, by God’s Word. You may watch the entire worship services at our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton You can also learn more about First Church of Sutton, Massachusetts, at our church website: www.suttonfirstchurch.net Please subscribe to our podcast, and click a “like” for us. May God bless you.

Thank you for joining us for our Easter message for 2026. Pastor Dave addresses the angels’ question: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Hear about the comfort, confidence, and challenge of our risen Lord. Subscribe to our channel, in order to receive notifications of new postings. You can find the videos of the entire worship events at our YouTube channel, youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton If you wish to support the ministry of First Church, including these podcasts, please contribute via PayPal, Venmo, or a check via “snail mail.” The information and links are available at www.suttonfirstchurch.net/give Blessings!

This special episode of The First Word from First Church is from our Maundy Thursday service. The message is about the institution of the Lord’s Supper, at what is called the Last Supper. We pray that the message is meaningful for you, and the Spirit has something to say to you through it. May God bless you with a joyous Easter.

Here is the last of our Lenten Midweek Meditations for this year. Please join us for a quarter hour, as part of your preparation for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. We at First Church wish you a blessed Holy Week, and a joyous Easter!

We are glad that you have joined us for this episode of The First Word from First Church. Thanks for joining us for this Palm Sunday message! Hear Pastor Dave explain what the crowds were really saying, and did not yet understand, when they shouted “Hosanna!” at the first of the two parades that week in Jerusalem. Hear how much more “Hosanna!” will mean on Good Friday. Again, you can access our messages in the context of the full worship service at our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton. To learn more about First Church, you might want to visit our website at www.suttonfirstchurch.net. Links to the videos and the podcasts are right on the home page. If you are called to support The First Word from First Church, and the household of faith that provides it, navigate to https://suttonfirstchurch.net/give where you will find the links for PayPal or Venmo donations. May God bless you!!!

Hear about Jesus in Bethany, and his statement, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” You might want to read John 11:1-45 as the background. The video of the entire service is available at youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton. In the video, you can see the Martha & Mary window to which Pastor Dave refers in the message. The window depicts the scene of Martha complaining to Jesus that Mary is not helping her in the kitchen, while hosting Jesus and the disciples at their home in Bethany.

We are pleased that you are continuing to observe our Lenten preparation with us. May God bless you with a meaningful, holy Lent. You can view the video of this post, and all our worship videos, at youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton

We are pleased that you are continuing to observe our Lenten preparation with us. May God bless you with a meaningful, holy Lent. You can view the video of this post, and all our worship videos, at youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton

Hear about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, and the harvest reaped for the Kingdom out of that “chance” encounter. Learn some of the culture and history of the event, and how it impacted that Samaritan town. In addition to the audio episodes on the podcast, you can tune in to the video of the entire worship service at our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton.

We are pleased that you are continuing to observe our Lenten preparation with us. We apologize that this week’s midweek audio posting is a bit late. Weather, and a friend in need, interrupted the smooth flow of conversion to podcast. You can view the video of this post, and all our worship videos, at youtube.com/@firstchurchsutton

This episode, hear Pastor Dave talk about the pharisee Nicodemus, and about Jesus’ challenging saying about being born again. What did that mean for Nicodemus, and what does it mean for us? To get our messages in context & video, visit our YouTube page at youtube.com/@suttonfirstchurch where you will be able to join us for all (or as much as you want) of the worship services from which these episodes are taken. Subscribe to our podcast, and leave us a “like,” please. Blessings & Peace. Pastor Dave

Please join us each Wednesday during Lent, as we add a message of Scripture, song, reflection, and prayer. Prepare for observance of Holy Week and Easter with us. This week, hear about the 100th sheep.

The message this Sunday is for the beginning of Lent, reflecting on the meaning of “Forty Days.” Hear Pastor Dave speak about Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, and the meaning of our forty days of Lent. The video of the entire worship service is available from our website, www.suttonfirstchurch.net, on the home page.

Hear about the purpose of Lent, a bit about what “fasting” can mean. Hear the call to a holy, solemn, meaningful preparation in this season before Holy Week.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The First Word from First Church. If you want a preview of the Scripture for this week’s message, look at the first chapter of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Hear why his message “back then” is still very applicable to households of the Church today. If you’d like to see and hear the message in context, the full worship service is available at www.suttonfirstchurch.net. Scroll to the bottom of the home page, for links to podcasts and to videos. Subscribe to the channel, and enjoy our (roughly weekly) messages. God bless you!

Here we have “another witness” to just who this Jesus of Nazareth really is. His cousin announces to the crowds, and then to a couple of the first Disciples, the arrival of the Lamb of God. The video version of the complete worship service is available at www.suttonfirstchurch.net.

John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance. So, why would his cousin Jesus come for baptism? Yet, it happened anyway. With a very special cast of witnesses. Hear Pastor Dave talk about why the Church didn’t have to invent baptism, but how the meaning changed with John.

On the first Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Dave talks about the meaning of “the WORD became flesh,” as the Evangelist John opens his Gospel. Find out what it means to call Jesus the “Logos” of God.

Here is the Christmas Message delivered at First Church at the late Christmas Eve service. We pray that God has something to teach, to inspire, and to comfort in Pastor Dave’s words at this holy season.

Our “Blue Christmas” at First Church has nothing to do with music by Elvis, although he sang some beautiful spiritual songs. Our Blue Christmas comes out of the tradition of “Longest Night” observances. As start to get longer about December 21, so we look toward recovering the Light of the World in our hearts, coming out of the darkness of grief of many kinds. If there is a lot of “blue” in your Christmas, click in to listen. If you know someone who might benefit from it, share it with them. A video of the entire service is available at Blue Christmas 2025 on YouTube.

Hear about Mary’s Burden of Joy, in this episode of The First Word from First Church. Take a look at Luke, Chapter 1, for the story of Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, and her song of praise. Hear about joy, and the burdens that may may intermingle with a call to joy.

76. Prepare the Way Pastor David Buchanan Download

On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, which is also Christ the King Sunday this year, hear Pastor Dave talk about giving thanks to… and for the King of Kings. Hear just how great a proclamation Jesus makes when He says, “I AM the Bread of life.”

Pastor Dave speaks about the Second Letter of John (usually shown in our Bibles as 2 John). Hear about the “elect lady,” and who she and her children might be. Hear about guarding the love of Christ and each other in the Church, from those who would subvert the message that binds us together. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The First Word from First Church.

This week, hear about God’s “jealousy” for his people. Hear about loving neighbors enough, not to learn of their religions, but to teach them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us. Please give us a five-star rating, and follow our podcast to get the new posting (nearly) every week. May God bless you.

For this All Saints Sunday, hear Pastor Dave talk about what it really means to be one of the “saints” of God. Hear about the earnest nature of adoption, when Paul writes about it. Hear of the challenge and blessing of being called by God, in Christ’s Name.

Join us to hear Pastor Dave talk about the Reformation… of us, and of the Church. The Reformation didn’t end in the 16th Century. It should be continuing in each of us today, as well as in the Church. Thanks for joining us!

Hear Pastor Dave talk about two healing stories, from many years apart. Naaman, commander of the army of Syria, and the “tenth leper,” each received healing by God’s grace. Hear about the faith leading up to each, and the faith resulting from God’s gifts of grace.

We hear (and perhaps sing) a lot about God’s grace, expressed and given through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is more grace! Long before Jesus walked the earth, and for those who do not know Him. Hear Pastor Dave talk about Grace: Common and Amazing.

This week, in light of recent tragic events, Pastor Dave talks about persecution and martyrdom, as predicted by our Lord Himself. Hear what a martyros really is, and what we are called to do and be.

This week, Pastor Dave tackles something about the Gospel that is hard for goodhearted people to understand, and in which to take comfort. Is the Gospel exclusive or inclusive? Aren’t we all equally bound for heaven, regardless of the religion that we might follow in this life? Hear what God tells about our faith, and why it is a comfort for us. If you want some background, take a look at John 3:16, and John chapter 14 (“I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.”).

Join us for Useful, as Pastor Dave talks about the short letter from the Apostle Paul to Philemon, and the impact that the message for Christians about bondage and freedom impact the world to this very day. Thank you again for joining us for this episode of The First Word from First Church.

Hear Pastor Dave talk about “God’s Seating Chart.” We hear about Jesus’ advice about choosing a seat at a banquet, and about making up a guest list for our own banquet tables.

God had told his people, for many years, how a Holy Sabbath should be. Isaiah and other prophets spoke it for him, messages about mercy, generosity, grace, and love. Some people loved the rules more. Hear about Jesus showing a different picture of the Sabbath, and how we are called to celebrate a Shabbat Shalom to this day.

This week, hear Pastor Dave talk about Heroes of the Faith, and how they are witnesses to the race that is the Christian life set before us. Some are well-known heroes, others may be names or stories less familiar to us. If you have the chance, review Hebrews 11:29-12:2, in your favorite Bible, whether on paper, online, or in your favorite Bible app. Enjoy the storytelling.

Keep the Lights On! Hear Pastor Dave talk about “Advent in August,” and how awaiting the risen Lord coming again is so different from Advent before Christmas. You might want to review Luke 12:35-40, and maybe read through the hymn Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. Thank you again for tuning in to our podcast; please subscribe to the channel.

Hear about the “Disciples’ Prayer.” You probably know it already, but hear more about it from Pastor Dave. In learning about it, we learn about how to pray in general, too. May God bless you, in and through your prayers.

Welcome to this episode of The First Word from First Church. Pastor Dave is speaking about Jesus’ extension of the definition of neighbor, through the story of the Good Samaritan.

Pastor Dave is celebrating Independence Day weekend, as are so many across the land. Hear him speak about Endowed by Our Creator; about the true source of our freedoms as Americans, and our even greater freedoms as subjects of the Kingdom of God.

Hear Pastor Dave talk about the Sweet Fruits of the Holy Spirit. For background, you might want to read Chapter 5 of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. We pray that the Spirit will inspire you to seek His Word, His Presence, and His advocacy in prayers.

The Trinity. Christians have been accused of being polytheists. Some Christians have “disconnected” the three Persons of God, when the Trinity became too difficult to understand. Heresies ensued. 1,700 years ago, a Church Council was called to settle what the Church would believe about the Three-in-One that is God.