Text: Luke 12:22-31 Debbie was one of my college suitemates. We were both religion majors but neither of us fully fit the religion major stereotype. I was an athlete and most of my friends were Physical Education majors. No surprise there. At first introduction, you might have guessed Debbie to be a psychology major. She […]

Text: Matthew 28:1-10 For Easter Sunday, preaching experts advise, “Keep your Easter sermon short and simple.” Alleluia! I know, it’s hard—even for 20 minutes—to get that Easter ham and the potato salad, deviled eggs and green beans off your mind. Just mentioning it makes your mouth water, right? If you are a little person and […]

Text: Matthew 21:1-12 This morning, on this Palm Sunday, I want to challenge you with some movie trivia. I’m going to give you some facts about a specific movie and when you think you know the movie I am talking about, raise your hand. Okay, here we go! This movie is notable for its use […]

Sacred Texts from the World’s Religions Anne Lamott writes about forgiveness: I went around saying for a long time that I am not one of those Christians who is heavily into forgiveness—that I am one of the other kind. But even though it was funny, and actually true, it started to be too painful to […]

Text: John 4:5-42 There is no “easing into” the fourth chapter of the Fourth Gospel. From the opening question: “How is it that you a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? to the final affirmation of Jesus being the Savior of the world, and everything in between, this text is twisted […]

Text: Genesis 12:1-4 Lent II Sermon The fall semester of 1986 on the campus of Southeastern Theological Seminary a dedicated professor sought out an energetic student to attend his 8 AM guitar, hand bells, and recorder music class. This certain professor lamented how hard it was to get students, who are awake and fun, in […]

Text: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Matthew 4:1-11 They told me not to do it. They said I would break something if I tried to do it myself. But I couldn’t resist the temptation. I did it anyway. And I broke one of our stained glass windows. The Handy Corps of Pullen know exactly what I am talking […]

Text: Matthew 5:38-48 “A word or phrase expressing a person’s or group’s core aim or belief.” That is Webster’s definition of watchword. Watchword is an Old English word from the 15th century meaning, “to remain awake.” But around 1738 it’s meaning shifted to the current definition. Throughout the 20th century, with the great advancements in […]

Text: Isaiah 58:1-9a; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 The story is told of an active Quaker Meeting, which is the name for a congregation in the Society of Friends. The Meeting gathered one day for their monthly discussion of church business. Once everyone was present and seated, the Clerk said, “Friends, we have a lot more than usual on […]

Opening Prayer by Pat Hielscher: May we pray together….. We come to worship this morning to sit in the quietness and to center ourselves to be present to your Holy presence. Humble our hearts so we may eagerly come to you in times of trouble and find respite in your unfailing love. Open our eyes […]