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Alex A. Gondola, Jr.

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Going For The Goal Line -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- C. David Mckirachan, Alex A. Gondola, Jr., John E. Sumwalt, Constance Berg -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Contents "She Served Them" by C. David McKirachan
Overture -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Keith Hewitt, Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Overture" by Keith Hewitt

Sermon

SermonStudio

God's Plumb Line -- Amos 7:7-15 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2013
Amos wasn't born a prophet, but he was a farmer.
Introduction To The Lord's Prayer -- Matthew 6:7-14 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
Many years ago the famous fable writer, Aesop, wrote, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Mark Twain had
"Our Father Who Art In Heaven" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
One day in India, a boy came upon a Holy Man praying by the banks of the Ganges River.
"Hallowed Be Thy Name" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
My previous church in West Springfield - like this one - was located next to a graveyard.
"Thy Kingdom Come" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
Many of us are familiar with Stephen Covey's 1989 bestseller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effectiv
"Thy Will Be Done" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
All of us are familiar with word association.
"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
Today marks the mid--point of a journey.
"Forgive Us Our DebtsÓ -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." I don't know about you, but I find the s
"Lead Us Not Into Temptation" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
A mother was teaching her three--year--old daughter the Lord's Prayer.
"Deliver Us From Evil" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
Probably most of us are familiar with James Dickey's brilliant but disturbing novel, Deliverance
"For Thine Is The Kingdom And The Power And The Glory, Forever" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
On a recent tour of Austria and beyond, one day our itinerary was titled "Two Churches and a Castle.
"Amen" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
(Before preaching I reminded our congregation that - in some traditions - the preacher receives enco
Mary, The Mother Of Jesus -- Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
One of the greatest works of religious art ever conceived shows Mary, the Mother of Jesus, holding h
The Shepherds -- Luke 2:8-20 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
This is the third in our "Witnesses To Christmas" series.
The Angels -- Luke 2:8-14 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
A little girl, previously an only child, was blessed with a baby brother.
The Animals -- Isaiah 11:6-9, Mark 13:32-37 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
Recently I ran across a lovely old English Christmas ballad titled "The Storke." This ballad was fou
Yes, Virginia, There Is A Savior! -- Isaiah 35:1-7, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
Over 100 years ago now, in 1897, there was an exchange of letters which has become a part of America
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
What would you say is "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"?
A Christmas That Lasts -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
I would imagine that any one of us here this morning could tell an amusing story or two about unusua
The Christ Child And The Angels: A Story Sermon -- Luke 2:22-24, 39-40 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
This particular Sunday is one of those Sundays that presents a preacher with what I call "an embarra
Wise Men -- And Women -- Still Seek Him -- Matthew 2:1-11 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
My sister once sent these verses as part of her annual Christmas letter:
Be Born In Us Today -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
A family was gathered together around their Advent wreath in preparation for Christmas.
Be Prepared! -- Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
Have you noticed that, over the last decade or so, there have been lots of predictions about
Joseph -- Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
We continue this morning with a second sermon in the "Witnesses To Christmas" series.

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God's Plumb Line -- Amos 7:7-15 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2013
Amos wasn't born a prophet, but he was a farmer.

Stories

StoryShare

Going For The Goal Line -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- C. David Mckirachan, Alex A. Gondola, Jr., John E. Sumwalt, Constance Berg -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Contents "She Served Them" by C. David McKirachan
A Light In The Darkness -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2008
What's Up This Week "A Light In The Darkness" by Alex Gondola
When Through Fiery Trials -- John 20:1-18, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, Psalm 16 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Keith Hewitt -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "When through Fiery Trials" by Alex Gondola
Called Not From But To The Tax Office -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, Romans 4:13-25, Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Craig Kelly -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Where's Your Jesus Now? -- Matthew 14:22-33, Romans 10:5-15, Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Sandra Herrmann, Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Where's Your Jesus Now?" by Sandra Herrmann
A Lot Of Bull -- Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Craig Kelly, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "A Lot of Bull" by Alex Gondola
Overture -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Keith Hewitt, Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Overture" by Keith Hewitt
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

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