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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

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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.
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

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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
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
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Easter 4
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
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140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Sermons
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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

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John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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