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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
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

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Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

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O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

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It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
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Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
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I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
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The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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