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Charles Cammarata

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Two Towers And The Prince Of Peace And Light -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carlos Wilton, Carter Shelley, Charles Cammarata -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for December 29, 2002)

Illustration

The Immediate Word

The Two Towers And The Prince Of Peace And Light -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carlos Wilton, Carter Shelley, Charles Cammarata -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for December 29, 2002)

Preaching

The Immediate Word

The Two Towers And The Prince Of Peace And Light -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carlos Wilton, Carter Shelley, Charles Cammarata -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for December 29, 2002)

Sermon

SermonStudio

Hidden Treasure -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For someone who lived in fearHidden Treasure
Come To Me -- Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9 -- Dr. Frank Efird, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a fourteen-year-old cancer victim, shortly before her confirmation
O Come, Little Children -- Luke 18:15-16 -- Walter A. Schmidt, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a newborn infantO Come, Little Children
He Was A Good Man -- Mark 5:1-9 -- William E. Labarr, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a gifted and blessed manHe Was A Good Man
The Backside Of The Mountain -- Matthew 13:24-30, John 14:1-7 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a young person who died following a prolonged battle with cancer
A Lost Soul Returns Home -- Titus 2 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a man struggling with alcohol and AIDS
Lifting Up The Lowly -- Luke 1:52-53 -- Gary W. Fehring, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a sixteen-year-old girlLifting Up The Lowly
An Unexpected Journey -- Psalm 121 -- Lawrence A. Craig, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a fourteen-year-oldAn Unexpected Journey
Nearer To God Than Me -- Philippians 4:10-14 -- Charles Cammarata, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a model ChristianNearer To God Than Me
The Demon Had Its Way -- Mark 5:1-9 -- William E. Labarr, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For one with a troubled lifeThe Demon Had Its Way
Sleep, Child, In Peace -- John 11:28-36 -- William E. Labarr, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a young girl whose death involved drugs
God Will Prevail -- John 6:40 -- Mark Ellingsen, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a family manGod Will Prevail
A Living Sacrifice -- Romans 12:1-12 -- Lawrence Ruegg, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a seventy-year-old womanA Living Sacrifice
Those We Have Hurt Will Be Healed -- 1 Corinthians 15:17-22 -- Charles L. Aaron, Jr., Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a sexual abuserThose We Have Hurt Will Be Healed
God Wants Her Back Home -- Mark 5:21-23, 35-42 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a child who died at the hand of her mother
Our Dwelling Place In All Generations -- Psalm 90 -- Joe Barone, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a person with little discernible religious belief
True Beauty -- Romans 8:31-39 -- Charles Cammarata, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a well-loved, elderly womanTrue Beauty
The Real Thing -- Romans 8:37-39 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a shabby, unpolished characterThe Real Thing
All Life Is A Gift -- Mark 10:13-16 -- William E. Labarr, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For hours-old twin girlsAll Life Is A Gift
The Journey Of Life -- Luke 24:13-35, Psalm 122 -- Tom O. Miller, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a person without church affiliationThe Journey Of Life
Tough Guy No Longer -- Luke 2:8-20, Psalm 121 -- Charles Cammarata, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a hard-working, family-oriented personTough Guy No Longer
More Than Meets The Eye -- Job 38-41 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a daring characterMore Than Meets The Eye
The Sacrifice Of Love -- Psalm 23 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a grandmother in comparison to a young girl's death
A Family Member -- 2 Corinthians 4:16--5:1, Isaiah 40:28-31 -- William E. Labarr, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a family memberA Family Member
The Grand Ball -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- Charles Cammarata, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For a loving, Christian husbandThe Grand Ball

Stories

StoryShare

Finishing Together -- Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Betty Lynn Schwab, Constance Berg, Charles Cammarata, Timothy F. Merrill -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Finishing Together"
Pass It On -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- David O. Bales, Susan K. Hedahl, Richard A. Jensen, Charles Cammarata -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
Based on Revised Common Lectionary texts:
We Still Love You, Daddy -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Charles Cammarata, Paul Lintern, Carlos Wilton -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Contents What's Up This Week
Man Of Discipline -- Mark 14:1--15:47, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- C. David Mckirachan, Charles Cammarata, David O. Bales, Terry Cain -- Passion Sunday - B
Based on Revised Common Lectionary texts:Passion/Palm Sunday
As Much As Jesus Loves His Sheep... -- John 10:11-18, 1 John 3:16-24, Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23 -- Constance Berg, Charles Cammarata, Peter C. Garrison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Contents What's Up This Week
Wait There -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47 -- David O. Bales, Constance Berg, Terry Cain, Charles Cammarata -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 or Psalm 93 Ephesians 1:15-23
It's All Heart -- John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Constance Berg, Charles Cammarata, Gregory L. Tolle, B. Kathleen Fannin -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Contents What's Up This Week
The Painting -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, James 1:17-27, Song of Solomon 2:8-13, Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 -- Charles Cammarata, Constance Berg, Gregory L. Tolle, Henry Scholberg -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Contents What's Up This Week
Not Cheating The Taxman? -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50, Psalm 124 -- Constance Berg, Charles Cammarata -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Awe Is The Answer -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 46 -- Charles Cammarata, Constance Berg, Sil Galvan, Frank R. Fisher -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B
ContentsProper 25
The Two Churches -- Mark 12:38-44, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- Charles Cammarata, Constance Berg, John A. Stroman -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Prepare The Way -- Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11, Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79 -- Sil Galvan, Sandra Herrmann, Charles Cammarata, David O. Bales, Pamela Tinnin, Stan Duncan -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week

Worship

SermonStudio

Call To Worship -- Matthew 11:28-30 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: And Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I wi
Responsive Reading -- Psalm 30:1-2, 4-5 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
Responsive Reading -- Psalm 96:1-4, 13 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Responsive Reading -- Isaiah 58:8-11 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;
Responsive Reading -- Isaiah 53:3-5 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
Responsive Reading -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 11 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: For everything there is a season,
Responsive Reading -- John 6:51-58 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: God, the Father, sent his Son to die for our sins and give us an eternal home in heaven.
Responsive Reading -- Isaiah 61:1-2 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Reader: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me;
Responsive Reading -- Psalm 102:11-13, 18-20 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Reader: My days are like an evening shadow; Response: I wither away like grass.
Responsive Reading -- Psalm 90:1-9, 12-14 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: Grass turns brown and withers from heat and lack of water, but it springs forth again when n
Responsive Reading -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Reader: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,
Responsive Reading -- Matthew 18:3-5, 10 -- Gail Gaymer Martin, Charles Cammarata -- 2006
Leader: Jesus loved the little children. Jesus loves us. He willingly gave his life for us.

The Immediate Word

The Two Towers And The Prince Of Peace And Light -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carlos Wilton, Carter Shelley, Charles Cammarata -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for December 29, 2002)
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:
  • Who Is My Neighbor? by Tom Willadsen based on 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20; Psalm 30.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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