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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

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
Hidden Treasure -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Charles Cammarata -- 2006
For someone who lived in fearHidden Treasure
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 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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 September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

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

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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