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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee and the author of nine books, to be released by CSS in 2007. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, served for three years as co-editors of StoryShare. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), Sumwalt received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for parish ministry from UDTS in 1997.
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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
Found In Darkness -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2011
Contents
"Found in Darkness" by John Sumwalt
"Sold Out" by Craig Kelly
A Church For Christmas -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:46b-55 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Contents
"A Church for Christmas" by John Sumwalt
New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2006
Contents
What's Up This Week
Home For Christmas -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lisa Swanson Faleide, Charles W. Byrd, Edward W. Thorn, R.h. Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents
What's Up This Week
The King And The Maiden -- Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 96 -- Constance Berg, Frank R. Fisher, John E. Sumwalt, Paul Lintern, Stan Purdum -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2005
Contents
What's Up for Christmas
Are You Waiting For Godot? -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Richard A. Jensen, John E. Sumwalt, Gregory Tolle, R.h. Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents
What's Up This Week
Blinding Light Or Illuminating Light? -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126 -- Dallas A. Brauninger, John E. Sumwalt, Paul E. Flesner -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
Contents
What's Up This Week
We Can Be Changed -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Constance Berg, John E. Sumwalt, Henry Scholberg, Elaine M. Ward -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2004
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "We Can Be Changed"

Sermon

SermonStudio

Dreaming Joseph -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
Now I See -- John 9:1-41 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Healing Tears -- John 11:1-45 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
When we came up out of the tomb of Lazarus, the other half of our touring group, who were waiting th
While It Was Still Dark -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
March 7, 1961, was by all appearances an ordinary day.
The Best Send Off Ever -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
In the summer of 2004, I had the joy of traveling with Rosmarie Trapp on a five-day, whirlwind story
Pentecost Diaries -- Acts 2:1-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
The last time I spoke to Ken was on the phone a few weeks before he died.
How To Stretch A Meal -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
My mother's people, the Longs of Longfield House, County Tipperary, came from Ireland to southwest W
Storm Walker -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
The call came on a Sunday after church just as we were sitting down to lunch.
Foreign Territory -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
I grew up "poor" -- or so I thought.

Stories

StoryShare

The Shining -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43), Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Psalm 99 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2016
Contents
"The Shining" by Keith Hewitt
Think And Let Think -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2016
Contents
"Think and Let Think" by John Sumwalt
Would Your Church Be Missed? -- Luke 17:5-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26 -- John E. Sumwalt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2016
Contents
"Would Your Church Be Missed?" by John Sumwalt
Ringing Without A Permit -- John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, Psalm 118:14-29 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents
"Ringing Without a Permit" by John Sumwalt

How Can Things Be Better? -- John 2:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Psalm 36:5-10 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2013
Contents
"How Can Things Be Better?" by Lamar Massingill
The Bishop's Shining Face -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43), Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Psalm 99 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2013
Contents
"The Bishop's Shining Face" by John Sumwalt
Prodigal Parents -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32 -- John E. Sumwalt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Contents
"Prodigal Parents" by John Sumwalt
The Blindness -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Contents
"The Blindness" by Keith Hewitt
The Cost Of Standing Up For God -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Contents
"The Cost of Standing Up for God" by Frank Ramirez
Ruining A Good Funeral -- Luke 7:11-17, 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Galatians 1:11-24, Psalm 146 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2013
Contents
"Ruining a Good Funeral" by C. David McKirachan
This The Judgment Of God? -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2013
Contents
"This the Judgment of God?" by Sandra Herrmann
Preaching Enhancing Drugs -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2013
Contents
"Preaching Enhancing Drugs" by John Sumwalt
The Amen Code -- Luke 15:1-10, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 14 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Contents
"The Amen Code" by Frank Ramirez
"Gun Stories" by John Sumwalt
Knowing No Limits -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 12 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Contents
"Knowing No Limits" by Frank Ramirez
A Christmas Reminder -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Contents
"A Christmas Reminder" by John Sumwalt
No More War On Christmas -- Luke 3:7-18, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Contents
"No More War on Christmas" by John Sumwalt
Cousins -- Mark 1:9-15, Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
Contents
"Cousins" by Keith Hewitt
"A Crying Shame" by John Sumwalt
Hunger Dreams -- Luke 24:36b-48, Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Psalm 4 -- John E. Sumwalt, Constance Berg -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents
"Hunger Dreams" by John Sumwalt
"Blooming" by Constance Berg
Evac -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 47 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez, Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
Contents
"Evac" by Keith Hewitt
Jesus And Judas -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents
"Evac" by Keith Hewitt
Best Of Storyshare For Pentecost Day, Cycle B -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt, Lamar Massingill, C. David Mckirachan, Frank R. Fisher, Sil Galvan -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
How The Mighty Have Fallen -- Mark 5:21-43, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
Contents
"How the Mighty Have Fallen" by John Sumwalt
Family -- Mark 9:38-50, Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Psalm 124 -- C. David Mckirachan, Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Contents
"Family" by C. David McKirachan
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
The God Of All Grace -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Contents
"The God of All Grace" by John Sumwalt

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For February 17, 2019:

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Jeremiah 17:5-10
On Sunday, August 5, 2012, Garrett Reid killed himself in the dorm room at Lehigh University where the Philadelphia Eagles were holding training camp. Garrett is the oldest son of the Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid. Garrett had a history of drug problems and even spent some time in prison on drug related charges. Andy Reid told the team’s owner that in this difficult situation he would continue to move forward, saying “I’m going to hit that curveball and hit it out of the park.”
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* * *
Wayne Brouwer
There is a powerful scene in Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons. The story is that of Sir Thomas More, loyal subject of the English crown. King Henry VIII wants to change things to suit his own devious plans, so he requires all his nobles to swear an oath of allegiance which violates the conscience of Sir Thomas More before his God. Since he will not swear the oath, More is put in jail. His daughter Margaret comes to visit him. “Meg,” he calls her, with affection. She’s his pride and joy, the one who thinks his thoughts after him.

CSSPlus

“...for power came out of him and healed all of them.” (v. 19b)

Good morning wonderful children,

Thanks for joining me. I am so happy to see you and to talk to you today. Are you ready for a special message I have just for you? (children respond)  Here we go.

Ever heard the word bless?  Like “you are blessed” or “you are my blessing?”(children respond) To be blessed is like goodness coming to you. To be blessed is like getting a gift that makes you happy.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Contents
“A Messianic Message?” by David O. Bales
“Blissful? Agnosticism” by David O. Bales


A Messianic Message?
by David O. Bales
Luke 6:17-26

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
We tend to think of Saints as special holy people who are perhaps not quite real. But in this reading, Jesus makes it clear that those who are very ordinary because they are poor, or hungry, or sad, or otherwise disadvantaged in some way, are especially blessed. This is a story about Casper, who spoke in fun but found his words were taken rather seriously.

SermonStudio

Cynthia E. Cowen
"Louise, can you and Pastor Hal come to Thanksgiving dinner at our house this Friday? I have this really, really big turkey, and I don't want a ton of leftovers," Tracy implored her friend.

"Well, I'd love to, but we always invite a widower, Andy Vespa, each Thanksgiving. I don't want him to be by himself with his pork and beans. Of course, Steve and Vicki will be here, too," Louise replied. "Andy's always been a part of this family gathering."

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