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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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The Ultimate Super Hero -- Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Fanny Lee Seville, Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Ultimate Super Hero" by Fanny Lee Seville
A Thanksgiving Miracle -- John 6:25-35, Philippians 4:4-9, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 100 -- John E. Sumwalt, Fanny Lee Seville, Timothy F. Merrill -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "A Thanksgiving Miracle" 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 -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week
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
When The Big One Hits -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Anne Le Bas, Steve Philip, Steven Fortney, Sue D'alessio -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week: "When the Big One Hits"
Dying For A Cookie -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Psalm 34:1-10, 22 -- Diane Henderson, John E. Sumwalt -- All Saints Day - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Dying for a Cookie"
The Armor Of Light -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2005
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Seeking God -- Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week Stories to Live By: "Seeking God"
Epitaphs -- Matthew 22:34-46, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 -- Marjorie K. Evans, John E. Sumwalt, Myron Talcott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week Stories to Live By: "Epitaphs"
The Reformer -- Matthew 23:1-12, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- Jo Perry-Sumwalt, Bonnie Compton Hanson, Victor Shepherd, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week
Dying For A Cookie -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Psalm 78:1-7 -- Diane Henderson, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Dying for a Cookie"
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

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When The Big One Hits -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Anne Le Bas, Steve Philip, Steven Fortney, Sue D'alessio -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2005
Contents What's Up This Week: "When the Big One Hits"

SermonStudio

That You May Not Grieve -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2004
John Sumwalt
Lambasting God -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-1 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2004
Maria Seifert
A Different Realm -- Psalm 123 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2004
Susan D. Jamison
An Unexpected Song -- Isaiah 49:1b, Psalm 40:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2004
Derrick Sanderson
Sufficient Grace -- 2 Corinthians 12:8, Psalm 46 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2004
Joyce Schroer
The Horse Whisperer -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2004
William Lee Rand
High And Lifted Up -- Romans 4:13-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2004
Laurie Woodard
An Old Enemy -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2004
Kendall W. Anderson
I Gave You To God -- 1 Samuel 1:27-28, Genesis 18:1-15 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2004
Andrew Oren
Discerning God's Direction -- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2004
Jane Moschenrose
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Easter 4
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
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Acts 10:44-48

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John Jamison
Object: Pieces you might use, like dice, a spinner, a ball, or any other “unusual” things you might find. I used a beanbag, a shoe, and a piece of paper.

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

Or you might of course, love Terry's chocolate orange, and feel it's something which would be good to share. But at the last moment, like cuddly Dawn French, you'd say, "No, it's mine, not Terry's, it's all mine!"

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.

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