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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor and the author of nine books for CSS Publishing Company, including How to Preach the Miracles and the Vision Stories series. He and his wife, Joanne Perry-Sumwalt, were the original editors of StoryShare. John is an acclaimed storyteller. He writes a weekly spiritual column for several Wisconsin newspapers.
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Stories

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A Narrow Escape -- Isaiah 12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2003
I was savoring one of those rare winter weekends when I am able to get away, on my own, to our littl
The Call Of God -- Luke 4:14-21 -- John E. Sumwalt, Roy H. Nelson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2003
I had been struggling with the call to the ordained ministry for several years.
A Prayer For Help -- Psalm 5:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Patricia C. Joyce -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2003
On May 3, 2002, I was engaged to narrate the historical Williamsburg tour.
How Can I Do This? -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kai M. Mcclinton -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2003
In 1995, at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
An Offer Of Comfort -- Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lori Hetzel -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2003
Not more than two months after my mother passed away, and I had my vision, I went to the grave of my
I Saw The Lord -- Isaiah 6:1-8, 9-13 -- John E. Sumwalt, Bill Penaz -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2003
In 1965, I attended a Lenten worship service at my church.
Healing -- Psalm 30 -- John E. Sumwalt, Robert Murdock -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2003
In the fall of 1999, I went into the hospital, supposedly for just a couple of days, only to find ou
God Stories -- 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 -- John E. Sumwalt, Judy Snyder Stout -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2003
My father was my life, and in 1989 he and Mom came to live with me, literally to die.
The Silver Wolf -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2003
It was June 16, 1998.
Is It Possible To Forgive After Murder? -- Luke 23:32-49 -- John E. Sumwalt, Aba Gayle -- Good Friday - C -- 2003
The first time I walked into the visiting room for death row inmates at San Quentin State Prison was
The Presence Of Angels -- Genesis 18:1-10a -- John E. Sumwalt, Jeanne Jones -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2003
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonat
Angel, You Are -- Psalm 91 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kerri Sherwood -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
It's not that I ever feel that my brother is far away.
Have No Anxiety -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Marjorie K. Evans -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2003
Many years ago, when my little son, David, was 28 months old and my baby, Charles, was three months
Deliverance -- Psalm 27 -- John E. Sumwalt, Laura Hoff -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
There was a time when my husband and I were very poor.
A Vision Of Light -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 -- John E. Sumwalt, Mary Downing -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2003
It was a summer evening in the year 2000 when four of us, friends through church for more than twent
Sound Grace -- Psalm 63:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lucinda Alwa -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Twenty-four years ago, my younger sister Charlotte died.
When The Spirit Of Truth Comes -- John 16:12-15 -- John E. Sumwalt, Elaine Scrivens -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2003
I am a wife and mother of three boys.
A New Creation -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- John E. Sumwalt, Debi Lyerly Lawson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
I cannot remember a time when God wasn't the source of all that I am.
Saved -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- John E. Sumwalt, Cheryl Kirking -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
"I may have a story for your book, Cheryl." I had just finished presenting at a women's event, and h
Recovered Memory -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- John E. Sumwalt, Bruce Stunkard -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
I was a male glossophobiac. An avoider of spotlights. Stage frightened.
A Christmas Story From Cambodia -- Titus 2:11-14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Patricia Lyon -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
I wondered if the village folk ever had potlucks like the Methodists back home.
Maundy Thursday Visions -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lisa Lancaster -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2003
In 1985, I was struggling deeply with a very painful friendship.
An Unlikely Angel -- Luke 2:1-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, David Michael Smith -- 2003
He staggered in fifteen minutes after the traditional holiday hymn sing had begun, plopping with a t
A Single Drop Of Blood -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- John E. Sumwalt, Wayne Frank -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2003
I was first elected as an Alderman on Milwaukee's south side after a special election in 1973.
Stranger On A Fence Post -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- John E. Sumwalt, Bonnie Compton Hanson -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2003
Pulling his coat tight against the bitter wind, the old man stopped at the crest of Blue Bank Hill,
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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