Login / Signup

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.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Illustration

Sermon

Stories

SermonStudio

The Voice Of The Broken Branch -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall
Assurance -- Psalm 33:12-22 -- John E. Sumwalt, Marie Regine Redig -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2003
Always I have been guided gently by God in how and where I would be in ministry and career.
A Tender Mercy -- Luke 1:68-79 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jenee Woodard -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Our son Phil has autism. He is ten years old and is severely handicapped by his disability.
Lorina -- Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 -- John E. Sumwalt, Steve Taylor -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2003
Her name was Lorina.
Christmas Tears -- Isaiah 12:2-6 -- John E. Sumwalt, Christina Seibel -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
I think nothing breaks our hearts as badly as does the broken hearts of our children.
Witnesses To The Light -- Luke 13:10-17 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kay Boone Stewart -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2003
A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a virulent form of breast cancer.
The Christmas Tree: A Story Of Synchronicity -- Luke 1:46b-55 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jane Moschenrose -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
It was a week before Christmas.
Singapore Angel -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- John E. Sumwalt, Mary Demuth -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2003
"Miss, you need to step here." The woman's voice came from behind me.
Almost In Heaven -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
In 1977, about ten years before she died, I asked my grandmother, Nellie Jane Kittle Sumwalt, then i
Safe -- Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- John E. Sumwalt, Claire Hunston -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2003
It was late September of 1990.
Don't Just Stand There! -- Acts 1:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt, Judith M. Evenden -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
It happened thirty years ago. I am standing at the graveside of my grandmother, my father's mother.
Can Trust In God Be Restored? -- Psalm 14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lois Rae Carlson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2003
It was the end of my first year as a young widow on my own with two children.
Abounding In Steadfast Love -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2003
Our son, Lloyd, died on May 4, 1997.
Praying For A Child -- Psalm 113 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kris Drollinger -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2003
My experience occurred on a Saturday morning in early November, 1988.
Remember Your Baptism -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- John E. Sumwalt, Theonia Amenda -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2003
It was 1984. I was sitting in the front row in a classroom in Nashville, listening to Dr.
He Will Wipe Away Every Tear -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- John E. Sumwalt, Rosmarie Trapp -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2003
In 1987, I came to Stowe, Vermont, for a visit with my mother, Maria Von Trapp.
The Faith Of A Child -- Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jane Moschenrose -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2003
As an eleven-year-old pitcher for the Rockies Little League softball team, Karen was having a great
Visions Of Christ -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Linda Nafziger-meiser -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2003
In 1982-86, my husband and I lived in the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, Virginia.
I Am Sure That God Is Able -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Linda J. Vogel -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2003
In 1969 my father was dying (too slowly!) from a malignant brain tumor that changed his personality
Chosen As Witnesses -- Acts 10:34-43 -- John E. Sumwalt, Theonia Amenda -- Easter Day - C -- 2003
Our first grandchild died two months shy of his fourth birthday.
God Spoke To Me -- Psalm 66:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sister Alice J. Giere -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2003
My sister, Sister Joan Frances Giere, and I were on a vacation trip with our mother.
Holy Coincidences -- John 20:19-31 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lee Domann -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
My mother's only brother died in March, 1983, in a car/train accident. I was devastated.
In The Midst Of An Attack, A Transformation -- Luke 18:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Connie Hays Coddington -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2003
The telephone rang in my motel room in El Salvador.
The Other End Of The Barrel -- Acts 9:1-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Shirley Lochowitz -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
Seven years ago, I was working as a police officer for the Town of Caledonia Police Department.
You Don't Depend On People -- Psalm 65 -- John E. Sumwalt, Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2003
Names and places in the following account have been changed to protect the guilty.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 16 - OT 21 - Pentecost 11
25 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons, etc.
18 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 - OT 22 - Pentecost 12
24 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 - OT 23 - Pentecost 13
26 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
28 – Children's Sermons / Resources
18 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 19 - OT 24 - Pentecost 14
24 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Ron Love
Bethany Peerbolte
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For August 25, 2019:
  • And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… by Tom Willadsen — There is no question of the passion, sincerity and prophetic nature of the work of young people confronting the most urgent and divisive issues we face as a society.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
Literature is full of stories of mistaken identity. Sometimes the results are comic and other times tragic. But failing to recognize with whom you are dealing is never without consequence. 

The pages of Scripture are filled with highest-order instances of mistaken identity. The residents of Sodom, for example, don’t know whom they are threatening. The Pharaoh of Egypt does not recognize the hand of Israel’s God at work. And the Jewish leaders who thought that Jesus was an agent of Beelzebul had it all wrong. 
Ron Love
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Bob Ove

Jeremiah 1:4-10

CSSPlus

Arley K. Fadness
“And ought not this woman….be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” (v. 16)

Good morning children,

I have a sports question. What is your favorite sport? (children answer)

StoryShare

Keith Wagner
Contents
“The Gift of Grace” by Keith Wagner
“What If the Caller ID says G.O.D.?” by Keith Wagner


The Gift of Grace
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 103:1-8

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Perhaps what most people crave in today's world, is to love and to be loved. But it may also be true that not many people outside the church would use quite that terminology. Some people might say that they're looking for happiness, others might settle for contentment, especially the contentment of knowing that their family is happy and secure. Yet others might express their desires in different ways , such as the longing for good health or the desire for wealth, but probably at the root of all these wishes is the search for happiness.

SermonStudio

Chrysanne Timm
Today, and for the next several weeks, the Revised Common Lectionary devotes attention to one of the most intriguing figures in all of the Old Testament -- the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah began his work as the bearer of God's word to the nation of Judah during the time of King Josiah's reign in 627 BC. His prophesying continued even as Judah's brightest and best were forced to leave their homeland for exile in Babylon in approximately 586 BC.

Special Occasion