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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Michael Saylor, the C.E.O. of... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2001
Michael Saylor, the C.E.O.
We advertised the trip to... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 2001
We advertised the trip to Europe with a "Christmas in Germany" flyer.
The off-Broadway musical I... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 2001
The off-Broadway musical Cotton Patch Gospel, by Tom Key and Russell Treyz (with music and ly
There is an old Hasidic... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- 2001
There is an old Hasidic story that says that when a child is conceived, God whispers to that child t
In the movie Election... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2001
In the movie Election, we are introduced to Tracy Flick, who is the very definition of an ove
The 1998 movie Life... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2001
The 1998 movie Life Is Beautiful tells the story of an Italian Jewish family during World War
The musical West Side... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2001
The musical West Side Story is one of the classics of the American musical theater.
In the civil war in... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2001
In the civil war in Russia that followed the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, literally millions of pea
The Chicago Triathlon is the... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2001
The Chicago Triathlon is the largest triathlon in the world.
In a New York... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2001
In a New York Times article appearing on June 26, 1999, Dan Barney tells the story of a young
Herman Melville wrote what many... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2001
Herman Melville wrote what many consider to be the Great American Novel, Moby Dick.
The movie Ed TV... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2001
The movie Ed TV follows the experience of Ed Pukurny, an unambitious, unassuming, regular guy
Why would Jesus tell us... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2001
Why would Jesus tell us to be happy when people hate us, reject us, insult us, and say that we are e
There was once a young... -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2001
There was once a young Israeli boy named Raziel who was involved in a terrible accident in Tel Aviv.
For six years, Linda had... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2001
For six years, Linda had worked at the Altoona Tribune covering the arts and various other st
It was believed by the... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 2001
It was believed by the Hasidic tradition that a zaddik, the leader of a Hasidim, was chosen by heave
Remember those scenes in I... -- John 1:1-14 -- 2001
Remember those scenes in My Fair Lady when Eliza Doolittle labors long and hard to say words
There is a picture by... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- 2001
There is a picture by Derick Baegert titled Luke Painting the Virgin and Child, which shows,
My father went only to... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- 2001
My father went only to the sixth grade.
In the small town where... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- 2001
In the small town where I grew up, the B & O Railroad was extremely important.
John Leo, in U.S... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2001
John Leo, in U.S.
The Reverend Primus Prenk Ndreva... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2001
The Reverend Primus Prenk Ndreva-shay was born in the remote mountainous village of Brashte, Albania
Clifton Fadiman reports in Anecdotes... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2001
Clifton Fadiman reports in Anecdotes how Frank Costello, racketeer, amazed people with his ability t
In election years we generally... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- 2001
In election years we generally become acutely aware of the benefit of endorsements.
Jhan Moskowitz was raised in... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2001
Jhan Moskowitz was raised in the Bronx in New York City where he attended Talmud Torah (Hebre

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

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Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42-43
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

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