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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

James A. Whittaker, first American... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
James A.
A cowboy rode into town... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
A cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink.
In ancient times people believed... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2000
In ancient times people believed that being up high was getting closer to God.
They were unveiling a mural... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
They were unveiling a mural of Custer's last stand.
Some indignant remarks from Michelangelo... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 2000
Some indignant remarks from Michelangelo to his fellow painters: "Why do you keep filling galle
In that wonderful old movie... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2000
In that wonderful old movie, High Noon, Gary Cooper is Will Kane, marshal of a small rough town on t
Have you heard the commercials... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2000
Have you heard the commercials for this new spelling and reading game?
Christian poet G. K. Chesterton... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2000
Christian poet G. K. Chesterton has given us this:The Donkey
A farmer especially interested in... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
A farmer especially interested in livestock wanted to attend the 1940 Fort Worth Fat Stock Show.
Moses' bronze snake was something... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
Moses' bronze snake was something like the hair of the dog that bit you.
In The Vision of Sir... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2000
In "The Vision of Sir Launfal," Lowell tells of Lancelot's search for the Holy Grail, the cup from
A man known for his... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2000
A man known for his wisdom in the community once met a youth whom he engaged in conversation.
One night in the highlands... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2000
One night in the highlands of Scotland, a certain home was blessed by the presence of two visitors.
The little town of New... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
The little town of New Concord in southeastern Ohio has become known across the country and around t
It was late afternoon, and... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2000
It was late afternoon, and I was on my way home in downtown Detroit.
The story is told of... -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
The story is told of an artist who set himself to paint the Last Supper.
Leslie Weatherhead tells the story... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of a copy of John's Gospel coming into the possession of a passe
A vampire bat came flapping... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
A vampire bat came flapping in from the night, covered in fresh blood, and parked himself on the ca
Why is it that when... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2000
Why is it that when unanticipated little happenings take place in church they often seem very funny?
The trouble with most New... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - B -- 2000
The trouble with most New Year's resolutions is that they are so quickly and easily broken.
Can anything good come from... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2000
Can anything good come from rotting organic matter in the ground? Most certainly.
I'll heal him, but first... -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
"I'll heal him, but first fix the roof." This might have been one reaction of Jesus to this bizarre
What is it like to... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
What is it like to be totally alone?
It comes in a very... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
It comes in a very small package. It is just a little rubbery sort of animal.
All of life is a... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
All of life is a journey. It is exciting to anticipate going somewhere and pursuing a goal.

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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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