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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

At four years of age... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
At four years of age, Erin was a bundle of energy.
One of the most difficult... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
One of the most difficult dynamics in the church is passive-
The Christian Education committee had... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
The Christian Education committee had decided that it was time to get more adults involved in Christ
Our first parish was in... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Our first parish was in the country, two hours from the closest city.
Road signs make an interesting... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 2000
Road signs make an interesting study.
Washington Irving spun the tale... -- John 1:1-14 -- 2000
Washington Irving spun the tale of Rip Van Winkle who ascended the Catskill Mountains on a hunting t
Barry burst into his pastor's... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- 2000
Barry burst into his pastor's office, face aglow.
Emma loved to tell her... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Emma loved to tell her story.
My first internship was in... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
My first internship was in a tiny parish in Northwestern Ontario which was off the beaten track.
My grandpa's eyes were ever... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
My grandpa's eyes were ever alert for signs.
Every once in a while... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2000
Every once in a while I get together with some people who used to work with me at the accounting fir
Robert Bork, in Slouching Towards... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2000
Robert Bork, in Slouching Towards Gomorrah, tells about how in New York state, the public schools te
On a mission trip to... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2000
On a mission trip to West Virginia, our group helped at a shelter for abused women and children.
A couple of years ago... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2000
A couple of years ago there was a roofer who was hired to replace the roof at a house in Newbury Par
Vice President Al Gore was... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
Vice President Al Gore was the target of a considerable amount of ridicule when it was revealed that
There is a company called... -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
There is a company called Zegrahm Space Voyages.
A few years ago there... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2000
A few years ago there was a story in the news about a fifty-year-old man in Italy who was arrested f
Many people are considering Cassie... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2000
Many people are considering Cassie Bernall to be a Christian martyr.
In June of 1998 a... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2000
In June of 1998 a teacher in New York City was fired because when one of her students died, she trie
One day in March of... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2000
One day in March of 1998, the newspapers carried a headline that said that the Earth was going to be
Paperwhites are a flower from... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
Paperwhites are a flower from the daffodil family.
Four-year-old Luke had... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2000
Four-year-old Luke had taken a whole bottle of vitamins.
A pediatric surgeon I know... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
A pediatric surgeon I know here in Omaha tells of a six-year-old boy who I'll call Tommy.
There was a man who... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2000
There was a man who lived out in the countryside.
Along the beaches of Mexico... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
Along the beaches of Mexico and Florida tourists can often see people flying high above the water wh

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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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