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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

God continues to work in... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2 -- Ash Wednesday - C
God continues to work in surprising ways in the world.
In the ghetto of one... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C
In the ghetto of one of our most economically depressed cities, an anonymous donor recently gave a g
We have it on good... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C
We have it on good authority --from Jesus --that we will have our hearts where our riches are.
Doris is one of those... -- Matthew 6:1-8; 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C
Doris is one of those people to whom this pastor feels very indebted.
One beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
One beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon my wife and I were sitting in the backyard eating plums, each o
After many years' hiatus my... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
After many years' hiatus my college roommate and his family came to our home for a long-delayed visi
My Lord God, br... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
"My Lord God,
What happens to your first... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
What happens to your first fruits?
John Calvin wrote in his... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
John Calvin wrote in his commentary on Isaiah, "It is not enough, therefore, that we believe in some
A teacher was anxious for... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
A teacher was anxious for her fifth graders to learn.
William H. Danforth in his... -- Luke 6:39-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
William H. Danforth in his book, I Dare You!, presents a difficult challenge:
A student is not above... -- Luke 6:39-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
"A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Ex
A man was hired to... -- Joel 2:12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
A man was hired to paint a church.
The knight, in King Arthur's... -- Joel 2:12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
The knight, in King Arthur's day, when fully dressed, needed a strong, large horse to bear the weigh
The call to repentance is... -- Joel 2:12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
The call to repentance is hard to hear.
A member of the Episcopal... -- Joel 2:12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
A member of the Episcopal Church approached her priest and said, " Father, my dog died this morning
In 1990 Bill Moyer produced... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2 (3-10) -- Ash Wednesday - C
In 1990 Bill Moyer produced a documentary on public television titled "Amazing Grace." Based upon th
Borden P. Bowne, a noted... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Borden P.
Mount Corcovado overlooks the city... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Mount Corcovado overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro and is the most prominent geographic spot in th
In the late 50s, John... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
In the late 50s, John A.T.
A church newsletter declared that... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
A church newsletter declared that the individual is dispensable.
The writer of Exodus simply... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
The writer of Exodus simply describes the encounter of Moses and God with "he had been talking with
When Life Loses its Luster... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
"When Life Loses its Luster" is the title of a chapter in a book by John W.
In 1893 an English professor... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
In 1893 an English professor at Wellesley College, Katherine Lee Bates, made a trip to Colorado.
Robert Fulghum wrote the charming... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Robert Fulghum wrote the charming essay, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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.

Special Occasion

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