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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Schumann wrote to Mendelssohn, 'Bach... -- John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Schumann wrote to Mendelssohn, "'Bach was a man, out and out; with him nothing is half-done, morbid;
The Counsellor ... will bring to... -- John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
"The Counsellor ... will bring to remembrance all that I have said to you."
Roger Miller, the country songwriter... -- John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Roger Miller, the country songwriter and musician, wrote some lyrics that describe the nature of lov
We have all experienced teachers... -- John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
We have all experienced teachers and instructors who could make things "come alive," who could "inte
A UPS manager asked some... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
A UPS manager asked some friends of hers to deliver a parcel over a Christmas holiday near a town wh
The story is told of... -- Acts 13:44-52 -- Easter Day - C
The story is told of a troubadour who used to travel about the kingdoms of central Europe during the
Johann Sebastian Bach visited his... -- Acts 14:21-27 -- Easter Day - C
Johann Sebastian Bach visited his son Phillipp Emanual who had a post at Sans Souci Palace, home of
I am not worthy to... -- Acts 14:21-27 -- Easter Day - C
"I am not worthy to be baptized," the man told his pastor.
The first thing that Christian... -- Acts 14:21-27 -- Easter Day - C
The first thing that Christian love and Christian faith do to evil is to make a problem out of it.
The Methodist circuit riders were... -- Acts 14:21-27 -- Easter Day - C
The Methodist "circuit riders" were familiar figures during the expansion period of American history
Although written for a new... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Easter Day - C
Although written for a new calendar year, some verses of the poem "Ring Out Wild Bells" by Alfred, L
There is a firm that... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Easter Day - C
There is a firm that advertises its product as made in God's country.
An article in Psychology... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Easter Day - C
An article in Psychology Today says that boredom in America has reached "epidem
To build a new church... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Easter Day - C
To build a new church building is an exciting undertaking. It is also a lot of hard work.
Although portions of Revelation's Hallelujah... -- Revelation 19:1, 4-9 -- Easter Day - C
Although portions of Revelation's "Hallelujah Chorus" are taken up by Handel, the marriage scene and
What must the church focus... -- Revelation 19:1, 4-9 -- Easter Day - C
What must the church focus upon, if it is to be prepared for the return of Christ?
Censoriousness is always in greater... -- Revelation 19:1, 4-9 -- Easter Day - C
Censoriousness is always in greater supply than praise.
A couple in their late... -- Revelation 19:1, 4-9 -- Easter Day - C
A couple in their late 40s and members of a computer "bulletin board," who met by sending messages t
William Feather shares the story... -- John 13:31-35 -- Easter Day - C
William Feather shares the story of a man who found a five dollar bill on the ground.
This passage from John illustrates... -- John 13:31-35 -- Easter Day - C
This passage from John illustrates that Jesus' perfection is more than greater quantities of basic h
Back in the late fifties... -- John 13:31-35 -- Easter Day - C
Back in the late fifties John A. T.
And on the sabbath day... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue ..." We find and almost overlook in verse 14 th
Dr. Walter A. Maier, founder... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Dr. Walter A.
To our modern sensibilities, it... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
To our modern sensibilities, it would not have been a pretty sight.
I'd give my life to... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"I'd give my life to play like that," said an admirer to Paderewski.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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.

Special Occasion

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