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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes about the "burden of being alive" in his collection of short st
In the Charles Schulz familiar... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
In the Charles Schulz familiar comic strip Peanuts, Linus and Charlie Brown are all bundled up with
Soren Kierkegaard (nineteenth century Danish... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Søren Kierkegaard (nineteenth century Danish theologian) comments on the extreme personal nature of
For many years the Berlin... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1997
For many years the Berlin Wall was a symbol of irreconcilable division between ideologies.
There are many things in... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1997
There are many things in life that make no sense whatever.
Glenn Miller wrote many beautiful... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1997
Glenn Miller wrote many beautiful pieces of music during the Second World War.
This Ephesians passage reminds us... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1997
This Ephesians passage reminds us that we have been adopted as the children of God through Jesus Chr
Robert thought that his new... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1997
Robert thought that his new beard gave him a distinguished look.
The pastor had finished his... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1997
The pastor had finished his normal elderly visitation talk when the old woman asked him to pray with
John, who was still in... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1997
John, who was still in university, liked to visit his brother, Alec, who was in his last year of sem
One of Vincent van Gogh's... -- Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
One of Vincent van Gogh's most celebrated works is titled The Potato Eaters.
This Ephesians passage teaches us... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1997
This Ephesians passage teaches us about the unity of the Church.
Lewis Thomas, in his book... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- 1997
Lewis Thomas, in his book The Youngest Science: Notes of a Medicine-Watcher, observes that today bio
Chlorine is an element. When... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1997
Chlorine is an element.
In the Orient, Zen masters... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1997
In the Orient, Zen masters use koans to convey truth to the student.
I think I have everything... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1997
"I think I have everything. Do you have everything? Alice asked her husband.
Have you ever been confused... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1997
Have you ever been confused by communication?
Is America heaven on earth... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - B -- 1997
Is America heaven on earth?
Don`t be afraid. I... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
"Don`t be afraid. I`ll catch you.
A lot of history books... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
A lot of history books have been written on a variety of interesting subjects.
During my university days I... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
During my university days I recall a conversation I had with a fellow student who used to ride the s
Night fell upon them like... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1997
Night fell upon them like a soft, thick velvet veil. Sgt.
The kids in the neighborhood... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
The kids in the neighborhood decided to play team tag. Two sides were selected.
Love and forgiveness are beautiful... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 1997
Love and forgiveness are beautiful ideas, until someone wounds us deeply.
The author of Hebrews asserts... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1997
The author of Hebrews asserts that Jesus is "the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of

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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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