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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the World Almanac, I... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
In the World Almanac, I recently counted at least 152 different Christian denominations in the Unite
The Butterball Turkey Company offers... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The Butterball Turkey Company offers a hotline so that consumers can call in and ask questions about
Although many churches have suffered... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Although many churches have suffered over the years from scandals, one denomination always seems to
How are you able to... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1997
"How are you able to do it, Dorothy?"
When the Berlin Wall was... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1997
When the Berlin Wall was constructed in the heat of the Cold War, there was left standing a simple c
In Peru, archaeologists have uncovered... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1997
In Peru, archaeologists have uncovered a "portrait vessel of a ruler" from the time of the Moche cul
Saint Paul's famous struggle with... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul's famous struggle with his "thorn" in his flesh is a wonderful reminder that we must leav
Eventually the Christian faith leads... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1997
Eventually the Christian faith leads the believer into a life that embraces the neighbor.
William E. Diehl, former Manager... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1997
William E.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1997
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man who knew how to "make the most of the time," as Paul writes, "always a
The apple may not fall... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
The apple may not fall so very far from the tree, but sometimes it drops with such impact that the t
Saint Paul writes about gifts... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul writes about gifts that God gives the church to build up the Body of Christ.
A couple of years ago... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1997
A couple of years ago a severe earthquake rumbled through the city of Kobe in Japan.
God promises to help us... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
God promises to help us when we are tested, not to remove the test.
In rural Thailand there is... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1997
In rural Thailand there is a lot of poverty, with many people living on the brink of starvation.
When you send in your... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1997
When you send in your federal income tax form, there is a spot on the second page where you are aske
A new person moved into... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1997
A new person moved into the neighborhood.
The Vista de la Montana... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - B -- 1997
The Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church near Tucson, Arizona, is noteworthy in that it is co
Every morning there was a... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
Every morning there was a group of women who attended the 6 a.m. mass at a certain church.
In 1995, the Pennsylvania Department... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
In 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue offered people a chance to be made right.
When Noah finished building the... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
When Noah finished building the ark, he started to let the animals come on board two by two.
One Sunday morning at the... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1997
One Sunday morning at the end of the service, a little boy came up to the minister and handed him a
So often people find it... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
So often people find it entertaining to see a problem and to see it get worse.
William Blake's Clod And The... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
William Blake's "Clod And The Pebble" illustrates 2 kinds of love: "Love seeketh only self to please
Louisa May Alcott, author of... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, wrote a poem titled, "My Kingdom." It contains these line

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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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