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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The man had been promising... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
The man had been promising the minister that he would soon be attending his church.
A group of Presbyterians were... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
A group of Presbyterians were traveling in Guatemala.
For what shall I thank... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
For what shall I thank the Lord? For my health? But I've always been healthy!
Insurance has become a major... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Insurance has become a major concern of our lives.
As lab partners and members... -- Malachi 3:13-4:2a, 5-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
As lab partners and members of the same study group, Michael and James had enjoyed working together
In the ignoble days of... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
In the ignoble days of the Roman persecutions, there was an unknown procurator who interceded for Ch
It was a new way... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
It was a new way to look at forgiveness and Marjorie had been able to think of little else since her
Where a person is addicted... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Where a person is addicted to alcohol, one can find a whole family and family's family affected by t
A young boy had promised... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
A young boy had promised to mow the lawn and pick up the yard.
Since the dissolution of the... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Since the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, many Christians have traveled to Russia and other
The old church is large... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
The old church is large, and elevated above street level by a double flight of stairs, bounded by ir
The Pepsi company was almost... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
The Pepsi company was almost brought to its knees in 1993.
The Last Farmer: An American... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
The Last Farmer: An American Memoir is the story of a German-
William Miller was enthusiastic about... -- Luke 21:5-9 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
William Miller was enthusiastic about his religion and began drawing crowds from across New England
Twelve-year-old Erin was... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Twelve-year-old Erin was riding in her Guide Leader's car.
The problem was worse than... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
The problem was worse than ever.
In the sixteenth century, a... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
In the sixteenth century, a minister was accused of heresy and brought before the court in a small E
When our children are growing... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
When our children are growing up, we often measure their height to see how they are maturing.
My grandmother wanted to see... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
My grandmother wanted to see the Rose Bowl Parade.
Fritz Hoopman was president of... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Fritz Hoopman was president of one of the largest companies in his hometown.
Two staunch churchgoers were vehemently... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Two staunch churchgoers were vehemently arguing over the definition of the tithe.
Getting up at 4:30 a.m... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Getting up at 4:30 a.m.
Have you ever been approached... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Have you ever been approached by someone who questioned, "Are you saved?
Saint Paul looked for Jesus... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Saint Paul looked for Jesus to return in his lifetime.
For convenience and safety reasons... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
For convenience and safety reasons, the Bary family purchased an inexpensive artificial Christmas tr

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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
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
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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