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Are we still fighting wars? How come?

Political Pulpit
Mark Ellingsen
These months (especially at Christmas) are the season of peace. Yes, we sing and pray for peace. The gospels for Christmas, January 1, and Epiphany (January 6) move us in this direction. This is a timely message given the fact that even with President Obama's promise of troop withdrawal by Christmas we remain in the longest war (in Iraq) America has fought in history. We are engaged now in two more -- in Afghanistan and Libya. These wars hardly affect us, unless you serve a blue-collar congregation, at or near a military base, or a predominantly black or Hispanic congregation.
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 8 | OT 13
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14
26 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 10 | OT 15
25 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16
24 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
19 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Bethany Peerbolte
Ron Love
Mary Austin
George Reed
Dean Feldmeyer
For July 5, 2020:
  • Say You Love Me (But Stay Six Feet Away) by Chris Keating — The voice of the beloved calls to us this week. The lush poetry calls our attention to the pure gift of God, and will likely resonate with communities longing for interaction, mutuality, and the rich abundance of love’s delight.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Contents
"Mumbling Hope" by David O. Bales
"If It Hadn’t Been Spring" by David O. Bales

Mumbling Hope
by David O. Bales
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

Phabi and Nahum rode obediently behind Eliezer, tossed rhythmically side to side on their camels. They glanced to one another with knowing looks. Eliezer was mumbling again. “I suppose I could’ve told them the whole story. They were certainly interested. A display of wealth will do that, especially to a fellow like Laban.”

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
When I was a boy, I heard a preacher remind his congregation about the true nature of the cross. He observed that we have turned the cross into both a lovely adornment in our sanctuaries and a piece of jewelry for our bodies. It is, for us, a smooth, attractive, gilded thing. But the original cross, he insisted, was nothing like that. The cross that Jesus bore -- and the cross, therefore, that we are invited to take up as his followers -- is harsh and heavy. It is rugged and bloody. It is heavy wood across the back, not silver or gold on a lapel or necklace.
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bill Thomas
M Adryael Tong
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Here in England we're now well into the wedding season, in which many young couples will follow the age old tradition of plighting their troth. Some of them will do so here in Pulham St. Mary church, and several more here in our benefice in South Norfolk.

Although our country has the highest divorce rate in the whole of Europe and is second only to the United States in the world, and although many couples now live together outside marriage, nonetheless marriage is still a very popular institution.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
I think one of the best lessons I have learned in ministry is the lesson of win-win. Have you ever heard of win-win? In a world where win-lose situations seem to dominate our interactions, the discovery of the possibility of building scenarios where everyone can benefit, where everyone can, in effect, win, has been an incredible answer to prayer. In church, community, and family life it has been a powerful way forward on numerous occasions. Recently, an experience in negotiations in a sensitive church situation resulted in a win-win, and it was unbelievable.

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone live on a farm or near a farm? (let them answer) What do farmers use today to plow fields and harvest the grain? (let them answer) That's right, tractors. Before farmers used tractors what did they use? (let them answer) That's right, horses. Did you know that farmers also used to use animals called oxen? These animals are like bulls that have horns and are very strong. They can pull a plow easily as long as they worked in pairs. If the oxen didn't work together, it was hard.

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