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Marriage As Crisis

Sermon

Leslie F. Brandt

Best Wedding Meditations

An Anthology

The time of marriage is a time of crisis. We usually associate the word "crisis" with something unfortunate. This is not necessarily true. It refers to something very important in one's life -- and in this case -- something very good. It is a crisis in that it is perhaps the most important decision and transaction you will ever make.

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Defenders or Warriors?

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed

For March 15, 2026:

Defenders or Warriors? by Dean Feldmeyer. “We are not defenders anymore; we are warriors.” — Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, March 2, 2026

The Village Shepherd

Kit

Janice B. Scott

Call to Worship:
The man born blind told the Pharisees, "One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." In our worship today let us ask Jesus to help us see.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I prefer not to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I pretend not to see.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I am not brave enough to see.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:
John 9:1-41 (NRSV)

StoryShare

The Christian Liar

Sandra Herrmann
C. David Mckirachan

Contents
"The Christian Liar" by Sandra Herrmann
"But We Smell" by C. David McKirachan

* * * * * * * *

The Christian Liar
by Sandra Herrmann
1 Samuel 16:1-13

Miracles Of Sight

Keith Wagner

Contents
"Miracles of Sight" by Keith Wagner
"Trusting God in the Darkness" by Keith Wagner

* * * * * * *

Miracles of Sight
by Keith Wagner
John 9:1-41

SermonStudio

Seeing Jesus

David O. Bales

Josiah Harlan was the first American to enter Afghanistan. He did so as a doctor with British Forces. We're not talking about the 1990s, but the 1830s. Harlan was a brilliant, self-absorbed adventurer who'd read a few medical books and passed a cursory exam to be an army surgeon. He later attempted to become an Afghan prince, leading his own army.

Pleasing The Teacher

Frank Luchsinger

Pleasing the teacher. Paul writes to the Ephesians, "Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." Try to learn what is pleasing to the Good Shepherd, the Savior King, the Holy One, the Son of David, the Good Teacher/Rabbi. Sprinkled throughout the Gospels nearly seventy times, Jesus is referred to as rabbi or teacher. It is striking that in the garden as Mary encounters the risen Lord and he speaks her name, she responds, "Rab-eo'ni!" which means teacher. So Jesus, for many, was the good teacher, the good rabbi. And most of us gathered here know what it is to have a good teacher.

Looking To The Heart

Richard E. Gribble, CSC

Once upon a time in a far-off land there lived a wise but old king. This monarch was very much beloved by his people, but alas he had no children, no heir to the throne. Because he did not want his kingdom to fall into the wrong hands after his death, the king decided to choose his own successor before he died. He had lived a long life and had done much reflection. He thought he knew what had gotten him to where he was and more importantly what would get his kingdom where it needed to be in the future.

The Office Of The King Was Not Vacant

Robert J. Elder

Not all the water in the rough rude sea
Can wash the balm from an anointed king.

- Richard II, William Shakespeare

How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out.

Live In The Light

Harry N. Huxhold

Sidney Sheldon repeatedly has given us evidence of his remarkable gift for weaving tales of the bizarre behavior of humanity bent on satisfying the self. His novel Tell Me Your Dreams involves a reach into what creates serious complications within the human mind and heart. David Singer, a young lawyer, is in conversation with Dr. Royce Salem, a psychiatrist. The case they are discussing is the person of a suspected serial killer, a client whom the lawyer is defending. Dr.

Jesus Cures Our Spiritual Blindness

Richard E. Gribble, CSC

Anne Mansfield Sullivan was a miracle worker who overcame obstacles in seeking to assist others. Partially blind from birth, she managed to overcome this handicap and graduated from the prestigious Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. The miracle of Anne Sullivan's life, however, had very little to do with her own handicap, but it had everything to do with the multiple handicaps of a young girl. The miracle began to be manifest on March 2, 1887, when twenty--year--old Anne Mansfield Sullivan met six--year--old Helen Keller.

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Dallas A. Brauninger

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Theme: Looking On The Heart

Call To Worship
Leader: What would happen if we looked not only at the professional stature, economic standing, or physical being of those we meet?
People: What would happen if we were to greet others by looking on the heart?
Leader: If we did not look at the outward appearance, past history, or patterns of shortcoming?
People: If we were to weigh the threads of promise beginning to shape the fabric of a person?
All: Let us focus on the signs the heart offers.

Collect

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Beverly S. Bailey

Hymns
God Of The Prophets (NCH358)
Gentle Shepherd (CBH352)
The Lord's My Shepherd (PH170, UM136, CBH578)
The King Of Love (PH171, UM138, CBH170)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (PH172, CBH589)
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us (PH387, CBH355, UM381)
He Leadeth Me (UM128, CBH599)
Shepherd Me, O God (CBH519)
This Little Light Of Mine (CBH401, UM585)
Amazing Grace (PH280, UM378)
All Who Love And Serve Your City (PH413, UM433)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Seeing is not believing

The connection between sight and belief in Christianity is as old as the insistence of Thomas to see and touch Jesus' wounds in order to believe the wild story of his colleagues. Yet sight and faith might even be diametrically opposed to each other.

New light in darkness

David Coffin

A group of younger workers are seated next to one another at a workplace where they have to deal with the public both person-to-person and over the telephone. They are having difficulty dealing with clients and customers who are older than they are in terms of communication skills, etiquette, and basic manners. These workers console one another once the older clients leave the office by criticizing the older people and trying to avoid them the next time. In the next office sits an older worker who is of the generation these younger workers are trying to avoid.

CSSPlus

Growing in the light

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought with me a very beautiful flower in a flowerpot. (have the can covering the flower) Unfortunately, my flower is having a hard time growing. When I checked it last night it wasn't looking very healthy. Each night I remove the can and give the flower a good drink but it seems to be getting worse. I brought the flower with me this morning so that you could help me. Do you have any ideas for ways to make my flower grow again? (let them answer)

The miracle of working together

Good morning, boys and girls. Is there anyone here who is perfect? (let them answer) I have a friend who uses this cane. Do you know why he uses this kind of cane? (let them answer) That's right, he's blind. Do you think he is perfect? (let them answer)

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New & Featured This Week

Dean FeldmeyerChristopher KeatingThomas WilladsenKaty StentaMary AustinGeorge Reed

Janice B. Scott

Sandra HerrmannC. David Mckirachan

Keith Wagner

David O. Bales

Frank Luchsinger

Richard E. Gribble, CSC

Robert J. Elder

Harry N. Huxhold

Richard E. Gribble, CSC

Dallas A. Brauninger

Beverly S. Bailey

David Coffin

Special Occasion

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Dean Feldmeyer
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Sandra Herrmann
C. David Mckirachan