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SermonStudio

Third Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 9:1-16 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 14 -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (C)
A Congregational President And His Sick Daughter -- Matthew 9:18-26 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 2000
Death flutes wailed a morbid tune for Jairus' daughter;
Fourth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 9:36-43 (C)
Proper 15 -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 5:1-7 (C)
Compassion At Nain's East Gate -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 2000
At Nain's east gate a widow grieves her only son;
Fifth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 11:1-18 (C)
Proper 16 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (C)
A Boat For Rough Seas -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 2000
When rough seas and wild storms rage about us,
Sixth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 16:9-15 (C)
Proper 17 -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 2:4-13 (C)
One Out Of Ten Isn't All That Bad -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 2000
The fulfilled life of discipleship is constant gratitude,
The Ascension Of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 1:1-11 (C, RC, E)
Proper 18 -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 18:1-11 (C)
First Sunday In Advent -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 33:14-16 (C, RC)
Proper 19 -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 (C)
Second Sunday In Advent -- Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Malachi 3:1-4 (C)
Navigating Home To Jesus -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Theme
Proper 20 -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 (C)
Third Sunday In Advent -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Leading By Example -- Luke 6:39-49 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 2000
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Proper 21 -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 (C)
Fourth Sunday In Advent -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
The Nativity Of Our Lord -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2000
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Seek Reconciliation: God's Judgment Is Near -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had m

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

What Is Revealed? -- Revelation 5:1-13 -- Bill Mosley -- 2004
In that wonderful old movie, High Noon, Gary Cooper is Will Kane, marshal of a small, roug
Christ In All Things: The Faith Of Saint Patrick -- Romans 5:1-5 -- 2004
On this Saint Patrick's Day I'd like to begin the sermon with an Irish greeting: "Cead Mile Failta"
God Never Gives Up On Anyone -- John 14:15-21 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2004
The name Robert Stroud is not one commonly heard in ordinary conversation, but this man's contributi
God Communicates In Humanly Understandable Terms -- Luke 2:41-52 -- J. Ellsworth Kalas, David Kalas -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
One Christmas morning, a young widow was doing her best to make Christmas happy for her two little b
Music From Another Room -- J. Ellsworth Kalas -- 2003
Introduction
Changed And Charged -- 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2003
Fred Craddock tells the story of a young lady standing before a mirror and she doesn't like what she
In The Event Of Power Failure -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
A friend of mine once shared a story about his first visit to Niagara Falls.
Living A Transformed Life -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2003
Reformation Sunday provides the opportunity to recall the great events of the sixteenth century that
Thanks Be To God -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2003
Once upon a time there was a woodcutter who spent the majority of every day in the woods.
The Invitation -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
I don't know about you, but I love receiving invitations.
Christmas And The New Family -- John 1:1-18 -- J. Ellsworth Kalas, David Kalas -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2003
When Wilbur and Orville Wright completed their historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on Dec
Who's Afraid Of The Holy Ghost? -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2003
Ellen Ann is a pretty little six-year-old who has grown up in a lovely home that is next door to a t
Life As Prelude -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2003
John Claypool reminds us that the ancient art of map-making or cartography dates back over 4,500 yea
Losing That Loving Feeling -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Robert S. Crilley -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2003
The thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians is not only the most memorable passage that the Apostle
Come Clean -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2003
There is an old story about a mother of eight who walked into her house after visiting with a neighb
Going To The Mountaintop -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2003
Have you ever been to the mountains?
A Happy Ending -- Joshua 5:9-12 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
A. A.
Just You Wait! -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- Robert S. Crilley -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Some of you may be excited to learn that this morning's scripture lesson contains a benediction.
A Show Of Hands -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2003
How does one describe love for another person?
Praying For People -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2003
Ulysses S.
The Signs Of Summer -- Luke 21:25-36 -- J. Ellsworth Kalas -- 2003
The season of Advent is upon us, and with it is a spirit of heaviness.
Sharing What We Have Been Shown -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Robert S. Crilley -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2003
This passage is not exactly gossip, although it comes pretty close.
Don't Forget Your Nametag! -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Steven E. Albertin -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2003
I'm glad to see that so many of you are wearing your nametags this morning.
Working Together As One -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2003
Nature is filled with examples of how the world functions better when things come together and act a
Dying To Live -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
In his book The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Tom Sine shares the story of his parents' friends and their

Spirituality

Stories

SermonStudio

Death of a Blacksnake -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
I WAS DRIVING along a rural road recently when the car in front of me swerved off the shoulder and c
THE STRANGER -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
IT WAS a warm summer evening in the mid-fifties.
Obscenity Is ... -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
WHAT IS OBSCENITY?
SEX IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
I WAS WALKING down the street one day when I bumped into a minister-friend whose attention had been
INTERVIEW WITH A BAPTOMETHOCATH -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
(A reporter is at a convention of "one-way" religionists called Baptomethocaths.
THE FALL OF A SPARROW -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, a small sparrow soared from the top of a telephone pole and glided across the roa
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
THERE ARE THOSE who would say that the 1930s and 1940s were not good years in which to live, much le
A MILLION-DOLLAR STATUS SYMBOL -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
IT SITS THERE like a sleeping giant; a multi-million dollar structure of brick, steel, and glass, co
THE CLERK WHO ROARED -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
I WAS STANDING in a department store checkout line recently where I witnessed an amazing transformat
THE LONELY WOMAN -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1990
SHE SAT on the long porch of the nursing home, her small, thin body buried under heavy woolen garmen
Shadow -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In the lands of the East, a person's shadow has greater significance than in our scientifically orie
Gamble -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
At a funeral of an Atlantic City gambler, the pastor asserted, "Spike is not dead; he only sleeps."
God's Quality -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Aurelius Augustinus was converted to Christianity in A.D.
Adam -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage.
Shalom -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Shalom is a beautiful and melodic Hebrew word which comes from the root "slm" signifying wholeness,
Letting Go (II) -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
A man was making a trip on the rapids of the Colorado River, where the water rushes quickly over the
Good -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"In the beginning of time God created everything, step by step.
Ecumenical -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In 1892 Sir Wilfred Grenfell, a British medical missionary, was sent to Labrador, a large peninsula
Star Trek -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" is the third motion picture to grow out of the television seri
Liberator -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In the early days of Israel's history, a divine messenger visited the wife of a man named Manoah.
Goodness and Mercy -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years." Those wor
Kingdom of God -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
When Leslie Weatherhead, the late English pastor, lived in India as a young man, he had a sturdy gar
Stars and Sorrows -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"The Lord ... heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Life after Death -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Life after death is a matter I think about at the beginning of November, because on, November 1, the
Limelight -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Sir Humphry Davy, a British chemist, isolated calcium oxide in 1808.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

Worship

SermonStudio

Draw Near to God -- James 4:1-10 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Covenant And Recompense -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
Call To Worship Leader: Sent to bring good news to the oppressed,
When You Feel Inadequate -- John 6:1-13 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Planting People -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Angels Inspire Our Worship -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1999
Leader's HelpsWorship Leader
The Three Crosses of Calvary -- Luke 23:32-43 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Cedar Or Goat's Hair -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Spiritual Cataracts -- Matthew 6:19-24 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Contradiction -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Angels In The Outfield -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1999
Leader's HelpsAngels In The Outfield Worship Leader
We Too Can Be Resurrected! -- John 20:11-18 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Wiping Away The Tears -- Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- All Saints Day - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
When You Need a Life-Changing Moment -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1999
First Lesson: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a Theme: Confront Call To Worship
A Christmas Worship Service -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1999
A Christmas CelebrationA Christmas Worship Service
On Hoisting a Sail -- Acts 2:1-13 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Restore The Kingdom? -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Handling Life's Detours -- Acts 16:6-10 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Instead Of You -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
One Nation Under God -- Mark 12:13-17 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Sound The Alarm -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
The Prayer That Can Change Your Life -- Philippians 4:10-23 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
An Understanding Mind -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
The Grace of Gratitude -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Good For You -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1999
Call To WorshipLeader: Creation is light.

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For November 30, 2025:
  • Time Change by Chris Keating. The First Sunday of Advent invites God’s people to tell time differently. While the secular Christmas machine keeps rolling, the church is called to a time of waiting and remaining alert.
  • Second Thoughts: What Time Is It? by Tom Willadsen based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
According to Martin Luther our thanksgiving is brought about only by justification by grace:

But bringing of tithes denotes that we are wholly given to the service of the neighbor through love…  This, however, does not happen unless, being first justified by faith. (Luther’s Works, Vol.9, p.255)

The Reformer also wants us to be happy, what with all the generous gifts we have been given.  He wrote:
Wayne Brouwer
A schoolteacher asked her students to make a list of the things for which they were thankful. Right at the top of Chad’s list was the word “glasses.” Some children resent having to wear glasses, but evidently not Chad! She asked him about it. Why was he thankful that he wore glasses?

“Well,” he said, “my glasses keep the boys from hitting me and the girls from kissing me.”

The philosopher Eric Hoffer says, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings!” That’s true, isn’t it?
William H. Shepherd
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly. The lesson plans interact creatively with other aspects of faith: worship is vain if not grounded in truth, while service is misguided if based on faulty premises. While faith certainly cannot be reduced to knowledge, it cannot be divorced from it, either.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (v. 6)

We just received word about the passing of our friend, Rosmarie Trapp. We had lost touch with her in recent years, so I was shocked when I stumbled onto her obituary in The New York Times from May 18, 2022.
David E. Leininger
John Jamison
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
"Time's Up" by John Jamison


What's Up This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The activity for this message is the Be Thank You! game.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Rosemary was 33 years old. She'd been married to James for four years and they had two children, Sam who was two and the baby, Elizabeth, who was just three weeks old. Apart from the baby blues and extreme fatigue, both of which got her down a bit when James was at work, Rosemary was happy. They had recently moved to the London suburbs and James commuted each day by train.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
This brief psalm is among the most familiar in the psalter, but that is primarily because its verses have been excerpted in so many hymns and liturgical texts. There is something to be gained from looking at Psalm 100 in its entirety, and trying to recover its ancient liturgical context.

James Evans
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (v. 6). What better way could there be for us to begin the Advent season than by focusing our prayers on peace? The word, shalom, translated "peace," means much more than the mere absence of conflict. And of course, it is not only Jerusalem that is in need of peace; the whole world needs the shalom that the psalmist dreams about. So perhaps we should expand the breadth of this prayer, and deepen it with our awareness of the various meanings of the Hebrew idea of peace.

John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:1--5 (C, RC, E)
Tony S. Everett
A popular skit at church camps involves about a dozen folks lined up side-by-side, looking anxious and frustrated facing the audience. Each person rests a left elbow on the right shoulder of their neighbor. Then, from left to right, each member asks, "Is it time yet?" When the question arrives at the end of the line, the last person looks at his/her wristwatch and responds, "No." This reply is passed, one-by-one each with bored sighs, back to the first questioner. After a few moments, the same question is passed down the line (left elbows remaining on the right shoulders).
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Just a few days before writing this message, I conducted a memorial service for a 60-year-old man who was the picture of health until three months before his death. He was active, vibrant, only recently retired, and looking forward to years of good life with his wife and family and friends. Nonetheless, pancreatic cancer had done its work, and quickly, and he was gone. It was the general consensus that it was too soon for his life to end; he was too young to die.
John W. Clarke
In this the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus begins to withdraw to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. He has fed the 5,000, and he has walked on water. The press of the crowds had become all consuming and he needs some solitude to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Considering that the crowds that followed him more than likely knew of the feeding of the 5,000, and some may even have heard of the miraculous walking on water, it is difficult to explain why in these verses, they would doubt anything he had to say -- but they do.
Robert R. Kopp
My favorite eighth grader just confessed his aspiration for becoming President of the United States.

When I foolishly asked the inspiration of his lofty goal, he replied, "Bill Clinton." Then my hormone-raging adolescent proceeded to list perceived presidential perks that have nothing to do with God or country.

My prayer list has been altered.

And my attitude about prayer in public schools has changed too.

I used to be against prayer in public schools.
John E. Berger
Thanksgiving, according to one newspaper columnist, has kept its original meaning better than any other holiday. That original meaning, he wrote, was family reunions around large dinner tables.

In contrast, Christmas has changed into Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Easter has come to emphasize new spring clothes and the Easter bunny. Even our national holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day -- have become cook-outs and summer travel get-aways.
Mark Ellingson
Thanksgiving: How do we say thanks authentically and not lapse into the platitudes so often associated with this holiday? There are several dangers associated with the holiday. Ever since it was instituted as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln, and even before when various state governors instituted it in their states, Thanksgiving has not been a strictly Christian holiday. There has been a lot of nationalism and self-congratulations associated with this day. What is the distinctively Christian way to give thanks to God for all the good things that we have?

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