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Chris Ewing

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Comfort Zone -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Carter Shelley, Stephen P. McCutchan, George L. Murphy, Chris Ewing, Carlos Wilton, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 4, 2005)
Marketing The Messiah -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Chris Ewing, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 11, 2005)
Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill
Building On Sand -- Matthew 7:21-29, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Psalm 46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Every day we have fresh evidence that moral evil is not only a factor in personal life but -- with e
Resisting The Cure -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Chris Ewing -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
As the medical community anxiously scans the horizon for signs of the promised flu pandemic, attenti
Speaking Our Truth -- Acts 17: 22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
"(The Apostle Peter's) current successor," declared the newly minted Benedict XVI in his first papal
Sacrifice And Service -- Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
As modern preachers choke over the choice Abraham faced and the God who asked it of him, a not dissi
Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily
What, Then, Did You Go Out To See? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
When President Bush came to Canada last week, he was met by John the Baptist.
The Art And Sacrifice Of Unity -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Chris Ewing -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
"Why can't we all just get along?" This is one of the oldest pleas in the human -- and Christi
Born Anew To A Living Hope -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
It is a paradoxical world where a life that appears empty of meaning and possibility can spark eithe

Illustration

The Immediate Word

The Comfort Zone -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Carter Shelley, Stephen P. McCutchan, George L. Murphy, Chris Ewing, Carlos Wilton, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 4, 2005)
Marketing The Messiah -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Chris Ewing, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 11, 2005)
Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill
Building On Sand -- Matthew 7:21-29, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Psalm 46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Every day we have fresh evidence that moral evil is not only a factor in personal life but -- with e
Resisting The Cure -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Chris Ewing -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
As the medical community anxiously scans the horizon for signs of the promised flu pandemic, attenti
Speaking Our Truth -- Acts 17: 22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
"(The Apostle Peter's) current successor," declared the newly minted Benedict XVI in his first papal
Sacrifice And Service -- Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
As modern preachers choke over the choice Abraham faced and the God who asked it of him, a not dissi
Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily
What, Then, Did You Go Out To See? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
When President Bush came to Canada last week, he was met by John the Baptist.
The Art And Sacrifice Of Unity -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Chris Ewing -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
"Why can't we all just get along?" This is one of the oldest pleas in the human -- and Christi
Born Anew To A Living Hope -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
It is a paradoxical world where a life that appears empty of meaning and possibility can spark eithe

Preaching

The Immediate Word

The Comfort Zone -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Carter Shelley, Stephen P. McCutchan, George L. Murphy, Chris Ewing, Carlos Wilton, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 4, 2005)
Marketing The Messiah -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Chris Ewing, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 11, 2005)
Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill
Building On Sand -- Matthew 7:21-29, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Psalm 46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Every day we have fresh evidence that moral evil is not only a factor in personal life but -- with e
Resisting The Cure -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Chris Ewing -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
As the medical community anxiously scans the horizon for signs of the promised flu pandemic, attenti
Speaking Our Truth -- Acts 17: 22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
"(The Apostle Peter's) current successor," declared the newly minted Benedict XVI in his first papal
Sacrifice And Service -- Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
As modern preachers choke over the choice Abraham faced and the God who asked it of him, a not dissi
Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily
What, Then, Did You Go Out To See? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
When President Bush came to Canada last week, he was met by John the Baptist.
The Art And Sacrifice Of Unity -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Chris Ewing -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
"Why can't we all just get along?" This is one of the oldest pleas in the human -- and Christi
Born Anew To A Living Hope -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
It is a paradoxical world where a life that appears empty of meaning and possibility can spark eithe

Sermon

SermonStudio

Dressed For The Banquet -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2007
This is an ugly story -- and the better you understand it, the uglier it gets.
Test ... Test ... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2007
Sometimes things happen that push us back to our deepest questions and force us to answer.
Unwanted Freedom -- John 8:31-36 -- Chris Ewing -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2007
The trouble with words is that they can mean so many different things, depending on who is using the
Masks -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2007
There are going to be a lot of people running around out there with masks on this week.
Ready For God's Reign -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2007
This parable has to be one of the least liked in the whole Bible.
Investing In God's Future -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2007
(Note: At the time of reading this passage to the congregation, explain that a single talent was
All Who Share This Hope -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Chris Ewing -- All Saints Day - A -- 2007
There's nothing like a week with two funerals, a wedding, Halloween celebrations, a community farewe
In Whose Likeness? -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2007
Okay, teacher, you think you're so smart — is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?
Nations On Trial -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Chris Ewing -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2007
A Readers' Theater for Five Voices A few suggestions for staging this....
Kiss The Chef! -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Chris Ewing -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2007
Years ago, during summer vacation, I took a whole pile of books out of the library and spent days an

The Immediate Word

The Comfort Zone -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Carter Shelley, Stephen P. McCutchan, George L. Murphy, Chris Ewing, Carlos Wilton, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 4, 2005)
Marketing The Messiah -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Chris Ewing, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 11, 2005)
Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill
Building On Sand -- Matthew 7:21-29, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Psalm 46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Every day we have fresh evidence that moral evil is not only a factor in personal life but -- with e
Resisting The Cure -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Chris Ewing -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
As the medical community anxiously scans the horizon for signs of the promised flu pandemic, attenti
Speaking Our Truth -- Acts 17: 22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
"(The Apostle Peter's) current successor," declared the newly minted Benedict XVI in his first papal
Sacrifice And Service -- Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
As modern preachers choke over the choice Abraham faced and the God who asked it of him, a not dissi
Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily
What, Then, Did You Go Out To See? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
When President Bush came to Canada last week, he was met by John the Baptist.
The Art And Sacrifice Of Unity -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Chris Ewing -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
"Why can't we all just get along?" This is one of the oldest pleas in the human -- and Christi
Born Anew To A Living Hope -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
It is a paradoxical world where a life that appears empty of meaning and possibility can spark eithe

Worship

The Immediate Word

The Comfort Zone -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Carter Shelley, Stephen P. McCutchan, George L. Murphy, Chris Ewing, Carlos Wilton, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 4, 2005)
Marketing The Messiah -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Chris Ewing, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2005
(Originally published December 11, 2005)
Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill
Building On Sand -- Matthew 7:21-29, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Psalm 46 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Every day we have fresh evidence that moral evil is not only a factor in personal life but -- with e
Resisting The Cure -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Chris Ewing -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
As the medical community anxiously scans the horizon for signs of the promised flu pandemic, attenti
Speaking Our Truth -- Acts 17: 22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Chris Ewing -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
"(The Apostle Peter's) current successor," declared the newly minted Benedict XVI in his first papal
Sacrifice And Service -- Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
As modern preachers choke over the choice Abraham faced and the God who asked it of him, a not dissi
Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily
What, Then, Did You Go Out To See? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
When President Bush came to Canada last week, he was met by John the Baptist.
The Art And Sacrifice Of Unity -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Chris Ewing -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
"Why can't we all just get along?" This is one of the oldest pleas in the human -- and Christi
Born Anew To A Living Hope -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Chris Ewing -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
It is a paradoxical world where a life that appears empty of meaning and possibility can spark eithe
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The Immediate Word

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Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
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Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

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Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

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Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

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James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
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That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
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Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
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In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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