Reading for All Saints Day: John 11:32-45 Jesus received a message that Lazarus was sick. Jesus did not leave immediately to see Lazarus. He waited for two days before going to see Lazarus. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried for
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Hebrews 11:1-16, Luke 12:32-34 This morning’s sermon title contains three words that I have never actually said in a sentence before: “Where’s my purse?” Saying those three words in
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Psalm 25:1-7, Luke 10:25-37 This is probably one of the most preached passages around, mainly because it’s pretty easy to write a sermon around. You have a helpless victim,
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: John 14:11-13, James 1:22-25 When I began seminary my mother, a faithful and faith-filled Southern Baptist woman, told me in an ominous voice, “You’ll shipwreck your faith.” You see, that’s what happens when you go
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: Jonah 1:1-10, Matthew 6:25-33 Our grandson, Ayden, recently celebrated his first birthday. To join the celebration we had to make our way from Camden to Summerton where the other grandparents live. Now, at least one of us
United Church of Christ 50th Anniversary General Synod, Hartford, Conn. It is an enormous privilege to be with you today. I am grateful to the planning committee for its invitation to share with you my thoughts on where – God being our helper – I
There are two tendencies that do not seem balanced to me. Some spiritual leaders have focused strongly on the torturous nature of Christ’s death at Calvary. Listening to their sermons is about as graphic as watching some crime scene investigation movie. The focus on the
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33 Lest anyone believe the incredible notion that pastors are somehow perfect and have the secret to life, the universe and everything all figured out, let me begin by shattering that notion.
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26 Back in 1998, a well known politician made a bizarre statement. Now, I know that’s not anything unusual, and I would only have to look
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 21: 1-4 Sometime last year I arrived at the salon where I get my hair cut and sat down right in the middle of a sticky theological predicament. That’s not something