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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor and the author of nine books for CSS Publishing Company, including How to Preach the Miracles and the Vision Stories series. He and his wife, Joanne Perry-Sumwalt, were the original editors of StoryShare. John is an acclaimed storyteller. He writes a weekly spiritual column for several Wisconsin newspapers.
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Laying Down The Law -- Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Hebrews 9:11-14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1996
Awards Sunday was the biggest annual event at Calvary Church.
Praise The Lord! -- Psalm 148 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1996
The Board of Bethlehem Community Church gathered for its monthly meeting with solemn resolve.
Witnesses -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1996
There was a young couple in a small country church who had a very beautiful little daughter who was
Heads Will Roll -- Mark 6:14-29, Amos 7:7-15 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1996
Both management and union leaders were angry with Amos Dresser.
Becoming -- Genesis 3:8-15 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1996
In the beginning, Adam and Eve were living happily ever after. They were the first human family.
Old Granddad -- Psalm 51:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1996
Charlie Johnson was up at 5:30, had all of his gear in the trunk of the car, and was drinking coffee
Will Work For Food -- Mark 10:46-52 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1996
A well-known politician came into a large American city one day to speak at a political rally.
Out Of The Whirlwind -- Job 38:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1996
Frank Marshall had never felt so confused or helpless in his entire life.
Resurrection -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Easter Day - B -- 1996
The first time I saw Maggie she was selling herself on the street like hundreds of other runaway tee
The Trial Of Gilbert Gunderson -- John 18:33-37 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1996
Gilbert Gunderson has been the editor of the Willow Bluff weekly newspaper for as long as I, and eve
The Lord Always Before Me: Lavinda's Christmas Letter -- Psalm 16 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1996
Christmas, 1979Dear Ones:
Friends -- Psalm 133, John 20:19-21 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Marty pulled into the crowded hospital parking lot and began her daily ritual search for a parking s
Dorothy's Story -- John 15:9-17 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
One evening, when I was 26 years old, beleagered by guilt for acknowledged sins, I was deep into an
The Pine Lake Creaker -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
I am going to tell you one of the little-known stories in the history of Pine Lake Camp.
Surely Goodness And Mercy -- Psalm 23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
As a child psychologist, I have the privilege of meeting and speaking with a great many people.
Summer Fruit -- John 15:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
There was once a pastor who served a very active congregation; that is to say, they were active most
A Mother's Prayer -- John 17:6-19 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
It was the same every night when Ruth Kristmon got into her bed.
Jesus Loves Rocky Dumar, Too -- Acts 19:1-7 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1996
The new young pastor of Lake Bluff Christian Church had seen the man on the streets of the town freq
Greta's Glorious Body -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1996
Greta Schmidt huffed and puffed her way through the church hallways toward the Parish Nurse's office
Sutton's Folly -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1996
Ed Weeks couldn't believe his bad luck.
Casting Out Demons -- Mark 1:21-28 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1996
There was once a deeply troubled church that could not keep any pastor for more than a year or two.
A Seat On Bill -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1996
My friend Bill Benson was a successful small town businessman.
The Aqueduct -- Isaiah 43:18-25 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 1996
Years ago there was an aqueduct that brought fresh water into the center of the village, all the way
Afflicted -- Psalm 22:23-31 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1996
There was once a little boy whose most prized possession was a light blue cat's-eye crystal marble.
You Shall Not Murder -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jo Perry-Sumwalt -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1996
There was once a man who was an active proponent of capital punishment.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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For November 16, 2025:

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Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wild fires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
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Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

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“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

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Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

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Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

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With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

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No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

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Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

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Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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