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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee and the author of nine books, to be released by CSS in 2007. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, served for three years as co-editors of StoryShare. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), Sumwalt received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for parish ministry from UDTS in 1997.
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Singapore Angel -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- John E. Sumwalt, Mary Demuth -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2003
"Miss, you need to step here." The woman's voice came from behind me.
Christmas Tears -- Isaiah 12:2-6 -- John E. Sumwalt, Christina Seibel -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
I think nothing breaks our hearts as badly as does the broken hearts of our children.
Safe -- Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- John E. Sumwalt, Claire Hunston -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2003
It was late September of 1990.
The Christmas Tree: A Story Of Synchronicity -- Luke 1:46b-55 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jane Moschenrose -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
It was a week before Christmas.
Can Trust In God Be Restored? -- Psalm 14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lois Rae Carlson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2003
It was the end of my first year as a young widow on my own with two children.
Almost In Heaven -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
In 1977, about ten years before she died, I asked my grandmother, Nellie Jane Kittle Sumwalt, then i
He Will Wipe Away Every Tear -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- John E. Sumwalt, Rosmarie Trapp -- New Year's Day - C -- 2003
In 1987, I came to Stowe, Vermont, for a visit with my mother, Maria Von Trapp.
Don't Just Stand There! -- Acts 1:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt, Judith M. Evenden -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
It happened thirty years ago. I am standing at the graveside of my grandmother, my father's mother.
The Gift Of Trees -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt, Pamela J. Tinnin -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2003
I remember the first time I planted trees.
Abounding In Steadfast Love -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2003
Our son, Lloyd, died on May 4, 1997.
Remember Your Baptism -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- John E. Sumwalt, Theonia Amenda -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2003
It was 1984. I was sitting in the front row in a classroom in Nashville, listening to Dr.
The Voice Of The Broken Branch -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall
Visions Of Christ -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Linda Nafziger-meiser -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2003
In 1982-86, my husband and I lived in the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Praying For A Child -- Psalm 113 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kris Drollinger -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2003
My experience occurred on a Saturday morning in early November, 1988.
Chosen As Witnesses -- Acts 10:34-43 -- John E. Sumwalt, Theonia Amenda -- Easter Day - C -- 2003
Our first grandchild died two months shy of his fourth birthday.
The Faith Of A Child -- Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- John E. Sumwalt, Jane Moschenrose -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2003
As an eleven-year-old pitcher for the Rockies Little League softball team, Karen was having a great
Holy Coincidences -- John 20:19-31 -- John E. Sumwalt, Lee Domann -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
My mother's only brother died in March, 1983, in a car/train accident. I was devastated.
I Am Sure That God Is Able -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- John E. Sumwalt, Linda J. Vogel -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2003
In 1969 my father was dying (too slowly!) from a malignant brain tumor that changed his personality
The Other End Of The Barrel -- Acts 9:1-20 -- John E. Sumwalt, Shirley Lochowitz -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
Seven years ago, I was working as a police officer for the Town of Caledonia Police Department.
God Spoke To Me -- Psalm 66:1-12 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sister Alice J. Giere -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2003
My sister, Sister Joan Frances Giere, and I were on a vacation trip with our mother.
Life-giving Plasma -- Psalm 23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Harold Weaver -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
In August of 1966, I visited Germany.
In The Midst Of An Attack, A Transformation -- Luke 18:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Connie Hays Coddington -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2003
The telephone rang in my motel room in El Salvador.
A Call To Ministry -- Acts 11:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt, Nancy Nichols -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
I joined the church when I was in junior high school.
You Don't Depend On People -- Psalm 65 -- John E. Sumwalt, Larry Winebrenner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2003
Names and places in the following account have been changed to protect the guilty.
God's Prodding Fork -- Acts 16:9-15 -- John E. Sumwalt, Kay Boone Stewart -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
A silver dining fork hangs against dark blue, crushed velvet in an antique, gold box frame in my off
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
36 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A crèche, or manger scene. Any size and style is fine as long as it includes shepherds. Have the creche set up before you begin.

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (vv. 13-14)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 62:6-12
Isaiah proclaims, “Look, your savior comes.” We celebrate on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day the coming of our savior into the world – not as one full of power, but as a babe, vulnerable and human, as one born among us. Yes, God has great things in store for this babe, great lessons to teach us and for us to absorb as we watch this babe become a child and then a man. But in this quiet moment, this moment in a stable, born of indigent, immigrant parents, we see our own vulnerability portrayed in the Christ child.
Wayne Brouwer
There is a powerful scene in Herman Melville’s great epic, Moby Dick, where Captain Ahab stands peg-legged on the deck of the Pequod during a violent storm (chapter 119). His obsession with the White Whale has carried the craft and crew to exotic and frightening locales, and now it seems as if divine providence might be unleashing furious anger against this ill-fated quest.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:

SermonStudio

Derl G. Keefer
I read an old legend about a Christmas party that Satan and his pack of demons were having in hell. As the demonic guests were departing, one laughed and grinned and sarcastically said to Satan, “Merry Christmas your majesty!” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Today the focus is all about the Messiah and we need to be serious about it. It is the birth of the baby Jesus, the Messiah. It is the coming of God…the doctrine of incarnation. It is the intervention of God’s presence among humanity.
Stephen P. McCutchan
... He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
-- Psalm 96:13

Gregory L. Tolle
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
James Evans
This psalm gives us the proper theme for a Christmas Day celebration: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises" (v. 4).

Carlos Wilton
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Christmas Day, Cycle A; see also Easter 7, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The lectionary includes two sets of readings for Christmas Day: those appointed for dawn services, and those appointed for services that take place later in the day. Psalm 97 is designated as one of these early-morning readings.

William Powell Tuck
Christmas is usually associated in our memory as a time of great joy. But for many it is also a time for cynicism. There are some people for whom Christmas is difficult. It is a time of struggle, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. There are more suicides during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. A comment by a woman in a nursing home indicates the feeling of some: "No one really cares. No one cares about me now.
Mark Wm. Radecke
Because Jesus was Mary's firstborn, there were four words that she and Joseph did not have to hear as they made the arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Four words that make long journeys longer. Four words that strike terror in the hearts of parents of every time and every place. Four words from which even the youngest child seems to be able to craft a sentence: Are we there yet?

I am struck this year by the number of journeys the narratives of Jesus' birth and infancy entail:

* Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem;
Julia Ross Strope
Gathering music
Christmas medley

(Light the Christ candle.)

(Invite adults, children, and youth ahead of time to bring a favorite gift for a one-sentence show and tell.)

Greeting
Leader: Merry Christmas!

People: Merry Christmas!

Leader: Settle your Christmas gifts on the pew beside you and find the space within your minds and hearts to sing, pray, listen, and talk.
James R. Wilson


Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us celebrate, for Christ our savior has been born!
People: Is our Messiah, the promised one, among us this day?
Leader: Surely I say unto you, Christ the Lord is with us even as we speak.
People: Are even sinners such as we welcome in Christ's kingdom?
Leader: Praise to the Lord God Almighty, for in Christ we are all welcome!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
After baby Jesus grew up to be a man, he got into terrible trouble, and wicked people killed him. But a good man called Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus's body gently in his own grave, which he'd made ready for when he should die. After that the wicked people searched for Joseph of Arimathea, and so he ran away from Jerusalem carrying with him a special cup like this one, which contained some of Jesus's holy blood.

Special Occasion

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