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Tom M. Garrison

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What Shall We Become? -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Almost thirty years ago a play titled, Mourning Pictures, opened off-Broadway.
Bethlehem: Where Extremes Meet -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Tom M. Garrison -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Every year at this particular season, I am amazed all over again at the impact that the old, old sto
Our Task: Acceptance And Challenge -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Tom M. Garrison -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
What do our children need of us really, as adults, as parents, and as the community of faith called
The Baptism Of The Lord -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Tom M. Garrison -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
This text invites us to listen as John the Baptist tells the people that there is one who is coming
Mary's Magnificat -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Tom M. Garrison -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Christmas songs have a way of staying with us from childhood.
Wedding Day -- John 2:1-11 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
It had been a standard practice, in years past, that the most popular month for weddings was June.
Strength Out Of Weakness -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2001
It was the July 22, 1999, CNN live coverage of the burial at sea of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
The Pain Of Caring -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2001
Amazing statements have a powerful way of burning themselves into our memories.
The Word Of Confession -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Tom M. Garrison -- 2001
On January 21, 2001, George W.
Have Mercy On Me -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2001
"Lord, have mercy on me." My earliest memory of that statement goes back to a little farm in central
Who Am I To Judge Another? -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2001
While I was still in seminary, I thought it would be good to go back to my roots and try to understa
Living On The Edge -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2001
In 1971 Evel Knievel attempted to jump across Snake River on a rocket--powered motorcycle.
A Living Sacrifice -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2001
I had always assumed I understood the word "sacrifice." A recent trip to Mexico City, however, washe
Victims? -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2001
After watching Gandhi, the acclaimed movie about the nonviolent leader of India, for the sixt
A Call To Love -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2001
Of all the words used throughout the world, the one that is used the most -- or misused the most --
The Mind Of Christ -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2001
As we read the writings of the Apostle Paul, we begin to get a sense through the Spirit that we are
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Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

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

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Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
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I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

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John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

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One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

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Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
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We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
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Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
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Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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