Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Back from the Dead"
Sermon Starter: "Healing Tears" by John Sumwalt
Shining Moments: "Wandering Eye" by Paul Calkin
Scrap Pile: "Healing Deep Wounds" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
When King David heard of the death of his wayward son, Absalom, he wept. He went to his bedroom and wailed: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Samuel 18:33). When was the last time you heard or saw someone express their grief so profoundly? Keening for the dead is not heard much in middle class North America.
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Back from the Dead"
Sermon Starter: "Healing Tears" by John Sumwalt
Shining Moments: "Wandering Eye" by Paul Calkin
Scrap Pile: "Healing Deep Wounds" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
When King David heard of the death of his wayward son, Absalom, he wept. He went to his bedroom and wailed: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Samuel 18:33). When was the last time you heard or saw someone express their grief so profoundly? Keening for the dead is not heard much in middle class North America.
Keith Hewitt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"6248" by Keith Hewitt
"Sky Show" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * *
6248
by Keith Hewitt
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The ground rolled gently as it stretched away from him, close-cropped grass in long, slow waves like the languorous swells of some miscolored ocean. Instead of frothy whitecaps, though, these waves bore line upon line of small white markers, one like the other, in neat ranks and files that rolled out as far as the eye could see.
"6248" by Keith Hewitt
"Sky Show" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * *
6248
by Keith Hewitt
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The ground rolled gently as it stretched away from him, close-cropped grass in long, slow waves like the languorous swells of some miscolored ocean. Instead of frothy whitecaps, though, these waves bore line upon line of small white markers, one like the other, in neat ranks and files that rolled out as far as the eye could see.
Frank Ramierz
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"Resurrecting the Unknown" by Frank Ramierz
"Waiting and Hoping" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Resurrecting the Unknown
by Frank Ramirez
Ezekiel 37:1-14
He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."
-- Ezekiel 37:3
Woody Guthrie (1921-1967) is best remembered for songs like "This Land Is Your Land," but he wrote literally thousands of lyrics during his prolific career as a songwriter, singer, and author. One of his most famous poems, "Plane Wreck At Los Gatos," was set to music by Martin Hoffman and has been recorded by many famous and familiar names such as Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Judy Collins, Johnny Cash, Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Byrds, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul, and Mary -- the list is endless.
"Resurrecting the Unknown" by Frank Ramierz
"Waiting and Hoping" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Resurrecting the Unknown
by Frank Ramirez
Ezekiel 37:1-14
He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."
-- Ezekiel 37:3
Woody Guthrie (1921-1967) is best remembered for songs like "This Land Is Your Land," but he wrote literally thousands of lyrics during his prolific career as a songwriter, singer, and author. One of his most famous poems, "Plane Wreck At Los Gatos," was set to music by Martin Hoffman and has been recorded by many famous and familiar names such as Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Judy Collins, Johnny Cash, Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Byrds, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul, and Mary -- the list is endless.
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"Lord of Life" by John Fitzgerald
Lord of Life
by John Fitzgerald
Romans 8:6-11
This first Sunday in April we come to worship with thoughts of mowing green grass for a first time and entering into the Opening Day of baseball. Signs of spring are all around us. To capture the mood of today hear these words of a familiar poem written by Cecil Alexander:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
"Lord of Life" by John Fitzgerald
Lord of Life
by John Fitzgerald
Romans 8:6-11
This first Sunday in April we come to worship with thoughts of mowing green grass for a first time and entering into the Opening Day of baseball. Signs of spring are all around us. To capture the mood of today hear these words of a familiar poem written by Cecil Alexander:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful;
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"What Else Are We Supposed To Pray For?" by C. David McKirachan
"Be A Hero" by C. David McKirachan
"Our Story" by Frank Ramirez
What Else Are We Supposed To Pray For?
C. David McKirachan
Romans 8:6-11
Whenever I walk into a church building, my first instinct is to go into the sanctuary and climb into the pulpit. I hold onto it and scan the sanctuary, trying to get the feel of the place. I never noticed my habit, until I was there to have a job interview. One of the search committee members, who’d been showing me around asked me what I was interested in. I stood there, rubbing my thumb and middle finger together, “Trying to get a feel of the place.” And as I said it, I realized something was going on that would be hard to describe to a search committee, especially considering what I’d picked up. And that made me very conscious of my instinctual habit.
"What Else Are We Supposed To Pray For?" by C. David McKirachan
"Be A Hero" by C. David McKirachan
"Our Story" by Frank Ramirez
What Else Are We Supposed To Pray For?
C. David McKirachan
Romans 8:6-11
Whenever I walk into a church building, my first instinct is to go into the sanctuary and climb into the pulpit. I hold onto it and scan the sanctuary, trying to get the feel of the place. I never noticed my habit, until I was there to have a job interview. One of the search committee members, who’d been showing me around asked me what I was interested in. I stood there, rubbing my thumb and middle finger together, “Trying to get a feel of the place.” And as I said it, I realized something was going on that would be hard to describe to a search committee, especially considering what I’d picked up. And that made me very conscious of my instinctual habit.
John E. Sumwalt
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spiritis life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesusfrom the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also throughhis Spirit that dwells in you. (vv. 9-11)
I woke up at 5:00 A.M., milking time, on the day they laid Vince Willis to rest in the Loyd Cemetery just a mile south of our old farm in Richland County, Wisconsin.
I woke up at 5:00 A.M., milking time, on the day they laid Vince Willis to rest in the Loyd Cemetery just a mile south of our old farm in Richland County, Wisconsin.
John S. Smylie
Argile Smith
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Bones" by John Smylie
"Waiting" by Argile Smith
"Do You Suppose Job Flew Coach?" by Keith Hewitt
What's Up This Week
Life from death -- that is the central message of our faith. Out of the death of Jesus on the cross springs eternal life for every believer. Just as Ezekiel saw the dry bones given new life, so we who were dead in sin can see new life in our bones. John Smylie examines the notion of dead bones and new life in "Bones." In "Waiting," Argile Smith offers a glimpse of resurrection through the lens of a house fire. Even when it seems death has won, life can return if we wait for it. "Do You Suppose Job Flew Coach?" reminds us that God can always bring new life and new provision even when all seems lost, if we have the faith to believe.
* * * * * * * * *
Bones
John Smylie
Ezekiel 37:1-14
What's Up This Week
"Bones" by John Smylie
"Waiting" by Argile Smith
"Do You Suppose Job Flew Coach?" by Keith Hewitt
What's Up This Week
Life from death -- that is the central message of our faith. Out of the death of Jesus on the cross springs eternal life for every believer. Just as Ezekiel saw the dry bones given new life, so we who were dead in sin can see new life in our bones. John Smylie examines the notion of dead bones and new life in "Bones." In "Waiting," Argile Smith offers a glimpse of resurrection through the lens of a house fire. Even when it seems death has won, life can return if we wait for it. "Do You Suppose Job Flew Coach?" reminds us that God can always bring new life and new provision even when all seems lost, if we have the faith to believe.
* * * * * * * * *
Bones
John Smylie
Ezekiel 37:1-14
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
