Category: Religion
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The Fears of Christmas
given on December 14, 2014 Maybe the idea of fears at Christmas time is unsettling, but mentally check the picture of the little kids who line up to see Santa. Parents are planning the annual photo op and kids want to make sure Santa has their Christmas list. Then fear…
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The promises of Christmas: past, present and future
given on Sunday, December 7, 2014 Christmas is full of promises, but the promises most of us think about are what comes under the Christmas tree. With our kids clamoring about the house focused only on what they are hoping Santa brings, with the commercials promising all kinds of results,…
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The sounds of Christmas: Harmony or Cacaphony
given on Sunday, November 30, 2014 Radio stations are playing Christmas songs, the familiar tunes create a background at all the stores, and the sounds of Christmas clearly remind us that we are getting ready for a very special celebration, a birthday party for Jesus. The sounds of Christmas are…
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Trouble, trouble, everywhere . . .
given on Sunday, November 16, 2014 Look around us. No matter where we turn there are troubles that fill conversations, television screens, Facebook postings, not to mention doctors’ offices, and more. Trouble seems to be a constant that multiplies rather than fades away. And even though we do not…
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Respond, Responsible, Responsibility
given on November 2, 2014 Okay, I admit. I have may have shirked my responsibility this week. Maybe I have avoided my responsibility for even a month. I must now face the consequence for what I have—or have not—done. If I am really honest, I have to say that…
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Time to Check Ourselves
given on Sunday, October 26, 2014 Preparing for last Sunday’s service, I had read through the story of The Golden Calf and stumbled into a question in the study aids that have stayed with me all this week, too: What false gods in your life are preventing the true…
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No fear, God is near
Ghosts, ghouls, goblins. . . No Fear, God Is Near given on Sunday, October 19, 2014 For some reason I keep thinking that Halloween is this week, but the 19th is closer to the middle of the month and Halloween is still almost two weeks away. I suppose I…
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Oktoberfest: Christians’ Global Grapevine
Sunday, October 5, 2014–a set of scriptures and thoughts concerning World Communion Sunday The structure of this reflection is different as it was presented in sections while conducting the Service of the Word and Table I from the United Methodist Hymnal. Isaiah 5:1-7 (NLT): A Song about the Lord’s Vineyard…
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Mysteries of Harvest
given on Sunday, September 28, 2014 Scripture Base: Matthew 13:36-43 “Parable of the Wheat and Weeds” 24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds…
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Mission: Connecting to or via God
given on Sunday, September 21, 2014 MISSION: Connecting to or via God? When school started and I was looking at all the brand new supplies that were filling the store shelves, I felt that surge of excitement I have known my entire life. The store shelves are now filled with…
Susandoodles 