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2009

October 18, Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Luke 18:15-17, "Empty Hands", Rev.Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

October 11, Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Mark 10:17-27, "Where Are You?", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

October 4, Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Mark 10:2-16, "The Deeper Question", Rev. Bill Sanders, Interim Associate Pastor, preaching  [listen]

August 23, Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; John 6:56-69, "Does This Bother You?", Rev. Bill Sanders, Interim Associate Pastor, preaching [listen]

August 16, Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16; John 7:37-44, "Unity in Diversity- The Community of Faith", Rev. Bill Sanders, Interim Associate Pastor, preaching [listen]

August 9, Psalm 84; John 1:1-18, "Bursting with Life", Rev Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

August 2,  Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 7:9-17, [listen]

July 26, Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; John 5:1-9, "Shalom, Y'all", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

July 12, Deuteronomy 6:1-9;2 Timothy 1:1-14, "I Love to Tell the Story", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

June 28,  Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Luke 4:16-21, Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

June 14, Genesis 18:1-8; John 13:1-16, "Come On In!", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen] 

June 7, Isaiah 6:1-8; John 3:1-17, "Put on your Dancing Shoes", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

May 31, Ezekiel 37:1-14; Acts 2:1-21, "The Question", Rev. Steve Jester, preaching [listen]

May 24,  Acts 1: 1-11; Luke 24: 44-53, "What are We Looking for?", Rev. Bill Sander, Interim Associate Pastor, preaching [listen]

May 17, Acts 10:34-48: John 15:9-17, "Irresistible!", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

May 10, Luke 10:25-37 (from The Message), "Love is Hard, Love is Joy, Love Needs to be Shared", sermon by Stephanie Klotter, Grady Nutt, and Mackenzie Lyles [listen]

May 3, Acts 4:1-12; John 10:11-28,  "Fightin' Words", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

April 26, Acts 3:11-19; Luke 24:36-48, "Can I Get a Witness?", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching  [listen]

April 19, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-3, "You Never Let Go", Eugene Ansah, Seminary Intern, [listen]

April 12, Acts 10:34-43: John 20:1-18, Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

April 5,  Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; John 12:12-19, "Who will Save Us?", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

March 29,  Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33, "Dying to See Jesus", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

March 22, Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:16-21, "It's Not About Us", Rev. Steve Jester, preaching [listen]

March 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Gospel Reading: John 2:13-22, "Bridging the Gap", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

March 8, "Second Best-A People, A Place, A Purpose", Genesis 17:1-7; Mark 8:31-38, Dr. Doug Slagle, Associate Pastor, preaching [listen]

March 1, Genesis 9:8-17; Mark 1:9:15, "For the Long Haul", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

February 22, 2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9, "It's Real", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

February 15, 2 Kings 5:1-14; Mark 1:40-45, "The Weakness of Power", Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

February 8, Isaiah 40:21-31; Mark 1:29-39 "The Shape of Our Ministry" Dr. Doug Slagle, Associate Pastor, preaching [listen]

February 1, Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Mark 1:21-28 The Rev. Steve Jester, Pastor, preaching [listen]

January 25, Jonah 3:1-5; Mark 1:14-20, "Showing Up" Rev. Steve Jester, preaching [listen]
 
January 18, Nehemiah 4:1-9; John 1:43-51, "Under Construction" Rev. Harry C. Meissner, preaching [listen]
This sermon is from the induction service for Rev. Steve Jester, who reads the Old Testement litergy from Nehemiah.

2008

October 12, John 15:9-12, Romans 12:1-2 "Sermon Summary - Seven Lessons"  [PDF]

September 28, Matthew 21:23-32, PHILIPPIANS 2:1-13 "Living the Confession"  [Listen] 

"Jesus Christ is Lord" is the oldest confession and the thread that runs through the church from Philippi to Second. But living the Confession means "Christ is First" in all of our living. And the way of humility and service to Christ means "Second is Second."

September 14, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 "Accountability is the In Thing"  [Listen] 

We Presbyterians would never think of wearing uniforms to church. We celebrate unity, not uniformity. So there is a difference between judging each other and holding ourselves accountable to God.

September 7, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 "Don't Hit the Snooze Button"  [Listen] 

Paul says, “Be awake to what God is doing! Get out of bed and dress yourselves in Christ.” If you hit the snooze button, you might miss the chance to break the fast of grace.

August 31, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 "Just a Bunch of Do-Gooders"  [Listen] 

Right there in the text is the job description for every Christian, and it begins and ends with “doing good.”

August 24, Romans 12:1-8, 29-32, Matthew 16"13-20 "When Worship is Doing"  [Listen]

Real worship is a spirit and body experience - transforming how we think and what we do to show anyone what is "good and acceptable and perfect." ...That's right. WE can do the perfect will of God!

August 17, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:10-28 "Great Faith in Unexpected Places"  Doug Slagle, preaching [Listen]

Jesus encounters a woman who wants to be included in his ministry. She insists on her place even though she is an outsider.  Jesus says she has great faith.  Where do we find great faith?

August 10, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 28:16-20 "Growing the Church Deep and Wide"  Betty Meadows, Executive Presbyter [Listen]

August 3, Romans 9:9-16, GENESIS 32:21-31 "A Wrestling-Resting Place"[Listen]

Jacob wrestled with a man all night, but by daylight he recognized the face of the one who had blessed him.

July 13, Romans 8:1-10, GENESIS 25:19-28 "Overcoming DNA"[Listen]

Sarah laughed when she heard she would bear a child at the age of 80.But God made her laugh for a different reason, and everyone laughed wthher.

June 15, Romans 51-8, GENESIS 18:1-2, 9-13; 21:1-7 "A Boy Named Laughter"[Listen]

Sarah laughed when she heard she would bear a child at the age of 80. But God made her laugh for a different reason, and everyone laughed wth her.

June 8, Matthew 8:9-13, GENESIS 12:1-9 "When Caller ID Says God" [Listen] [PDF]

God calls Abram, Jesus calls Matthew. God is always calling, and God calls everyone. And sometimes God "speaks" through a speaker.

June 1, Matthew 7:22-29, GENESIS 6:9-22 "Noah's Choice with God - and Ours" [Listen] [PDF]

We think the flood destroyed everything, but the text says God was saving most everything. God gave Noah a choice, and Jesus gave the followers a choice. And we have a choice, too.

May 25, Isaiah 59:8-16a, MATTHEW 6:24-34 "It's Not About the Money" [Listen] [PDF]

Jesus said you can serve God or money, but it's not about the money. It's about who you serve, about who rules all your living so that you can live rightly.

May 18, 1 PETER 4:12-14, 5:6-11; Matthew 28:16-20; "The God Who Creates Relationships" Doug Slagle [Listen]

From the beginning of time, God has been making relationships - creation with creature, creature with creation, and creature with creature. 

May 11, Pentecost! Acts 2:1-13, JOHN 1:14 "Many Languages - One 'Word'"[Tape malfunction, no recording][PDF]

They all heard good news in a language they could understand, but non-verbal communication speaks best!

May 4, 1 PETER 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11; "Is There Such a Thing as Suffering for a Little While?" Sarah Bishop [Listen]

Rejoicing in suffering seems unncessary, or even deadly; how can we wait for God's grace?

April 27, 1 Peter 3:13-22, JOHN 14:15-21 "With Us Forever" Shawn Thomas Smith [Listen]

April 20, 1 Peter 2:4-10, JOHN 14:1-7 "Not a Choice - Just a Fact" [Listen] [PDF]

The resurrected Christ is the Lord, and shows us everything we need to know about God. He is the way, truth, life, whether or not we choose him.

April 13, Psalm 23, JOHN 10:1-11 "Good Gatekeeper - Open Gate" [Listen]

The good Shepherd does not try to pen us in and keep us out of the world. The gate is wide open, and he expects us to go out - and come back in!

April 6, 1 Peter 1:17-23, LUKE 24:13-31 "Almost Missed Him" [Listen] [PDF]

Confirmation is not just a day, or even a year of classes and retreats and trips. Confirmation is a life of growing faith every day and witnessing Christ in our lives.

March 30, 1 John 1:1-7, Acts 2:1-4a, 22-32 "Growing Faith and Witnessing Christ" Nathan Esser [Listen]

Confirmation is not just a day, or even a year of classes and retreats and trips. Confirmation is a life of growing faith every day and witnessing Christ in our lives.

March 23, Colossians 31-4, John 20:1-18 "Empty Tomb or Risen Lord" [Listen] [PDF]

There were lots of explanations for the empty tomb, but the real withess to the resurrection was the living Lord - in the living of the followers!

March 16, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 21:1-11 "A Parade Fit for A King" Dr. Slagle [Listen]

Jesus initiates an alternative parade for his kind of king.

March 9, Romans 8:9-17, JOHN 11:17-27 "Do You Believe This?" [Listen]

Jesus performs the miracle that may be the hardest one for us to accept, and in faith it is a sign that he can change our lives now - and change the whole world now.

February 24, Romans 5:1-11, JOHN 4:7-15: "The Gift in the Water" [Listen]

We say that water is a necessity of life, but it’s not the water - it’s the drinking. Jesus says we need to drink the gift in the water.

February 17, Genesis 12:1-4, JOHN 3:1-18: "Feel the Wind" [Listen][PDF]

Nicodemus was asking questions about second birth in theory, and Jesus answered that new comes from a spiritual reality - the wind!

February 10, Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7, MATTHEW 4:1-11; "Same Old Temptation" [Listen][PDF]

Temptations are all pretty much the same: wishing we didn’t have tolive with the limits of humanity - wishing we didn’t have to live byfaith.

February 3, Exodus 24:12-18, MATTHEW 17:1-8; "Mountain Mist and Morning Light" [Listen]

We all look back to those great spiritual “mountain top experiences,” and they give us light for the journey in the valley.

January 27, I Corinthians 12:27-13:13, MATTHEW 12:12-23; "United in the Same Purpose" [Listen]

With all the things that a church does in its mission, how do we keep united in THE mission?

January 20, I Corinthians 1:1-9, JOHN 1:29-34; "Seeing Each Other in a Different Light" [Listen]

John thought Jesus had no need for baptism, but more was going on that he knew. Maybe we need baptism and reminders of our baptism more than we know, too.

January 13, Isaiah 42:1-9, MATTHEW 3:13-17; "Why WE Need Baptism" [Listen]

John thought Jesus had no need for baptism, but more was going on that he knew. Maybe we need baptism and reminders of our baptism more than we know, too.

January 6, Isaiah 60:1-6, MATTHEW 2:1-12; "No Need for a Star" [Listen]

An Epiphany is a light shining in the dark, and now we have a light the dark cannot overcome.

2007

December 16, Isaiah 35:1-10, MATTHEW 11:2-11; "A Life for Love" [PDF] [Listen]

How do we see hope and peace in the future? Look for love in the present: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear. Christ comes whenever we do his work.

December 9, Isaiah 11:1-9; Matthew 3:1-11; "A Place for Peace" [PDF] [Listen]

What is past always passes away. God's salvation always comes to us from the future, so, why would we look to the past? Why would we be too occupied by the present?

December 2, Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44; "A Time for Hope" [Listen]

What is past always passes away. God's salvation always comes to us from the future, so, why would we look to the past? Why would we be too occupied by the present?

November 25, Colossians 1:10-25, LUKE 23:33-43; "The Regal Way of Forgiving" [listen]

Disgraced, dethroned, and near dead, Jesus chooses forgiveness as his last regal act, and declares that any who want to live in the new kingdom of his rule are forgiven - and must become forgivers.

November 18, Isaiah 65:17-25, LUKE 21:5-19; "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?" Doug Slagle [listen]

Nov. 11, 2 Thess 2:13-17, LUKE 20:20-27; "Saying Yes and Saying No"[Listen]

Love can give us a long list of great things to do, and a hard time choosing what is more important. Maybe it would help first to decide what NOT to do.

October 28, 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18, LUKE 18:9-14; "No Big Deal" [Listen]

The Reformation was all about grace, and we think sin is no big deal. God does, too, and grace leads us to the different big deal.

October 21, Children’s Sabbath, 2 Tim 3:14-17, MARK 10:13-16; "A Lesson for Children" [Listen]

Children and Youth led every part of worship on Sunday, and the sermon became an extended Lesson for Children so that even adults could have a new picture of the messages we get from the furniture in the sanctuary.

October 14, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, LUKE 17:11-19; "The Other Nine" [PDF] [Listen]

One came back to say thank you, but Jesus is wondering about the other nine. So, which is more powerful: guilt or gratitude?

September 30, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, LUKE 15:19-31; "Crossing the Great Chasm"[PDF]

In a world where there are such extremes of all kinds, especially rich and poor - like opposite sides of a canyon - Christ does warn us that at some point even his mercy cannot reach the distance to the other side.

September 23, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, LUKE 15:1-8; "Making Friends" [Listen]

The crafty and dishonest manager thought he was looking out for #1 by making friends, and Jesus says we should be different and do the same thing – because there can only be one #1.

September 16, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, LUKE 15:1-8; "Every and Each One"[Listen]

A good shepherd counts the sheep morning, noon, and night - not to see how many he has, but to make sure that each sheep is with all the sheep. A good shepherd is a shepherd to one sheep at a time.

September 9, Jeremiah 18:1-11, LUKE 14:25-33; "Give It Up For God!" [Listen]

Measuring the cost of real commitment to Christ and church is a real issue. We bring all our old life, old loyalties, old loves with us into church, and Jesus tells us to give it all up for God. And it is worth it!

September 2, Hebrews 13:1-8, LUKE 14:1, 7-14; "A Lesson in Hospitality" Dr. Doug Slagle [Listen]

Jesus said he came not to be served, but to serve - and to give his life. And he calls us to be servers, too.

August 26, Isaiah 43:18-25, MARK 2:1-12; "When Jesus Saw Their Faith" Dr. Dean Thompson [PDF]

We do not make it through life's dangers, toils and snares on our own. We praise God for the strength, faith and good will of caring friends and loved ones who have ut their own arms around us and who have carried us into the presence and power of Jesus Christ.

August 19, Hebrews 11:32-12:2, LUKE 12:49-56; "Denial is a Dangerous Thing" [Listen]

Jesus wonders about the people who can see rain coming, but won't face up to the choices for faithfulness. The power of grace and the gift of fiath make the choices easy.