Sermon and Worship Resources

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Luke 1:46-56

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

The Christmas concert was about to begin. The professional musicians were ready. All eyes were on the band director as he brought down his baton. Softly, flutes began weaving a magical introduction, capturing the audience's spirit. An instrumental duet formed with clarinets adding their voices. Then more wind instruments came in. Finally, brass and percussion entered and volume and tempo increase...

2. Bridge Builders

Luke 7:1-10

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

As the three cousins ran through the woods, jumping over fallen trees, zigzagging through knee-high ferns, and pushing branches out of their way, a chorus of laughter rose in the still air. "Don't be so pokey, Michael," teased his older cousin. "Watch out for that rock on the left," Sam warned the boys. A yelp went up as Jeremy stumbled. "Come on, come on. We're almost there," Sam hollered. "I ca...

3. Christmas Grass and Easter Tinsel

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

I think there are two items that seem never to disappear. You might find them anywhere in your home — under the couch, adorning a plant, behind the hamper, on the bathroom floor, or imbedded in the carpet. Of course, you can try to remove them. A vacuum, a broom, or a feather duster might take care of them, but they are bound to return. Let me give you some clues to solving this mystery. * Clue...

4. Don’t Burn The Cookies!

Luke 21:25-36

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Today we enter the season of Advent. The countdown has begun as we once more anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ. Advent is a time to prepare, not just our homes but our hearts. What joy floods our hearts as we sing "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" The Son of God entered our world so quietly — no one, except those searching the heavens, saw the star that announced his birth. Ho...

5. Don’t Touch Me With That Water!

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

"Fill the glasses with water, honey. Daddy's guests will be here soon," Mother said. Her young son carefully filled the fragile, crystal goblets. "How's it look, Mom?" Surveying the elegantly set table, she smiled and ruffled his hair. "You did great work, honey. Daddy will be so pleased." The boy grinned in anticipation of his father's approval. The door bell rang. "Our guests have arrived. Let'...

6. Fire! Fire!

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

After this second Sunday of Christmas, the church will enter the season of Epiphany. Epiphany officially begins on January 6. Epiphany is the time the church commemorates the coming of the magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The magi, traditionally called the wise men, had discovered a new star shining in the heavens. They believed it announced the birth of a divine being....

7. Fit the Picture

Luke 4:21-30

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

It was the History Day Parade at James T. Jones Elementary School. Each class picked a period of time to portray. The sixth grade chose the medieval days. Every student was to design a costume, and, of course, mom, auntie, grandma, or another family member - female or male - was to create it. Those who couldn't sew could make a placard or paper bag costume or wrap themselves in universal duct tape...

8. Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven

Luke 6:27-38

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

She stood peeking out from behind the curtains. As the jogger passed her house, he recalled the hurt she had inflicted upon his mother. At one time she had been the matriarch of the congregation. His memories of her were not fond. He recalled her wicked tongue and the way she used it to cut down others. He never forgot the day she used it against his mother making her cry. That incident caused t...

9. Go, Climb A Mountain!

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

The plane from Amsterdam to Africa was crowded. As three passengers stood in the aisle, you could tell they were hikers. Awkwardly, they stuffed heavy backpacks into already overloaded bins. Excitement seemed to emanate from them. Their conversation was animated as they laughed and focused on their climb up the fourth highest mountain in the world. As the plane flew over the Alps, they strained t...

10. Go, Johnny, Go, Go, Go!

Luke 3:1-6

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Every Sunday, a church broadcasts a one-hour service over the waves of 1450 WMIQ, the local radio station. It begins with this announcement, "From the shores of beautiful Crystal Lake, we bring you Our Saviour's morning service." One Advent season, the pastor had selected an "in the sandals" sermon series. The first biblical character to be heard from was John the Baptist. As John entered clothed...

11. How Firm a Foundation

Luke 6:39-49

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Every night after work and on weekends, Eric worked on building his cabin. It was not on his lot in Waterford Township, but in his own backyard. It was sort of prefab — constructed with cedar, a section at a time. On Sunday afternoons, accompanied by his family, he loaded up his trailer with completed sections and hauled them up to his property. The camp became known as Shaky Cedars. As each wal...

12. Jesus Makes All the Difference

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Our gospel reading for this Epiphany Sunday is a marvelous story about confrontation. The wise men — more commonly known as the three kings today — were teachers of science and truth. They had been watching the heavens, searching for a sign of God's activity in the world, when they were confronted by a star. The poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was confronted while reading their story in the gos...

13. Love Walked Across the Field

Luke 4:14-21

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

The ministry of Jesus was on a roll. After his baptism and time in the wilderness, he went forth to proclaim God's gospel of love. Following his preaching in Galilee, he entered his hometown. Although born in Bethlehem, his parents had fled to Egypt to protect their son from the wrath of King Herod. When Joseph heard of Herod's death, he brought his family back to live in Nazareth. As a young boy...

14. Only the Best

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

In areas where wine is made, there are places many go to sample the different varieties offered by each vineyard. People who are connoisseurs of wine — those who are critical judges in the matter of taste — can tell a good wine from a poor wine. The chief steward in our text was one of those who knew the difference, as does the winemaker, Leigh. After retiring from a career in special education,...

15. Risk Takers

Luke 6:17-26

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

"Louise, can you and Pastor Hal come to Thanksgiving dinner at our house this Friday? I have this really, really big turkey, and I don't want a ton of leftovers," Tracy implored her friend. "Well, I'd love to, but we always invite a widower, Andy Vespa, each Thanksgiving. I don't want him to be by himself with his pork and beans. Of course, Steve and Vicki will be here, too," Louise replied. "And...

16. The Ashes of Our Lives

Luke 5:1-11

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

When she was a teenager, Cindy worked for her father. She and her sister and three other girls were hookers. Don't get excited now. They were paid to put a fishing hook and red flipper on a split ring, then attach it to fishing lure. She was often teased about her after school job, as well as about the job her father had. It wasn't until she was a freshman in college that she learned to say that h...

17. The Coat Off Your Back

Luke 3:7-18

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Thanksgiving — cornucopias, fall harvests, turkey and pumpkin pie, corn stalks, and scarecrows — outward signs associated with the holiday we celebrated only seventeen days ago. Even before Halloween and Thanksgiving ended, holiday colors had changed. Orange pumpkin lights were replaced by white or multicolored twinkling lights. A small town policeman looks forward every year to hanging his ou...

18. Tradition Can Be Changed

Luke 2:41-52

Sermon

Cynthia Cowen

Tradition is defined as an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought or action. Take for instance a cooking method. Sarah asked her mother, "Why do you always cut the turkey in half and put it in two small roasters?" "Because my mother always did. It's a tradition handed down through our family," responded her mother. "But Mom, did you ever think they didn't have big roasters back ...

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