Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 30, 10:30amSermon: Forbid It, Lord!Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 16 : 21 – 28

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23, 10:30amSermon: A Sense of IdentityAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 16 : 13 – 20 A Sense of IdentityMatthew 16:13-20 8/23/2026Depending on where you live in the world, your sense of identity will change. Here, in the United States, we identify ourselves by what we do: banker, teacher, stay-at-home spouse, etc. The problem with this is that when we retire, we lose that sense of identity. The banker still has the skills to be a banker, but…

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, 10:30amSermon: He Said What?!Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 9, 10:30amSermon: Power Over Even ThatAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 14 : 22 – 33 Power Over Even ThatMatthew 14:22-33 8/9/2026Jesus is running on empty. John the Baptizer’s disciples come to Jesus with the news that John was beheaded by Herod over a lustful request from his stepdaughter. It’s a death that should never have happened. Just how drunk was Herod that night? Jesus is hurting. He needs time to grieve. But there is no time. Here…

Nine Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 10:30amSermon: Wheat and LeavenAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 13 : 31 – 33, 44 – 52

Eighth Sunday of Pentecost, July 19, 10:30amSermon: Wheat and Tares…oh, my!Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 13 : 24 – 30, 36 – 43

Seventh Sunday of Pentecost, July 12, 10:30amSermon: RootlessAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 13 : 1 – 9, 18 – 23 RootlessMatthew 13:1-9; 18-23 7/12/2026 For many years I proudly used my compost pile. I used a careful mix of brown and green. I put foot scraps in it to avoid sending them to the landfill. I turned it as often as I found time to, which wasn’t often, yet, it heated up as was intended. After many years of faithful use, I…

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 5, 10:30am.Sermon: Why the Yoke?Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 11 : 16 – 19, 25 – 30.

Fifth Sunday of Pentecost, June 28, 10:30am.Sermon: Cool Water.Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 10 : 40-42 and Matthew 19 : 13 – 15.

Fourth Sunday of Pentecost, June 21, 10:30amSermon: Take Courage, Take HeartAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 10 : 24-39

Third Sunday of Pentecost, June 14, 10:30amSermon: Who? Me?Accompanying Scripture: Matthew 9 : 35 – 10 : 8 Who? Me?Matthew 9:35-10:8 6/14/2026Living in first-century Palestine was excruciating. The Empire held sway over everyaspect of their lives. The people were not worthy of consideration or respect byCaesar. The Emperor claimed ownership of everything in the Empire.That included the Sea of Galilee, claiming the best fish for himself and his elite friends,with no payment to fishermen. The remaining fish was sold in…

First Sunday of Pentecost, June 7, 10:30amSermon: Life on the EdgeAccompanying Scripture: Matthew 9 : 9-13, 18-26 Life on the EdgesMatthew 9:9-13; 18-26 6/7/2026Shortly after we were married, my husband’s band went from Pittsburgh,PA, to Youngstown, OH, to play a two-night gig. The contract was toperform on a Saturday and Sunday evening until 2:00 in the morning.Since Tom had relatives living in Youngstown, I traveled with him for achange of pace. Sunday morning, 2:00 arrived, and the band took theirusual…