Previous Sermons | Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church

Engaging the Spirits

Sunday, Jan 29 2012
Rev. James M. Rand

It is no great stretch of imagination to say that each encounter with Jesus in the Gospel of Mark involves casting out demons or unclean spirits. The stories move fast: from today’s confrontation in a synagogue to the stilling of a storm and ...

Scripture: Psalm 111, Mark 1:21-28

Fish Tales

Sunday, Jan 22 2012
Rev. Laura Loving

I. The dictionary definition of a fish story is: noun Informal .an exaggerated or incredible story: It was just another one of his fish stories. 1810-20, Americanism Today in our scripture lessons, we have two different fish stories, one about ...

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Mark 1:14-20

Press On and Pass it On (Script as Sermon)

Sunday, Jan 15 2012
Rev. Laura Loving

The voices speak from the ancient past and from recent events: ALL: God is calling us. Leader: from temple and pulpit to Birmingham Jail and Church meeting rooms; ALL: God has called you Leader: from the mountain top at Sinai to ...

Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-10, John 1:43-51

Torn Open

Sunday, Jan 08 2012
Rev. James M. Rand

At Christmas, I decided that there are two kinds of people in the world. Which camp are you in? When gifts are given, one tears through wrapping paper & ribbon, caring not at all for what’s outside, but only within. No matter how ...

Scripture: Psalm 29, Mark 1:4, 7-12

De-Stable-ized

Saturday, Dec 24 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

2011 was quite a bumpy ride, wasn’t it? Every time we got our feet beneath us, something knocked us off stride. It was an up and down, in and out, unstable year … beginning right here in Wisconsin with protests at the state capitol. ...

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7, Luke 2:1-20

The Gifts of the Spirit

Sunday, Dec 11 2011
Rev. Laura Loving

A contemporary anthropologist, that is to say, a modern mother who pays attention to the rhythms and rituals of her children’s play, reports on her daughter’s understanding of the descent of the Spirit of the Lord: She writes: Some years ago, I ...

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 1:26-35

Heralds of Glad Tidings

Sunday, Dec 04 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

You know something’s afoot when Isaiah offers comfort & John the Baptizer brings good news. John’s going to lose his head one day for leveling with King Herod. Leveling mountains & valleys apparently wasn’t enough. And last ...

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8

O … But … Yet … After All

Sunday, Nov 27 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

I want to start with a story. It’s a short story. Very short. Maybe you know it. ...

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-12, Mark 13:24-37

Paupers and the Prince

Sunday, Nov 20 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

Today’s sermon title is meant to be reminiscent of a book by Mark Twain. I hadn’t read it since childhood. (To give you an idea how long ago I’m talking, my version had line drawings on some pages, which means I hadn’t quite graduated ...

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-4, 11-16, Matthew 25:31-46

In the Meanwhile ...

Sunday, Nov 13 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

A “talent” is not an ability or skill. It’s the largest form of currency in the Bible, equal to 15 or 20 years wages. It’s a crazy number with lots of zeroes at the end – an insane number – like superstar athletes get paid: Prince ...

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30

“RSVP” a Communion Sermon Outline

Sunday, Nov 06 2011
Rev. Laura Loving

I. Introduction A. Library in the Loving household held two essential books 1. Emily Post’s Guide to ...

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-7, Matthew 25:1-8

Saints Alive!

Sunday, Oct 30 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

Blood. Lots of blood. Martyrs who live. Shape-shifting creatures and ever-changing beasts – such as a Lamb that sits on the throne like a king but is also a shepherd. Is it Halloween yet? The Book of Revelation is filled ...

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Re-cutting the Commandments

Sunday, Oct 23 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

You know the sign in a china shop: “You break it, you buy it.” Or a parent admonishing a child: “You made this mess. Clean it up.” That’s what God says to Moses. “Cut two tablets of stone, like the former ones – which … you … ...

Scripture: Exodus 34:1-10, Matthew 22:34-40

What Do You See?

Sunday, Oct 16 2011
Rev. Laura Loving

“Brown bear, Brown bear, what do you see? I see a red bird, looking at me. Red bird, red bird, what do you see, I see a yellow duck, looking at me.” The children’s book by Bill Martin, who sings the story to us here, is neatly compartmentalized into ...

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-23

Under Construction

Sunday, Oct 09 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

The Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona, Spain is one of the best known buildings on earth, and among the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Its spires look like sand castle drippings, rising 558 feet toward the heavens, making it ...

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-7, Ephesians 4:1-13

Standing in the Breach – Installation of Rev. Laura Loving

Sunday, Oct 09 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

He … · Grew up in Pharaoh’s house – as the adopted son of a tyrant. · Committed murder and went on the ...

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-3, 8-9

Passing on the Gift

Sunday, Oct 02 2011
Senior High Mission Trip Participants

(Jennifer Whetter) Introduction - About this time last year we started talking about where to go, what to do for our high school mission trip. After research and consideration of options we decided to participate in the Global Passport Program ...

Scripture: Genesis 41:47-49, Matthew 22:34-40

A River Runs Through Us

Sunday, Sep 25 2011
Rev. Laura Loving

It Runs all day but never walks It Often murmurs, but never talks. It has a bed but never sleeps, It has a mouth but never eats. Every culture has its river lore. Mark Twain practically canonizes the Mississippi River in his books, Life on the ...

Scripture: Genesis 2:8-10, Revelation 22:1-5

When Equal Isn’t Fair

Sunday, Sep 18 2011
Rev. James M. Rand

A business book came out a few years ago called Jesus, CEO. It’s already out of print. Who would buy it? Or believe it? Stockholders would never let him in the boardroom, telling parables like that. Can you imagine him ...

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-8, 13-16a, Matthew 20:1-15

We Can Work It Out

Sunday, Sep 04 2011
Rev. Laura Loving

From the colorful cult movie “Office Space” to the black and white comic strips of the hapless Dagwood or the feckless Dilbert, American pop culture has often characterized the workplace as the cubicle of doom; the Underworld of the Underemployed; ...

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 119:33-40, Romans 13:8-14

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