Advent 2008 (November 30, 2008) through Pentecost 2009 (November 22, 2009)

Lectionary Cycle Year B

Other Sermon files that you might find helpful and exciting
(Sermons 1997-1998)    (Sermons 1998-1999)    (Sermons 1999-2000)    (Sermons 2000-2001)    (Sermons 2001-2002)
(Sermons 2002- 2003)    (Sermons 2003-2004)    (Sermons 2004-2005)    (Sermons 2005-2006)    (Sermons 2006-2007)
Sermons 2007-2008

ADVENT, 2008

November 30, First Sunday of Advent
    Lessons: Isaiah 64.1-9; Mark 13.24-27
    Sermon Title: Tear It Open

The cry of the prophet is that God would tear open the heavens and come down. What is it that we want?

December 7, Second Sunday of Advent
    Lessons: Isaiah 40.1-11; Mark 1.1-8
    Sermon Title: Alleviation

For a headache people take an OTC pain remover. God is the business of providing spiritual relief. What will you do with God’s pain reliever?

December 14, Third Sunday of Advent
    Lessons: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1.47-55
    Sermon Title: Here Is Your God!

Everyone is religious. Everyone has a god. What are the benefits of God?

December 21, Fourth Sunday of Advent
    Lessons: 2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16; Luke 1.26-38
    Sermon Title: No End!

Everything in our lives ends. Wouldn’t be grand to place your life ion the hands of someone for whom there is no ending?

December 24, Christmas Eve Service
    Lessons: Isaiah 62.6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3.4-7; Luke 2.1-20
    Sermon Title: Making Room

There was no room at the inn, is there room in our lives for the Messiah?

December 28
    Lessons: Isaiah 61.10-62.3; Luke 2.22-40
    Sermon Title: Changing Tradition

The whole tradition of Judaism if fulfilled and a new tradition is about to begin. This is earth-shaking and mind-blowing. The implications for us are enormous.

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January 2009

January 4, Communion Sunday, Epiphany Sunday (Services cancelled due to weather, sermon not posted).
    Lessons: Jeremiah 31.7-14; John 1.1-18
    Sermon Title: Outside the Box

We often like our lives to be under control with comfortable parameters. God does not like boxes. To find him it is necessary to go outside. Are we ready?

Sermons from Galatians: The Authenticity of the Gospel

January 11
    Lesson: Galatians 1.1-10
    Sermon Title: Forsaking All Others

Fidelity is a trait of being faithful. There is only one Gospel. How may we develop an understanding that leads to a well-defined faithfulness?

January 18
    Lesson: Galatians 1.11-24
    Sermon Title: Divine Origins

The origin is a revelation. Check it out. Where did it come from?

January 25, Ecumenical Sunday
    Lesson: Galatians 2.1-10
    Sermon Title: Council and Conciliation

There is a time for gathering together to examine one’s faith and practice. This was the time in the past. Do we have such a time for the present?

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February 1
    Lesson: Galatians 2.11-21
    Sermon Title: Thick or Thin

If you were going to have a piece of cake would you like it to be thick of thin. Well, you might say, how thin is it? Ask Peter.

Sermons from Galatians: Superiority of the Gospel

February 8
    Lesson: Galatians 3.1-14
    Sermon Title: Bewitched

Beware of those who can cast a spell that appears to have substance and benefits. To avoid this we turn to Paul who helps us to see and understand.

February 15
    Lesson: Galatians 3.15-25
    Sermon Title: Guarded Prisoners

Prisoners and not only those who have been incarcerated. You can be a prisoner of concepts. Avoid being a prisoner by being a person a faith.

February 22, Transfiguration Sunday
    Lesson: Galatians 3.26-4.7
    Sermon Title: Our Legacy

Jesus, on the Mount of Transfiguration opened the door to a divine legacy for all of the humanity that would walk through it. Who are we waiting for?

February 25, Ash Wednesday Service, 6:30 pm
    Lesson: Galatians 4.8-20
    Sermon Title: Wasted Work

Why work had to accomplish something only to find that your time, energy and materials were wasted? There is an old expression, "Waste not, want not." How may we apply it?

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March 1, First Sunday in Lent
    Lesson: Galatians 4.21-31
    Sermon Title: Hagar and Sarah

Two women, two locations, two ways. One is our mother. Who is it?

Sermons from Galatians: The Freedom of the Gospel

March 8, Second Sunday in Lent
    Lesson: Galatians 5.1-15
    Sermon Title: Lazy Liberty

It was Patrick Henry who cried in a speech given at St. John’s Church, March 23, 1775, "Give me liberty or give me death." His was not a lazy concept of liberty. How is our concept?

March 15, Third Sunday in Lent
    Lesson: Galatians 5.16-26
    Sermon Title: Works vs. Fruit

One is bad, the other is good. One is self-developed, the other is Other-developed. Do you desire work or fruit?

March 22, Fourth Sunday in Lent
    Lesson: Galatians 6.1-10
    Sermon Title: Don’t Give Up

What do you do when you are bored, and your energy level is at al all time low? What do you do when you would like to crawl into bed and pull the covers over your head to shut out the world around you? Do you give up, or do you get started?

March 29, Fifth Sunday in Lent
    Lesson: Galatians 6.11-18
    Sermon Title: Grossly Overstated

Boasting is a natural part of living. We often use exaggeration or hyperbole to make a point. What happens when we come to believe our own publicity?

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April 5, Communion Sunday, Passion/Palm Sunday
    Lessons: Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29; Mark 11.1-11
    Sermon Title: Hosanna

We enter upon a day that is one in a long succession of similar days. Can we still shout Hosanna?

April 9, Maundy Thursday
    Lessons: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
    Sermon Title: Hand to Hand, Life to Life

It has been passed on from one generation to another. Are we going to be the passers or the holders?

April 10, Good Friday Service, 1:00 pm, United Church of Christ, 109 West Hudson Street, Mazomanie
    Lessons: To Be Announced
    Sermon Title: To BE Announced

April 12, Easter Sunday
    Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9; Mark 16:1-8
    Sermon Title: The Undefeated Champion

He is the undefeated champion of life. He is our example. Come and celebrate the only one who was able to accomplish this marvelous feat.

April 19, Holy Humor Sunday
    Lesson: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
    Sermon Title: Time to Laugh and Dance

Stress or distress can be reduced by certain medications. Laughter is one of the greatest medications. Laughter is good all the time. This Sunday is a day dedicated to laughter. Come with your sense of humor.

Sermons from Ephesians

April 26
    Lesson: Ephesians 1.1-2
    Sermon Title: A Letter from a Friend

You’ve got mail. There was no email, for there was no internet. Letter writing was arduous. Mail took a long time to deliver. This letter is vital for our spiritual health and well-being. And so take and read!

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May 3
    Lesson: Ephesians 1.3-14
    Sermon Title: The Purposes of God

God has a plan. God has a purpose. We realize that we may thwart God’s plan and purposes. How may we know what is God’s plan and God’s purpose?

May 10, Mother’s Day, Rural Life Sunday
    Lesson: Ephesians 1.15-23
    Sermon Title: "I Keep Asking"

Prayer can be boring or exciting. It depends on how we approach the concept of pray and what we pray for. Does Paul provide us with an example and information?

May 17
    Lesson: Ephesians 2.1-10
    Sermon Title: Amazing Grace

Grace is amazing! What is it? What does grace provide the Christian?

May 24, Ascension Sunday, Memorial Sunday
    Lesson: Ephesians 2.11-22
    Sermon Title: We Are One

Paul writes to the Ephesians who were at one time either Jews or pagans. We are not Jews or pagans. How does this apply to you and me?

May 31, Day of Pentecost
    Lesson: Ephesians 3.1-12
    Sermon Title: Prisoners and Preachers

Pentecost is a day that sets people free! Have we had our Pentecost? What does Pentecost do for us?

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June 7, Trinity Sunday
    Lesson: Ephesians 3.13-21
    Sermon Title: Paul’s Prayer for the Readers

Again Paul prays for those who are reading his letter. He invokes all three persons of the Trinity. They are here to help.

June 14
    Lesson: Ephesians 4.1-16
    Sermon Title: Unity and Uniqueness

We are unique persons in our own right, but we are also part of a body. How may we remain individuals and still be covenanted people?

June 21, Father’s Day, First Day of Summer, Summer Salad Lunch
    Lesson: Ephesians 4.17-24
    Sermon Title: Something Old-Something New

The danger is to be half-baked instead of fully cooked through. Does this apply to people ass well as baked goods?

June 28
    Lesson: Ephesians 4.25-5.2
    Sermon Title: Rules for the New Life

Are you a rebel who detests rules? What kind of rules does Jesus ask us to follow?

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July 5, Communion Sunday, Independence Sunday
    Lesson: Ephesians 5.3-14
    Sermon Title: Live in Love Live In Light

It is said that actions speak louder than words. What is it that we ought to do or ought not to do?

July 12
    Lesson: Ephesians 5.21-33
    Sermon Title: Wives and Husbands, Husbands and Wives

What is the meaning of submit? Is it submission or cooperation?

July 19, Outdoor Worship, Church Picnic, Brigham Park, Blue Mounds
    Lesson: Ephesians 6.1-9
    Sermon Title: Children, Parents, Masters and Slaves

We are all in this boat together. How then shall we live?

July 26, Parents Day
    Lesson: Ephesians 6.10-17
    Sermon Title: The Whole Armor of God

It is vital for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to have adequate body armor. This offers protection from the aggressor. How is it with the Christian?

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August 2, Friendship Day
    Lesson: Ephesians 6.18-20
    Sermon Title: Pray In the Spirit

Prayer is not part of the armor of God. Prayer is the means of effectively using the armor of God. So we learn to pray in the Spirit.

August 9
    Lesson: Ephesians 6.21-24
    Sermon Title: Paul’s Benediction

A benediction is a short prayer at the close of a letter or service that asks for divine help, blessing and guidance. Is this a fitting benediction for Paul’s letter?

August 16, Summer Salad Lunch
    Lesson: Ephesians 1-6, (selected)
    Sermon Title: Looking Back Looking Forward

We bring the series from Ephesians to an end with a reprise. Reprise is usually a song at the end of a play or a performance that recapitulates what has gone before. What have we learned, and has it been beneficial?

August 23
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August 30
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September 6, Labor Sunday
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September 13, Sunday School Begins, Grandparents Day
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September 20, Outdoor Worship, Church Picnic at Village Park
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September 27
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October 4, Communion Sunday, World Communion Sunday
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October 11, Laity Sunday, National Children’s Day, Columbus Day (Traditional)
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October 18
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October 25, Reformation Sunday, Mother-In-Law Day, Harvest Dinner after Worship
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November 1, All Saints Sunday, Daylight Savings Time Ends
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November 8, Stewardship Sunday, International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
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November 15
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November 22, Thanksgiving Sunday, Reign of Christ Sunday, Bible Sunday, Hanging of the Greens, Soup and Sandwich Lunch
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November 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service

November 26, Thanksgiving Day

(For the sermon schedule for Advent 2009 through Pentecost 2010,
see sermons-2010 Sermon Planning Schedule)