Abington Presbyterian Church: Earlier Sermons

Sermons earlier than April, 2009

Brent Eelman: Face to Face With Jesus Mar 29, 2009. On this Sunday in the season of Lent, we are challenged as a community of faith. When the world comes seeking, do we present the Christ of the gospels? The Christ who invites children to come to him? The Christ who touches the untouchables? The Christ feeds the five thousand, not merely with loaves and fishes, but with the promise of life itself?

Brent Eelman: Inoculated for Salvation Mar 21, 2009. Christian faith should not be an escape from the realities of life… it should prepare us for them and it should give us the strength and the resilience to not merely endure, but to thrive. That is the power of the resurrection that we proclaim.

Brent Eelman: Your Profit Loss Statement Mar 8, 2009. Jesus challenges us to lose the ambitions, the things, the distractions that monopolize our time, energy and resources… to lose those things and serve.. to give our lives for others, and ultimately for Him. In the midst of this call is the paradox of divine accounting….. that in giving, we receive most of all.

Brent Eelman: Riding with the Spirit Mar 1, 2009. To those who encounter temptation, to those who struggle with it, temptation brings a gift. It is the gift of identity. It is the gift of self understanding. It is the gift of resilience. The struggle with temptation often brings the gift of moral clarity, self understanding and life direction.

Brent Eelman: Shock and Awe Feb 22, 2009. The transfiguration story is the fireworks of the gospel! The three disciples, James, John and Peter, had no idea what they were going to experience as they climbed the mountain with Jesus. Their response: Awe. We as a congregation have an exciting and challenging future before us. My prayer for us is for that transfiguring experience that will enable us to find the courage to live boldly as disciples in this challenging age.

Scott Nowack: Survive or Thrive Feb 15, 2009 .We are incomplete and hurting; we’re living in survival mode. Jesus Christ wants to enter into our lives to heal us from our sins so we can live life differently. So we can thrive where we are planted, to play the game as it was meant to be played, to live with purpose, freedom and discipline; and in doing so we serve to witness to the entire world through our actions, words and convictions, the authentic and true power of God in Jesus Christ and God’s purpose for all humankind.

Brent Eelman: Where's Jesus? Feb 8, 2009. Where is Jesus? Certainly, we are more likely to find the Messiah in places of humble service… than we are on TV, American Idol, the stadium, or amongst the latest Pop Culture icon. But Mark also suggests that we can find Jesus in places of quiet prayer. That this dimension also, the inner, spiritual dimension, is also a place where the Messiah may be found.

Brent Eelman: Says Who? Feb 1, 2009. In the gospels we encounter a man who lived, ministered, healed and preached, not for himself, not for his own aggrandizement, but to serve others. And when he had every reason to complain about injustice, the way he was treated, the hurts that he endured…. How did he respond? He forgave. This is the foundation of Jesus’ authority: self-giving service. Says who? By one who lived to serve.. one who lived for others.

Brent Eelman: Good News for Fishermen Jan 25, 2009. When we think, when we plan, when we meet, and when we administer, the first question that we need to ask is “Where is Jesus leading us today?” And when we are aware of the answer, we need to leave our nets behind… and in the words of Mark.. immediately follow…. Today, as we rededicate the Parish House… my plea and prayer is that we will also rededicate our lives as disciples of Christ....

Brent Eelman: Confronting Your Doubts Jan 18, 2009. You and I have our struggles with truth and doubt…. The challenge of faith is to confront those doubts… it is an invitation to come and see.. And for those with the moral courage to confront and struggle with their doubts, they will find an accepting and affirming God… and the truth will be revealed.

Brent Eelman: Claimed! Needed! Loved! Jan 11, 2009. Baptism is the declaration of God’s unconditional love for us... no matter what we may do, no matter how far we may drift. God declares to us that the door is open and that we can return home to his welcome arms.

Scott Nowack: Authentic Salvation Jan 4, 2009. God is always with us; fully reliable in times of need and sorrow; fully reliable in times of joy and celebration. No matter how inadequate we may feel, God is the God of all, revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the one in whom we can place our trust and find the truth.

Scott Nowack: So What's Your Story? Dec 28 2008. For some of us our calling as Christians is a calling that is active, visible, working in the public eye, perhaps as a preacher or in sharing God’s love with the world at school or work or in your neighborhood. For some it is a calling that is work that gets done with little or no public recognition. For many it’s a mixture of both. No matter whether our calling is active or quiet, each of us has a calling, a purpose, a reason for living for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Brent Eelman: The Soft and Gentle Message of Christmas Dec 7 2008 Advent is a message of hope to the hopeless. It is a message that God will lead us home if we will but follow…. Most importantly, this season of Advent points to the one who will lead.. not by force of arms, not by brilliance of wit and speech… but through gentle and soft obedience.

Brent Eelman: Fewer Gifts for Christmas? Nov 30 2008 My hope is that this year, we see the Christmas season, not in terms of what we did not get… not in terms of what we perceive is missing in our lives.. but in terms of the gifts that we have been given and continue to receive… the spiritual gifts that leave lacking nothing. These gifts will not be fewer this Christmas… they will abound!

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Be Thankful? Nov 23 2008 How can we be thankful when we receive a pink slip telling us that we are about to be laid off? How do we show our thankfulness when we have just buried a loved one or life partner? The love and faithfulness of God has a way of transforming the moment, and taking the difficult things that occur in our lives and making them opportunities not only for growth and maturity, but for genuine thanksgiving.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Bother to Take Time Off? Nov 9 2008 What things have you put off doing, because you had to meet another deadline? When was the last time you spent the greater part of a day, reading a book, just for fun.. with the cell phone and the email turned off? How long has it been since you turned the alarm clock off, rolled over and went back to sleep without a guilty conscience? These are the things that are part of a Sabbath rest; practices that restore and make us whole.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Vote? Nov 2 2008 We cannot make any easy separation in our lives from the nation in which we live. We may be angry with it. We may not like the direction in which it is going, but we are still a part of it. We benefit from its protection and the order that it brings to our lives. Voting can be a manifestation of neighbor love: being our sister and brother’s keeper.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Make Commitments? Oct 26 2008 We need to be connected to others, and that means commitment. A commitment to support the church budget, a commitment to sing in the choir each Sunday, a commitment to teach Sunday school each week, even when it is hard. Today we need to see our commitment card, not as an obligation, but as invitation to connect in a meaningful way with others, with our spirit, and with God through Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Give to the Church? Oct 12 2008 Some things are important and some things aren’t. In the midst of this crisis, when stocks and investments are being revalued, we need to look at the stocks and investments of our lives. the spiritual and ethical stock and investments we have made. Don’t give because you are afraid, or guilty… Give because you are part of this community. Give because you need to give. Give because you can. Give.. not until hurts…Give beyond that point. Give until it feels good.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Care About the World? Oct 5 2008 (World Communion Sunday). The whole world includes our friends and allies. The whole world includes our enemies and those we fear. The God who is made known in love…challenges us to love what he loves, and care about what he cares about. Why should I care about the world??? Because God loves the world.. and we want to show our love for God by loving and caring for the world that he loves.

Brent Eelman: Sermon Preached in the Midst of a Financial Crisis Sept. 28 2008 Change, Hope and Fear…. We are in the midst of a national, perhaps global crisis. This is a time of tremendous change, beyond our understanding and certainly beyond our control. In the midst of this changing world…. We need to declare a message of hope.. realistic hope. We need to hear the message of the angels who declared to frightened shepherds… do not be afraid.

Scott Nowack: Why Should I Forgive? Sept 21, 2008 . When we hold on to bitterness and hurts from the past, we are enslaved to it. It gets a grip on our hearts and it slowly suffocates our spirit. Do we really want to live like that? To forgive is to let go of the barriers that separate us from God and from one another. It’s the only way to free ourselves to live in peace and harmony with our neighbor.

Brent Eelman: Why Should I Worship? Sept 14 2008 Worship is not about getting something, be it low blood pressure, long life, or less disability. Worship is ultimately about giving something. Giving something to God. This goes to the heart of why we were created. Worship is not pleasing to God if it is not accompanied by behavior that seeks justice in the land.

Scott Nowack: Outward Bound Aug 17 2008. People who are foreign to Christianity, and there are many of them, can find Christians intimidating. They don’t know the lingo. They don’t know how to get started. We, the church need to go out from this place to build and nurture loving, grace-filled relationships with the un-churched because this is exactly what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did.

Scott Nowack: “YES!” Aug 10, 2008 . Are we willing to accept God’s promises and the plans of prosperity and hope he has for us? Are we willing to say “Yes” to God and his promises for our own lives and the life of our church family? Are we willing to step out in faith and believe God is faithful to his promises? If we are, let us respond together with a resounding “Amen”.

Brent Eelman: Wounded by Love Aug 3, 2008. The history of the spirit tells us that experiencing the presence of God is not always happy, exhilarating and fun. These are the struggles of the soul, and they are the struggles for authenticity in the presence of others, yourself, and ultimately God. We rarely leave these struggles unscathed... but these are the wounds of love… and these wounds are portals through which the grace and blessing of God enter our lives.

Brent Eelman: What is Heaven Like? July 27, 2008. What is heaven like? It is discovered in the small things. It is more precious than gold. The kingdom of heaven is revealed to us in justice, kindness, love, and humility in the presence of God.

Brent Eelman: What is On Your Mind? July 13, 2008. What is on our collective mind as a community of faith? Is it the mind of Christ? In Romans 8 the apostle Paul challenges us as individuals and as a community of faith, to be who we are… to set our minds on the things of the spirit… to pursue those things with energy and love.

Judy Dwyer: Go Play in the Mud June 29, 2008. I’ve come to believe that the greatest risk most of us ever take is the risk of stepping out of ourselves and into a relationship. When we enter into a covenant relationship, we entrust our vulnerabilities as well as our strengths to our covenant partner. As we reach out to others and allow their response, we peel away our accumulated layers of grief and pain. Exposed, they become the fabric of healing – the tools of faith.

Scott Nowack: Do Not Fear! June 22, 2008 . Whatever it is you fear, with God’s help, let it go. Whatever it is holding you down, with God’s help, toss it away. When we surrender everything to God, we are willing to risk it all. We give everything to God: our comfort zone, our false sense of security, our need to control everything. Only then can we trust God fully. It is then that God’s love and grace fills us from within, we become a new creation.

Scott Nowack: We’re Not Worthy! June 15, 2008. Our community of faith, this band of believers, numbers almost one thousand disciples. Imagine what God could do through us to make a difference in the world: Imagine what God could do through us: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, fight against injustice in all its forms; we could transform people’s lives and change the world.

Scott Nowack: Responding to the Call June 8, 2008 (Confirmation Sunday). God is calling you right now! As high school students because God can call and use anybody God wants to use; anybody of any age, gender, race, creed God calls to live for him. Who is God calling you to be? What will be your faithful response?

Scott Nowack: Do You Have What It Takes? May 4, 2008. Let us go forward embracing our trials and sufferings as restored, supported, strengthened and established Christians, “knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint.”

Scott Nowack: Straight Talk: What Do You Stand For? April 27, 2008. To what are you committed and what price are you willing to pay for that commitment? I want to encourage you to know what you stand for and stand firm. I want to encourage you to take action and stand up against the injustices we see all around us. What do you stand for?

Scott Nowack: The Way of the Shepherd April 13, 2008. The way of the shepherd, the way of Jesus Christ, is through the gate that leads to fertile pastures. And in this unknown, new place, Christ protects us by walking ahead of us like a good shepherd calling each of us by name, caring for all as he cares for each.

Brent Eelman: The Frozen Un-chosen Mar 23, 2008. There will be times when the foundations of our life shake like the earthquake on Easter morning. Will we respond to this world and to the challenges of the future like the soldiers guarding the tomb, frozen with fear? Or will we respond with hope. The good news of Easter is that fear no longer controls us, and we can respond to all the challenges of living with hope, proclaiming in word and deed: He is risen. Alleluia!

Brent Eelman: The One Man March Mar 16, 2008. Today we celebrate Christ’s “one man march” into the capital city, the hub of political power and authority. We live in a politically charged world and often we too, get involved in ideological arguments. It is time for people of faith to follow Christ into our places of power and declare Christ’s message of peace and truth. We also need to declare it with the humility of one who rides a donkey.

Brent Eelman: God's Guilt Trip Mar 9, 2008. The season of Lent is a time when we are called to examine ourselves and we live our lives. Our self examination can become a trap of despair if we clothe ourselves in guilt. We can get caught up in “shoulda, coulda, woulda’s” or the “if only’s”

Brent Eelman: The Vision Exam Mar 2, 2008. We don’t always see things completely. Our vision is flawed. We think we see things the way they are, but as time passes and reveals the mystery behind history, we are often wrong. Others often fail to see what God sees in us. When God calls upon us, wherever we are, we need to respond, “Here I am.. Yes.”

Brent Eelman: Bottled Water Feb 24, 2008. What is the living water that you are seeking in your life? Where do you go to quench the thirst that does not seem quenchable? What do you do to ease that pervasive anxiety that is rooted in the knowledge that something is missing in our lives?
Annual Meeting of the Congregation. Closing Remarks of Dr. Brent J. Eelman.

Brent Eelman: Blessings Beyond Borders Feb 17, 2008. God’s gift of love, given in Jesus Christ, is a gift to the world, for the world. It is a gift that blesses beyond the borders and boundaries that we build to exclude others and to protect ourselves. God loved the world so much, that he gave his only child, his son. To those who believe, it is the gift of eternal life.

Brent Eelman: A Wilderness Experience Feb 10, 2008. The season of Lent is a time of introspection for all Christians. It is a time to retreat, to enter that spiritual wilderness and seek the self awareness that is attained by wrestling with temptation. For forty days, Christ wrestled with temptation and his calling. He emerged from that wilderness, not tired, but ready, refreshed and prepared to serve. May these 40 days of our lives be a time to gain self-awareness.

Brent Eelman: A Climbing Expedition Feb 3, 2008. One of the lessons that we can take from the transfiguration, is that our spiritual lives do not merely consist of the mountain top experiences. They are lived out in the ordinary and often mundane moments of life… and these are moments equally sacred! As we enter this season of Lent, we are called to reflect on Jesus’ descent from that mountain, and how faithfulness and discipleship are lived out in the valleys of life.

Brent Eelman: A Foolish Word? Jan 27, 2008. The challenge for us today is to have the audacity of the fool; to proclaim hope in the midst of despair; to see opportunity and promise in the midst of chaos; to see the hand of God in times of trouble; to pursue the peace of Christ, when others want to fight; to share and serve others in a world that proclaims “me first!”. The challenge for us is to embody the foolish word of our Jesus Christ in our lives today.

Brent Eelman: What Are You Looking For? Jan 20, 2008. We are all searchers and are hungry. We look in different places and often find ourselves disappointed. Christ tells us that we will find what we are looking for, by following him, serving in his name, continuing his mission. This is the challenge of the gospel.

Brent Eelman: What Pleases God? Jan 13, 2008. In baptism as parents we declare that the child belongs, not to us, but to God. In our baptism, God declares the same. You are my children. I love you unconditionally. You are the source of my pleasure and joy. This is the good news of the Gospel.

Brent Eelman: Frightened by the Light Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 2007 When God enters our world, it is often a frightening occasion. It makes demands on us, and we know that our life will never be the same after that moment. The shepherds offer us an example of faithfulness. Though frightened by the light, they were not overcome by fear. They did not flee the light, but heard in their hearts the message that it proclaimed about the birth of a savior.

Brent Eelman: Cracks in the Family Tree Dec 23, 2007. Matthew did not gild his gospel. He told the truth about this man Jesus, that he was a human being, and that when one examined his pedigree, one would find some pretty seamy stories, and people of questionable reputation and character. Hope is the primary theme in Advent. It declares all people, regardless of reputation or history, are part of God’s wonderful plan of redemption, and that Jesus is their savior.

Brent Eelman: Joy in the Wasteland Dec 16, 2007. The words of Isaiah speak to the wastelands of our spirit, the emptiness of our souls. They promise a gift that will bring joy to this weary planet. A promise that, indeed we shall see “the glory of the Lord.” Its light emanates from a child, born to transform the deserts that surround us, into the fertile habitation of hope and fulfillment.

Brent Eelman: See No Evil, Hear No Evil… Dec 9, 2007. Isaiah’s vision of the coming messiah, included three related characteristics: 1. Commitment to truth. 2. Commitment to humanity. 3.Commitment to wisdom. The message for us today is that these characteristics not only describe the messiah, they are virtues we are called to embody.

Brent Eelman: What Have We Learned? Dec 2, 2007. History tells us that we have learned an awful lot about how to hurt, about how to terrorize, about how to kill, about how to get back at others. We have learned an awful lot about destroying and being destroyed. Advent is a call to learn the ways that lead to the fulfillment of the angel’s song at the birth of Jesus: “Peace on earth, good will to all.”

Scott Nowack: Who Is This King of Glory? Nov 25, 2007. In the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the centerpiece is forgiveness, transformation and restoration for all who cry out His holy name. We wear the garments of forgiveness and grace, transformation and restoration in our work, play and fellowship. Christ meets us where we are, accepts us for who we are and will save us when we call upon Him.

Brent Eelman: What is the Human Prospect? Nov 11, 2007. Advent declares that the human prospect is good, because God, in the person of Jesus Christ, chose to enter this world. God chose to become a human being with us, living among us. God chose to die and redeem us. That is the prospect of our future and it is a reality that gives hope and colors all other realities.

Brent Eelman: The Cost of Grace Nov 4, 2007. We gather in worship because we believe that God’s grace entered our lives and transformed them. We didn’t have to pay for it... but how do we respond to it? The cost of Grace is Gratitude. It is living a life with the open hand of giving, rather than the clawing hand of taking.

Brent Eelman: Thank God Oct 28, 2007. Martin Luther taught that salvation or redemption is a gift of God's grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus as the messiah. Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday in song and sermon. But the challenge is to live with the truth that Luther discovered, that Jesus declared that we live by God’s grace alone… and that grace is sufficient.

Brent Eelman: Lets Make a Deal Oct 21, 2007. Can we understand stewardship of our finances in terms of love not money. It is not about meeting the budget, it is not about obligation or guilt.. it is about love: the love that God willingly shows us in Jesus Christ. .

Brent Eelman: Bloom Where You Are Planted Oct 14, 2007. This is not an easy message.. because more often than not, we wish we were someplace else, doing something else…. God has placed us where we are… the circumstances may not be to our liking… but how we respond to our challenge is crucial… We can bloom where we are planted or whither away. God calls us to bloom.

Brent Eelman: A Strange Land Oct 7, 2007. Ultimately when life itself is confusing, and our faith is challenged by the dissonances of circumstance, the key is to live our faith more boldly, and with greater courage. The scriptures are challenging and difficult. There is not an easy answer or an easy ethic in our age and Christianity is only as easy as the cross!

Brent Eelman: Have Mercy Sept 30, 2007. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a challenge to us and to the churches and synagogues of this community. Individually we don’t have the resources to help people with many types of needs. Together we can. The challenge is to drop some of our differences and unite over the call of the prophets,

Brent Eelman: Make Friends Sept 23, 2007. The parable of the dishonest manager is one of Jesus's parables about the restoration of relationships. Through a series of questionable, perhaps comic, actions, relationships and honor were restored. The good news is that God works his purpose of reconciliation out, at times, through the questionable behavior of humanity. The God of Jesus is one who restores relationships, and calls on us to build and restore our friendships.

Brent Eelman: Misplaced Sept 16, 2007. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that human beings, including you and me, are worth fixing, finding and saving. The Kingdom of Heaven does not operate on a cost/benefit basis, but is built upon gracious love. The challenge of the gospel is for us, the Disciples of Jesus Christ, to follow him and reach out to the lost, the misplaced, and those who live on the margins.

Brent Eelman: In the Hands of the Potter Sept 9, 2007. Is your life in turmoil? Are you experiencing the pain and anxiety of the “dark night of the soul”? The prophet Jeremiah causes us to look again at what is happening and ask if it is not the hand of God... the hands of the divine potter who is shaping and reshaping our lives.

Brent Eelman: Reserved Seating Sept 2, 2007. Who do we invite to our tables and places of honor? Who is allowed to sit with us, and who do we avoid or exclude? How do we treat the poor and the outcast? This is the challenge of Jesus’ teachings for many of us… and it is also the Good News of the gospel.

Brent Eelman: The Cycle of Divine Construction Aug 26, 2007. I do not believe that the world is going to “hell in a hand basket!” If we look carefully, we will see that it is God who is shaking the foundations of our lives.. We will live with hope, because we know that this is but the cycle of divine construction… the change and destruction that we experience now is a prelude to the planting and building up that will occur

Royal Kemper: The Runner Aug 19, 2007. Hope is an outlook on life - its opportunities, its possibilities, its demands for those who see their own life's experience in the light of a divine plan and purpose. However, faith is no guarantee that we shall be delivered from misfortune. It is the promise that in the midst of misfortune we shall be sustained.

Scott Nowack: The Theology of Baseball Aug 12, 2007 Baseball is an interesting game in that a player who fails to get a hit seven times out of ten times at the plate is considered one of the game’s greatest heroes. Three hits out of ten…Far from perfect; far from getting a passing grade on an exam in school; far from earning the big raise or the big promotion at work. The Good News for us is that likewise we don’t have to be perfect, save through the acceptance of the gift: the gift that we are justified by the grace of Jesus Christ.

Scott Nowack: To Speak with Boldness July 29, 2007. We as a community of faith need get together and develop some creative solutions to work towards sharing the Gospel message with the downtrodden and the outcast. We can not, we shall not and we will not stand idle watching the world pass us by. There is too much at stake. There is too much on the line to stand back and wait.

Scott Nowack: Putting God First July 22, 2007. We need to be committed to one another in Christ if we are going to be obedient disciples of Christ. This means we do not leave anybody behind. This means we do not keep certain people out of our community. What it means is that we can not live the Christian faith on our own. We need God in Christ but we also need one another. We need one another for encouragement, Christian love, strength and more.

Royal Kemper: Is the World My Neighbor? July 15, 2007. Jesus surpasses a lawyer's question about who is his neighbor by identifying the second most important commandment which is to love your neighbor as much as you admire yourself! Stop thinking loving thoughts solely about God, and go on to show how much you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and put it to good use with your neighbor - whomever that may be!

Brent Eelman: An Amazing Story of Power July 8, 2007. Power, whatever it is, is temporal.. it does not last for ever and thus should be wielded with humility. History is often taught as the story of the great events… the story of the powerful.. but in truth history is the story of little events, single sentences, seemingly inconsequential people who make all the difference.

Brent Eelman: God’s Declaration of Freedom July 1, 2007. The freedom of the Gospel is not merely freedom from tyranny. It is freedom to know the joy of serving and relating in love to God, to love others and support them and live in community with them, and to hope, in recognition that life is not ultimately controlled by necessity, but is in the hands of God.

Scott Nowack: By His Grace June 24, 2007. With faith in Christ, we don’t have to be controlled by anxiety anymore. With faith in Christ, the big, bad world with all its problems is no longer something to be afraid of. It’s a place of freedom, a place to play, thrive, grow and experience the grace and love of God.

Brent Eelman: Gracious Receiving June 17, 2007. Gifting is a symbol of a relationship. We give precious things in relationships of love, and those gifts bring the giver a great deal of joy. Relationships of love also require us to receive… and in the relationship of love that God has established with us, we need to graciously receive the gift of forgiveness that God brings.

Brent Eelman: Graduating From Church; A Confirmation Sermon June 10, 2007. The world that we live in has managed to squeeze our spiritual lives out of everything… But I hope that you will recall this message when you find yourself hungry and thirsty for something more… . My prayer is that you do not graduate from church… but graduate to faithful discipleship. May God’s love go with you always.

Brent Eelman: Hope Does Not Disappoint June 3, 2007. Genuine Christian hope is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and hence it is something that endures all things. The suffering that we experience produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope… and Hope in Jesus Christ will never disappoint.

Brent Eelman: Noise, Language and Truth May 27, 2007. Our lives are filled with the noise of meaningless words and sounds. Pentecost is the life changing hope that infects humanity that gives us a hopeful vision of the future that allows even the most jaded and cynical of us to dare to dream. Pentecost is a gift of hope in a world of noise.

Brent Eelman: Completely One May 20, 2007. There is a world out there that longs for hope. This world, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, is weary of the conflicts and the destruction that we visit upon each other and also upon creation. Perhaps 2000 years after Jesus prayed "that they may all be one," our actions might complete those words.

Brent Eelman: Do You Want to Be Well? May 13, 2007. We live in a therapeutic culture that has substituted sympathy for active compassion. The message to us of Jesus' healing of the invalid man is that Christ wants us whole and healthy physically, mentally and spiritually… but to arrive at that health, we need to Stand up… take up… and walk. Do you want to be well? Then stand up, take up, and walk.

Brent Eelman: So That Everyone Knows May 6, 2007. Jesus gave us a new command: Love one another. It is a recognition that before we can talk about loving the world, we need to be able to love the one who is sitting next to us! He also gave us a reason: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Scott Nowack: To Seek a Newer World Apr 29, 2007. We are called by God as Christians to reach out beyond our immediate sphere of influence; to break through the familiar, the assumptions, the traditions that can tie us down. We are called to carry the Gospel to new places and new faces to seek and create a newer world in Jesus’ name.

Scott Nowack: King of Kings, Lord of Lords Nov 26, 2006 (delayed posting). Each of us has the potential to leave a legacy for future generations. Whether it is a charitable gift, passing down a family heirloom, or raising children, like King David we can leave our mark on the fabric of our culture and world.

Brent Eelman: Hunger and Thirst No More Apr 22, 2007. There is no promise that we will be insulated from the evil of the world, or from the horrors that we experienced on Monday in Virginia. We live in a world that is filled with ambiguity, evil, and violence. There are times when our most idyllic places are assaulted. There is no promise that this will not happen… but there is a promise to which we hold…even now…

Royal Kemper: Can't Be Apr 15, 2007. We become so preoccupied with our own little world that we cannot see the Christ whose Presence is hidden in the shadows of life. It is only as the Presence, the Christ, unobtrusive as he is, meets us at that point of meeting in our strained lives, that our spiritual eyesight is cleared and we come to recognize him.

Brent Eelman: Wanting to Believe, Terrified by Truth Apr 8, 2007. There are times when Easter sounds “too good to be true,” and it is that truth which is terrifying. That is the source of the doubts that many of us have. But doubt is not inconsistent with faith. Faith, at its strongest, is intimate with doubt. Easter is an affirmation of life, and a silencing of the cynicism that destroys the soul and injures others. There is no better news than this. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Brent Eelman: The Song of the Rocks Apr 1, 2007. In the gospel story of Holy Week we learn about the truth of suffering, death, and the sources of this evil. But most of all we learn about life: that life like light, cannot be extinguished, nor can it be hid. You can torture it and crucify it, you can put it in a tomb. But ultimately life, which is the greatest truth, breaks through the silence and shouts, “He is risen! Death is no more!”

Brent Eelman: One Thing, Just One Thing! Mar 25, 2007. Ultimately, there is one thing in life that matters. The amazing thing about that one thing: when we discover and know Jesus Christ, we find tremendous freedom from all those other things. We discover freedom from all the garbage that has cluttered our lives. This is the good news -- really good news. “One thing… Just one thing.”

Brent Eelman: Kharma, Grace and Repentance Mar 11, 2007. God is not an accountant keeping a spreadsheet of our sins and good deeds, determining our ultimate reward or punishment. He is a God of love, who relates to his children through grace, forgiveness. How should we respond to God’s unmerited love and graciousness? Repent.. change our behavior… anything less than this cheapens God’s gift of grace.

Brent Eelman: Good Citizens Mar 4, 2007. What are the requirements of citizenship in heaven? First is identity: The way we act, the values that we have, the language that we use reveal who we are in terms of our citizenship. Second is loyalty and commitment. Third, the Christian citizen sees life as a journey: a spiritual journey. In truth we are on our way home to that place where our citizenship is.

Brent Eelman: Hearts and Hands and Voices Feb 25, 2007. Faith lived out in our lives goes beyond personal dimensions. How does holiness respond to the global AIDS crisis? But does faith not require a concrete response with our hands? How does our faith manifest itself in terms of war, in terms of violence? How does faith manifest itself in the disasters that occur throughout the world? Faith is evident in our lives. Hearts and hands and voices.

Brent Eelman: The Great Ends of the Church: Exhibiting the Kingdom of Heaven to the World Feb 18, 2007. There is a great deal of conflict and pain in the world, in our communities, neighborhoods, and our homes. People truly want to know that there is a better way. They will find it from the church that takes to heart the words of its master, Jesus Christ and exhibits his kingdom to others.

Brent Eelman: The Great Ends of the Church: Social Rightousness Feb 11, 2007. We are called, as a community of faith to promote social righteousness in the world. We are called, not only to hear the word… but to do it. We are called to say “no” to the evils of the world. Indeed.. to every individual and nation.. a moment of decision comes in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side; How will we decide?

Brent Eelman: The Great Ends of the Church: The Preservation of the Truth Feb 4, 2007. The preservation of the truth is not merely realized through study or intellectual ascent… truth is preserved in concrete actions. Truth is preserved in transforming the prayers which we say and the hymns which we sing into concrete actions that witness to the spirit of Jesus Christ and the work of Jesus Christ in our lives and the world.

Brent Eelman: The Great Ends of the Church: The Shelter of the Children of God Jan 28, 2007. Human beings are not created to live in isolation, but with others. In our western culture we have personalized and privatized just about everything, but genuine Christian faith cannot be experienced alone. It is experienced in sharing, trust, mutual support and growth.

Brent Eelman: The Great Ends of the Church: The Salvation of Humankind Jan 21, 2007. God and history will judge Abington Presbyterian Church, not on the beauty of the buildings, nor the size of its membership, nor the total of its budget. It will be judged on its faithfulness to the good news: its willingness to study it, and its desire to share it with others. Our first great end or purpose is the proclamation of the Gospel so that people may hear the good news of God’s salvation.

Brent Eelman: Whose Who? Jan 7, 2007. Each of us lives in the tension of many anxiety producing claims upon our identity and time. The first and final claim upon your life is that you belong to God. It is a claim that judges us, but it is also one that assures us that we too are God's children and we are beloved.

Brent Eelman: The Saga Continues Dec 31, 2006. The challenge of discipleship is letting go of the little child in the manger.. and allowing that child to grow and mature into the adult: a man who calls us to follow; a man who demands obedience; a man who exposes our sins; a man who forgives our shortcomings… a man who challenges us to take up our cross and who carries his.. a man who died for us and for our sins.

Brent Eelman: The Secure Life Dec 24, 2006. The prophet Micah attributes two characteristics to the messiah: security and peace. It is a message that assures us that history and indeed the future, is in the hands of God, and that the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ… and that Christ reigns, and we need not fear, we need not worry. We are secure in Christ.

Brent Eelman: Home for the Holidays Dec 17, 2006. In this Christmas season, many of us will return “home”, whether that means family, friends or a special place… but also, this Christmastide, respond to the promise of the child Jesus... and may you be transformed in your seeking. The good news of the gospel is that we will be brought home.

Brent Eelman: Cleaning House Dec 10, 2006. There are days when I read the newspaper, filled with its stories of political incompetence, and the spiritual emptiness of our day. There are times when I just shake my head in wonder and worry… and you must also… but we need to remember the message of the prophets, and the story that Luke tells. Into this world a child was born, and that child is the source of all that ultimately matters. The house of history with all its figures, tyrants and fools has been cleansed and our age too will be purified by the flames of grace and forgiveness.

Brent Eelman: Promises, Promises Dec 3, 2006. I am sure that we will hear the old tired news again and again during this next four weeks. We will hear about all the things that are wrong. But I pray that you will also hear the hopeful words of the prophet… “The Days are surely coming… when God’s promise of peace, salvation, justice and joy.. will be fulfilled….. the days are surely coming… “

Scott Nowack: King of Kings, Lord of Lords Nov 26, 2006. Each of us has the potential to leave a legacy for future generations. Whether it is a charitable gift, passing down a family heirloom, or raising children, like King David we can leave our mark on the fabric of our culture and world.

Brent Eelman: The S Word Nov 19, 2006. Three words: Sin, Sacrifice and Service. These are words of faith: words that Jesus calls us to use, but more importantly, to live by. Let us acknowledge our sin and shortcomings. Let us with joy, serve God and our fellow human beings, as a way of giving thanks for the freedom and hope we know in Christ.

Brent Eelman: Making a Fortune in Copper Nov 12, 2006. Jesus had a way of literally turning things upside down. He said, "the last shall be first." "the greatest will be the servant". One of the centers of Jesus’ ministry is the value that he placed on things that others thought were insignificant: things like pennies. It was in the small, the insignificant, the seemingly unimportant, the rejects, the poor, the outcasts that Jesus found his examples.

Brent Eelman: Count It All Joy Nov 5, 2006. In the midst of difficulties and trials, as we rebuild, I believe that we will be rebuilt into a community of faith that no longer fears to take the chance for faithful behavior. We will be rebuilt into a community of faith that has rediscovered one another and the joy of being together. We will be rebuilt into a community of faith, that in the words of Paul, is the body of Christ… indeed Christ for our time.

Brent Eelman: The Narcotic of Nostalgia Oct 29, 2006. As we continue to move forward in history, I ask that we join together, recognizing that Abington Presbyterian Church’s history is not something that is in the distant past, but what we do. How we serve today is tomorrow’s history. I ask that you join me and focus on future generations, the children in our midst, but also imagine their children and their children’s children, and let us leave them a legacy of faithfulness.

Brent Eelman: The Begats: Building on Generations of Faith Oct 22, 2006. The genealogy of Jesus declares clearly that the history and hopes of the Hebrew people was not the history of their kings. The genealogy of Jesus also declares to us that the history and glory of this congregation is not told in the story of its pastors, it is in the lives of women and men, old and young who have faithfully served God, following Christ, in these walls and beyond them.

Brent Eelman: The Challenge of Bricks and Mortar Oct 15, 2006. I believe that as we go about our task of raising funds and rebuilding this structure… we are not merely putting bricks upon bricks… something else will be built. And that something else is a community of faith. Just as those bricks and boards and stones will be fastened and tied together, so our lives will be tied together in a powerful and joyful way.

Brent Eelman: Presbyopia Oct 8, 2006. Presbyopia means old eyes. Our eyes, like the rest of our body age, and consequently we need lenses to correct the changes brought on by the years. My big concern is can we become truly farsighted in terms of our vision for the church. Can we begin to think ahead? Our challenge to Abington Presbyterian Church, is to be farsighted and think a large when it comes to the future of our church. I want us to catch "presbyopia" and I pray that it to be contagious.

Brent Eelman: The Irony of Greatness Sept 24, 2006. Jesus challenges us to get our hands and hearts dirty helping others with no expectation of anything in return. The challenge of discipleship today is service. We are called, by Jesus, to be servants to others. Through service to others, we will discover the irony of greatness.

Brent Eelman: At Ease, Without Dread Sept 17, 2006. We live with the assurance and the hope, that in the midst of this world, God is with us for eternity. Will we listen to our fears and respond to them? Or will we listen to the Divine wisdom and respond to our hopes in Jesus Christ, living at ease and without dread?

Brent Eelman: The Costs of Anger Sept 3, 2006. I suspect that someone could make a fortune in our society by starting "anger venting clubs." That is a sad commentary on us... But there is a better way... and James invites us to avoid the expensive costs of anger... and live the life of gracious freedom. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

Scott Nowack: Armed and Dangerous Aug 27, 2006. We are surrounded by the armor of God: the truth, the righteousness, the faith, the salvation, the Spirit, the Word and prayer. The armor of God empowers us to pray and stand boldly and courageously in the face of our opposition, to struggle against the spiritual forces of evil that seek to kidnap us from God.

Scott Nowack: First Things First Aug 20, 2006. We are to live for God in Christ Jesus to show the world that we have the victory in Jesus’ name; the victory over the powers of evil and death with the power of God; the victor.

Royal Kemper: What Are You Doing Here Aug 13, 2006. It is our responsibility to take care of that portion of God's Kingdom where he placed us. Don't concern yourself about what's on the other side of the fence. Look closely: that green growth may be nothing more than weeds!

Brent Eelman: Who Takes Out the Trash Aug 6, 2006. We need to recognize and affirm the importance to the church of all of God’s people regardless of what they do. Your role, your gift, your talent, your participation is essential. You have a role to play here. You have a calling to fulfill. It might not be the glamorous job that you think it should be, but it is vital to this congregation and I exhort you to fulfill it with joy.

Brent Eelman: Scarcity or Abundance? July 30, 2006. Do we worry about what we don’t have… or are we faithful in using and sharing what we have received? Do we cower in fear, or live boldly in faith, rising above the storm to walk with our Messiah? Do we tightly hold onto our loaves and fishes or do we offer them willingly, sharing what we have with others? This is the challenge of the Gospel.

Scott Nowack: One Love, One Life, One Christ July 23, 2006. We are called to be peace makers in a hostile world. We are called to live our lives in the will of God, governed by the authority of Christ, to establish justice in the face of injustice, unity in the face of division, love in the face of hate, hope in the face of despair.

Brent Eelman: Get a Life! July 9, 2006. Christ challenges us to “get a life.” and that life is eternal. We find that life by giving of ourselves for others, overcoming our own egotism and sinfulness, and allowing our minds to be transformed by the awesome grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: Excel in Everything July 2, 2006. Five qualities that contribute to spiritual excellence: Prayer and spiritual discipline. Intellectual rigor. Moral courage. Graciousness. Generosity. Can we commit ourselves to the disciplines of spiritual excellence? This is the challenge of Christ’s command to be a disciple.

Brent Eelman: Those Whom God Chooses June 18, 2006. I believe that God is in our midst., identifying God’s leaders for the next generation, and calling them to serve. This is good news, but it might be troubling. If God is calling us can we respond: “Here I am… Here I am, Lord.”

Brent Eelman: Jesus and the Night Visitor June 11, 2006. Nicodemus, the teacher of the law, attended night school and received the lesson of his life. The darkness of that evening contrasted with the message of hope that Nicodemus heard: the promise of hope, of rebirth and God’s love, for him and for the world.

Brent Eelman: Word Abuse (Pentecost) June 4, 2006. Language is the gift that enables us to know the truth: the truth that sets us free. On this Pentecost Sunday we are called to remember the clarity of language of that day, and we are called in the name of Christ, who is the way and the truth to continue it.

Brent Eelman: Grounded May 28, 2006. All these things: happiness, meaning, and a legacy spring from the soil in which our lives are grounded. The first psalm is n invitation to a life that walks the path that God calls us to follow. It is an invitation to ground our lives in the promises of Christ.

Brent Eelman: Onward Christian Soldiers?! May 21, 2006. It is not a hymn for the timid. It is a call to battle, but not a military battle. It is battle of love and compassion, a battle of healing and hope, a battle of rebuilding and healing.

Brent Eelman: Perfect Love May 14, 2006. "...those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” Those are strong words! That is the challenge of this gospel that we strive to believe. That is the challenge of following Jesus.

Royal Kemper: Freakonomics for Older Adults April 23,2006. The Gospel Accounts make it perfectly clear that the disciples didn't have a clue as to what they had gotten themselves into when they accepted the invitation of Jesus to, "Follow me". The church today, is still in the business of inviting people to a new venture of life. It is here that we discover ourselves to be what God intended for us in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: Passion Resolved! (Easter) Apr 16, 2006. The message of Easter is an old story told and retold. But it is a new a contemporary story, experienced today. It is a new story that includes you. It is a story that promises you hope and most of all: life. Hallelujah!

Laura Baarda: Maundy Thursday Sermon April 13, 2006. During Holy Week are preparing to enter into the freedom of Christ. We are free to serve. The example Jesus set is not, “do unto others as they do unto you.” The example Jesus set is, “serve all people.” Choose with joy to submit to serve even the people who turn against you.

Brent Eelman: The Dominant Chord of Passion (Palm Sunday) Apr 9, 2006. This is the week of the cross. It is the week when we walk through the “valley of the shadow.” Let us walk with Jesus this week and experience his passion, so that the light and power of the resurrection will become more tangible and powerful in our lives.

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Nurture and Education Apr 2, 2006. Our challenge is to teach the word of God in a manner that takes seriously this world… and engages this world with its knowledge and its challenges. It is education that prepares children, youth, and adults to wrestle with the hard issues and demands of Christian discipleship.

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Mission, Far and Near Mar 26, 2006. We have a special task to witness to what God intends for all of humanity, through our common life. How we treat one another is at the heart of our mission. How can we expect or even dream that wars will cease and that people will reconcile, if we can’t?

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Worship and Music Mar 19, 2006. Scripture and history tell us that soul that knows peace, genuine, peace,… the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that triumphs over chains and slavery, illness and death… is the soul that sings.

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Pastoral Care to Older Adults Mar 12, 2006. Our ministry to senior adults needs to confirm that prejudices and rampant bigotry against t he aged are wrong, sinful, and ultimately stupid. God called Sarah and Abraham: 90 and 100 years old. God still calls and empowers senior adults.

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Children and Youth Mar 5, 2006. Just as Jesus placed a child in the midst of his disciples and challenged them., God has placed children and youth in our midst and challenges us to minister to them in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: The Call to Care: Men and Women Feb 26, 2006. Why are we here? Why this building? Not because it is beautiful or convenient, but rather because it provides a staging ground to move out into the world, to encounter the nameless women and men who thirst for living water and to offer it to them.

Brent Eelman: Hidden Heroes Feb 19, 2006. Think about your life and the people who have touched your life and made a difference. Take a moment and write a small note and say thank you. Express gratitude. In the words of Shakespeare, such a note is “twice blessed.” It blesses the one who receives it… and the one who gives.

Scott Nowack: Waking the Dead Feb 5, 2006. Through serving one another, putting God first in our lives and building an intimate relationship with God through prayer and reflection, we proclaim the good news to a skeptical world that has been dead and decaying for a long, long time.

Brent Eelman: Who Speaks for God? Jan 29, 2006. Who speaks for God today? I fear that there are a lot of voices out there that are fakirs and pretenders who speak their own words and call it God's. You and I need to become more intimate with Christ, more intimate with his parables and teachings, more intimate with his life, so that we may discern clearly the words of those who speak in his name. This is no easy task, but it is an important one for preacher and pew sitter alike.

Brent Eelman: A Change of Heart Jan 22, 2006. The story of Jonah turns around three parties, Jonah, the People and God, All three have a change of heart. This is the challenge of the story of Jonah. It is at the heart of the message of Christ. Wrestle with it in terms of your own life, in terms of your community, in terms of your country, in terms of the world.

Brent Eelman: Who is Calling? Jan 15, 2006. God’s call is persistent. We can run… be we cannot hide. If you are struggling with life choices, there is a sacred dimension to those choices, and I believe that in the midst of that struggle we often find the call of God. Listen for it and like Samuel can you find the courage to respond: “Here I am. Speak for your servant is listening.” ?

Brent Eelman: This Year's Tsunami Jan 8, 2006. The power of water has been part of the history of humanity, from floods and disasters, to the Roman aqueducts and electrical turbines. Baptism should be understood in terms of that power. It is a moment that we recognize the power of Holy Spirit in human life.

Scott Nowack: Do You See What I See? Jan 1, 2006. We as a church community must dream things that never were and ask why not, while praying and discerning the vision God has for our lives as individuals and as a community. God asks us, “Do you see what I see?

Brent Eelman: A New Addition to the Family Dec 25, 2005. On this Christmas day, do we really know what we are in for? This child changes everything. "...He will bring the mighty down from their thrones. He has given good things to the poor and the wealthy he has sent away empty.” Are we ready to welcome this child? Are we ready to accept the changes that he brings?

Brent Eelman: Putting the “X” Back in Christmas Dec 18, 2005. Since the early days of Christianity, the letter X, as in "Xmas", was a symbol for Christ. In addition, the X is a cross. It reminds us, during the celebrations of this season that at the heart of our celebration was a sacrifice of love that was made for us and for our salvation.

Brent Eelman: God’s Urban Renewal Program Dec 11, 2005. The prophet Isaiah, the message of Advent, proclaims to us the good news that our spirits will be renewed, our bodies restored, our cities rebuilt, our world recreated.

Brent Eelman: A Major Highway Project Dec 4 2005. The prophets, Isaiah and John the Baptist remind us in the midst of our preparations for the holidays, we are called to build a major highway construction project. It is the way into our hearts for the messiah: the one who came and the one who is yet to come.

Brent Eelman: Working with Clay Nov 27, 2005. Just as the hands of the potter are intimately involved with the clay, forming and molding, so the hands of the Divine are intimately involved in human history. In spite of our flaws we will be reformed, remade, recreated, and fulfilled.

Royal Kemper: Strangers and Pilgrims Nov 20, 2005. We, as a wandering bunch of pilgrims are looking for a place to call home. Trouble is that we don't always see that which prevents us from finding "home", which may be our own bondage.

Brent Eelman: The Danger of Playing Safe Nov 13, 2005. What is your attitude toward money and possessions? How do you perceive the world? I fear that we Christians often live with a scarcity world view. We are constantly worried about what we don't have and about what we need and quite frankly, we miss the joy of that which we have received from God.

Brent Eelman: Did We Forget? Nov 6, 2005. Half of the bridesmaids in the parable forgot the oil... and they missed the great celebration. As you ponder your commitment to Christ and to the church, ask this question: What have I forgotten in my life?

Brent Eelman: How Do We Love God II? Oct 30, 2005. How do we love the Lord? By loving our neighbor; by loving our neighbor so much that we work for justice, for peace, for an end to hurt, and poverty; loving our neighbor so intently that in her eyes, we behold the presence of our Lord.

Brent Eelman: How Do We Love God? Oct 23, 2005. We love God, with our entire being and it is an active thing. It is visible and present in what we do and how we behave. We love God through sacrificing. We love God continually; through thick and thin. It is a commitment and it is a life commitment, indeed a pledge.

Brent Eelman: Forgive Our Debts Oct 16, 2005. What do we owe God? The truth is everything. How do we pay it? Our debt to God, the need to sacrifice, should begin somewhere and perhaps one of the areas is financial. How does your personal budget reflect our faith?

Brent Eelman: Fruit of the Vine Oct 2, 2005. The Kingdom of God is not the property of the church, nor is it the property of clergy, nor the wealthy, nor the few and the powerful. We are all heirs. It is given to us. But we must produce the fruits of the spirit. This is call to responsibility and accountability.

Brent Eelman: Teaching With Authority Sept 25, 2005. Jesus taught with authority... and not like the chief priests and the scribes. His authority was anchored in love and service. The challenge for us as the body of Christ is to continue to uphold that authority, anchoring our message to the world outside these walls in love and service.

Scott Nowack: Ha! It's Not About You! Sept 18, 2005. Choose to put your ego aside, let Christ make a home in your heart, and let us work together, striving side by side with one mind in mission and service to one another and to our needy world. It’s not about you. It’s about God in Christ Jesus, and He will not let you down or disappoint you.

Brent Eelman: Are You a Player or Benchwarmer? Sept 11, 2005. Today is Homecoming Sunday. It is the beginning of our church calendar year. There are tables out there with food refreshments and fun. There are also tables with opportunities to serve, to teach, to learn, to grow, to be part of fellowship group. The food is good, but the other tables are what we are all about: players and not bench warmers.

Brent Eelman: How Much Do You Owe? Sept 4, 2005. How do we show Christian love during a time of national disaster? What can we do now? What can we do in the future? What do we owe? All we owe is what love requires, and love requires that we respond with all. This is the challenge of the gospel.

Brent Eelman: You Are Standing on Holy Ground Aug 28, 2005. The church that hears God's call moves from worship into the world... called to hear with God, the cries of his people.. called to respond with God, freeing those who are oppressed, healing those who are sick, befriending those who are lonely and proclaiming God's love.

Brent Eelman: Which Jesus? Aug 21, 2005. Consider the world that we live in. How different it is than the Middle East where Jesus walked. Our culture, our language, our homes, our institutions, our family styles, how we earn our living are all different. How do we understand Jesus for our world?

Brent Eelman: Eating with Dirty Hands Aug 14, 2005. Jesus was concerned, not merely with the external individual, but with the inner person. Faithfulness is not in ritualized actions, or keeping empty traditions. Faithfulness begins in the heart. It is there, deep inside that faithfulness emanates. It is also there that destructiveness, pain, and wickedness begin.

Brent Eelman: Walking on Water Aug 7, 2005. The life of faith is like walking on water. It is taking a step, because Jesus calls us in that direction, not sure that there is anything there, but taking it because we hear his call, “Come.” It is taking a step away from the fears that often control us.

Scott Nowack: Ordinary Resurrections July 31, 2005 Are you experiencing all that God has for you? Are you willing to wrestle with God, to go the distance with God to become who God wants you to be in Christ Jesus? Unless I’ve missed my guess, there isn’t a single person in this sanctuary that hasn’t at one time or another wrestled with God.

Royal Kemper: Good ... in Everything? July 24, 2005. In this imperfect world, bad things do happen to good people. What does it really mean to search the meaning of Paul's words when he said that God co-operates for good with those who love him and are called according to his purpose?

Scott Nowack: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow July 17, 2005. Hope is not an easy thing to believe in. It requires struggle, grace, forgiveness, patience and complete trust in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. But hope gives us a reason to live knowing that tomorrow is in God’s hands.

Brent Eelman: Shallow Roots and Major Storms July 10, 2005. In the hard and rocky soil of our world, it is possible to be people of convictions. It is possible to be rooted in something that is vital: life-giving soil that allows us to flower and bloom. It is the soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The parable of the sower is an invitation to this conviction, commitment and lifelong love.

Brent Eelman: Dancing, Crying, Eating, and Drinking July 3, 2005. Jesus spent time with people who were considered the scum of society. He ate and drank with them.. He sang and danced with them. He took joy being among them. When we live out the hours of our life this week, this month, this summer let there be a song of joy in our hearts and a dance of gratitude for the salvation that we know in him.

Brent Eelman: Our Secret Sins June 19, 2005. All the secret sins that we have… those things that we hope no one will discover or find out, we have committed in the presence of God. There are no secrets. There are no cover-ups. Yet there is hope realizing that all things are in God’s hands… that wrongs will be exposed and righted.. and that history will be fulfilled with both justice and mercy.

Brent Eelman: Discipleship: A Taxing Profession June 5, 2005. If we are the church of Jesus Christ, those who are lost, alienated and hurting need to see this place as a refuge where they are always welcomed. Those who are sinners need to be able to come home, and we need to see ourselves more like Matthew, a vilified tax collector, forgiven, loved, accepted, and called to discipleship.

Brent Eelman: The Integrity of Concrete May 29, 2005. Most of us can handle life when things go well. Most of us can handle what we call “normal” times, but ultimately we face hardship and difficulties. Will we be able to withstand the storms, or will our foundations wash away and our lives crumble like a broken building?

Brent Eelman: Doubt Need Not Delay May 22, 2005. Do you have your doubts? I am sure that you do. You might have your doubts about God... about the Bible... about this sermon... about your own goodness... about your calling to your job... about your marriage... about your parents or your children. These are real and they are a function of God’s wonderful gift of reason and intelligence. Listen to them, but don’t let them hold you back. Remember, the eleven disciples… some doubted, but they all went forward.

Scott Nowack: The New Power Source May 15, 2005. We have been given a new power source, the Holy Spirit, which fills us with conviction, courage, audacity, confidence and boldness. We have a powerful message of love, hope and grace to proclaim to a hurting and suffering world.

Brent Eelman: The Birth May 8, 2005. On this day which celebrates mothers, let us in the church celebrate the quiet, often anonymous witness of “certain women”: the women who were there in the Upper Room, the women who have served the church through its history; the women who lead and serve faithfully today.

Dr. Eelman's meditation for National Day of Prayer May 5, 2005. In order to approach the throne of Grace, we need to leave behind some of the baggage that we carry: the baggage of partisanship and the baggage of ideology. We need to recognize that though we are citizens of this land with obligations and responsibilities, our ultimate citizenship is the kingdom of heaven.

Brent Eelman: The Struggles of the Soul May 1, 2005. We as Christians are realistic. We do not look away from the troubles of this world, or our own, but confront them. We are hopeful. We are redeemed. We are made whole, beautiful and useful, just as the potter molds the clay.

Brent Eelman: Are You a Dangerous Christian? Apr 24, 2005. We are called to be dangerous Christians, who in the spirit of Stephen and others, in the spirit of Christ, willingly speak the truth in love. We are called to be Christians who willingly call the world to account for the genocide, the oppression, the poverty, and exploitation that are accepted as normal.

Royal Kemper: On Knowing Where You're Going (Older Adults Sunday) Apr 17, 2005. How do you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been? Grandparents, in collaboration with their children, have the task of teaching their grandchildren how to live simply and live responsibly, and to walk humbly with their God.

Brent Eelman: April Fools Apr 3, 2005. Humor has a way of keeping us honest about ourselves and our shortcomings. When we become too puffed up and full of ourselves, when we become sooooo serious that we can’t laugh, humor has a way of restoring us to our proper perspective. It reminds that we are human, and more importantly, that we are in need of God.

Brent Eelman: Not Here Mar 27, 2005. We human beings have plenty of experience with death, but precious little with resurrection. The message of Easter is to stop chasing the dead ends and seek the risen living Christ in living encounter, in communities of faith, in love, reconciliation and hope: love that casts out fear; reconciliation that binds our wounds; and hope that is planted firmly in Christ’s resurrection.

Brent Eelman: The Way of Life Mar 20, 2005. The story of Jesus continues in this community of faith. The Lord has need of you to challenge yourself and others; to speak the truth in love, not anger, to those in power, but also to those who are alienated. The Lord needs you to sacrifice, to risk all in his name. At the end of this road is the cross but also the resurrection.

Debra Musgrave: Serving God as Ourselves Mar 13, 2005. Let us invite one another to share in the ministry of this church. Talk to people about the gifts you see in them. Seek out opportunities to share the gifts you have, joyfully, in humility, and with the individuality that comes with your unique perspective and experience. Let us all learn to serve God… as ourselves.

Brent Eelman: The Woes of Life Mar 6, 2005. Suffering and our wounds are potentially redemptive. They are often the portals through which the grace of God passes into our lives. None of us enjoy suffering, pain, or the like. Few of us want to hear a sermon about it, and yet the woes of life are real. and I believe that it is the key that opens up the gate to joy, purpose, meaning, and yes, eternity.

Brent Eelman: The Where of Life Feb 27, 2005. One of the things that I believe is so important and so vital is enabling our adolescents to struggle and understand the “where” question. Where can they use the gifts that they have been given by God? As we discover our place within the community of faith, we begin to know where we belong in the world. When life changes, we will know the experience of that struggle and will be able to adapt to change. We will know that we belong.

Brent Eelman: The What of Life Feb 20, 2005. What is a human being? We owe our being to the one who created us, and are ultimately dependent upon God. But we are also endowed with spirit: spirit that can gaze at the heavens with a sense of wonder and awe; spirit that can solve the problems of life; spirit that reflects the image of the one who created us; spirit that can discover and discern life’s meaning.

Brent Eelman: The Why of Life Feb 13, 2005. As you deal with all the things that you don’t know and understand about life, the moments of frustration and anger, practice love. It enables us all to live with the incomplete knowledge that we have. In the midst of life’s struggles, focus on those things that matter.

Scott Nowack: Heading in the Right Direction Feb 9, 2005. On this first day of Lent, let us prayerfully re-examine where we are in our relationship with God. With humble and repentant hearts, let us accept the grace of God with our whole selves, so that we may do what God wants us to do with our lives. That is, “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.”

Brent Eelman: A Passion Overture Feb 6, 2005. Christian faith is not passive. It does not lie there. It does not sit around. It does not focus on its fears. Christian faith gets up and gets going. We have a faith with legs. We have faith that calls us to follow our Lord, into the Jerusalem’s of our day.

Brent Eelman: A Meditation on Fishing Jan 30, 2005. The season for discipleship; the season for fishing for human beings began with Christ’s call to Andrew, Peter, James and John. It is still the season. Let us heed to the call of our Lord, leave our nets, leave the things that distract us and share the good news of freedom in Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: Is Something Missing? Jan 16, 2005. God has given this congregation every spiritual gift it needs, and it lacks for nothing. But are we using them? Stifling them? Stifling others? Holding back? The challenge for us as individuals is to use the gifts that God has given within this community of faith.

Brent Eelman: Bathed by Love Jan 9, 2005. What should we remember about our baptism? The affirmation that God declared “this is my beloved, he pleases me.,” is also declared at our baptism. Baptism is God’s declaration of unconditional love for us. We belong to him This love is not merited or earned. It is a love that is freely given. It is an affirmation that is there, daily in our baptism.

Brent Eelman: Sermon in the face of disaster Jan 2, 2005. How we respond as a people, as a nation, as a civilization is not about politics.. it is about what we believe about life and death, about the sacredness of life.. and about the power of goodness in the face of evil and natural disaster… let our lives witness that nothing.. nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Scott Nowack: What Dreams May Come Dec 26, 2004. God is at work in the world and in our lives. God works in limitless ways to each of us. Through our life experiences, the words of others, and prayer, God speaks to us and informs our hearts of his intentions for our lives.

Brent Eelman: The Original Christmas Pageant Dec 19, 2004. The Hebrew people believed that the messiah would come from the lineage of David the great king… that lineage concluded with Joseph the father who was not the real father! Matthew was saying that Jesus’ legitimacy as coming from the line of David rests solely on the faithfulness and obedience of one quiet carpenter: Joseph.

Brent Eelman: Gatorade for the Soul Dec 12, 2004. The heart of the Christmas message to us as we hurry and scurry to make this season meaningful, is that the child born of Mary and Joseph is the end of our search.. If we will but listen to him, follow him, pray to him, live with him, our thirst for living water will be quenched.

Scott Nowack: From Small Things Big Things One Day Come Dec 5, 2004. Our God of hope and might, creator and sustainer of the universe, father of Jesus the Christ, turned the entire world upside down through the birth of a small baby in a stable in the back country. May we be attentive this Advent season to the God of hope that reveals himself to us in the small, little things.

Brent Eelman: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory Nov 28, 2004. The challenge of Advent is not merely to light a candle on a wreath, but to allow our lives to shine as a light of hope in the midst of darkness; to shine as a witness to the love and peace of Christ, in the midst of a world that worships destruction.

Brent Eelman: God's Future Tense Nov 21, 2004. The genius of Jeremiah's message was that, in spite of the gloomy circumstances, God gave a message of hope! Things may be falling apart all over the place, yet Jeremiah was able to declare that the future was good. How do we respond to God's future? We respond by giving thanks... and living a life filled with gratitude.

Brent Eelman: Lead On Nov 14, 2004. Our purpose in life is tied to this institution: Abington Presbyterian Church. This is where we are called to teach our children about Jesus, about learning to live with other human beings. This is where we are called to make our stand in the world, for the justice, love and peace described by Isaiah and lived by Jesus Christ.

Scott Nowack: Expect Great Things Nov 7, 2004. We’re here in this church not for a building or because of the rich history and traditions of the past. We are here, first and foremost, to worship the living God in Christ Jesus, to be a positive force in the ongoing battle between the good and evil forces of the world.

Brent Eelman: Our Hope For Years To Come Oct 31, 2004. Your pledge, no matter how large or small, is an affirmation of hope in the future. I want to challenge you to climb out of the ruts that the world puts us in.. to climb to Habakkuk’s tower of faith and view things from there.. because we will indeed see that the future is God’s and it is good.

Brent Eelman: How Good Do We Have To Be? Oct 24, 2004. We probably will never be good enough, but that is the wrong question. The right question for us is, “will God forgive me?” And the answer to that is a resounding YES!

Brent Eelman: Red States, Blue States and a State of Grace Oct 17, 2004. In three weeks this election will be over. There will be winners and losers. But remember that there is more that binds us together than separates us. We are called to model a community that is united: a community of faith that is bound together by the grace of God.

Brent Eelman: Abnormal Times/Normal Lives Oct 10, 2004. We do not know much about the future. I do know that there will be moments when our society undergoes major and radical change. Our future is in God’s hands, and we should respond faithfully to the changing environment in which we find ourselves.

Brent Eelman: The Limits of Forgiveness Oct 3, 2004. Jesus taught that we should hold each other accountable. If someone does something wrong we are not to look the other way. But we must forgive. These teachings offer a vision of a world where human beings are able to work through the rough spots of life, to struggle and muddle through the things we do that hurt each other.

Brent Eelman: The Faith of a Fool Sept 26, 2004. Can we be fools for Christ? Can we believe that God’s future for this world is so wonderful and so good that we will act upon it, however foolish it may seem? Thank God for the foolishness of those who sacrifice and give themselves to the belief that this world will be better because it is in God’s hands.

Brent Eelman: Schadenfruede Sept 19, 2004. Schadenfreude is a German word meaning taking pleasure in the misfortune of others. It can be a just pleasure: the fall from grace was deserved. Or it may keep us from addressing the social conditions, the violence, the pain and the injustice that is often present in our world. There is another way: Love.... a love that rejoices in the success of others, and does not celebrate their misfortunes

Brent Eelman: Religious Recycling Sept 12, 2004. There are times when we feel absolutely worthless. There are times when we are burdened with guilt and we feel that no one cares, much less loves. Know that even then, indeed mostly then, God loves and actively seeks you, to restore you…to bring you home.

Brent Eelman: How Much? Sept 5, 2004. In ten years we will celebrate our 300th anniversary. The challenge for us is to respond and change to the new challenges of this century and prepare ourselves for our fourth century by concluding it with a decade of discipleship…. Discipleship that knows well the costs and is willing to pay it.

Brent Eelman: Miss Manners and Faith Aug 29, 2004. What is important in the realm of God are those who have no places of honor and are not even invited to the tables of life. Jesus articulated a radical egalitarianism: all human beings are valuable and we are judged on how we treat those whom we perceive to be of the least importance.

Scott Nowack: Where Am I?, Aug 8, 2004. God dares us to move, to break out of our old ways and our stifling habits and traditions, and embrace the joy and newness of life found in Christ Jesus. For God wants all our moves to be made with Him. God calls us to move and take chances on the new things he is doing in our lives.

Leonard Kalkwarf: Making Decisions, Aug 1, 2004. When the prayers are finished and the research is done, just do it. What is important is that we approach our decision making process seriously by doing our homework, pray and then act upon it. Then God will never allow us to make a mistake that is not redeemable.

Brent Eelman: A Faith With Legs July 11, 2004. In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus says that Christian faith is not merely about what you think is true and right. It is about doing what is true and right. Faith has legs.

Brent Eelman: Power, Glory and God July 4, 2004. The good news is the that there continue to be the nameless people who bring to us powerful messages, life changing messages, but we need to listen... the Good news is that God's message is a healing and hopeful message. It is a message that restores human beings and makes us whole.

Brent Eelman: Are We Free? June 27, 2004. We are the freest society in history... and yet as free as we are, all of us know the slavery and chains that engulf our spirits. The call of Christ in our day is a call to freedom of the spirit. It is a call to a community of faith, of support, of love: a community which builds the spirit.

Brent Eelman: Can We All Get Along? June 20, 2004. The world needs the church more than ever. This world needs to see a group of individuals who come from different perspectives, different viewpoints, different races and classes and acknowledge that there is more that binds us together than separates us.

Brent Eelman: Wisdom, the First Act of Creation June 6, 2004. We are starving for meaning and purpose in our world. We are hungry for understanding and find ourselves puzzled, even fleeing from the question "WHY?" We should be hopeful that we and future generations can change our course and pursue the challenges of wisdom... and in that pursuit discover the fullness of life as God intended.

Brent Eelman: Future Schlock, May 29, 2004. The challenge for us is silence, and stillness. "Be still and know that I am God," the psalmist says. Those words should be written on our souls. The challenge for us is to stop uttering, writing, processing, illustrating, teaching and singing words and quietly hear the Word and understand the Word. Pentecost is hope. Clarity, Understanding and Hope.

Brent Eelman: Jailhouse Rock, May 23, 2004. Christian faith is about rocking this world. Christian faith is about singing songs of hope, songs of joy, and hymns in praise of God no matter where we are or what is going on. Christian faith is about smiling and laughing in the face of despair, because we know a greater truth: this world is God’s.

Brent Eelman: A New Dawn, May 16, 2004. I believe that all around us are signs, events and people who should give us all hope that God is active and involved with this world and that the vision that Revelation describes is not a mere dream or fairy tale. The challenge for us is to change. Change those characteristics that we human beings have that hurt others and that continue to keep the world in darkness. Change those institutions that hurt, destroy and bring the tears.

Brent Eelman: Comfort: Trustworthy and True, May 9, 2004. The Revelation of John attempts to come to grips with the meaning of pain, suffering, persecution and history. It speaks to people who live with tyranny and suffer at the hands of it. It is ultimately a message of hope, comfort and assurance. At the center of the message is a call for perseverance in faith.

Brent Eelman: Your Soul Restored, May 2, 2004. The message of our society is that we do not have all the things that we need. It is a message of acquisition, and it plants within us an anxious fear. The message of the 23rd psalm and the teachings of Jesus is to look at ourselves, our worries, our hopes and fears and distinguish between those things we want, and those which we need. We discover soon that we have all that we need.

Leonard Kalkwarf: Life's Surprises, Older Adults Sunday, Apr 25, 2004. When one has a calling and one follows God’s lead, one never knows what will happen. Many of us realize that we could never have planned the details of our lives as they have worked out. Why do these things occur? As people familiar with God, we represent the presence of God. Without doing anything, we can be a significant gift to those around us by what we are as a person. It means that we are never retired.

Brent Eelman: The Resurrection: An Idle Tale? An Easter Sermon, Apr. 11, 2004. If you believe the words of hope that the women at the tomb proclaimed: you have your doubts, your moments of despair, those times when you wonder whether the powers of life triumph. But you remember the teachings of Jesus, as the women did and your soul rises above the doubt and despair.

Brent Eelman: When Stones Shout, Apr. 4, 2004. As Jesus rides triumphantly into Jeruselum, "these very stones will shout” the story of redemption, the good news to all who hurt, all who are in pain, to all who long for hope and meaning. They will shout over the sounds of sword and cannon. They will shout of the One who rules over all… The Christ.

Scott Nowack: The One Thing You Need, Mar. 28, 2004. The one thing we need, the one thing we have to give the world, is the spirit of Christ in word and actions. We have the living presence of the spirit of Christ in this place. We just need to let it out and fill our hearts and our worship and our fellowship so that we can touch the lives of others who are wandering lost and empty, who are struggling to find wholeness through personal achievement and success.

Brent Eelman: Older Brothers, Mar. 21, 2004. The very nature of life is that it is unfair. Within an unfair system, the loving and gracious actions of God seem unfair. We don’t always get what we should have coming. In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus was telling those who would listen: “Don’t worry about how God loves someone else. Give thanks that God loves you."

Brent Eelman: Spreading Fertilizer, Mar. 14, 2004. The parable of the fruitless fig tree is for us a parable of grace; amazing grace. The fertilizer is the symbol for grace. It nurtures us with a second chance at life. It is amazing grace that goes beyond reason and sense, but that is the nature of love.

Brent Eelman: Gastro-Gods, Mar. 7, 2004. What is our cross? We are called to live sacrificially. We are called to withstand evil and wrong. Ours is a faith of the cross not the belly. Our cross is not merely a piece of jewelry that we wear. It is a sacrifice of joy that we gladly carry each day.

Brent Eelman: Temptation or Opportunity, Feb. 29, 2004. It is the season of Lent: a time of prayer and introspection. It is also a time when we acknowledge that we, too, are tempted and often those temptations often seem like wonderful opportunities. It is a time to resolve to be the individuals we were created by God to be and fulfill the calling of discipleship that God has called us to serve.

Brent Eelman: That Changes Everything, Feb. 22 2004. There are mountain top experiences in individual lives. These are moments when we can see, literally see, what we are supposed to be doing with our lives. These are the transfiguring moments that change everything.

Brent Eelman: The Blessing We Seek, Feb. 15, 2004. The blessing that our soul desires is to know that the creator of the world cares about us, and that others do also. The blessing that our soul hungers for is to know that whatever we have done, whatever our failings may be, we are forgiven and welcomed home with open arms.

Brent Eelman: Why Me? Feb. 8, 2004. God forgives so that we might become instruments to share the good news. We are not forgiven merely to be happy in our own lives. Forgiveness at its very core is part of our calling. We are forgiven so that we can be vehicles for sharing the good news of God’s presence in Christ.

Brent Eelman: Just a Kid Feb. 1, 2004. How would you complete this sentence: “I am only a _______.”? More often than not, it is a polite and self-effacing way of saying: “I can’t, or I won’t” This will not work with God. When God calls us to do something, God will be with us. God does not call us to easy tasks, but God does not call us to fail.

Scott Nowack: An Upside Down World, Jan. 25, 2004. Today, you can make a choice. You can choose to remain in your comfort zone, where life is relatively easy and effortless and where there is little pain or suffering as well as little love and passion. Or…You can choose to reach out to and connect with all people regardless of their race or ethnicity or gender or age, to give your life away in service to others and to God, to stand up for what’s right even when the odds are against you, to turn the values and morals of this world upside down in the name of Jesus Christ.

Brent Eelman: Called by Name and Precious Jan. 11, 2004. The promise of baptism is that God calls us by name and declares that we are precious to God. It is recognition that our lives are not our own, but that we are, in this event commissioned for a task that is important.

Brent Eelman: Herod the Pathetic Jan. 4, 2004. Herod is known to history as “Herod the Great.” He accomplished much, and had a lot of power and influence; but the Bible paints Herod as a frightened pathetic man, who used his power to hurt and destroy. Compared with him is the story of a child, who grew to be a man, who spent about thirty months, wandering around the middle east, teaching, preaching and healing. The Bible poses this question: who was great?

Scott Nowack: There's More To Life Than This, Dec. 28, 2003. The commercialism of Christmas says that if we really want to show our love for someone, we need to buy lots of gifts for them and expensive ones at that. Let us recommit to living the life we have been called to live, giving gifts to one another and the world by meeting their needs, not their greeds.

Brent Eelman: Promises, Promises: Security and Peace Dec. 21, 2003. How do we proclaim a message of hope to a hungry world? We do it in the spirit of the child born in Bethlehem. We do it in the small acts of love, kindness and compassion that swell into a movement of hope, bringing security and peace. We share our food, and feed it one mouth at a time. We proclaim peace by embodying forgiveness in our lives, and the graciousness that defuses anxiety and hate.

Brent Eelman: Promises, Promises: No More Fear Dec. 14, 2003. I can see a future that includes you and me. There is a vision for each of us and for us together as the Body of Christ. At the heart of that vision is that God cares about this world enough to be involved with it, and God’s involvement is characterized by love, grace and forgiveness.

Brent Eelman: Promises, Promises: Finding What You Want Dec. 7, 2003. What do you want in life and will you find it? This awesome season of Advent and Christmas declares that ultimately what all of us want is there in that child in Bethlehem. When we ask him how we can walk more closely with him, he speaks about those who are in need, the hungry, the sick, the alienated, the hurting, the imprisoned, the homeless and challenges us to help them…. And then he tells us that we will see him in those we help.

Brent Eelman: Promises, Promises: What is the Promise of Christmas? Nov. 30, 2003. Christmas is a time when we affirm that the promises of God will be fulfilled: that indeed the days are coming, when we will all live with justice, in safety, and the promise of salvation. In the child, born of Mary, that promise has been fulfilled.

Scott Nowack: What Kind of King is Christ?, Nov. 23, 2003. The only way to fill the void in our hearts is to let Jesus be the king of our lives.. Everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door to the Kingdom of which Jesus is king will be opened.. Jesus rules over the kingdom of our hearts, minds, and spirits. That’s where Jesus is king.

Brent Eelman: How Heavy is a Grudge? Nov. 16, 2003. Grudges that we carry are heavy enough to hurt our physical health, to bring on depression and sleeplessness, to destroy relationships between people. Grudges that nations carry can lead to distrust, conflict and war. The invitation of Jesus is to lay our burden down and follow.

Brent Eelman: Pennies From Heaven, Nov. 9, 2003. The poor widow who put two small coins into the treasury gave from her poverty. Financially, we are called to give proportionally from our abundance. The poverty of our society is time, and the gifts of time that come from that poverty are sacred.

Brent Eelman: Open the Front Door, Nov. 2, 2003. Jesus challenges us to be a church that not only goes out into the world, but leaves the front door open so that others may come in; a church that says “welcome” and repeats the words of Jesus: “Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest.”

Brent Eelman: Once and For All, Oct. 26, 2003. Is the Reformation relevant? First it is a message of hope. Jesus Christ lived and died for all. Second it is a message of empowerment The grace of God in Jesus Christ is a word of freedom from the hidden and tyrannical powers that control our lives

Leonard Kalkwarf: The Best Seats in the House, Oct. 19, 2003. Our Lord makes an important distinction in his response to the two disciples who asked to become famous. He offered them not fame but honor. And honor is not easy. It is earned. "...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all."

Brent Eelman: What Does Money Have to Do With Faith? Oct. 12, 2003. As we ponder the financial realities of our church and our own personal budgets, I believe that we are not making financial decisions, but rather decisions about faith. It is a decision about what we believe is ultimately important.

Brent Eelman: Why Do Christians Fight? Sept. 28, 2003. Christians fight when we believe that we, each and all, need to see and experience God in the same way. The truth is that none of us has the same experience of God. We need to acknowledge with humility that we all see in a mirror dimly. We need to commit ourselves, each and all, to love.

Brent Eelman: Do I Have to Forgive? Sept. 21, 2003. Forgiveness, at its best, is a decision not to be controlled by the evil that has been done to you. The evil will always be there and there is no retribution that will take it away, but the gift of forgiveness is the promise that it needn’t be a spiritual burden that controls our life.

Brent Eelman: What Is Truth? Sept. 14, 2003. At the center of the current world conflicts is the question of ultimate truth, the truth that you are willing to live and die for. The truth of Christianity is not a concept or an abstraction. It is a relationship, a liberating story. It is a story of lives that are transformed by the touch of Jesus, and lives that are transformed by his followers.

Brent Eelman: What Is Grace and Why Is It So Important? Sept. 7, 2003. Beneath the surface of human interaction there is a powerful and destructive rage, in politics, in religion, in art, in music. The grace that Jesus embodies challenges us to live our lives in a manner that restores relationships where rage, anger and hatred have destroyed them.

Brent Eelman: Cleanliness, Godliness and Dirty Hands, Aug. 31, 2003. The challenge to us as individuals and as a congregation is to be less concerned about external expressions of piety, be it looking holy in our Sunday best or perfect in our prayer verbiage and syntax. The challenge is the inner person.

Scott Nowack: Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, Aug. 24, 2003. The great dilemma you and I face is this: our own will by itself, will not desire what we know it should desire; our heart by itself will not choose what we really wish our heart would choose. We need to seek support from one another as a Christian community so we may stay on the right path that leads to growth and wholeness.

Brent Eelman: Don't Be a Fool, Aug. 17, 2003. There is an awful lot of foolishness in our age. We become so intoxicated with the moment that we devalue history and tradition and blind ourselves to the future consequences of our behavior. Wisdom is borne of reflection. It is built on the foundation of understanding. Biblical wisdom knows what God has called us to do and to be.

Brent Eelman: Bread of Life or Crumbs from the Table, Aug. 10, 2003. The feast of the Bread of Life is found in modeling the sacrificial love of Jesus. The hunger of the soul is not fed through consumption, but ironically through sharing, through sacrifice, through giving and through acts of love that make a difference in the lives of others.

Brent Eelman: Guilt and Forgiveness, Aug. 3, 2003. Psalm 51 reveals to us two important steps on the path of forgiveness. The first is to verbalize your guilt. Put it into words, written or spoken. It is a simple idea: confession. The second is letting go of the guilt and living in the freedom of God's forgiveness.

Brent Eelman: The Miracle of Plenty, July 27, 2003. The lesson of The Feeding of the Five Thousand is quite clear and transparent: Worry less about what you have, and concern yourself more with using it faithfully and sharing it. When we are faithful in sharing what we have, we discover that it is indeed enough.

Brent Eelman: The Architecture of Faith, July 20, 2003. Our challenge is to rediscover and reclaim the foundation of our faith. It is there in the prophets and the apostles... not only the ones that Paul knew, but also the apostles, known and unknown, who have worked in the vineyard of this community, reaching out in God’s name to others for almost three centuries.

Brent Eelman: I Danced In the Morning, July 13, 2003. In Jesus Christ, we are made new. At once we are free from those things which enslave us. Let your entire life reflect your gratitude and joy. Indeed may your life, in all its fullness be a dance of joy before God

Leonard Kalkwarf: Freedom, July 6, 2003. Captivated by our freedom, we cannot help but show our gratitude. In the civil realm, we make certain that these freedoms are protected and made available to all. In our religious freedom, we express our gratitude in how we give of ourselves to a new and different way of life.

Brent Eelman: Stormy Weather, June 22 2003. There will be stormy seas for all of us. There will be waves we ride that will threaten our very being. Know that just as Jesus was on that boat with his disciples, he is also with you in the midst of your storms.

Leonard Kalkwarf, on the 50^th anniversary of his ordination : Just a Clay Jar, June 15, 2003 The treasure of the gospel is passed on to us in clay jars that last but for a fleeting moment. But the precious message is preserved for generations yet to come forever and ever. Soli Deo Gloria. To God alone be the glory.

Brent Eelman: Happy??, June 1, 2003. Happiness is well rooted like a tree. The first root of happiness is the knowledge that you are loved by God. The second root is commitment to the one who loves us. The third root is service and sacrifice. Would you like to experience happiness? Then get involved in something that helps another person.

Brent Eelman: The Art of Loving, May 25, 2003. When we love, we discover life’s purpose and our lives take on meaning. It is more than technique, and there is no course that teaches. Love is learned in the bruising and the pain of life. It is learned in giving and forgiving. It is learned in trials and errors. It is learned not only in this community, but in our relationships with others in the world.

Brent Eelman: No Fear, May 18, 2003. Both Paul and John acknowledge that we human beings are different. We see things differently, think differently, have different values, look differently. Lack of understanding and conflict is at the basis of a great deal of fear. How then can we get along? What is the key? It is love. Love that builds, that supports, that is kind, patient and persevering.

Brent Eelman: Play the Changes, May 11, 2003. Change happens! It happens whether we like it or not. It happens suddenly and unexpectedly. We have no control over most of the changes that occur in life, but we do have some control over how we respond to them. Christian faith gives us tools to respond creatively .

Scott Nowack: In Our Midst, May 4, 2003. We can’t go it alone. We can’t live the life God wants us to live behind our fears and our insecurities as if they were locked doors and protective walls. We need to embrace our fears and our pain along with the joys and celebrations of our lives. We need Christ to dwell in our midst through the power and work of the Holy Spirit.

Leonard Kalkwarf: All Things in Common, April 27, 2003 (Older Adults Sunday). When Jesus called people into the Christian Faith, he never said, "Good, now go back where you came from and be a good Christian." Jesus understood that you couldn’t be a Christian in isolation. He always said, "Good, now join the rest of the disciples and work together."

Brent Eelman: In the Garden, April 20, 2003 (Easter). What has been changed by the Easter story is miracle that is before our very eyes, as we leave this place and journey home. Life! It is suddenly given anew. We exist, because He love us… enough to know us by name; enough to reveal the promise of eternity to us.

Brent Eelman: Roses all the Way, April 13, 2003 (Palm Sunday). “Ride on, ride on in majesty, in lowly pomp ride on to die.” Let us not diminish the joy of this celebration, but let us not avoid the week ahead. May our faith mature into an Easter faith of joy; a realistic and hopeful faith. This is the promise of holy week.

Brent Eelman: The New Deal, April 6, 2003. The “New Deal” that was envisioned by Jeremiah was, in effect, a redefinition of the relationship between God and humanity. FDR: Freedom: freedom from sin; Dependability: A God who is there for us, and whom we can call upon. Relationship: a God who loves us unconditionally. Live with that hope.

Brent Eelman: Uplifting Faith, Mar. 30, 2003. Our mission is to love God, love others, and model Christ in this day and age. What gift can you lift up and give to God? What gift reflects the love that you have in your heart for God? Truly uplifting faith is a faith that sacrifices. It is a faith that is intimate with eternal life.

Brent Eelman: Crisis, Conscience, and the Cross, Mar. 23, 2003. We live in an age of crisis. All of us have been endowed by our creator with a conscience, and these are the times when our conscience becomes troubled and we question our motives and our actions. The one hope that we have, in the midst of the horror and hell that is war, is the Christ who died for us, whose sacrifice grants forgiveness. Our hope is the cross.

Brent Eelman: Face the Future With Courage, Mar. 16, 2003. Pondering the future, especially in these times can be a difficult and burdensome task. Yet if we will take Jesus as our model, we can face our future with courage. Know who you are. Be realistic and honest about what the future portends. Finally know what is required and what resources you have. We have a future, an awesome future, and with Christ we can face it with courage.

Barbara Rowland, Julie Arndt, Jocelyn Canfield Kelemen: Simple Gifts, March 9, 2003. Three messages on Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday.

Brent Eelman: A Twist in the Plot, Mar. 2, 2003. At times our lives are hit with lightening bolts. These are powerful moments, life changing moments. But these events are always followed by ordinary moments. The season of Lent is a time for reflection. It is a time when we need to look for Christ…. Not merely in the spectacular, but in the ordinary.

Leonard Kalkwarf: Everlasting Comfort, Feb. 16, 2003. At some time or another all of us have to walk through the valley of the shadows. Suffering, pain and death comes to all of us. We are able to face extreme difficulties and hardships as long as we know we are not alone, as long as there are those who love us and care for us and stand alongside of us. God is with us, he cares for us, he loves us. He will neither forsake us nor permit these events to destroy us.

Brent Eelman: Anxiety and Hope, Feb. 9, 2003. In the last three or four months we have felt very vulnerable, and consequently very anxious. We human beings, for all the knowledge that we have, and all the potential good that our knowledge can do, seem inclined to evil. In the midst of all this, we have this teaching of Jesus: “Do not be anxious.” Here is the Good News: What God intends will happen.

Brent Eelman: Liberty and Love, Feb. 2, 2003. At the heart of the Christian faith is freedom. We believe that we have been freed by Jesus Christ and that we are called to enjoy and celebrate this freedom. But this is always held in tension by the demands of love.

Brent Eelman: They Gave Up Fishing, Jan. 26, 2003. There is a cost to following Jesus, and those first disciples were willing to make it. If they followed Jesus all the way they would discover that there was a cross. 11 of the twelve met their death in a violent manner. Faith and discipleship was not without its costs. It has its costs today... in the different roads that we take in life, we soon discover its costs.

Brent Eelman: Why Do You Want Me?, Jan. 19, 2003. Doubt and confusion are part of the spiritual landscape today. We have our doubts, and if we follow our doubts deep enough, we discover that the primary doubt is with ourselves. “Who am I?” we wonder. “Why was I created at all?” “What is my purpose in life?” The challenge that we have today is hearing the call of God.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed 10. Wash and Wear Faith, Jan. 12, 2003. God has forgiven us, and continues to forgive. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you or I can do that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. But Jesus was not only concerned with our relationship with God; he was also concerned about restoring relationships between people. When we state that we believe in the forgiveness of sin, we are stating that we believe that human relationships can be restored, no matter how broken.

Leonard Kalkwarf: The Light Fantastic, Jan. 5, 2003. Let the shepherds ever keep before us that Jesus identifies with the humble. Let the Wisemen ever remind us Jesus came for all people and that there can no longer be dividing walls of hostility that separates us. Let this great light... be the light fantastic that reveals a new day, a new era, a new way in which we now live and move and have our being.

Brent Eelman: Escape to Egypt, Dec. 29, 2002. Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus are fugitives from Herod. The warm and gentle story of the birth of the child Jesus has now resolved into the horror of the slaughter of innocent children. Yet this change has much to teach us. There are still Herods in this world. At the root of all this conflict that threatens the existence of this planet is fear. We are called to keep the spirit of the child Jesus alive in our interactions with each other. They are to be characterized by love and grace rather than fear and abuse.

Brent Eelman: When a Child Interrupts (Christmas Eve), Dec. 24, 2002. The divine presence is often an interruption. It is an interruption in our lives. It is an interruption of the status quo. It is an interruption to the way things are, and it points the way to a new future. We don’t like our solemn activities interrupted, but that is precisely what God has done in the birth of that Child Jesus.

Brent Eelman: A Child is Born, Dec. 22, 2002. Matthew did not gild his gospel. He told the truth about this man Jesus, and that truth said something very powerful about God and reality. The truth is that Jesus was a human being, and if one looked at his roots, one would find some pretty seamy stories, and people of questionable reputation and character. It is that truth that is the cornerstone of hope. God can use you and me, despite our reputations; despite our past.

Brent Eelman: From This Day Forth, Dec. 15, 2002. If we hold onto the words of Mary…from this day forth….from now on….We hold the belief that we can change, that he world has an alternative to the way that it is living….and that the child, born to Mary, Jesus, who we call the Christ, has begun a new age of hope….we can live in that age, with shepherds and magi, the poor and the lowly, the hungry and the oppressed….or we can hold onto the old….with Herod and the despots of history.

Leonard Kalkwarf: The Mysterious Desert, Dec. 8, 2002. Mark’s Gospel was written for those who already believed but whose lives were in jeopardy from Roman persecution. How often our spirits go through the forsaken, barren, gritty wasteland. Like the Roman Christians to whom Mark was writing, we find it almost unbearable. And it is in just such a moment that Christ may come to us and we experience God’s grace.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 9. The Return Visit, Dec. 1, 2002. Advent has a simple yet profound message. We are called to witness to the fulfillment of history, the kingdom of love and justice. In this unjust world, we need to model justice. In this uncaring world we need to be examples of love and care for others. In this unforgiving world where retribution is the name of the game, we need to embody the grace of Jesus Christ, forgiving others, welcoming the stranger. Advent is a time of joyous anticipation of the one who is returning.

Brent Eelman: Ecumenical Thanksgiving Sermon , Nov. 26, 2002. “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor” (Deuteronomy 26:5)... a recognition that we as a people have nothing, except what God has given to us. We were wandering about to perish, except that God rescued us. That reality and recognition is at the center of the thankful heart.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 8. A Weekend of Hope, Nov. 24, 2002. The creed states that Jesus was in Hell. We are affirming that there is not a place that is beyond the salvation that is offered in Jesus Christ. He was willing to confront the demons of his day, be it disease of body or soul. He was willing to go where others would not.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 7. Outside the City Gate, Nov. 17, 2002. Suffering, pain, the ugly realities are, by the grace of God, the things that shape our souls and forge our character... Christ endured the cross and triumphed, and because he did, you and I can triumph over our suffering and our pain.

Leonard Kalkwarf: The Apostles' Creed: 6. Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Nov. 10, 2002. When Jesus Christ came into Pilate’s world he found himself between a rock and a hard place. If he played it safe, he would live; if he did what he believed was right, he would die. Jesus went willingly to his death and thereby showed us the meaning of unconditional love.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 5. Who Is This Man? Nov. 3, 2002. At the heart of our faith is Jesus Christ, one who came for you and for me also. He is the one who is from God; the promised one who brings salvation, hope, joy and purpose to those who will call him Lord and savior. He is the Messiah whose presence in our lives opens up eternity and the life that is there for all who will follow.

Brent Eelman: Two Masters, Oct. 27, 2002. “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Giving money away absolutely devalues everything that it stands for, and it rebukes its spiritual hold on us. What we place in the plate, what we write on the pledge card, needs to be a gift. If it is a gift, given with no expectation of return, it will be tremendously freeing.

Brent Eelman: The Best Bargain on Old York Road! Oct. 20, 2002. Stewardship is an invitation to you to experience a unique joy and community that comes from stretching, giving, and indeed sacrificing. Hopefully, for you, this is not merely the best bargain on Old York Road. My prayer is that it is for you a flowing stream of hope and salvation, that we all experience through the vehicle of sacrifice.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 4. Heaven and Earth, Oct. 13, 2002. Christian faith declares that this creation which we know and experience is not absurd, it is purposeful and reflects the mind and goodness of its creator... As awesome as we are and with all the gifts with which we have been endowed, we have not received a deed for earth giving us ownership. The earth is God’s and what we have is ultimately a gift from God. We are called to care for creation, not merely because future generations will use it, but because it is God’s creation and God loves it dearly.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 3. Almighty Creator, Oct. 6, 2002. As creator the God who is so vast so powerful so unimaginable reveals that he is not a God who lives and exists for himself, but is intimately involved in creation: a God who makes, creates, fashions for his own delight. He has chosen to create and participate in the world.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 2. God the Father? Sept. 29, 2002. Trust is at the heart of the relationship between God and humanity. We can trust our God, as we can trust a parent. This is an amazing belief. This world is filled with fear. We all fear and live with it daily. Often fear controls us. It controls the nations of the world, and it certainly impacts us as individuals. You know your own fears. Trusting God enables us to live fully and boldly in the world.

Brent Eelman: The Apostles' Creed: 1. I Believe, Sept 22, 2002. Church history is like a family picture album. In that album are formal pictures. These formal pictures are the creeds. The creeds are those formal attempts at different times in history to say who we are as believers and the content of what we believe. These are the imperfect statements of men and women as they have struggled with the primary question: “Who is Jesus Christ for us today?” The creeds are the formal statements that speak to that question.

Brent Eelman: Rushing to Judgment, Sept. 15, 2002. How can we avoid that rush to judgment that is often destructive and deadly? First and foremost, I believe that it is important to have the courage of our convictions. We need to believe that we are right. If we don't we will often be paralyzed. But if I read what the apostle Paul is saying, conviction about our own rightness does not necessarily mean that another is wrong. “Who are you to judge another, for we will all stand before the judge.” “I'm right. You’re wrong.” Can we stop with “I'm right?”

Brent Eelman: Memorial, Sept. 11, 2002. We are here this evening because each of the 3000 individuals who perished that day was a human being, made in the image of God. They had names. They were human beings, who loved, who hoped; human beings who had their faults and their limitations; human beings who are missed by many; human beings whose murder has created “ground zero” in the hearts of all who grieve their deaths.

Brent Eelman: Eyeball to Eyeball, Sept. 8, 2002. Jesus preached, taught and lived with the vision that human beings were created to live in harmony with one another and with God. Part of that vision was that wrongs could and should be righted. Part of that vision was that we are endowed with the reason and the ability, by the grace of God, to move beyond differences, pain and distrust...{to] a community where conflict does not escalate into war; a community where hurt and misunderstanding do not degenerate into destruction.

Pastor Helen Woodward's Farewell Sermon: On Holy Ground, Sept. 1, 2002. Making excuses, when asked to do difficult things, is one of the temptations we all face in life. Sometimes, maybe all the time, the things that we are asked to do in life seem insurmountable. Bigger than life. More than we can possibly do. But there is no doubt in my mind that to be Christ in our time requires us to try and do what Paul lists in Romans 12. Loving one another, being ardent in spirit; rejoicing, hoping, praying, blessing, reaching out to others are all what it means

The Jacob Chronicles (A series of six)

1. Cheated. July 14, 2002. This story and the ones that follow are important for our generation because they reveal a great deal about God. The events seem like a soap opera, with one exception. God is a primary player in this drama. Like the other characters in this history, we learn more about God. We discover that God is not bound by human weakness and inabilities. God uses dysfunctional families, immature and narcissistic young men, manipulating spouses, and hard working stiffs to accomplish his purposes.

2. Promised. July 21, 2002. God, who revealed himself to Jacob that evening, was not a concept, not an idea, not a philosophical proposition. Yahweh was and is a God who is in relationship with people. In that moment, the muddy mystery of history begins to clear. Jacob was no longer a scoundrel on the run. He was the heir of the promise that was offered to his grandfather Abraham.

3. A Love Story. July 28, 2002. We live in a culture that is obsessed with romantic love. It is a wonderful thing, but it is also at the root of a great deal of tragedy and pain. Romance, in this story of Jacob and Rachel, is tempered by the willingness to work. Good relationships and marriages are not merely about romance. Their foundation is an active love that is willing to work for the beloved.

4. A Homecoming. August 4, 2002. There are many things with which we wrestle and fight. We struggle for success. We battle life's opponents and rivals. We struggle with circumstance and coincidence. These are often consuming... but the biggest struggle that we have is the one that Jacob encountered that night. Our biggest struggle is the struggle to claim our own soul. It is the struggle to be genuine in the presence of God. A person can win all the battles of life, and still creep like a coward from this encounter.

5. Sold Out. August 11, 2002. Conjecture about what happened; pain and grief are the realities of life. Closure is a luxury that we don't always have. There are times that we are left with pain and sorrow. There are things that we don't understand. We live with many loose ends. That does not mean that God has abandoned us. It means that the story is not yet complete.

6. A Reunion. August 18, 2002. "Getting back" is a powerful drive that comes upon us. It motivates us to great heights and accomplishment, but it ultimately destroys the soul. Grace is that mysterious moment in time and space when we let go of that primal drive to even the score and get back, [and] discover a way to move on, together, hand in hand.

JULY 2002

7/7/02 Brent Eelman: " Love and Authority"

JUNE 2002

6/30/02 Brent Eelman "The Invisible Person"

6/9/02 Brent Eelman: "Hope Against Hope"

6/2/02 Brent Eelman: "The Theatre of Worship"

MAY 2002

5/26/02 Brent Eelman: "On the Altar of Our Values"

5/19/02 Brent Eelman: "A Tsunami of the Spirit"

5/5/02 Brent Eelman: "Does Suffering Make Sense?"

APRIL 2002

04/28/02 Leonard Kalkwarf: "An Idea That Can Use You"