Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | November 10, 2024 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Sometimes I like to visit the well, so to speak. To revisit the familiar and discover in it something new. Ecclesiastes for example, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” A time to keep, and…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | November 3, 2024 Mark 12:28-34 The people in the church where I hung out as a kid were serious about their religion. It was their way, their truth, and their life in a religion of absolutes – heaven or hell – no shades of grey. That seemed…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 27, 2024 Mark 10:46-52 I recently went to a movie theater in Duluth to watch a film called, “Piece by Piece.” The film is a documentary produced by singer-songwriter Pharrel Williams. It delves into his creative process. In it, he told of how from a young…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 20, 2024 Mark 10:35-45 Sometimes people are curious about what I do for a living, as a church pastor. What exactly does a pastor do? That’s a question for the ages. Over the ages of my brief time in ministry, I narrowed my vision on the…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 13, 2024 Mark 10:17-31 Questions come in many varieties. I appreciate questions, most questions at least. Questions that young children ask are wonderful, because they come from a place of unfiltered curiosity. One time after a funeral, the eight-year-old granddaughter of the deceased woman asked me,…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 6, 2024 Mark 10:2-12 My parents were married for close to 70 years. When they were approaching their 60th wedding anniversary, we asked them how they wanted to celebrate that milestone. My mother said, “I’m not celebrating anything. If I would have had the means, I…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 29, 2024 Mark 9:38-50 One time my wife Lindsay admonished a young man in the neighborhood for driving his car in a reckless manner. He responded by cursing at her and yelling, “Go back to America!” When she told me about it, my reaction was like…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 22, 2024 Mark 9:30-37 In the city center of Glasgow there are many statues honoring the greatness of past lives. The most famous statue is that of the Duke of Wellington astride his horse. He is famous for the military victory over Napolean at Waterloo. He…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 15, 2024 Mark 8:27-38 We are fortunate when the Christians we meet turn out to be people who by the example of their life show us that following Jesus is a good thing to do. I could say, think on that – end of story –…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 8, 2024 Mark 7:24-30 Something I’ve always appreciated about being a church pastor is meeting so many interesting people. People of all kinds, from all walks of life; the full spectrum of humankind. Along the way, some of these folks are a likely factor in the…