Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | November 15, 2020 Matthew 25: 14-30 There have been times in my work as a pastor that people have come to me with the golden opportunity. Golden to them, at least.  One time at a Session meeting, one of the elders suggested that we establish a scholarship…

Sermon by Pastor Bill Chadwick | November 8, 2020 Luke 16:1-8a For a couple months now I have known that I was going to be preaching on the Sunday following the election.  I figured that the Holy Spirit was likely to move me to reflect theologically on that event so I didn’t plan to write…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | November 1, 2020 Micah 6: 6-8 & Matthew 5: 1-12 A few years ago, I was doing some last-minute grocery shopping on the day before Christmas. I rode my bike to the big grocery store that has everything. The store was packed with people. I picked up…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 25, 2020 Matthew 22: 34-46 There are times in life when we experience something that clearly defines for us what might be termed, ‘the way it is.’ Like a dose of reality served up in one easy package. These experiences are as varied as human experience….

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 18, 2020 Matthew 22: 15-22 Because of my work, I’ve lived in different places with different cultures. America is a big country with regional differences. I grew up in Portland, Oregon. At the time I thought that was just normal, but now it seems to me…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | October 11, 2020 Philippians 4: 1-9 A few days ago I filled out my absentee ballot, then took it to City Hall and dropped it off. I feel like I need to get politics out of my head. That’s not so easy when there is so much…

Sermon by Pastor Bill Chadwick | October 4, 2020 Who are we and what are we doing here this morning as we come to the Table?  Preachers are called to preach and teach about the sacraments.  For Presbyterians, that’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  It always strikes me as ironic, when I begin down the…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John W. Mann | September 27, 2020 Matthew 21: 23-32 My first job ever working for a church was as church custodian. I was in seminary at the time, learning about ministry. I also learned about ministry from cleaning a church.  The church was in St. Paul. Every summer the church…

Sermon by Pastor Bill Chadwick | September 20, 2020 Reflections on the Book of Jonah Some background: The book of Jonah, like the book of Job, is clearly a parable, a teaching tool, not a record of actual events.  It was probably written during the fifth or fourth century before Jesus.  This is shortly after…

Sermon by Reverend Dr. John Mann | September 13, 2020 Matthew 18: 21-35 It doesn’t take long in life before somebody does you wrong. Somewhere along the journey of life someone will sin against you; someone will incur a debt; someone will trespass on your boundaries.  It could be a small irritation, or it could…