Sermon Central
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Carla Powell
Contributing sermons since Jan 1, 2000
Newest Sermons
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I've Got Joy?
Contributed on Dec 22, 2007
This sermon was preached on Gaudete (Joy) Sunday (3rd sunday in Advent). I wasn’t feeling very joy-filled, though I felt called to preach on joy (and used that hesitancy as part of the sermon focus). It’s my best "grumpy sermon on joy" ever.
It’s been a rough couple weeks for me. My wallet was stolen last Wednesday. My step-grandfather died – two days ago. I woke up feeling sick and lost my voice - yesterday. Almost got stuck in the snow last night. Had to park around the corner and traipse home in the deep snow with the wind whipping ...read more
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Random Acts Of Kindness
Contributed on Jan 8, 2003
Uses Biblical story of the Sheep and the Goats to talk about the way to live out kindness and love in life. Presents three stories of "random acts of kindness" done by people.
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let me tell you a true story about kindness between two very different people who lived far away from one another: Beverly Powell (no relation), a cleaning lady from New Mexico, read a story in the ...read more
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Home By Another Way
Contributed on Jan 8, 2003
An Epiphany sermon - explores the way that we are changed after we meet the baby in the manger, just like the "wise men" were. (also makes reference to the James Taylor song of the same title)
Grace be to you and peace from the One who was and is and is to come. Amen. As the story goes, the Magi in our gospel lesson had seen a star at its rising that they interpreted as announcing the birth of a king. Magi may have been dream-interpreters, astrologers, or astronomers, but not ...read more
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Rejoice Always
Contributed on Jan 8, 2003
Sermon highlights joy in the midst of pain, defines the Latin word Gaudete. Reflection on the difference between joy and happiness.
Grace be to you and peace from the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Today is the third Sunday in Advent, which was historically called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for ‘rejoice’. Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday, if we had a pink candle in our Advent wreath, that we would light ...read more
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A God Who Camps With Us
Contributed on Jan 8, 2003
Sermon focuses on John 1:14, using the translations the word became flesh and "tabernacled" or "set up camp" with us. (Good for use in a camping setting or a location where many hearers are familiar with camping.)
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. How many of you would call yourselves “campers”? Yes, several of our members disappear for varied weekends throughout the summer to spend time at a campsite. But let me get more specific here. How ...read more
Newest Sermon Illustrations
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The Story Has Been Told Of A Church In The ...
Contributed on Apr 20, 2002
The story has been told of a church in the Pacific Northwest, which participates in the "sharing of the peace" during worship. When they share the peace, they are exuberant and enthusiastic. They leave their pews to embrace one another. Newcomers are warmly welcomed with a kind word, a ...read more
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A Couple Weeks Ago, I Attended A Lecture At The ...
Contributed on Mar 2, 2002
A couple weeks ago, I attended a lecture at the University of Michigan law school sponsored by Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. The speaker was Paul Simon, formerly a senator from Illinois. He indicated that the word "idiot" comes from Latin words that mean ’someone who does not ...read more
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Brother Lawrence Was A French Monk Who Lived From ...
Contributed on Feb 2, 2002
Brother Lawrence was a French monk who lived from 1611 to 1691. You might think that a man who was born nearly 400 years ago would have very little to say to today’s working people, but he had some great insights into our theme of ministry in daily life. Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the ...read more
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Madeleine L'engle On Her Marriage
Contributed on Jan 2, 2002
The well-known author, Madeleine L’Engle, in her book The Irrational Season (The Seabury Press, New York, 1977) writes about her long-time journey of marriage to actor Hugh Franklin: "It’s an extraordinary thing to me that Hugh and I have been married for 29 years. It is also, I ...read more
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Sweet Grace
Contributed on Jan 2, 2002
SWEET GRACE My new favorite movie is "Chocolat", about a little French village in 1959 that is governed by "tranquilité". In this town, you knew what was expected of you and where your place was. If you happened to forget, someone would remind you. They trusted in the wisdom of ages past, ...read more