Rise Against Hunger

by | Oct 2, 2023 | Sermons

Rise Against Hunger Psalm 25:1-9 and Philippians 2:1-13 October 1, 2023   Today we have read two beautiful scriptures.  Psalm 25 could be read as a daily prayer, in fact.  In Lectio Divina at our First Friday Contemplative service, we read scripture, sit with it...

Refrain from Judgement

by | Sep 18, 2023 | Sermons

Refrain from Judgement September 17, 2023 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 103:1-12 and Romans 14:1-12 Did you see what he was wearing?  Did you see what she was eating?  Why are they not bringing their children to Sunday School?  Why do they seldom come to...

It Depends On You

by | Sep 11, 2023 | Sermons

It Depends on You Romans 12:9-12, Matthew 16:21-28 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Sept 10, 2023   A few days ago, we heard a lot about hurricane preparedness, and all the steps and phone numbers, and emergency aid available to us.  The importance of watching the...

God Blesses Us

by | Aug 21, 2023 | Sermons

God Blesses Us Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 67 and Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 August 20, 2023   While today’s scripture is a short one, there is a lot to unpack. Paul is talking to the Gentiles, yet including a message to the people of Israel as well, the...

Where is the Safety Net?

by | Aug 14, 2023 | Sermons

Where is the Safety Net? First Reading Psalm 85:8-13 Second Reading Matthew 14:22-33 August 13, 2023 First Valdosta Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Jane Shelton, CRE   Today’s message takes us to the first place in Matthew that a human recognizes and proclaims...

What Do You See

by | Aug 7, 2023 | Sermons

What Do You See? Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 Matthew 14:13-21 August 6, 2023   Receiving word that John the Baptist had been beheaded, Jesus withdrew to a deserted place, maybe in part for his own safety, but surely to grieve the loss of his...

The Sower

by | Jul 17, 2023 | Sermons

The Sower Isaiah 55:10-13 Matt 13:1-9, 18-23 Jane Shelton, CRE Growing up among farmers, my uncles, cousins and Papa Taylor, I came to know a lot about planting, gardening and harvesting.  While my parents didn’t live on a large farm like some of my relatives, they...

Rest

by | Jul 10, 2023 | Sermons

Rest Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 2, 2023 Psalm 145:13b-20 Matthew 11:25-30 Jane Shelton, CRE What makes us weary?  I dare say it is the constant demands that are asked of us.  The appointments that have to be met, the relative or friend that needs our care and...

Hospitality

by | Jul 5, 2023 | Sermons

Hospitality Ps 89:1-4, 15-18 Matthew 10:40-42 Jane Shelton, CRE July 2, 2023 Welcome, welcome, welcome!  It is so good to be here with all of you today in the house of the Lord!  A place where all are welcome! We often hear “all are welcome,” and this Gospel invites...

Dead or Alive

by | Jun 26, 2023 | Sermons

Dead or Alive Fourth Sunday after Pentecost June 25, 2023 Psalm 69:13-18 Romans 6:1b-11 Jane Shelton, CRE We all experience times when we feel our prayers go unanswered.  We get discouraged and our faith begins to slip, we say to ourselves, how am I ever going to...

Make a Joyful Noise

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Sermons

Make a Joyful Noise Third Sunday after Pentecost June 18, 2023 Jane Shelton, CRE   Today is an important day, Father’s Day, and I want to wish all the father’s here in the Sanctuary and watching us live, a very happy Father’s Day. While many of us grew up with...

Reassurance

by | Jun 5, 2023 | Sermons

Reassurance Trinity Sunday – June 4, 2023 Jane Shelton, CRE There is no better feeling than that of self-worth.  God, in all his greatness and ability to create the heavens and the earth, and all things on the earth, created humans to provide care over the all that...

We are One

by | May 22, 2023 | Sermons

We are One Acts 1:6-14 & John 17:1-11 May 21, 2023 Seventh Sunday of Easter Jane Shelton, CRE We’re all very familiar with the chant, “We’re Number One,” “We’re Number One,” right? We associate that cheer most often at sports events that we are involved with when...

Finding Your Way

by | May 8, 2023 | Sermons

Easter / Graduation Recognition Sunday May 7, 2023 1 Peter 2:2-10 / John 14:1-14 Jane Shelton, CRE My Daddy taught me to read a map at a very young age.  Now some of you may not know what a map is, so I brought a sample.  Being the youngest of four, my place in the...

The Beginning of Wisdom

by | Apr 17, 2023 | Sermons

The Beginning of Wisdom Second Sunday of Easter April 16, 2023 Jane Shelton, CRE   Someone told me once, that confusion is on the way to understanding.  My initial response was, “What?”  What does that even mean?  Eventually, I came to understand that when...

Preach and Testify

by | Apr 10, 2023 | Sermons

Preach and Testify Resurrection of the Lord/Easter Sunday April 9, 2023 Matthew 28:1-10 / Acts 10:34-43 Jane Shelton, CRE Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  Christ is risen, indeed!  What a glorious and joyous Easter morning to be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord,...

Open the Gates & Rejoice

by | Apr 3, 2023 | Sermons

Open the Gates & Rejoice Palm Sunday April 2, 2023 Jane Shelton, CRE This day in our story started out like any other day during the festival season in Jerusalem.  However, unlike any other time before, this day would be different. I’ve tried to imagine, exactly...

Seeing is Believing

by | Mar 20, 2023 | Sermons

Seeing Is Believing Fourth Sunday in Lent March 19, 2023 Today, the stories continue on Jesus’ journey with the disciples toward Easter, and like the last two we have considered over the last two Sundays, this one does not disappoint.  The scripture in the bulletin...

Ripe for Harvesting

by | Mar 13, 2023 | Sermons

Ripe for Harvesting Third Sunday of Lent John 4:5-42 March 12, 2022 Jane Shelton, CRE   Have you ever been around someone that you could listen to all day?  I always get the impression that Jesus was one of those people. We can only imagine what it must have been...