Lamenting to rejoicing

Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord by Lillian Delevoryas

“You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

As recorded by John, this is what Jesus told the disciples in the upper room. Jesus’ immediate audience was those men who were about to go through a very difficult few days. His message stated that the hard time they were entering had a joyous end. This end would be one of joy and rejoicing. This is why it is important that we, the text’s secondary audience, absorbs today’s words recorded in the Gospel of John….For more, click on the title above.

Easter 4_2026

Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord by Lillian Delevoryas

Easter 4 (Jubilate)

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Who is your Shepherd?

The Good Shepherd by Daniel Bonnell

This can be a dangerous thing to do in a sermon—especially right at the beginning—but I’m going to ask you to close your eyes and visualize this scene: A shepherd is standing on a hillside surrounded by his flock. They are laying or grazing on green grass and in the distance is a shimmering lake….the water as still as a mirror, reflecting the bright light of the sky. …For more, click on the title above.

Easter 3_2026

The Good Shepherd by Daniel Bonnell

Easter 3 (Misericordias Domini)

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Can these bones live?

The Doubting Thomas by Carl Bloch

Ezekiel is brought to a massive bone heap—dry bones scattered from one end to the other of the valley. Lest we forget, they were people once. They lived and breathed, they laughed and loved and played, they fought and died.
Now all that is left of them are these bones – dry and brittle. Not yet turned to dust, but well on the way. And the big question put to the prophet by the Lord: “Can these bones live?” …For more, click on the title above.

Easter 2_2026

The Doubting Thomas by Carl Bloch

Easter 2 (Quasimodo Geniti)

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Let Jesus into your life

Sea of Galilee by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld

As a young boy one of the great thrills of my life was going fishing with my dad. For awhile we lived on the shore of Lake St. Claire in Michigan, and we could go fishing a lot. Every year, when my dad’s vacation time came around, we would pack up the car and hook up the boat and head for the cold waters of northern Minnesota. …For more, click on the title above.