helping

October 2019

“One Gave Thanks”/Luke 17: 11-19, Psalm 107: 1-3, 15/Rev. Rodger Allen/10-27-19

By Rev. Laurie Williams|2019-10-31T12:48:43-05:00October 31st, 2019|Sermons|

By this time in Jesus’ ministry, the time of his final journey to Jerusalem, he was well-known as a teacher and a healer throughout the countryside around Jerusalem and Galilee. By this time, it would come as no surprise when he was recognized and approached by those wanting help. In this story, the ones wanting help are ten people suffering from a bad skin disease, ten whom we have come to know as “lepers.” Lepers, as you may know, may have been the most feared and rejected members of Middle Eastern society. Some people thought their disease was a punishment sent by God because they were bad people; others thought the condition was terribly contagious. It turns out both were wrong. Whatever the reason, they were outcasts, “untouchables,” given up as permanently lost and virtually dead. If we were to describe them in the “Upstairs Downstairs” terms of last month’s sermon, we would have to put them in the lowest basement. […]

November 2018

“Where Is Your Treasure”/11/4/18/Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Mt 6:1-6, 19-21, 24/Rev. Laurie Williams

By Rev. Laurie Williams|2018-11-06T10:22:29-06:00November 6th, 2018|Sermons|

Ahhh, another Fall Campaign: so exciting! Actually, I really like the theme the Stewardship Committee has presented throughout 2018 at various times and in a variety of ways. “Where Is Your Heart?” comes from our Matthew, chapter 6, passage and is focused on verse 21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Notice that it doesn’t say that the treasure follows the heart, but that the heart follows the treasure. It points to what is central in our lives, whatever our most important treasure is: is it money?; is it family?; is it cars?; is it God and the will of God? […]

October 2018

“Old Testament Women of the Bible: Esther”/9/30/18/Esther 1:1-4, 7:1-20, 9:20a, 21, 22; James 5:13-16, 19-20/Rev. Laurie Williams

By Rev. Laurie Williams|2018-10-01T14:44:17-05:00October 1st, 2018|Sermons|

As most of you know, my past three sermons are a part of a series about Old Testament women. To this point, I have been rescuing them from the bad rap they have received by some biblical scholars and commentators down through the ages. We have heard of Eve, Sarah and Hagar, and Tamar. Today I will jump way ahead in scripture and talk about Esther as it is also in the Revised Common Lectionary for this Sunday. While there are no known documents of a historical nature concerning Esther, she is very important to the Jewish faith story and consequently our faith too. This story tells of the salvation of the Jewish people, residing as refugees in Persia, from certain death. The King in the story is Ahasuerus. His Persian name was thought to be Xerxes who reigned from 479 to 465 B.C. […]

July 2018

“Women of the Old Testament: Eve, the Easer of Loneliness”/7/22/18/Scripture: Genesis 1-2:2 selected verses/by Rev. Laurie Williams

By Rev. Laurie Williams|2018-07-23T15:15:04-05:00July 23rd, 2018|Sermons|

Like Rodger, I too am doing a series. For many of the weeks of the next few months, when I preach, I will talk about a different Old Testament woman based on the book by Lynn Japinga entitled “Preaching the Women of the Old Testament”. The following true story was in the newspaper, The Irish Times, from July 21, 2018. The author of the story explains: “I’m a 44-year-old professional woman, very happily married with two lovely children. Lucky, eh? (Still) I never thought I would feel the kind of loneliness that makes my heart ache. But I do. I’m originally from Ireland. I moved to Wales twenty years ago for work, met my husband (who is also Irish) and settled into life there. I had a large group of female friends acquired through baby play groups, school and work. […]

“Grace Is Not In Vain”/7/15/18/Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:11-6:2; Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-10/by Rev. Laurie Williams

By Rev. Laurie Williams|2018-07-18T10:56:11-05:00July 18th, 2018|Sermons|

A lawyer, newly relocated to a village, went duck hunting on his property. He shot a duck and it fell not on his property but on his farmer neighbor’s property, specifically in his garden. The lawyer started to climb the fence between their two properties and the farmer came over to his garden and picked up the dead duck saying, “No, no, the duck is no longer yours because it fell onto my property.” The lawyer incredulously stated, “Do you know who I am? I’m a lawyer and I’ll sue you.” To which the farmer calmly replied, “You are new to this village and we settle disputes with the three-kick rule. The one who has the complaint gets on the ground and is kicked first and if that one can then stand, he kicks the other and that goes on until one can’t stand. In this case, if it is you standing, you will get this duck back.” So the lawyer lies down on the ground and the farmer gives him three quick kicks in the leg, side, and shoulder. The lawyer then stands up and exclaims, “ok, now it is your turn.” And the farmer states, “That’s ok, you can have the duck!” […]

241 W Court St, Paris Illinois | 217-465-5118

“One Gave Thanks”/Luke 17: 11-19, Psalm 107: 1-3, 15/Rev. Rodger Allen/10-27-19

“Old Testament Women of the Bible: Esther”/9/30/18/Esther 1:1-4, 7:1-20, 9:20a, 21, 22; James 5:13-16, 19-20/Rev. Laurie Williams

“Women of the Old Testament: Eve, the Easer of Loneliness”/7/22/18/Scripture: Genesis 1-2:2 selected verses/by Rev. Laurie Williams

“Grace Is Not In Vain”/7/15/18/Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:11-6:2; Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-10/by Rev. Laurie Williams

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241 W Court St, Paris Illinois | 217-465-5118

October 2019

“One Gave Thanks”/Luke 17: 11-19, Psalm 107: 1-3, 15/Rev. Rodger Allen/10-27-19

November 2018

“Where Is Your Treasure”/11/4/18/Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Mt 6:1-6, 19-21, 24/Rev. Laurie Williams

October 2018

“Old Testament Women of the Bible: Esther”/9/30/18/Esther 1:1-4, 7:1-20, 9:20a, 21, 22; James 5:13-16, 19-20/Rev. Laurie Williams

July 2018

“Women of the Old Testament: Eve, the Easer of Loneliness”/7/22/18/Scripture: Genesis 1-2:2 selected verses/by Rev. Laurie Williams

“Grace Is Not In Vain”/7/15/18/Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:11-6:2; Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-10/by Rev. Laurie Williams

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