In the ongoing project of renewing the historic stained glass in the sanctuary, the window panel most at risk is being removed today. Unlike the windows repaired and returned already, this one is being taken apart by painstakingly removing one piece of glass at a time. The risk of the window crumbling and shattering was … [Read more…]
An audio recording of the sermon for August 28 is here. The worship bulletin (PDF) is here. The Scripture readings are Genesis 13 and Philippians 2:1-11. “The most striking thing to me in all of this story is this business of looking and seeing, and its relationship to faith. Lot chose by looking, by sight, … [Read more…]
Audio of the sermon from August 21 is here. The worship bulletin is here. The Scripture readings are Genesis 11:27-12:9 and Hebrews 11:8-12. “It isn’t because Abram is such an admirable person that he receives this call and promise. He does quite a few profoundly un-admirable things. We aren’t told in the Bible about … [Read more…]
The “Peacock Window” is back today, cleaned and re-leaded. (The shadow figure is one of the workers, painting the sash outside.)
Audio of the sermon for August 14, 2016 is here. “Some days and years and centuries are better than others, and some are worse. At times it seems hopeless, and reasons for cynicism pile up. Some people rush to judgement, and conclude that it means history has no direction at all, that it isn’t moving … [Read more…]
On August 21,we will start a new series of sermons, looking at how Abraham and Sarah (in the book of Genesis) handle the ambiguities of life between God and the world. Here is an overview: “Living Between Grace and Gratitude: The Gospel According to Abraham & Sarah.” In the book of Genesis, Abraham and Sarah … [Read more…]
Audio of the sermon from August 7 is here. “Left to our own devices we assume that God always does his part second. That’s an assumption you’d be wise to pull out into the open where you can have a look at it, and ask a few questions about it, because it causes problems.”
Louise Steele was awarded Athens State University’s highest honor, the President’s Medal, this past Saturday. The resolution President Glenn read rehearsing her many achievements in life was impressive. He didn’t mention, though, that people here at First Presbyterian have known how impressive she is for most of a century!
Audio of the sermon from July 31 is here. “Not many passages of Scripture focus as single-mindedly on the church as these verses of First Corinthians. Paul says that we as Christians have become part of the church through faith and the sign of baptism. As part of the church you have been united to … [Read more…]
Audio of the sermon from July 24, 2016 is here. “Maybe it would be easier if Jesus stayed with us, the way he did with the first twelve? No doubt it would, but there are practical problems with that. There are about two-and-a-half billion Christians alive in the world today. That’s a lot of people … [Read more…]
