Stand-Alone Sermons
The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a beloved Christmas classic. It’s the story of an angel sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. Join us this Christmas Eve as we look at how this movie points us toward the real Christmas story.
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How do we give thanks in times of uncertainty and struggle – those situations that prompt us to ask “What now?”
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The Rev. Dr. David DeRemer is the recently retired Director of Supervised Ministry and Director of Enrollment at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem PA. In 2014 he concluded more than 18 years as Senior Pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Nazareth PA. In 1985, DeRemer was the founding director of New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem. Created by the Episcopal Diocese, this ecumenical, social ministry organization grew from one program to a continuum of housing services in his ten-year leadership. He served as pastor of First UCC Bethlehem from 1979 to 1985.
Recently, DeRemer been providing consulting services through Penn Northeast Conference UCC to congregations in transition.
He is married to Kathy. They live in Macungie PA.
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We work alongside, go to school with, and live next door to people of other religions, yet most of us understand little about their faith. In this series we explore where there is common ground between Christianity and other religions, as well as where they differ from one another.
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Join us as we discuss the core beliefs of Hinduism, its common ground with Christianity, and how they are different.
Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana. Join us as we discuss the core beliefs of Buddhism, its common ground with Christianity and how they are different.
Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years. Followers of Judaism believe in one God who revealed himself through ancient prophets. The history of Judaism is essential to understanding the Jewish faith, which has a rich heritage of law, culture and tradition. Join us as we discuss the core beliefs of Judaism, its common ground with Christianity and how they are different.
The word “Islam” means “submission to the will of God.” Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah. Followers of Islam aim to live a life of complete submission to Allah. Join us as we discuss the core beliefs of Islam, its common ground with Christianity and how they are different.
Many people believe that “all religions are the same.” After examining four of the world’s most popular religions, today we turn our attention toward Christianity. So what is it that separates Christianity from the other four world religions?
Red or Blue. Left or Right. For or Against. It sometimes feels like the United States isn’t very united. There’s something we can do about that, and it has less to do with our rights and more to do with our responsibility.
Wars have started… Companies have gone out of business… Families have stopped talking to each other… Marriages have broken up… because of miscommunication. And for Christians, the stakes are even higher. Knowing the messes our mouths can make, the apostle Paul gives us an impossibly high standard for our words. In this message, we will look at Kathleen Edelman’s framework – the four temperaments – that will change the words you use in every conflict and conversation for the rest of your life.
Rev. Mindy McKonly served as Senior Pastor of Asbury Church from 2000-2010. She is currently enjoying her retirement after more than thirty years in full-time in ministry. Born and raised in Lancaster County, she graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1978 and served churches in Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery and Berks counties — as well as eight years as Superintendent of what is now the Northeast District of UMC.
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Someone once said “the only thing constant is change.” Change is hard, but we all go through it in various seasons of life. So how do we get through times of change? In seasons of change, it’s good to remind ourselves who God is and who we are.
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Rev. Dr. Sarah Fernsler was a pediatrician for 25 years before attending seminary and becoming an ordained elder. She served White Haven UMC from 2012 to 2017. In 2018, she was commissioned a United Methodist EarthKeeper where she serves as a retired elder in Extension Ministry. She also serves as a member of the EPA Committee on Native American Ministry.
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The story of the first Pentecost is a marvelous story that many Christians find hard to understand. The Holy Spirit breaks onto the scene with the sound of a rushing wind, hovers like tongues of fire, and a diverse group of people are able to hear and understand each other, despite speaking different languages. Through the local church, God has given us a family. Despite our many differences, we are to be a family marked by unity, generosity, and joy. As we connect with other believers, we find people who will love and encourage us as we seek to become more like Jesus and fulfill His plan to make disciples.
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The unofficial start of summer begins this weekend and people will soon be on the road traveling for their vacations. We all want to arrive safely at our intended destination whether that relates to traveling or our own lives. We all want to get the future right. Follow these rules and you will get there on time and on purpose.
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To be true Easter people, we need to train our hearts to experience life as a gift. Living a life of gratitude liberates us from our tendency to self-absorption, opens us to wonder, and fills us with hope.
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The death of Christ wasn’t an ending. It was just the beginning…
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The New Year is full of possibilities that fuel the potential for a better future. That’s why we make resolutions . . . even though those resolutions often fall by the wayside. But there’s something simple you can do to make the most of this year. It begins by looking past what you think is possible in your life to what God thinks is possible.
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Focused on Colossians 3:12-17, this Christmas message from Bishop John Schol will remind us that as God’s people we are to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Above all, Paul reminds us to “clothe yourselves with love.”
When Christmas Day is over, we start taking down the decorations and start preparing to move into a new year. But if we rightly understand Christmas, even though we put away our Christmas decorations, Christmas is not done at midnight on December 25th. That is just the beginning of Christmas. Join us Christmas Eve as we explore why December 25th is only the beginning of Christmas and what that means for us in 2022.
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The story of Ruth and Naomi is a story of loss, love and redemption. In a foreign land, Naomi loses her husband and her two sons, and returns back to her hometown with no prospects and with very little means to survive. But when all looks lost, God intervenes.
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When Jesus died, hope died along with him. No one was planning to keep this new movement going, because, after all, it seemed Jesus wasn’t who he had claimed to be. Immediately following the crucifixion, there were no Christians, because there was no Christ. But then something happened.
This message is from Easter 2021 worship
