Sermon Transcripts

June 5, 2022 ~ PENTECOST ~ Rev. Beckie Sweet   25 Years ago, in May of 1997, a powerful tornado swept through parts of Texas, flattening buildings and overturning cars.  Shoppers at the Albertson’s supermarket in Cedar Park, Texas, were in a state of panic.  Then a commanding voice came over the intercom, the voice of Larry Fore, the manager of Albertson’s.  This is what he said: “Don’t leave the store or you will die . . . Your...

May 29, 2022 ~ Ascension Sunday ~ Rev. Beckie Sweet   Here is our Ascension Sunday Quiz, and it is a tough one!  What do the Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Dusty Springfield, Lee Michaels, Sam Brown, The Buckinghams, Elton John, and Marvin Gaye (with The Supremes singing back-ups) all have in common?  Give up?  At some point, they all recorded the song “Can I Get a Witness?”  It was a gospel-style rock song which was...

May 15, 2022 ~ Fifth Sunday of Easter ~ Rev. Beckie Sweet   Dr. Grace Terrell’s patient called with an unusual problem: her EKG that day had ruined her vision. But wait . . . heart exams don’t hurt eyesight. Suppressing her amusement, Dr. Terrell realized her patient’s problem must be caused by anxiety. She prepared to thoroughly investigate any potential connection between anxiety and a sudden change in...

May 8, 2022 ~ Fourth Sunday of Easter ~ Rev. Beckie Sweet   It was the summer of 1998, 24 years ago.  We were camping at our farm on vacation…no easy task with 4 year old Paul (the wanderer), 2 year old Marthalyn (who decided to start potty training that week), and infant Daniel.  Paul, being the oldest, took seriously his role of breaking me in as a parent, as he always had much to teach me.  I tended to exert my rightful place...

April 17, 2022 ~ EASTER ~ Let Justice Roll Rev. Beckie Sweet   Mark was four and 3/4 years old when his pet lizard died.  Since it was her grandson’s first brush with death, Grandma suggested that Mark and his older brother hold a “funeral” for the lizard.  Grandma explained what a funeral is in terms she thought her young grandsons would understand, “It’s a ceremony,” she said, “where...

April 10, 2022 ~ Palm Sunday ~ ROLL DOWN JUSTICE Rev. Beckie Sweet   A man bought a donkey from a preacher.  The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way (being the donkey of a preacher). The only way to make the donkey go, is to say, “Hallelujah!” The only way to make the donkey stop, is to say, “Amen!” The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got onto the donkey to try out the...