First Presbyterian Church [PCUSA]

Corner of Clinton and Jefferson Streets
Marianna, FL 32446
850 526-2430

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On the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 40:28-31:
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

On the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:27:
They were all amazed and they kept on asking one another,
"What is this? A new teaching – with authority!
He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."

On the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:16-17:
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net
into the sea—for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them,
"Follow me and I will make you fish for people."

On the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 1:45-46:
Philip found Nathanael and said to him,
"We have found him about whom Moses in the law
and also the prophets wrote,
Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth."
Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."

On the Octave of Christmas,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 2:21:
After eight days had passed,
it was time to circumcise the child;
and he was called Jesus,
the name given by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

On Christmas Day,
First Presbyterian Celebrated the Birth of Jesus
with a Service of Lessons and Carols

On the Eve of Christmas,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 1:23:
Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him, Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

On the 4th Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ephesians 2: 17-20:
So Jesus came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near;
for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are citizens with the saints
and also members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

On the 3rd Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 9:2:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.

On the 2nd Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 15:12-13:
Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope."
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

On the 1st Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 11:1-2:
"A shoot shall come put from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."

On the Feast of Christ our King,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ephesians 1: 17-21:
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe,
according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the age to come.”

On the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 25:21:
His master said to him,
“Well done, good and trustworthy slave;
you have been trustworthy in a few things,
I will put you in charge of many things;
enter into the joy of your master.

On the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Joshua 24:15b:
Choose this day whom you will serve.

On the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Thessalonians 2:13:
We also constantly give thanks to God for this,
that when you received the word of God
that you heard from us,
you accepted it not as a human word
but as what it really is, God's word,
which is also at work in you believers.

On the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 22:37-40:
Jesus said to him,
"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

On the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Thessalonians 1:6-7:
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,
for in spite of persecution you received the word
with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,
so that you became an example to all
the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

On the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 4:9
Keep on doing the things that you have learned
and received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you.

On the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 3:7
Whatever gain I had,
these I have regarded as loss because of Christ.

On the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others.

On the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
our Guest Minister was Kevin Veldhuisen,
the Associate Executive Presbyter of
Outdoor Ministry and Spiritual Development
for the Presbytery of Florida and
the full-time director of Dogwood Acres.

On the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 14:10-12:
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For it is written,
"As I live, says the Lord,
every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

On the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 13:9-10:
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;
You shall not murder; You shall not steal;
You shall not covet; and any other commandment,
are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore,
love is the fulfilling of the law.

On the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 16: 24-25:
Then Jesus told his disciples,
"If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me.
For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

On the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 12:2:
Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,
so that you may discern what is the will of God—
what is good and acceptable and perfect.

On the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Genesis 45:5:
Now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves,
because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

On the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 10:13:
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

On the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
our sermon was delivered by our own Ruling Elder Jack Homoney
based on the story of Jacob and the Angel in Genesis 32: 23-32

On the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 8:38-39:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 139:7
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?

On the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 8:11
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies
also through the Spirit that dwells in you.

On the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 11:28-30:
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

On the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 6:23:
The wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On Trinity Sunday ,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Corinthians 13:13:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Acts 1:8:
(Jesus said to his disciples) "But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

On the Sixth Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 14:18:
"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you."

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Acts 2:42:
The disciples and those who became followers of Jesus
through them devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

On the Third Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 20:30-31:
Now Jesus did many signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book.
But these are written so that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that through believing you may have life in his name.

On the Second Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 24:33-35:
That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem;
and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed,
and he has appeared to Simon!”
Then they told what had happened on the road,
and how Jesus had made himself known to them in the breaking of the bread.

On Easter Day,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 20:16:
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”
(which means Teacher)

On the Palm Sunday,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 19:26-27:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved
standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

On the 5th Sunday in Lent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 19:12:
From then on Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out,
“If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor.
Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

On the 4th Sunday in Lent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was 26:14-16:
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
"What will you give me if I betray him to you?"
They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

On the 3rd Sunday in Lent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 26:33:
Peter said to Jesus,
"Though all become deserters because of you,
I will never desert you."

On the 2nd Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 15:8-10:
So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do
for them according to his custom. Then he answered them,
“Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”
For he realized that it was out of jealousy
that the chief priests had handed him over.

On the 1st Sunday in Lent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 18:14:
I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other;
for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted.

On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 17:4-5:
Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here;
if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you,
one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking,
suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

On the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 5:44-45:
Jesus said, “But I say to you, Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you so that you
may be children of your Father in heaven;
for he makes his sun to rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain
on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

On the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today
that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him;
for that means life to you and length of days,
so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore
to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

On the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 5:14-15:
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under
a bushel basket, but on a lamp stand,
and it gives light to all in the house.

On the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Micah 6:8:
God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

On the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 27:1:
The Lord is My Light and My Salvation.

On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Corinthians 1:9:
God is faithful; by him you were called into the
fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

On the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 3:16-17:
And when Jesus had been baptized,
just as he came up from the water,
suddenly the heavens were opened to him
and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

On the 2nd Sunday after Christmas,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 1:20-21:
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins."

On the First Sunday after Christmas,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 2:16:
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,
he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children
in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under,
according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

At our Christmas Eve Service,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 1:23:
Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means,
“God is with us.”

On the Fourth Sunday in Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 1:14, 16-17:
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
From his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.
The law indeed was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

On the Third Sunday in Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 1:46-49:
Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name."

On the Second Sunday in Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 11:1-10:
"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall come out his roots."

On the First Sunday in Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 2:3-4:
Many people shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more."

On the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 19:9-10:
Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus,
"Today salvation has come to this house,
because he too is a son of Abraham.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"

On the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 18:13-14:
"But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other;
for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted"

On the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Corinthians 13:8a:
"Love never ends"

On the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 15:13:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit."

On the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 17:19:
Then Jesus said to him (the Samaritan leper whom he had healed),
"Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

On the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Corinthians 11:23a:
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you."

On the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
our service was led by Elder Jack Homoney.

On the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Jeremiah 9:1:
O that my head were a spring of water,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!

On the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Timothy 1:15-16:
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
--of whom I am the foremost.
But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me,
as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience,
making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

On the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Jeremiah 18:6b:
(God said) "Just like clay in the potter’s hand,
so are you in my hand, O house of Israel"

On the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Hebrews 13:7-8:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you;
consider the outcomes of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

On the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 13:10-13:
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had
crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was
quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called
her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up
straight and began praising God.

On the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 12:51:
"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division!

On the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 12:32:
"Do not be afraid, little flock,
for it is the Father’s good pleasure
to give you the kingdom."

On the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Hosea 11:9b:
"For I am God and no mortal"

On the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 11:1:
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

On the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 10: 41-42:
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha,
you are worried and distracted by many things;
there is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part,
which will not be taken away from her."

On the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Galatians 6:10:
"So then, whenever we have an opportunity,
let us work for the good of all,
and especially for those of the family of faith."

On the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Galatians 5:13
"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;
only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,
but through love become slaves to one another."

On the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our Guest Preacher was Elder Jack Homoney

On Trinity Sunday, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was Romans 5:5bc
God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

On Pentecost Sunday, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was Acts 2:37-39:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart
and said to Peter and to the other apostles,
"Brothers, what should we do?"
Peter said to them,
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is for you, for your children,
and for all who are far away, everyone
whom the Lord our God calls to him."

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was Ephesians 1:17-20:
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe,
according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.

On the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was Acts 16:14-15:
A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God,
was listening to us; she was from the city of
Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth.
The Lord opened her heart to listen
eagerly to what was said by Paul.
When she and her household were baptized,
she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me
to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home."
And she prevailed upon us.

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was John 13:34-35:
Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another."

On the Third Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was Acts 9:19b-20:
For several days (Saul/Paul) was with the disciples in Damascus,
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
saying, "He is the Son of God."

On the Second Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was John 20:19-20:
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,
and the doors of the house where the disciples had met
were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

On Easter Day Dr. Christopher's
Sermon text was I Corinthians 15:17:
If Christ did not rise your faith is futile
and your sins have never been forgiven.

On Maundy Thursday, we celebrated
the Institution of the Lord's Supper
with a supper and a table communion

On Palm/Passion Sunday
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 2:1-2:
If then there is any encouragement in Christ,
any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit,
any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
be of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.

On the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 3:7-8:
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard
as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard
everything as loss because of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered
the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish,
in order that I may gain Christ.

On the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 15:29-32
But the older son answered his father, 'Listen!
For all these years I have been working like a slave for you,
and I have never disobeyed your command;
yet you have never given me even a young goat
so that I might celebrate with my friends.
But when this son of yours came back,
who has devoured your property with prostitutes,
you killed the fatted calf for him!'
Then the father said to him,
'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
But we had to celebrate and rejoice,
because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life;
he was lost and has been found.' "

On the Third Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 13:3 and 13:5
"No, I tell you, but unless you repent,
you will all perish just as they did.

On the Second Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 3:20:
"But our citizenship is in heaven."

On the First Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 10:8b-9:
"This is the word of faith that we proclaim because
if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved."

On the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Presbyterian Layman Jack Homoney was our Guest Preacher

On the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 5:10b:
Then Jesus said to Simon,
"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."

On the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Corinthians 13:12:
Now we see in a mirror dimly,
but then we will see face to face.
Now I know in part;
then I will know fully,
even as I have been fully known.

On the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Corinthians 12:27:
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Our special 175th Anniversary Speaker was the
Rev. Dr. R. Proctor Chambless,
Pastor from July 1982 - August 1990.

On the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 3:21-22:
Now when all the people were baptized,
and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
the heaven was opened,
and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven,
"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

On the Second Sunday after Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 1:14:
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.

On the First Sunday after Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 2:52:
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,
and in divine and human favor."

On the Eve of Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 2:13-14:
And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors."

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 1:46-49:
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name."

On the Third Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 1:45:
(Elizabeth said to Mary)
And blessed is she who believed that there
would be a fulfillment of what
was spoken to her by the Lord.

On the Second Sunday of Advent,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 1:68:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his
people and redeemed them."

On the Feast of Christ the King,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Revelation 1:4b-5:
Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come.

On the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Hebrews 10:23-25:
"Let us hold fast to the confession
of our hope without wavering,
for he who has promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to provoke one
another to love and good deeds,
not neglecting to meet together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

On the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ruth 4:17:
The women of the neighborhood gave him a name,
saying, "A son has been born to Naomi."
They named him Obed;
he became the father of Jesse,
the father of David.

On the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 25:9:
"It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation"

On the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 10:43b-45:
Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life a ransom for many."

On the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 9:26-27:
The disciples were greatly astounded and said to one another,
"Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said,
"For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

On the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ephesians 2:10 (New English Bible)
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus
to devote ourselves to the good deeds, for which God has designed us.

On the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ephesians. 2:8-9:
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God -- not the result of works,
so that no one may boast

On the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
our Service was a Celebration of Music in Christian Worship
on the occasion of honoring Stanley B. Littleton, Jr.,
for his twenty-five years of service as our Church Organist.
All of the Anthems and Hymns for this Occasion
were chosen by Stanley Littleton
with the narrative being prepared
by the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Huw Christopher.
The full text of the Service is Here.

On the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was James 2:1:
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism
really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?

On the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was James 1:22-24:
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers
who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word
and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves
in a mirror; for they look at themselves and,
on going away, immediately forget what they were like.

The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time was Youth Sunday
at First Presbyterian. The service was led by the members of the First Church
youth group who had attended the annual Montreat Youth Week, and
the sermons were delivered by Branham Skipper, Alton Stone and Ashlee Laramore.
All three may be read here.

On the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 111:10:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
God’s praise endures forever.

On the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was 2 Samuel 18:33:
Then King David was deeply moved, and went up
to the chamber over the gate, and wept;
and as he went, he said,
"O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom,
my son, my son!"

On the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Samuel 6:15-16:
"So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of
the Lord (into Jerusalem) with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David,
Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window,
and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord;
and she despised him in her heart."

On the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Samuel 5:1-2:
"Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron,
and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh.
For some time, while Saul was king over us,
it was you who led out Israel and brought it in.
The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd
of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel."

On the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Corinthians 6:11-13:
"We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians;
our heart is wide open to you.
There is no restriction in our affections,
but only in yours.
In return--I speak as to children--
open wide your hearts also.

On the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Corinthians 8:9:
"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.

On the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Corinthians. 5:16-17:
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;
even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,
we know him no longer in that way.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new!"

On Trinity Sunday,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life."

On Pentecost Sunday,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 15: 5:
"I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,
because apart from me you can do nothing.

On Ascension Sunday,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 11:25-26:
Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die,
will live, and everyone who lives and believes
in me will never die."

On the Sixth Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 14:6
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 10:11
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 6:35:
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

On the Third Sunday of Easter,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 8:12:
Again Jesus spoke to the crowd, saying,
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."

On Easter Day,
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 16:8:
"So the women went out and fled from the tomb,
for terror and amazement has seized them;
and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

On the Sixth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 11:9-10:
Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

On the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 10:46-47:
As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho,
Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say,
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

On the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 8:32b-33:
And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him.
But turning and looking at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter and said,
"Get behind me, Satan!
For you are setting your mind
not on divine things but on human things."

On the Third Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 3:33-35:
Jesus replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
And looking at those who sat around him, he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers!
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

On the Second Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:23-24:
Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,
and he cried out. "What have you to do with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are, the Holy One of God."

On the First Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:11:
A voice came from heaven,
“You are my Son, the Beloved,
with you I am well pleased”

On the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:40-42:
A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him,
"If you choose, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand
and touched him, and said to him,
"I do choose. Be made clean!"
Immediately the leprosy left him,
and he was made clean.

On the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 40:29-31: "God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

On the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 111:10:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding."

On the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Mark 1:14-15:
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee,
proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news."

On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 1:43:
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

On the First Sunday of Epiphany
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Genesis 1:1-2:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep,
and the Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters."

On the Second Sunday of Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Ephesians 3:8-9 :
"Although I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles
the news of the boundless riches of Christ,
[9] and to make everyone see what is the plan
of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things."

On the First Sunday of Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Luke 2:28:
"Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God."

On the Eve of Christmas
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was John 1:5:
"The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it."

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 16:25-27:
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel
and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation
of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed,
and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles,
according to the command of the eternal God,
to bring about the obedience of faith --
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

On the Third Sunday of Advent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 61:1:
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners."

On the Second Sunday of Advent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 40:11:
"He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep."

On the First Sunday of Advent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 64:8:
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand."

On the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 25:23:
His master said to him,
“Well done, good and trustworthy slave;
you have been trustworthy in a few things,
I will put you in charge of many things;
enter into the joy of your master."

On the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Joshua 24:15b:
Choose this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living;
but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

On the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Thessalonians 2:11-12:
As you know, we dealt with each
of you like a father with his children,
urging and encouraging and pleading
that you lead a life worthy of God,
who calls you into his own
kingdom and glory.

On the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was I Thessalonians 2:1:
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our coming to you was not in vain.

On the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 22:19-21:
Jesus said, “Show me the coin used for the tax."
And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them,
"Whose head is this, and whose title?"
They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them,
"Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's,
and to God the things that are God's."

On the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Genesis 9:13:
God said, “I have set my bow in the clouds,
and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

On the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 3:7-8:
"Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.
More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things,
and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (New Revised Standard Version)

On the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Philippians 2:5:
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

On the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 18:33:
"Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave,
as I had mercy on you?"

On the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 13: 9-10:
The commandments … are summed up in this word,
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore,
love is the fulfilling of the law.

On the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Exodus 3:10:
(God said to Moses) So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people,
the Israelites, out of Egypt.

On the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 12:1-2:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,
by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as
a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,
so that you may discern what is the will of God--
what is good and acceptable and perfect.

On the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Genesis 45:4-5:
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come, closer to me."
And they came closer. He said, "I am Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves,
because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."

On the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 14: 26-28:
'But when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea,
they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!"
And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said,
"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you on the water.'

On the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 14:19b-c:
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven,
and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples,
and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

On the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 8:35, 37-39:
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

On the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 8:14-16:
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received a spirit of adoption.
When we cry, 'Abba! Father!'
it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit
that we are children of God."

On the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 119:105:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

On the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Matthew 11:28:
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are
weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest."

On the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Romans 6:16:
"Do you not know that if you present
yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one whom you obey,
either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness."

On the Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 46:10:
"Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth."

On the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Isaiah 49:15-16:
"Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me."

On Trinity Sunday
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was II Corinthians 13:1:
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."

On the Sunday of Pentecost
Dr. Christopher's Sermon text was Psalm 27:10:
"If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up."

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on John 17:3:
"This is eternal life, that they may know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

On the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on John 14:15:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on I Peter 2:4:
Come to Jesus, a living stone, though rejected
by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight.

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on John 10:10: Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

On the Third Sunday of Easter
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Luke 24: 21:
"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel."

On Easter Day
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Matthew 28:10:
Then Jesus said to them (the women), "Do not be afraid,
go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee;
there they will see me"

On the Sixth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Mark 15:4-5:
Pilate asked Jesus again, "Have you no answer?
See how many charges they bring against you.
But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed."

On the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Mark 14:50:
"All of them (the disciples of Jesus) deserted him and fled."

On the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Mark 14:22-24
"While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf
of bread, and after blessing it he broke it,
gave it to them, and said,
"Take; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he
gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many"

On the Third Sunday in Lent
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Mark 14:9:
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed
in the whole world, what she has done will be
told in remembrance of her."

On the Second Sunday in Lent
we celebrated the Cleansing of the Temple by Jesus.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Mark 11:17:
"Jesus was teaching and saying,
'Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?
But you have made it a den of robbers.' "

On the First Sunday in Lent
we celebrated the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Zechariah 9:9:
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

On the Sunday of the Transfiguration
we looked towards the Crucifixion.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Matthew 17:5:
"While Peter was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,
with him I am well pleased; listen to him."

On the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
we celebrated God's Blessedness in Our Lives.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Matthew 5:1-3:
"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain;
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' "

On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
we celebrated Jesus' Call of the First Disciples.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Matthew 4: 18-20:
"As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen.
And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.'
Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

On the First Sunday in Ordinary Time
we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus.
Dr. Christopher's Sermon was based on Matthew 3:17:
"... and a voice from heaven said,
'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.' "

On the four Sundays of Advent Dr. Christopher's
sermons will be based on the themes used with our Advent Wreath

On the Last Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dr. Christopher led us to consider Thanksgiving in his sermon
based on Colossians 3:15c: " ... and be thankful!"

On the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
we celebrated the Life of Jesus as told
in the hymns of Charles Wesley.

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 32nd Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on II Corinthians 8:1-2:
"We want you to know brothers and sisters,
about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;
for during a severe ordeal of affliction,
their abundant joy and their extreme poverty
have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 31st Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on II Corinthians 8:9:
"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
that through his poverty we might become rich."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 30th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Hebrews 12:1-2:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 29th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 22:27:
'Jesus said, “For who is greater,
the one who is at table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one at the table?
But I am among you as one who serves." '

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 28th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 16:1-2:
Jesus also said to His disciples:
"There was a certain rich man who had a steward,
and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
So he called him and said to him,
'What is this I hear about you?
Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' "

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for Worldwide
Communion Sunday was based on II Timothy 1:5
"I am reminded of your sincere faith,
a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois
and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 26th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on I Timothy 6:7:
"For we brought nothing into this world,
so that we can take nothing out of it."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 24th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on I Timothy 1:15-16:
"The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
-- of whom I am the foremost.
But for that very reason I received mercy,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience,
making me an example to those who would come
to believe in him for eternal life."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 23rd Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Psalm 139:7:
"Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?"

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 22nd Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 14:1:
"On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader
of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath,
they were watching him closely."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 21st Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Psalm 71:6:
"Upon you have I leaned from my birth:
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 20th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 12:51:
"Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 19th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Hebrews 11:8:
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called
to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance;
and he set out, not knowing where he was going."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 18th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Hosea 11:8b-9:
"My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 17th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 11:1
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 16th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 10:41-42:
"But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;
there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 15th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Luke 10:33-34:
"... but a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.
Then he put him in his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 14th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Galatians 6:10
"...So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all,
and especially those of the family of faith."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 13th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on Galatians 5:1
"...For freedom, Christ has set us free."

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the 12th Sunday
of Ordinary Time was based on the
Parable of the Talents found in the Gospel according to Matthew

On Trinity Sunday, Dr. Christopher
based his Sermon on Romans 5:1-2
" Therefore, since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand;
and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God "

On Pentecost, Dr. Christopher
based his Sermon on Romans 8:15-16
" ... It is that very Spirit bearing witness with
our spirit that we are children of God."

On the Sunday after Ascension, Dr. Christopher
based his Sermon on Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ....."

On the Sixth Sunday of Eastertide, Dr. Christopher
based his Sermon on John 14:27
"Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

On the Fifth Sunday of Eastertide, Dr. Christopher
called us to love one another in his sermon based on John 13:34-35

On Good Shepherd Sunday, Dr. Christopher
reminded us that Jesus said in John 10:28
"No one will snatch them out of my hand."

On the First Sunday of Easter, Dr. Christopher
urged us to obey God rather than any human authority
in his sermon based on Acts 5:29.

On Easter Day, First Presbyterian Celebrated
The Resurrection of Our Lord by
Baptizing our newest Christian,
Confirming four and welcoming new members.
Preaching from Romans 6, Dr. Christopher
urged us to live in that newness of life that
God offers to us through the victory of Jesus.

In Lent Dr. Christopher spoke on
the Cross of Jesus.

On the Last Sunday before Lent, Dr. Christopher
spoke of the Gift of God -- Amazing Grace.

On the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Dr. Christopher
urged us to delight in the freedom of the Law of God

On the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Dr. Christopher
spoke of how we are impacted by choices

On the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Dr. Christopher
was in California on study leave,
and Dr. Fred Keith of Lynn Haven was our guest minister.

On the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, First Presbyterian
Welcomed new Members, Baptized our newest Christian,
Approved our Budget for 2007 and Dr. Christopher
showed us the Holy Spirit at work in all these things.

On the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Dr. Christopher
continued his series of sermons on the Gifts of God

As the church observed the first Sunday of Ordinary Time,
Dr. Christopher had these thoughts on the Baptism of Jesus

On the First Sunday of Christmas, Dr. Christopher
asked us to consider this challenge for the New Year

On Christmas Eve, we Celebrate the Coming of the Christ Child
with Carols and Communion.
At that service, Dr. Christopher led us
with these Reflections looking to Christmas Day

In Advent we anticipate the coming of the Christ Child
as we claim God's Gifts of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy

On the last Sunday of November we end the church year
by celebrating the Feast of Christ the King

Our Stewardship Season Theme this year is
"Letting God Lead"

Dr. Christopher has concluded his series of sermons
based on the book of Ephesians

In August, Dr. Christopher continued his series of sermons
based on the book of Ephesians

On July 30, 2006, the Rev. Trish Melvin Bruner,

an ordained Minister of the United Methodist Church,
a daughter of this church, and
a student at Candler School of Theology at Emory University,
delivered this sermon.

In July Dr. Christopher began a series of sermons
based on the book of Ephesians

Dr. Christopher's Sermons on Summerfest Themes

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for Trinity Sunday

A Celebration of Our Personal Relationship
with the Triune God

Dr. Christopher's Sermon for the Day of Pentecost

On Easter Day Dr. Christopher began a sermon series entitled
"Sharing the Victory and Work of Easter"

On April 30, 2006, Stephanie Maddox Hill,

a daughter of this church and
recent graduate of Louisville seminary
delivered this sermon.