Sermons & Worship by Rev. Laurie DeMott (Page 5)

Mark 1:16-20 “Immediately:  without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once, with no object or space intervening.”  This is the way the dictionary defines the word ‘immediately’ but if you want to see what immediately looks like, just observe Peter, Andrew, James, and John in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark.  Mark says that when Jesus called to them, these four responded “immediately”, without delay, at once, with no thought of what they left behind. Have there…

John 1:35-42     Before I read you today’s scripture, I want to give you a little biblical background so put on your student hats.  Today’s scripture concerns the call of Jesus’ disciples but it is probably not the story that comes to mind when you think of that event.  Most of us think of the story in which Jesus comes upon Peter, Andrew, James, and John fishing and he says to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of…

Matthew 4:1-11 The theologian Karl Barth once said, “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both,” as a reminder to preachers that sermons must be relevant to current events and that current events should always be seen through the lens of the Bible.  Well, this year, I have been taking Barth literally.  During the week as I am preparing my sermon, I have a Bible open on one side of my computer screen and on the other side…

I John 2:5-6; Mark 1:1-11 It hasn’t been a good week for America.  Granted, America hasn’t had a good week in a long long time but this past week we hit a new low as rioters smashed their way into the Capital building, shouting obscenities and threats, and some carrying the confederate flag.  It was heartbreaking.  And the delight that the mob took in their own violence, the welcome offered them by the President who glorified this act as courageous…

Matthew 2:1-12 Most years, we celebrate the start of a new year with fireworks and gatherings with friends and family, but of course, this year because of the pandemic, things were a bit different.  We had to forego our normal activities, and watch firework displays virtually on our laptops and TVs.  Not only were our celebrations muted this year but few people have been much in the mood for the normal tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.  In years past,…

Matthew 2:1-14 This past Monday I finally decorated my house for Christmas, putting up my creches, my Santas, and hanging ornaments on my Christmas tree.   Like most homes, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of my Christmas decorations.  I rearrange my living room in order to fit a tree in my small house where trees usually don’t belong and during these darkest days of the year I find comfort in the blurring of the boundary between indoors and outdoors,…

Isaiah 9:2-7 In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “Look, Charlie, let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate,” she whispers.  Lucy would have felt right at home on today’s internet where promoting wild conspiracy theories about secret syndicates and cabals has become a kind of parlor game for those stuck at home during the pandemic.  Browse the internet and you will read, for example,…

Luke 2:8-14 In the very familiar passage I just read from the Christmas story, the angel tells the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”  You’ve probably heard that verse a gajillion times in your life but have you really heard that verse?   “I am bringing you good news of great joy,” the angel says, “for all the people.”  All the people.  Think about what that means.  It means that this…

Isaiah 40:1-5     I want to talk for a second about the game of Peek-a-Boo.  Depending on where you’re from in the world, you may call this game “Peep-pie,” “Pee-po,” “Peep-ho,” or “Beebo,” but whatever you call it, the game involves covering your face in front of a baby and then uncovering it while announcing, “Peek-a-boo!”  Usually the baby responds by chortling in delight, to which you in turn respond by playing the game over and over again.  Much of the…

John 5:1-9     How many of you know which animal the World Wildlife Fund uses for its logo?   Probably more of you than you think.  The World Wildlife Fund is an organization that works to protect the habitat of declining species, and in 1961, it chose the panda for its logo, partly, the organization admits, because it could save printing costs printing in black and white, since pandas are black and white, but mainly because the Giant Panda was a…