Union University Church

Exodus 14:8-16October 18, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott The ancient Romans would have said that the Israelites were caught with a precipice in front and wolves behind.  The French would say that they were between the sledgehammer and the anvil.  Here in America, we’d probably say that they were between a rock and a hard place, … More Egypt, Egypt

The book of JobOctober 11, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott All scripture references are from The Message version Since last January when wildfires swept across Australia, the year 2020 has become synonymous with disaster and suffering.  One internet meme shows children with pained expressions on their faces and the caption reads, “Kids when they discover … More Job

Matthew 6:33-34Union University ChurchOct 4, 2020Reverend Laurie DeMott My dog Dexter is asleep under my pulpit and when he came in the church this morning, unlike the rest of us, he didn’t have to put on a mask or worry about social distancing.  He greeted people in the sanctuary without fear that he might catch … More The Next Right Thing

Generosity II Corinthians 8:1-9     Sept 27, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott While traveling all over the ancient world starting churches, preaching the gospel, getting driven out of town or thrown in local jails, and maintaining a lively correspondence with numerous people, Paul spent his spare time gathering a collection for the churches of Judea.  The … More Generosity

II Corinthians 5:6-7, 16-17September 20, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Last week, Stu Smith asked me why during the summer I had called my sermon time a “reflection” instead of a sermon.   “What’s the difference?” he wanted to know. I told him, “Reflections are short and sermons are long,” but honestly, the difference between … More Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

II Corinthians 4:7-18September 13, 2020Union University ChurchRev. Laurie DeMott My favorite season of the year ended just over three weeks ago, on August 20th.  That’s the day the last of the baby bluebirds fledged.  Every April, I listen in anticipation for the whisper of the bluebirds arriving on my property, I spend May worrying about … More Beset from Above, Beset from Below

II Corinthians 2:1-10September 6, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott After the Sept 11th attack, a journalist was interviewing a couple who lost a son in the World Trade Center bombing and the journalist said, “I know you are Christians.  Will you be attending church this week to seek consolation to help you cope with this … More Forgiveness

II Corinthians 1:1-11August 30, 2020Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott There is a popular children’s book that is titled Alexander’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  Well, we can all sympathize with Alexander this year because 2020 is turning into our national Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year.  Every day we have to take … More Consolation

August 23, 2020Psalm 42:6-8Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott I’ve been thinking about God a lot this week.  Now, many of you are probably saying to yourself, “Laurie, you’re a minister.  Don’t you think about God all of the time?” and that’s true, but most of the time, the kinds of things I am thinking about … More Deep Calls to Deep

Genesis 1Ephesians 2:10Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz.   This is the original Hebrew of the very first verse in our Bible, Genesis 1. Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz:  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” When I took Hebrew in seminary, our professor … More Faith and Creativity