Luke 16:19-31March 21, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott When my daughter Stacy was on the Alfred-Almond Track team, she had a T-shirt that read, “You know Track and Field is not your sport if you stop at each hurdle waiting for someone to open the gate.” If we go by today’s Dexter Time, we would … More Closed Doors and Open Gates
March 14, 2021Mark 4:26-32Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott As of today, 2.65 million people across the world have died from Covid-19, half a million of them in the US. In his speech Thursday night, President Biden tried to come up with a comparison that would help us comprehend those numbers: “This is as many people … More Mustard Seeds
March 7, 2021Mark 3:13-19, Romans 16Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott How are you at remembering names? Some of you might have a mind like a steel trap, able to retain names and faces for years after you have met someone. Others of us are more mediocre and it may take a couple of greetings before … More Their Names
John 2:1-11February 28, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott As I have mentioned, I have been preaching on the passages that each gospel writer has used to introduce us to Jesus and his ministry, because these opening passages set the tone for everything the gospel writers are about to say. Authors recognize the power of the … More Miracles
Luke 4:14-22, 31-32February 21, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott One day in the land of make believe, the pastor of a small church announced during worship that there would be a meeting of the Church Board following the service. After the Postlude, the members of the Board gathered at the back of the sanctuary but … More “He Spoke with Authority”
Matthew 5:1-9February 14, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott This past Wednesday, the actress Gina Carano lost her job with Lucasfilms. Carano was on the television series “The Mandalorian,” and for those not familiar with it, the Mandalorian is a show set in the Star Wars universe. Even those of you who have never watched it … More Peacemakers
Mark 1:35-39 February 7, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott When I was in seminary, my New Testament professor, Beverly Gaventa, was a young mother of a three year old and I remember during one lecture she described what it was like to juggle child care and teaching. “A few weeks ago,” she said, “I thought the … More The Main Thing
Mark 1:16-20January 31, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott “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 … More And Immediately They Followed
John 1:35-42 January 24, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott 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 … More Come and See
Matthew 4:1-11January 17, 2021Union University ChurchReverend Laurie DeMott 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 … More Tempted
