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John Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald lives in Leesburg, Ohio, with his wife Carolyn and has served as pastor at the Leesburg Friends Meeting for the past 27 years. Cornfield Cathedral (Fairway Press, 2013) is the second book authored by Pastor Fitzgerald. John has earned a Master's of Ministry Degree from the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.
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Lincoln And Lent -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Psalm 51:1-17 -- John Fitzgerald -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2016
Contents "Lincoln and Lent" by John Fitzgerald
Thou Shalt Not ... Generally Speaking -- Luke 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Psalm 63:1-8 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
Contents "Thou Shalt Not ... Generally Speaking" by Keith Hewitt
Gone, Forgotten, And Now Remembered -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- Frank Ramirez, John Fitzgerald -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents "Gone, Forgotten, and Now Remembered" by Frank Ramirez
On The Shoulders Of Giants -- The King James Translation Of The Bible -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 47 -- Frank Ramirez, John Fitzgerald -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2016
Contents
Faith -- John 16:12-15, Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, Psalm 8 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2016
Contents "Faith" by Keith Hewitt "Divine Handiwork" by John Fitzgerald
Gentle Whisper -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Luke 8:26-39, Galatians 3:23-29 -- John Fitzgerald -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2016
Contents "Gentle Whisper" by John Fitzgerald
The Rich Fool -- Luke 12:13-21, Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- John Fitzgerald -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2016
Contents "The Rich Fool" by John FitzgeraldThe Rich Fool
A Question Of Hospitality -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2016
Contents "A Question of Hospitality" by Keith Hewitt
Love Of Money -- Luke 16:19-31, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- John Fitzgerald -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2016
Contents "Love of Money" by John FitzgeraldLove of Money
A Certain Level Of Comfort -- Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2016
Contents "A Certain Level of Comfort" by Keith Hewitt
Light For The New Year -- Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- John Fitzgerald -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2016
Contents "Light for the New Year" by John Fitzgerald
Man Of Lawlessness -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 -- John Fitzgerald, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2016
Contents "Man of Lawlessness" by John Fitzgerald
A Pilgrim's Thanksgiving -- John 6:25-35, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, Psalm 100 -- John Fitzgerald -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2016
Contents "A Pilgrim's Thanksgiving" by John Fitzgerald
The Midwife -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
Contents "The Midwife" by Keith Hewitt
Honest, Not Courteous, Prayer -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2015
Contents "Honest, Not Courteous, Prayer" by David O. Bales
To Make New -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Contents "To Make New" by Peter Andrew Smith
Believing Without Seeing -- John 20:19-31, Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, Psalm 133 -- John Fitzgerald -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Contents "Believing without Seeing" by John Fitzgerald
The Chosen One -- Mark 4:26-34, 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Psalm 20 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2015
Contents "The Chosen One" by Keith Hewitt
The Shepherd King -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Psalm 48 -- John Fitzgerald -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2015
Contents "The Shepherd King" by John Fitzgerald
Paradox Of America -- John 6:56-69, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 84 -- John Fitzgerald, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2015
Contents "Paradox Of America" by John Fitzgerald
Way Of The Cross -- Mark 8:27-38, James 3:1-12 -- John Fitzgerald, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2015
Contents "Way of the Cross" by John Fitzgerald
Spiritual Truth -- Mark 1:29-39, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- John Fitzgerald, Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2015
Contents "Spiritual Truth" by John Fitzgerald
Maintaining The Sacred -- John 2:13-22 -- John Fitzgerald -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Contents "Maintaining the Sacred" by John Fitzgerald
Dirty Jobs -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- John Fitzgerald, Keith Wagner -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
Contents "Dirty Jobs" by John Fitzgerald "A Deeper Love" by Keith Wagner
God's Word Cuts Deep -- Mark 10:17-31, Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 22:1-15 -- John Fitzgerald, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2015
Contents "God?s Word Cuts Deep" by John Fitzgerald
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

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John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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