United Congregational Christian Church

Tag: Hope

  • Be Patient [Sermon]

    There’s an old joke – probably as old as people ordering something and waiting for it to arrive. An example would be ordering a salad at a restaurant, and waiting for it to be served. If it takes a long time – especially if the restaurant is not very busy – someone at the table…

  • Remember [Sermon]

    I recently read some advice on how to be successful. I wonder whether that really works.I don’t think it would be helpful in making friends.Well, not real friends. Let’s go to God in prayer.God of wisdom, may the words that I speak, and the ways they are received by each of our hearts and minds,…

  • Save the Date? [Sermon]

    2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38 Imagine you are a Christian during difficult times. I know it’s a stretch, but I believe in you. Now imagine living under Vlad III of Romania. He is known for killing people by impaling them on pikes, and some even more disturbing practices. You might think “This is certainly…

  • Keep the Faith [Sermon]

    Young, Art, 1866-1943. Jesus Wanted poster, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59079 [retrieved October 5, 2025]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus_wanted_poster.jpg. I’m a fan of the Chicago Cubs. Even though I grew up on the South side of Chicago, I’ve been a Cubs fan for most of my life. The…

  • They Returned to their Homes [Sermon]

    We often think of the crucifixion and resurrection as being three days, but the timeline is shorter. If we recall that the Jewish day ends and begins at sunset, the Sabbath was the twenty four hours – more or less – from the sunset after his body was put in the tomb until the next…

  • When You Don’t Know It’s Jesus [Sermon]

    There are several different accounts of the resurrection, and they don’t exactly agree with each other. But let’s say you’ve been part of a movement you thought would change the world, and then the government executes your leader, and then the body is missing. You might be a little upset. Maybe you don’t always tell…

  • Expect Hope [Sermon]

    Expect Hope [Sermon]

    Shortly after I moved here, Mary and I went down to Ferndale. We saw a sign that said “Capetown Petrolia” with an arrow, and we thought we would see what that point of interest was. So I turned my little Chevy Spark onto Wildcat Avenue and then onto Matole Road. We’re from Illinois. The curviest…