(Accepting an invitation to preach at North Bergen (NY) Presbyterian Church as they begin to look at options for their future life together. – To God be the Glory!) 1 Sam 3:1-10, Mark 4:35-41 (AMP) North Bergen (NY) Presbyterian Church June 24, 2018   1 Samuel 3:1-10 (MSG) “Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen” 3 1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still … Continue reading “Packing for Vacation”

Ps 100 (KJV) and 2 Cor. 5:11-17 (NIV) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith Choir Recognition Day and Father’s Day June 17, 2018 Psalm 100  (KJV) 1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his … Continue reading “A Musical Statement of Faith”

Mark 3:20-35 (MSG) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith June 10, 2018 Mark 3:20-35 (MSG) Jesus came home and, as usual, a crowd gathered—so many making demands on him that there wasn’t even time to eat. His friends heard what was going on and went to rescue him, by force if necessary. They suspected he was getting carried away with himself. The religion scholars from Jerusalem came down spreading rumors that he was working black magic, using devil tricks to impress them with spiritual power. Jesus confronted their slander with a story: “Does it make sense to send a devil … Continue reading “Hungry, In Trouble, and Out of His Mind”

2 Cor 4:5-12 (MSG) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith June 3, 2018 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (MSG) 5-6 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. 7-12 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of … Continue reading “You Might Well Miss the Brightness”

John 17:6-19 (MSG) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith May 13, 1018 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift  John 17:6-19 The Message (MSG) 6-12 I spelled out your character in detail to the men and women you gave me. They were yours in the first place; Then you gave them to me, And they have now done what you said. They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that everything you gave me is firsthand from you, for the message you gave me, I gave them; And they took it, and were convinced that I came from you. They believed that you … Continue reading “Consecrating Truth”

Acts 10:44-48 (VOICE) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith May 6, 1018 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift  Acts 10:44-48 (VOICE) The true gospel is becoming increasingly clear as the church spreads and develops in the first century. What happens in this reading of a day in Caesarea changes the face of Christianity forever. It builds a bridge from Jews to Gentiles, from insiders to outsiders, and sends the community of Jesus on a journey beyond the kind of religious and cultural barriers that all people erect. Through Peter’s short trip, the church makes an important journey toward reaching the ends of … Continue reading “Telling Our Story”

In 2016-2017, Laura Bachmann did her Supervised Ministry with South Presbyterian Church as a student at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. On May 2, 2018, she led worship in the Chapel at CRCDS is what might well have been the last student chapel service in that beloved space since the Divinity School has announced that it will be selling the property and moving to a new location. The service which Laura created and led with her classmates was a pastoral gift to the community and served as her Senior Sermon as she nears her readiness to receive a call in … Continue reading “God-Soaked”