Tag: Presbyterian.

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“Don’t Just Stand There”

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Acts 1:1-11 (Common Jewish Bible)South Presbyterian Church – June 1, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   This is a neat story today. It’s not one that we focus on too often in the Presbyterian tradition … at least in my experience. Oh, we acknowledge it, but we don’t really make a lot out of it. I think a century ago they probably did but once we started getting really scientifically based, some of these stories took a back seat because nobody could explain them. This is sort of the “now you see him, now you don’t” part of the gospel. … Continue reading “Don’t Just Stand There”

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“Armchair Reading – Part II”

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John 21:1-14 (MSG)South Presbyterian Church – May 4, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   Last week we started reading from John in an informal way and just commenting about it as we went along, and to remind us of what we heard last week, I’m going to start with the last four verses of Chapter 20. 27 Then he (that’s Jesus) focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” 28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” 29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with … Continue reading “Armchair Reading – Part II”

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“Why did You Bring us Out Here?”

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Exodus 17:1-7 (MSG)South Presbyterian Church – March 23, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   (whining)      “Do we HAVE to go?”    “I don’t WANT to go!”     “Are we THERE yet?” Sounds familiar, huh? J             Many of us have been on car rides where these (or similar) phrases have been heard. In our own day, we may have even been one to say them ourselves.             Imagine being part of a whole town or village that was going someplace together. But you weren’t too sure where it WAS … you carried everything you owned with you (no cross-country professional movers here) … Continue reading “Why did You Bring us Out Here?”

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“transˈfigyәr / verb”

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Matthew 17:1-9 (The Message)South Presbyterian Church – March 16 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   As it says in your bulletin, the word “transfigure” means to transform into something more beautiful or elevated as in the statement:  “The world is made luminous and is transfigured.” Its synonyms include: transform, transmute, change, alter, metamorphos. I like metamorphos, myself … or the noun form that we are more used to hearing, metamorphosis. Meta- a prefix that can mean something beyond the original but at a more abstract level, like metaphilosophy or metalinguistics. morph Which is Greek for “shape,” and in this context can mean … Continue reading “transˈfigyәr / verb”

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“Identity Theft”

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Matthew 4:1-11  (MSG)South Presbyterian Church – March 9, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   Have any of you ever been the victim of Identity Theft? Have you ever known anyone who has been?  I have. In fact, it happened at one of our urban Presbyterian churches in town. Years ago, a bookkeeper’s briefcase was stolen when she was at a church. Within a couple of days her license, her Social Security number, her insurance cards and credit cards … EVERYTHING had been compromised. It took her the better part of a YEAR to get her identity secure again. Now, it’s … Continue reading “Identity Theft”

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“Secret Guides”

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1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (MSG)South Presbyterian Church – March 2, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift My spiritual director will be happy to hear me say that these last two weeks that I have been away from you have really been spiritually renewing for me. And part of what allowed that to happen was knowing that you would have such sound preaching in my absence. I really do thank Jane and Mary Lee for a couple of wonderful sermons and if you missed one or both of them, you can read them on our website (SouthPC.org). BOTH were really good examples of … Continue reading “Secret Guides”

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“Holy Ground”

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As Pastor Deb continues her vacation, Elder Mary Lee Miller took the pulpit with these important and relevant thoughts: February 23, 2014Exodus 3:1-12          For Moses it was probably a typical day:  up early to avoid the high heat of the day; same sheep; same extensive pasture; he was content with the routine.  Totally predictable.  And, then in a flash, nothing would ever be predictable again. A bush spontaneously bursts into flames.  A voice from the fire calls him by name. And there he is, standing barefoot on Holy Ground and being summoned by the Almighty to … Continue reading “Holy Ground”

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“Living Waters at South Church”

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John 4:1-42 South Presbyterian Church – February 9, 2014 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift By now you probably have noticed that we are a little heavy on scripture today. Four readings is not the norm here at South … but I wanted to do this whole section of John because it tells a story from beginning to end. And I had it printed in the bulletin in case you wanted to go back and refer to things as I’m speaking. Now, this sermon REALLY was written by our Thursday night Casual Praise group. It’s just that I’m the one who … Continue reading “Living Waters at South Church”

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“The Radical Gospel of Love”

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Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18South Presbyterian Church – January 19, 2014   Celebration of Martin Luther King DayThe Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   In two of our ACTs of Faith right now we are focusing on Bible passages. Bagels and the Bible, of course, is one of them. In that group on Saturday mornings, we’re in a unit now called the Short Books. We figured that there are a lot of books in the Bible that are fewer than 4 pages long and so we’re reading and studying them. It’s really kinda cool. Yesterday we did Jonah, Philemon and 2 Thessalonians. And … Continue reading “The Radical Gospel of Love”

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“What’s the Name of YOUR Star?”

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Matthew 2:1-2, 7-12South Presbyterian Church – January 5, 2014The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   Did any of you ever buy a star?             No … I’m serious. For a little over $50 a person can buy the naming rights to a star and it will be recorded by the International Star Registry. Isn’t that BIZARRE? I mean, it’s kinda COOL …. But a little bizarre to think about buying the naming rights to something like a star!  Have any of you done that?  I THINK someone did it for my daughter when she was born, but it’s all a little … Continue reading “What’s the Name of YOUR Star?”