Come and See

In John's Gospel we get a story of two of John the Baptist's disciples meeting Jesus. When they ask where he is staying, Jesus answers, cryptically, "Come and See". Whatever they saw energized them. Would they see the same thing in a contemporary church? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church by clicking on any blue text for this week's sermon from John 1, "Come and See".

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Meeting in the Water

The story of the baptism of Jesus by John is recounted in all three Synoptic Gospels and referred to in the Gospel of John. That sounds as if it is an important story, but what does it mean to say that Jesus was baptised? We think of baptism as a way to "wash away sins" or as a symbolic act of obedience, but we also are taught that Jesus was without sin, and was God Incarnate. Do either of these explanations help us to understand what it means to say that Jesus was baptised? What important lesson is contained in this pericope such that it appears in all the Gospels? Come join the joint congregations of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's and Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte Kentucky for our sermon this week from Matthew's Gospel, "Meeting in the Water" by clicking on any blue text.

Epiphany

January 6 marks Epiphany in the church calendar. It's the date we celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings -- the time when the world at large became aware of the birth of Jesus. Contrary to the nativity set on top of your TV, this did not happen on Christmas Eve, but probably two years later. We've mushed the two celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany together and robbed Epiphany of its dignity. We need to get over that and reclaim it.

So..what does the word "Epiphany" mean? We'll talk about that in today's sermon, from Matthew's account of the visit of the Magi. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church for this week's sermon, Epiphany, by clicking on any of the blue text HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Words and Mystery

This week's service comes to you from King's Daughters and Sons Home in Ashland. We take a look at the inadequacy of words to describe the mysteries of faith, something post-Enlightenment people sometimes have a hard time grasping. I also included a bit of the final carol, Away in a Manger, to show off Paul Beasley's singing, and the playing of our volunteer pianist, now aged 93! Join the congregation at King's Daughters and Sons for Words and Mysteries from Paul's letter to his church at Galatia and the Gospel we know as "John" by clicking the blue text HERE.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Christmas Signs

What really says "Christmas" to you? Is the birth of our Lord a part of that, or something that you have to be reminded of? We love the signs of Christmas so much that we sometimes value them over the real "reason for the season", and that's not just us...Matthew had the same problem. Finding a way to preach Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1 and still keep my integrity drove me to another meeting with the Sexton of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's for some clarity in the matter of Christmas Signs. Along the way, I brought my Autoharp. Come join the cleaning staff of the Chapel of St. Starbuck's, Community Presbyterian's confused fat preacher and the congregation for our sermon, Christmas Signs, by clicking any of the blue text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Theotokas

Protestants, it seems to me, have disconnected themselves from an important piece of their faith foundation by relegating Mary to a marginal role as a small blue statue on top of the TV, behind the Ox and a little to the right of the donkey. Surely her role in Advent is more than that, and so the early church viewed her, naming her "God-bearer", or theotokas in Greek, at the council at Calcedon in 451 AD. That same counsel proclaimed Jesus to be both fully human and fully divine. The congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte Kentucky explores the connections between these decisions, and the lesson of Mary for Advent in our sermon from the Magnificat titled Theotokas. Join us by clicking any of the blue text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

What in the World Happened in Judea?

I suppose it takes a certain kind of mean-spirited preacher to find a way to make Advent into a problem, and I suppose I'm just that kind of a mean-spirited preacher. Be that as it may be, what in the world happened in Judea 2,000 years ago? If you're looking for an answer, you won't find it here, but you may find something to chew on. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for our sermon from Matthew 3 titled What in the World Happened in Judea by clicking any of the blue text along here.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.