January 6, 2008: Epiphany of the Lord
Sermon: "Stargazers", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: Matthew 2: 1-12

On this Epiphany Sunday we hear again the story of the Magi as they follow the star to Bethlehem. While they leave their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, it has been suggested that they didn't leave the best gift of all, the gift of themselves. Today we celebrate that the Light of the World has come into the world to live in us so that we in turn may be Light to a darkened world.

January 13, 2008: The Baptism of the Lord - First Sunday after Epiphany
Sermon: "Servants of God", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Matthew 3: 13-17

Jesus' baptism is one of the most powerful events in the gospels. Matthew shares with us a dialogue between Jesus and John. One wonders who's in charge. Jesus insists that John be the baptizer, even for the Son of God. The announcement from God brought to light by the Spirit Dove clearly identifies Jesus as the beloved. God is well pleased with the launching of Jesus' servanthood and ministry. My question is, "If Jesus is God's beloved Son, with whom God is well pleased, then who are we? We are children of God called to be faithful in an unfaithful world. We are like the children of Israel who were challenged by the prophet Isaiah to be servants of God. How can we be anything less.

January 20, 2008: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "A Word to the Church: Encouragement", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9

As Paul writes to the Church at Corinth, he does so knowing that he is writing to a church, which he planted, that had many problems. Yet he begins by thanking God for them and their gifts. For he knows that God is faithful, and it is God that will sustain the church, then, and now.

January 27, 2008: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "A Word to the Church: Unity", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18

After giving thanks to God for the church at Corinth, Paul now turns his concern to the divisions that have arisen among them. Some were baptized by Apollos, others by Peter, and even some by Paul. They were beginning to be loyal to the one who baptized them, rather than to Christ. He points to the cross, and says that there, and only there is to be found our unity and our power. “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

February 3, 2008: Transfiguration of the Lord
Sermon: "The Changing Face of Faith", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: Matthew 17 1: 1-9

In today's gospel, the story of the transfiguration of Jesus is told. As he, Peter, James and John go to the top of a high mountain, Jesus' appearance changes before their eyes. But Jesus doesn't let them linger on the mountain. Instead he calls them and us from our mountain top experiences to ministry where we live, off the mountain. Also, the next mount that Jesus will climb is Mt. Calvary. And because he is there transfigured once again, this time not with brightness and light, but with wounds and blood and darkness, because of his transfiguration on Calvary, we are not just transfigured, but transformed.

February 10, 2008: 1st Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "How Dare You!", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Matthew 4: 1-11

After Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit takes him into the wilderness to fast and pray. It is there Jesus meets the devil who tempts him to satisfy his hunger, be a momentary star worthy of great praise, and claim the kingdoms of the world as his own. 'If you worship me, you can have it all', said the Temptor. Jesus answer, "How Dare You!" How dare you challenge the will of God. How are we to respond?

February 17, 2008: 2nd Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "Saved By Grace - Part I", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: Romans 4: 1-5, 13-18

We often say, "There but for the grace of God go I." The reality is that God's grace is most often evident in our lives during the times of challenge and trial. It is Abraham who the Apostle Paul holds forth as an example of such faith and grace.

February 24, 2008: 3rd Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "Saved By Grace - Part II", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: Romans 5: 1-11

In Exodus we read how the Israelites again complain to Moses and God about not having water to drink. In the midst of difficult circumstances they yearn for the familiar surroundings of Egypt. Often when we are called and drawn into a new place in life, we seek the safe and familiar. Yet, God in Christ remains faithful through all that we do, and sustains us daily with God's grace.

March 2, 2008: 4th Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "Worship Who? Worship Where?", Dr. Cynthia Campbell
Lesson: John 4: 5-42

Dr. Campbell discusses religious diversity in the context of the story of Jesus and the woman at the well.

March 9, 2008: 5th Sunday in Lent
Sermon: "An Early Easter", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: John 11: 1-45

The raising of Lazarus foreshadows Jesus own death. In the story it is made clear that God works in God's time and in God's ways, His wonders to perform. While the height of the story comes as Jesus bids Lazarus to come out of the tomb, it is in the words that follow that there is a message for the faith community. Jesus says to those who witnessed this resurrection experience, "Unbind him." It takes the community to help unbind Lazarus so that he might abound in the new life that Christ has given to him.

March 16, 2008: Passion/Palm Sunday
Sermon: "Passionate Palm Wavers", Dr. John W. Miller
Lesson: Matthew 21: 1-11

Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, begins the Holy Week journey. We are invited to walk where Jesus walked as he moves from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the Communion Table of Maundy Thursday, at which he also washed his disciples' feet, to the cross of Good Friday, and finally, to the empty tomb of Easter Morn. We who begin the week as passionate palm wavers also join the disciples in becoming the ones who also betray and deny our Lord. Yet, God loves us so much as Christ goes to the cross for us.

March 23, 2008: Easter/ Resurrection of the Lord
Sermon: "Five Words of Resurrection", Dr. John W. Miller

This is Pastor Miller’s final sermon at NorthPark Presbyterian Church. While it is Easter Sunday, he shares five words of resurrection from John’s gospel as his final words to the congregation.

March 30, 2008: Youth Sunday
Sermon: "The Lord's Prayer...White Noise??", NPPC Youth
Lesson: Matthew 6: 7-15 , Jessica Brown, Liturgist

Every Sunday each of us prays the Lord's Prayer aloud, together. Do we really know what we are praying? Or is it just "white noise" in worship? Are we praying it or saying it? When the Lord's Prayer or any prayer is "white noise", it blends in with the background noise in such a way that it has flat power. May our prayers never be flat, especially the Lord's Prayer.

Youth seniors in speaking order: Andy Cavin, Robbie Stewart, Megan Swinford, Mitchell Fair, Ian Campbell, Cameron Jones, Nick Doran, Andy Cavin.

April 6, 2008: 3^rd Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Well...", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Mark 4: 26-29

The simplest of Jesus' parables of the kingdom can be profound in its meaning for a church in transition. The farmer sows seed...the seeds grow, and produce on their own, without the farmer's help. The farmer harvests the grain, but does not understand how the grain grew all on its own. The simple lesson of this parable...We humans are not in control of God's kingdom. We must trust and have faith and draw water from the well of God's grace.

April 13, 2008: 4^th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Take Off the Blinders", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Luke 24:13-31a

Isn’t it odd how we can get trapped worrying about the things we don’t see, and overlooking important things we should see and believe. That is what happened to the disciples as they found a stranger tagging along with them on the road to Emmaus. It was Jesus, of course, but the disciples did not recognize him. Why should they? They were too engrossed in their sadness, hopelessness, and doubt about a Messiah who let them down. Jesus fixed it though. He broke bread and gave it to them, and they saw. What a wonder.

April 20, 2008: 5^th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Once Upon A Time", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Genesis 1: 24-28
As we enter the ancient texts about creation, we are awed by the beauty and significance of a people who struggled to understand their relationship with a mysterious Creator God. In spite of the fact that science tells the creation story in a different way, we can claim both the truth of the biblical text, and the truth of modern science. We must, however, claim the biblical message as our own. It is not a "Once Upon A Time" story. It is the story of how humanity began to know God..

April 27, 2008: 6^th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Living As Wise People", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: John 20:19-22
It is funny how so many of us believe we are wise, because we are smart. Sometimes though smartness is mistaken for wisdom. The difference is that wisdom comes from God, and God's wisdom comes to us most often through the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us: "Be careful how you live, not as unwise people but as wise."

May 4, 2008: 7^th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "God's Strange Machine", The Rev. Dr. Hank Hunt
Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-19
Our all-powerful God could bring salvation to the world simply by speaking the Word. But, God chooses, instead, to use the church, a very strange machine, to carry Christ's saving gospel to the world. Why God does so is a mystery. Maybe this is because God wills to bless the church, God's special people, with the gift of joy that comes from sharing Christ's saving message with humankind.

May 11, 2008: Day of Pentecost
Sermon: "Wake Up, You People!", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Acts 2:1-14
It is amazing how the Holy Spirit works....just swoops down in the midst of people gathered for a normal celebration. Wind and fire interrupted the Jewish festival of Weeks...it was one of God's most dramatic moments. God knows us so well.. knows what it takes for us to wake up. The word for this Pentecost Day is. Wake Up, You People. The Body of Christ cannot afford to sleep on the job.

May 18, 2008: Trinity Sunday
Sermon: "Now, Get Moving", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Matthew 28:16-20
This is Trinity Sunday. All attempts to define, describe, discern the Triune God are fruitless. The best the early church could do is offer the Nicene Creed which leaves no doubt that our Christian tradition is grounded in this doctrine. But, it is in scripture that we find our faith and life. Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples ..."Now, Get Movin' " into all the world. Baptize and teach in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And, they did it. They claimed their story and told it in the name of the Triune God, in whom we share our very lives.

May 25, 2008: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Secrets of the Heart", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Matthew 6:24-34
The things we worry about pale in the face of the worlds ills. We need and want more...those who have less just want to make ends meet. And, yet Jesus says to us, "Don't worry about your life. God knows what you need and will provide for you." The birds of the air and the lilies of the field have it made. They just need to do their thing and they are taken care of by the Creator God. Not so for us...we need to take stock of our lives and our worries. God knows the secrets of our hearts. The best secret is that we have the heart of God within us, and are called to respond to it.

June 1, 2008: 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Unexpected Choices", Candidate Josh Robinson
Lesson: 2 Kings 5: 1-15
The sermon theme is "God, full of grace, chooses us to choose God." It is the story of the conversion of Naaman. The story is a perfect example of God's persistent grace.

Josh Robinson is a candidate for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Church USA. He is a student at Louisville Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been supported and encouraged by NorthPark Presbyterian Church through his call by God to serve the church.

June 8, 2008: 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "If I Were a Church Member", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 5: 13-16
Serving faithfully as a church member is a fundamental and exciting aspect of being a Christian. To be a part of “the people of God” provides a unique opportunity to serve Christ, to grow as a follower of Christ, and to make a difference in God’s world.

June 15, 2008: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Traveling Mercies, Dusty Feet", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-15
We can’t imagine that Jesus instructed his disciples to head out without the necessities of life. Yet, he did just that. It seems a quaint and unrealistic story that is often relegated to those other stories that seem so out of touch. However, if we take seriously our role as disciples, we had better listen up. Who knows when Jesus will point to us and give us authority and power to go forth, without our shoes, on dusty feet, unburdened by the things that get in the way of our announcing, “The kingdom of heaven is near.”

June 22, 2008: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "When God Defines Love", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: John 3:16-21
We say "God is Love", with emphasis on love, as if love defines God. However, it is God that defines love through his sacrifice of his only begotten Son.

June 29, 2008: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "What Do I Get Out Of It?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 6:37-42
The measure you give will be the measure you get back.

July 6, 2008: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "A Perennial Question for Us and Our Nation", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Mark 8:31-38
Jesus asks, What does it profit a person (or nation) if that individual gains the whole world and looses all that is at the heart of the human being (or nation) itself? And how does an individual (or nation) loose their soul? Bit by little bit. It goes incrementally. You find a place over here where you are going to cut a corner, do a little bit of cheating in this area, and then another. Oh, that's not so much. Until you wake up and your soul is gone. We have to continually ask Jesus' question to see if there are any soul thieves to avoid.

July 13, 2008: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Christianity...A Personal Religion", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Revelation 3:14-22
In life, the personal element is supreme. "Listen, I am standing at the door knocking. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will eat with you and you with me." This passage contains eight personal pronouns. God is personally involved in Christianity by giving his son. The most important things in life are the personal things. God calls each of us by name.

July 20, 2008: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Tormenting, Healing Christ", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Mark 5: 1-13

Jesus heals the demonic. As so there are always influences in our lives that are seeking to shape us if we are not sensitive to them. Jesus Christ can bring sanity and order to any chaotic life.

It is the case over and over again that we claim our baptism, we become members of the church, we go to church and try to be faithful in supporting the church. And so things would be fine if Jesus just won't torment us about things in our lives that need to be changed. He's supposed to love us. Grace abounds. We shouldn't have to be concerned about our weekday lives. And so Jesus is the tormentor that we dismiss, and one's life is unfulfilled. In order to fulfill the call of Jesus Christ, God through Jesus Christ continues to torment us to make our lives whole.

July 27, 2008: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Pay Attention", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Genesis 29:15-28; Matthew 13:31-35

Every so often I wander through scripture with an eye for discovering something new. In my grandmother's pantry I discovered what a lump of dough could become with hard work and love. In the texts for today, I discovered that finding common threads in the lectionary texts took the lumps out of my tendency to use only those that made good sense at a glance. I have been reminded again that God's sovereign power is at work in spite of us.

August 3, 2008: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "On Unfinished Towers", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 14:25-33

Jesus is insistent that the Christian life is costly. Caring about others, Generosity with our time, talents and resources and Obedience to the call of Christ are all very costly. The text asks us to give up all our possessions. We promise not literally, but symbolically to put Jesus Christ and Christ's way first, which in turn will give meaning to all of our relationships. Our promises to the church always end with "I will, with God's help."

August 10, 2008: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "On Learning Humility", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 14:7-11

August 17, 2008: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Can We Love Our Enemies", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Romans 12: 14-21

August 24, 2008: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Metamorphosis", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Romans 12:1-4

August 31, 2008: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "On Going the First Mile", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Matthew 5:38-42

September 7, 2008: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "The Advantage of Being Third Rate", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 18:18-25

September 14, 2008: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Christianity's Problem", Dr. Michael Jinkins
Lesson: Matthew 18:21-35

September 21, 2008: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "What Have You Done For God Lately?", Dr. Robert Shelton
Lesson: Luke 11:24-26

September 28, 2008: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon: "Come! Live In The Light", The Rev. Sally Brown
Lesson: Luke: 8: 16-21

It never hurts for us to be reminded that we are to hear God's word and do it. Luke uses the parable of the sower to set the tone. Then, he shares profound images that, are simple and powerful. A lamp on the lamp stand....Jesus' unpleasant way he greeted his family...and Paul's prayer for the Philippian church say plenty about what we are called to hear and do.

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