Messages by Wayne Cook
Anything Good?
Our Scriptures on this 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany are 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; and John 1:43-51. In the sermon, “Anything Good?” Pastor Wayne looks at the calling that we all recveive as followers of Christ. In a time when the Word of the Lord is rare, may we be open to God’s calling in our life.
Tearing Apart the Heavens
Today we celebrate Baptism of the Lord Sunday. Part of the imagery of Baptism is the call to repentance. With the events of the past week in our Nation’s capital, I believe that we need spend some time repenting… both as a nation and as individuals. Repentance doesn’t means saying “I’m sorry, God” for inconsequential things. Repentance is a full 180 degree change in attitude and latitude that refocuses our attention on what is important… and boy do we need…
Three Kings and a Savior
Happy 10th Day of Christmas everyone! This is also the Second Sunday of Christmas (in some traditions) and Epiphany Sunday in the United Methodist Church. For many of us, we stopped being Christmassy on December 26. However, the church celebrates the full 12 days of Christmastide that fall between December 25 and January 5 (Twelfth Night) with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 as the closing of the Christmas Season. For our Orthodox brothers and sisters, Epiphany IS…
Joy to the World
On this First Sunday of Christmas, Jesus is dedicated in the Temple. There Joseph, Mary and the child encounter Simeon and Anna who proclaim and praise the Messiah. Our Scriptures are: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40.
Christmas Eve 2020
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” Our Scriptures at this Christmas Eve Service are Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Luke 2:1-20; and John 1:1-14. Our full Christmas Eve service is also available on the McFarland UMC Podcast available through the Google Play store or Apple Podcasts and on our SermonByPhone link at 706-866-6577. May the Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love…
Is It So, Joe?
What do you think was going through Joseph’s mind when Mary told him this amazing story about the angel’s proclamation? “Does she really expect me to believe this?” Can you imagine how disappointed he must have been? As Mary’s betrothed, he had the option of having her stoned to death… he could do that if he wanted to deal with the shame. No, he was going to dismiss her quietly so that they could both move on with their lives.…
A Revolutionary Idea
This morning we join Mary as she visits with Elizabeth, the mother of the boy who will be known as John the Baptizer. After Elizabeth greets Mary, the baby jumps in her womb. Mary responds to this greeting with a statement that has come to be known as The Magnificat, one of the most revolutionary declarations of all time. She declares that the Messiah will turn the world upside down and the world has been reverberating from that declaration ever…
Touched By An Angel
Imagine what it must have been like to be Mary when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. He told her that she was favored by God and that she would bear the Son of God. She must have been frightened and confused. “How can this be?” she asked. But in the end, her response was a response of faith and trust, “let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38, NRSV). Join us this morning as Pastor Wayne…
People, Get Ready
Happy New Year, Church! Today is the first Sunday in Advent which means that we have entered into a new liturgical year in the life of the church. Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, yes. But it is also a time when we prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But we don’t fret about the “end times.” Jesus told…
The Last Word
Have you ever wondered about last words? For instance, the last words of a famous person as they lay dying or the last words of a family member or friend? In this day when darkness is at hand and our society is being pulled apart by hyper-partisanship and tribalism, this Christ the King Sunday reminds us that Jesus has the last word. Our scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23.
