Author: gachorpenning

I am a husband, father, and grandfather. The southwestern Pennsylvania is currently home, though I've called several other places home before this. I maintain a YouTube channel of Bible teaching videos and a podcast of Bible teaching audio. I like to make things out of wood and other materials. I like taking photographs and use a lot of them in my blog posts. For thirty-nine years, I served as a pastor of churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.

Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship

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Discipleship is the calling of every one who claims the name of Christ.  Discipleship extend to every portion of our lives without exception.  The third sermon in a four sermon series on sex and the Christian faith, I preached this on January 22, 2012 at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY.  Prior to the beginning of … Continue reading Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship

Pastor Note #30 — Death and the Embodiment of Love

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Yesterday, I was looking over the annual report for my congregation for 2011.  I was surprised to see that only five of our members died during the year.  It was surprise to me, because I had done more than twice that many funeral in 2011.  Now that I've been here in the community for nine … Continue reading Pastor Note #30 — Death and the Embodiment of Love

Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption

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The sermon linked to this post is the second sermon in a series on human sexuality and God.  This sermon was preached at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY on Sunday, January 15, 2012.  Earlier in the service, we read responsively Isaiah 61:1-4.  Then on this recording of the sermon, I read from Romans 1:18-32. The … Continue reading Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption

Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex

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Genesis 3:7--"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves." [HCSB] Maybe it's because I'm preaching about sex these days, but today as I read this verse during my devotions, I was struck by the fact that … Continue reading Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex

Sermon #3–Sex and Loving God: Natures and Origins

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This sermon was preached at North Presbyterian Church on January 8, 2012 at morning worship.  It's part of a series I preached on the topic of "Sex and Loving God."  During that worship service we read Matthew 2:1-12 ( because this was the Sunday nearest to Epiphany, the church holy day when we celebrate the … Continue reading Sermon #3–Sex and Loving God: Natures and Origins

Pastor Note #29 — Looking Around the Corner

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So, we’ve come to the beginning of a new year, and those seem lately to come flying around more often than once a year.  The idea that time seems to move more quickly as we get older is not a novel idea.  Conventional wisdom says it's true.  And who am I to argue with conventional … Continue reading Pastor Note #29 — Looking Around the Corner

Pastor Note #28 — The Marks of Everyday Life

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Bringing the Marks of Everyday Life into the Presence of the Lord Finally, I had a decent black suit.  I was very pleased with that fact on this particular morning as I drove to conduct a funeral. Until a recent, successful trip to the Bargain Hut, I had been without a good black suit.  I … Continue reading Pastor Note #28 — The Marks of Everyday Life

Prayer Note #27 — Lord of All

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Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, Lord of all time, Lord of this moment, Lord of all things living and Lord of my own beating heart, I want you to be my Lord.  I want my fleeting thoughts to be from you and for you.  I want you to be the head waters of my … Continue reading Prayer Note #27 — Lord of All

Pastor Note #27 — Are You Ready?

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ARE YOU READY? Rev. Gary Chorpenning It isn’t really supposed to be a happy season – Advent isn’t.  But we have tended to make it that way.  Well, who can blame us?  Our world has been feeling rather grim lately.  Who could blame us for grabbing hold of any little occasion for happiness we can … Continue reading Pastor Note #27 — Are You Ready?