Dear "L," It was really good to see you at the church yesterday. It was very brave of you, because I could see that you were suffering a lot of pain. I don't understand why you have had to suffer so much in the last few months. I wish I did. I do know that … Continue reading Pastor Note #34–A Pastoral Letter to Someone Who Had Suffered a Debilitating Accident
Tag: God
Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
A common feature of the pastoral life that I've lived for the past twenty-nine years has been that strangers to me will regularly come the church door and ask for me. These are typically people faced with some sort of difficult personal and/or financial problem. They come to me looking for help. Sometimes I've been … Continue reading Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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?
Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
This is now the second sermon in a series on the manna and quail of the wilderness journey. In this sermon, I explore how the values and priorities of ancient paganism aren't all that far away from the modern, westerner's wrestling with faith. Here's a link to the text of Exodus 16:1-35. Here's the link … Continue reading Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 