Posts by pwsadmin

First Words by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat – December 1, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Matthew 1: 18-25 There’s one thing that I would like you to take away from this message this morning. I’m hoping that you take more than one thing. I’m going to offer more, but there’s one big…

Thanksgiving by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat – November 24, 202, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on I Thessalonians 5:12-22 I shared with you previously that I am part of a clergy peer group sponsored by our UCC local association, and I’ve been part of it for seven or eight years now. It’s a very…

Alabaster Jar by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat on November 17, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 14: 1-10 I served a couple churches in 17 years in the Chicago area. While we were there, we were members of various museums and one of them was the Art Institute of Chicago. Who’s been…

Ministry of Presence by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat on November 10, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 12: 41-44 So, this morning on this Stewardship Sunday, appropriately enough, one of our lectionary readings is what my Bible commentary says is, quote, the widow’s offering. In the tradition of the King James version,…

The Great Commandments by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat – November 3, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 12: 28-34 There was a theologian in the 20th century named Karl Barth. He was very well known. You don’t hear much about him anymore. I am of a generation where at my seminary we read…

“To Serve” by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat – October 20, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 10:35-45 The Son of Man, which was one of Jesus’ titles, came not to be served, but to serve. The drive from my house to this building is about 40 minutes, so every Sunday morning I…

“All Things Are Possible” by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat – October 13, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 10:17-31 Jesus covers a lot of ground in the lectionary passage that we just heard. There’s a lot there. And I’m going to talk about some of it. As I said to the children,…

“Holy Communion” by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat, October 6, 2024, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, based on Mark 10:13-16 I want to read some words to you from my favorite Bible commentary regarding what Dave just read for us. Quote: “The disciples here are attempting to enforce the standard social mores. The standard social mores…

“Salt and Light,” by Rev. Dr. Jay Marshall Groat, September 29, 2024, based on Matthew 5:13-16 More than once, usually in the setting of a classroom but now in the setting of this message, more than once I’ve said this to people to just try to make my point and I’m going to do it…