Sermons at Lawrencefield Church

The following is a collection of recent sermons written and delievered (unless otherwise noted) by the Rev. Cynthia Byers Walter at Lawrencefield Parish Church. Each can be downloaded and viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

8/24/2008 :: Transformation — Does self-surrender sound like a drag? Some surrender is necessary in order to conform in society. But one particular surrender will help transform the universe.

8/17/2008 :: Great Faith — Is your faith great enough to move mountains? Probably not. But can you stay in the conversation?

8/10/2008 :: Powerful Words — As charming as fairy stories are, we all know that words like “Open Sesame” don’t really work. But there are words that have real power. It all depends on the speaker.

8/3/2008 :: Holy Struggle — “My walk with God has been so difficult. I must not have enough faith.” Does this sound like you? You may want to take into account the biblical take on struggle!

7/27/2008 :: Almost There — On the way to heaven there are sure to be plenty of miserable midpoints. At times like this it bears remembering what awaits.

7/20/2008 :: Birth and Hope — How do you live with the problem of evil in the world? Just ask a birthing mother!

7/13/2008 :: Productive (Pentecost 9) — So you have a personal relationship with God? Congratulations! But that’s not all there is…

7/6/2008 :: God Does Not Play by the Rules (Pentecost 8) — Some of the most faithful people sometimes come to the conclusion that God has let them down. Shouldn’t God play by the rules?

6/29/2008 :: Never, Never Give Up (Pentecost 7) — What does a horrible story about child sacrifice have to tell us about what it’s like to prioritize our relationship with God?

6/22/2008 :: Consequences (Pentecost 6) — How high a priority should we put on our relationship with God? God puts a high priority on God’s relationship with us!

6/15/2008 :: Pleasing God (Pentecost 5) — Groucho Marx once said that he wouldn’t join any club that would have him as a member. Can you worship a God who would want you as a disciple? Most of us are not particularly well equipped to be God’s helpers. But God is no ordinary boss.

6/1/2008 :: Solid Rock (Pentecost 3) — It’s not politically correct to base your life upon money, power or alcohol, but aren’t control, family, and niceness acceptable as a foundation for life? Might there be a more reliable alternative?

5/25/2008 :: Don’t Worry! (Pentecost 2) — Jesus says we are not to worry about having our need met for food, clothing and shelter. OK, but how do we stop worrying about the people we love?

5/18/2008 :: So What (Pentecost 1) — Christmas and Easter are “WOW” events in the life of the church. But when it comes to living all the days in between, so what?

5/11/2008 :: Alternative Energy (Pentecost) — As the world looks to alternative power sources to meet our needs as the price of fossil fuels increase, where can the soul look for alternative sources of power when our spirits flag?

5/4/2008 :: Hello, My Name is Them (Easter 7) — It’s natural to identify yourself with a group and distance yourself from those outside. But when it comes to “Us” and “Them,” can we be sure which we are?

4/27/2008 :: The Proof of Presence (Easter 6) — Science and faith ask the same questions, but answer in different ways. Is there room for both in the life of the 21st Century?

4/20/2008 :: Joy and Vision (Easter 5) — Every age has its unique challenges to living a life of faith. What can a 1st Century martyr tell us about facing the challenges of our own time?

4/6/2008 :: The Heart Knows (Easter 3) — Even people who knew Jesus well managed not to recognize him when they were stressed. How can their experience help us to recognize Jesus in our own midst?

3/30/2008 :: We Are Christ's Own (Easter 2) — There’s got to be a morning after. After the drama of the resurrection, what does Jesus Christ do for an encore?

3/23/2008 :: Empty (Easter) — The miracle of Easter turns the horrors of a burial vault (or a bedroom closet) into something quite different.