Rev. Dr. Jeff Garrison
jgarrison Jeff GarrisonMayberry and Bluemont ChurchesApril 25, 2021Hebrews 11:1-7 Sermon taped on Friday, April 23, 2021 at Mayberry Church Introduction to worship As I mentioned last week, the Session of both churches have spent time planning the future as we, God willing, come out of the COVID pandemic. Therefore, now is a good time to tackle … Read more Hebrews 11:1-7, The Difference Faith Makes
I’m catching up on some recent reading… Tilar J. Mazzero, The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It. (Harpers Business, 2009), 264 pages. Late last year, I listened to the author’s “Great Courses” lectures on “Creative Nonfiction.” She often used examples of her own writing including this book. I … Read more Four Books: Champagne, Skid-row, Generosity, & Mountain Midwifery
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Presbyterian Churches April 18, 2021 Acts 16:1-10 The sermon was recorded on Friday, April 16, at Bluemont Presbyterian Church At the beginning of worship The sessions of both congregations, Bluemont and Mayberry, are engaged in planning for the future as we come out of the COVID pandemic. While we all … Read more Times are Changing: Where is God leading us?
In last week’s sermon, I mentioned this blog post, which failed to transition from my old “thepulpitandthepen.com” blog to this one. So I am posting it again. The highlight of Christian worship is the Lord’s Supper. We break bread and share wine together, uniting ourselves through a very ordinary act with all the saints who … Read more A Lighthearted Yet Serious Look at the Lord’s Supper from a Protestant Perspective
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Presbyterian Church Mark 10:23-27 April 11, 2021 Sermon recorded at Mayberry Church on Friday, April 9, 2021 At the beginning of worship As Christians, we need to laugh more. Too often we think of humor as inappropriate in churches. God is seen as some stern judge up in the sky, … Read more Laughter as a Spiritual Discipline
Introduction In the summer of 1976, I began working at Fox Holsum Bakery in Wilmington, NC. I had just finished my first year of college. I was hired for a summer job, to tray off bread. At the end of the summer, the plant manager asked if I would be interested in continuing to work … Read more Coming of Age at the Bakery
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Churches Easter Sunday 2021 Mark 16:1-8 Sermon recorded at Bluemont Church on Friday, April 2, 2021 At the beginning of worship: Why do we come here this morning? Do we come because it’s the thing to do on Easter Sunday? To get all dressed up for church. Do we come … Read more A new day, but will we tell anyone?
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Presbyterian Churches March 28, 2021 Mark 11:1-11 Sermon recorded on Friday, March 26 at Mayberry Presbyterian Church Thoughts at the Beginning of Worship Palm Sunday! A triumphant day when we recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Jesus arrives at the royal city, greeted by a cheering crowd. From a strictly earthly … Read more The meaning of Palm Sunday
For some reason, this post didn’t make it over from the transfer from my old thepulpitandthepen.com blog. So I decided to “resurrect” it and add a few photos of the river from which this journey begins. Resurrection There is a section in the Hastings Cemetery in Michigan where children who died during or before birth … Read more Resurrection: A Poem
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry Presbyterian Churches Hebrews 10:19-31 March 21, 2021 c2021 Recorded at Bluemont Church on Friday, March 19, 2021 Information at the beginning of worship We’ve spent the last three months making our way through the first three quarters of Hebrews. Last week, I mentioned we were at an end of a section of the book … Read more Hebrews 10:19-31: Worship