Rev. Dr. Jeff Garrison
I have told this story several times including in an article published in Nevada Magazine’s online edition. 1988 was the first time I was without family on Christmas. It was also my first white Christmas. And it was a holy Christmas. I had taken a year off from seminary to serve as a student pastor in … Read more A Christmas Eve Story
JEFF GARRISONBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesDecember 20, 2020Psalm 46 Thoughts at the beginning of worship It’s the fourth Sunday of Advent. Christmas is almost here. Over the past three weeks, we have focused on hope, joy and love. I hope you have learned that these are not just emotions we feel, but actions that we take … Read more Advent 4: Peace
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesGenesis 33:1-11December 13, 2020 Thoughts at the beginning of the service: As we’ve done for the past few weeks, we’re looking this morning at a unique passage of Scripture for Advent. Why not, we’re coming up on a weird Christmas with the precautions we have to take to slow the spread … Read more Advent 3: Love
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesDecember 6, 2020Acts 8:26-39 Introduction at the beginning of Worship One of our secular songs of the season is Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. The lyrics come from a poem, “Lilly’s Secret”, published in December 1865. At that time, just after the Civil War, the United States needed a little Christmas cheer. … Read more Advent 2: Joy
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesNovember 29, 2020Genesis 15:1-5, 21:1-3©2020 Setting the state at the beginning of worship For Advent, this year, we’re going to look at passages in scripture to help us understand the themes of each week. This week, the theme is hope. In future weeks, it’s joy, love, and peace. Perhaps no one … Read more Advent 1: Hope
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesNovember 22, 2020Psalm 100©2020 Setting the stage: One of my favorite Georgian authors is Ferrol Sams. A physician by trade, he began writing later in his life. I’d read most of his books before moving to Georgia and highly recommend his three-volume memoir. In volume two, which is about his college … Read more Thanksgiving, Joy, & Gratitude
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesNovember 15, 2020Matthew 23:13-38©2020 At the beginning of worship: I warned you last week; we’re spending two weeks in the 23rd Chapter of Matthew. It’s a difficult chapter. Jesus deliverers a pulpit-pounding sermon. In the middle of this sermon are seven woes. For each, Jesus lifts up particular actions of … Read more Woe or Whoa?
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesNovember 8, 2020Matthew 23:1-12 At the beginning of the service: Today we’re moving into the 23rd chapter of Matthew. Some commentators think this is one of the more difficult chapters in Scripture. I’m don’t think that’s true. This text is not that hard for us to understand, but it makes us quite … Read more Matthew 23:1-12
Jeff Garrison Bluemont and Mayberry ChurchesNovember 1, 2020Psalm 110, Matthew 22:41-46 The video above was recorded on Friday, October 30, 2020 and may be a little different from the text below. At the Beginning of Worship We’re going to complete the 22nd Chapter of Matthew’s gospel this morning. Two weeks ago, we began the chapter with … Read more Who is our Savior?
Below is a copy and recording to my sermon for today (the recording was made on Friday, October 23, at Mayberry Church, so it might not be exactly the same as the text). The text is found below the .embedded video. Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesOctober 25, 2020Matthew 22:15-40 At the Beginning of the Service: This … Read more Love God, Love Neighbor