Wellshire Presbyterian Church Sermon Archive

In her farewell sermon at Wellshire before retiring, the Rev. Dr. Pattie Kitchen discusses how in a season of glorious silver bells, God beckons us, tarnished and all, to a dusty manger So, come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed (Iona). Referencing Leonard Cohen's 1984 song Hallelujah, Dr. Kitchen expounds on how in world history and in our pews today, we're surrounded by broken halleljuahs God meets us at the manger of our baby Savior, where our brokenness can become a life-changing hallelujah.

In light of the shootings in Connecticut on Friday, in this sermon Dr. Bell addresses good and evil.

In this Advent sermon, Dr. Bell compares the Christian life to a journey or pilgrimage. The concept of repentance is also discussed in terms of losing one's way on the journey.

This communion meditation is based on Psalm 114. This Psalm is commonly used in worship, but is one of the lesser known Psalms. Dr. Bell defines its use and general significance before expositing the text.

In this sermon, Dr. Bell discusses our covenant relationship with God. First, he makes a strong case for Gods covenantal faithfulness before enumerating the benefits to us.

'The Widows Mite' is a sermon based on the story with the same title found Mark 1238-44. In this sermon, Dr. Bell challenges the congregation to make giving a priority in their lives, suggesting that God is experienced through charity.

Death, Be Not Proud is a sermon appropriate for All Saints Day. Based on the story of Lazarus rise from the tomb, this sermon features Dr. Bell speaking about the power of Christ.

Visionaries who dare to imagine a new way of thinking, believing... and even flying? Martin Luther (in 1517) and the Wright brothers (in 1903) had revolutionary convictions that changed the world, for good. Reformation Sunday gave us a chance to ponder their boldness -- and to consider our own dreams of a more civil and compassionate world.

This sermon is about the justice of God. Preached on Wellshires observance of The Children Sabbath, Dr. Bell addresses the recent acts of violence against young people in the Denver metro area while issuing a broader concern for the well-being of all of Gods children.

Jesus tells us that it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God but then tells us that with God all things are possible -- because God can change us in ways that allow us to let go of, and be generous with, all we have.

This brief communion meditation focuses on Jesus call for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as little children. Dr. Bell compares communion to the childrens table that his grandmother established and a childrens tea party.

After talking a bit about the importance of Blessing the Animals, Dr. Bell speaks about the danger of faith healers and charlatans who misuse this text on James about prayer. He emphasizes that healing is God's action and not within human control.

Jumping off the lectionary reading from James, Dr. Bell offers a rare sermon on the subject on ambition. Worldly wisdom can lead to bitter envy and selfish ambition, but heavenly wisdom leads to good things in life.

This sermon, preached by the Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall, is about the importance of baptism in the confrontation of evil.

In True Faith, Dr. Bell shares general comments about the Book of James before turning to the sermon text on the importance of impartiality.

The Book of James is often used as an introduction to Christian living for both new and long-time believers, youth and adults alike. How do we become doers of the Word and not hearers only by bridling our words with the wisdom of what is true, kind, and necessary?

This relevant sermon begins with a discussion about the nature of evil and stresses the importance of putting on the whole armor of God. Dr. Bell speaks about the futility of guns as a solution to evil.

In her sermon Creeping Separateness, the Rev. Dr. Pattie Kitchen briefly revisits the passionate text of Revelation and wrestles with the concept of difficult love and anemic love -- spiritual and human. Robert Munsch's Love You Forever, a book treasured by parents and children alike, provides a springboard for the sermon.

Countless times in Seuss and Scripture, we are admonished to stop being stubborn and LISTEN. In listening, we find ways to get un-budged in our tracks and step sideways, unlike... The Zax.

This is Dr. Bells last sermon in the Seuss series, which ends next Sunday with The Zax. This sermon begins with a general reflection of the work of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) before focusing on the vexing figure of The Grinch. Dr. Bell talks about the Grinchs transformation and the character strength of The Whos.