Angels Among Us Texts: Genesis 28:12-13; Psalm 103:20-22; Mark 1:13 (Gary W. Charles, Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville, VA, 1-28-2018) As a young man, I thought talk about angels to be rather silly. The more I read Scripture, my views began to morph. Whether angels are in Jacob’s dream, heading up and down on a divine conveyor belt or are the messengers from God who arrive at Sarah and Abraham’s tent and in the field of Palestinian shepherds or are those sent by God to t

Immediately Texts: Jonah 3:1-5; Mark 1:14-20 (Gary W. Charles, Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville, VA, 1-21-2018) Mark’s Gospel can leave you breathless. Jesus steps into the Jordan River, is baptized by John, is thrust into the wilderness by a feisty Spirit of God, is tempted by Satan, is delivered by God’s angels, preaches in Galilee after John is arrested, is followed by four fishers who leave all else behind, heads to Capernaum, goes to synagogue on the Sabbath, heals

Precious Lord Texts: Psalm 139; I Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:5 (Gary W. Charles, Cove Presbyterian Church, 1-14-2018) As a boy, I did not like Psalm 139 (portions found at end of the sermon). I heard it as a threat – that God was some kind of relentless divine watchdog tracking my every step. I already had enough external oversight from two doting parents and a doting grandmother who lived in our home. I did not need or want God as an additional ever-vigilant watchdog

Be It Resolved Texts: Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 (Gary W. Charles, Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville, VA, 1-7-2018) One of the silliest annual traditions I still observe is making New Year’s resolutions. As the clock approaches midnight on December 31, I take one last look at my resolutions for the coming year, lest I forget any. Be it resolved that I will: eat healthier, lose weight, get exercise, read more, watch TV less, be nicer to my family, give more generously, comp