Texts: Exodus 15:1b-11; Romans 14:1-12; Mark 11:1-11 (Gary W. Charles, Cove Presbyterian Church, Covesville, VA) Palm Sunday, March 28th, 2021 “It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and ba

Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, March14th, 2021 “It was two days before the festival of Passover.” In one short phrase, Mark ushers us into the madness. What follows happens in rapid fire fashion and no one remains unscarred. Behind closed doors in Jerusalem, religious leaders plot to kill Jesus. This, though, is nothing new. We have known of their plans since early in the Gospel when after Jesus heals a man on the sabbath, “the Pharisees went out and immediately conspired wi

Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, March 7th, 2021 We know nothing about the childhood of the Apostle Paul, but clearly his parents taught him good manners. Most of his letters begin with words of commendation and thanksgiving, words intended to make the recipients smile and feel good about themselves. Not the letter to the Galatians. In this letter, Paul’s manners take a serious nosedive. In the letter to the Galatians, Paul is not in a thankful mood and he is in no mood to com