Woodhaven Presbyterian Podcast

Rev. Julie Riley
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
January 3, 2010 - Epiphany Sunday
Matthew 2: 1-20

In the classic bathrobe Christmas pageant, the Wise Men are always the last to arrive.  And any child can tell you that it was because they were the ones who had the furthest to travel and because they had to stop and ask directions.  When the Wise Men make their entrance you know that the pageant has reached its grand finale, you can gather up all your goodies and wake whoever is sleeping on the pew next to you, and get ready for the final “Amen!”

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 An Epiphany Celebration [14:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Dr. John Williams
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
December 27, 2009
Isaiah 9: 2-7; Titus 2: 11-14

It’s Christmas Week.  The first Sunday of Christmas.  I’ve got the microphone.  I’m going to tell you a Christmas story.  There are several reasons that this particular story is one of my favorites.  The story takes place in Wynne Chapel at Austin College.  The heroes of this story are Austin College students like Caleb.  I even play a small role in this story.  And so does Santa Claus.  For nearly twenty years Austin College has hosted something called the Saturday Morning Program.  In this program elementary school children from the neighborhoods around our campus are invited to come to Austin College one Saturday morning every month, to meet some of our students and to participate in games and activities and lessons with them.  For several years the November meeting of the Saturday Morning Program always included a time when the children wrote letters to Santa Claus.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 A Letter to Santa [15:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Michael L. Thompson
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
December 20, 2009 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 2: 1-20, Matthew 2: 1-12

I want to share with you just for a few moments this morning a very familiar question for all of us, one that you’ve heard a hundred, maybe a thousand times: “What is it that you want for Christmas?”  My response to that question would be that I want to be younger.  At least I want to feel more at home in my culture, which is to say I want to feel less estranged and isolated from my surroundings than I do today.

(…Excerpt from podcast)

 

 Scripture Lesson: Luke 2: 1-20 [2:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Scripture Lesson: Matthew 2: 1-12 [2:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Sermon: What Is It That You Want For Christmas? [12:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner
Epiphany Sunday
Isaiah 60: 1-7, 17-18; Matthew 2:1-12

I simply cannot imagine what it must be like to live in Israel or in the Gaza Strip these days.  Rockets exploding in Israeli streets without warning.  Palestinians getting a quick alarm call to gather their kids and get out of the building because another bomb was on its way.  Tanks coming over the border.  Men with guns and masks getting into formation.  Children in both places absolutely traumatized by the never-ending war over religion and land and politics and culture.  I cannot imagine living in “the Holy Land” right now.

(…excerpt from podcast)
 

 

 Standard Podcast [19:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Shannon J. Kershner
December 28, 2008
Luke 2:22-40

Mary and Joseph must have decided early on in her pregnancy that they really wanted to do everything just right.  After all, Jesus’ conception was, well, so unusual would be one way to put it.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Standard Podcast [20:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner
December 14, 2008
Luke 1:26-38

Whenever I get ready to preach on Mary, I enjoy looking at the way artists have painted her throughout the years.  Most of the pictures that I see look similar to the Mary here on our mantle behind the table.  Let’s call this particular viewpoint of Mary, nativity-scene Mary.  Paintings of nativity-scene Mary are usually painted in soft, pastel colors.  Typically, the painting looks dreamy – almost fuzzy in appearance.  Nativity-scene Mary almost always has a covering on her head, part of the robe drawn around her body.  You see a few paintings in which she has an open posture.  But usually, she looks guarded, afraid. 

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Mary [19:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Shannon J. Kershner
Epiphany Sunday
Matt. 2:1-12

I am not one who likes the game Trivial Pursuit. It is because I do not do very well when I play. My mind always freezes over and I lose the ability to think clearly. And you know me—I am competitive enough that repeatedly not doing well at something sours my taste for it. But, I am putting aside my distaste for trivia this morning. I want to begin this sermon by playing a bit of Trivial Pursuit. I have a few questions and I want to see if you know the answers. Perhaps your brain will not freeze over.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Following the Magi [19:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Shannon J. Kershner
1st Sunday after Christmas
Matthew 2:13-23

You won’t find my name written down anywhere. I don’t come up in any of the stories that are told about these strange holy days. I have not seen my side of things written down on any of the scraps of stories that are starting to get compiled together by a few people who say they are inspired to do so.

(…excerpt from podcast)

 

 Leah's Tale [20:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download