5-23-2021 Pentecost “Speaking the Same Language” (Acts 2:1-21)

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor There are two types of “tongues” in this seminal story from the Book of Acts, the story about Pentecost: tongues of fire that appear over the heads of those gathered in Jerusalem that day, and then those gathered began speaking in tongues.  All of this was due to the power […]

5-9-2021 “Like a Mother” Sixth Sunday of Easter

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Jesus referred to God as Father.  Actually, the word he used was Abba, which, translated into English from the originally Aramaic is a more intimate word.  It is more akin to our word “Daddy” as opposed to “Father.” Why do I bring this up on Mother’s […]

4-25-2021 “Reading with Our Hearts and Our Minds” Acts 4:5-12

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio I subscribe to different online and print resources that are all about church growth and evangelism.  Recently, one of them mentioned how churches that are growing have a strong social media and internet presence.  For better or worse, this is what all institutions need to do in this […]

4-18-2021 “Plumbing the Spirit” Romans 8:5-13

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor  © 2021, Dr. Tamilio I am getting ready for my sabbatical.  It starts in a month and a half and will last throughout the summer months.  This is my first sabbatical since I was ordained in 1999, because I have never stayed in a church long enough to get one.  […]

4-11-2021 Second Sunday of Easter “A World of Thomases” John 20:19-31

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio              Poor Thomas.  He will be remembered all his life as a doubter, just because he asked a question that many of us would have asked in his situation.  Diana Butler Bass — reflecting on the fact that this famous resurrection story featuring Thomas is read […]

4-4-2021 Easter Sunday “Beyond Surviving Death” 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor  © 2021, Dr. Tamilio There is a series on Netflix right now entitled Surviving Death.  It is actually a six-part documentary that examines life after death by journalist Leslie Kean.  Kean is also a medium, but she approaches this phenomenon quite objectively.  The documentary includes the work of scholars at […]

3-28-2021 “Join the Parade” Matthew 21:1-11

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor  © 2021, Dr. Tamilio Palm Sunday.  The day that Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly.  Every year, one week before Easter, we celebrate this event — the day that Jesus was proclaimed by throngs of people as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.  Each year, when we commemorate this […]

3-21-2021 “Original Sin” Psalm 51:1-12

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio You could do a lot worse than the Book of Psalms as a resource for Lenten reflections.  The Psalms offer words of praise as well as lament, words of thanksgiving as well as pleas for mercy.  There is a reason why people love the 23rd Psalm […]

3-14-2021 “God So Loved the World” John 3:14-21

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor © 2021, Dr. Tamilio If you were to make a list of the Bible verses people have memorized the most, John 3:16 would be in the top three, if it wasn’t number one.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not […]