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THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, September 20, 2020 ~ Pentecost 16 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “God Is Unfair” Gospel Lesson: Matthew 20:1-16 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Last week marked my eighth anniversary of your pastor.  Prior to Canton, I was in Cleveland.  Prior to Cleveland, I was in Kansas City.  I’llContinue reading “Sermon: Sept. 20, 2020”

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, September 13, 2020 ~ Pentecost 15 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “Let Mercy Lead” Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:21-35 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Today’s readings from Romans and Matthew speak of judgment and mercy.  There are many ways to think about these concepts.  Let’s take judgment, for example. Continue reading “Sermon: Sept. 13, 2020”

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, September 6, 2020 ~ Pentecost 14 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “Restorative Dialogue” Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:15-20 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  The closing line from today’s Gospel lesson.  We often take thisContinue reading “Sermon: Sept. 6, 2020”

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, August 30, 2020 ~ Pentecost 13 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “The Experience of God” Hebrew Lesson: Exodus 3:1-15 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio One day when George W. Bush was President, Air Force One was flying over a desert.  They saw a man with a staff dressedContinue reading “Sermon: August 30, 2020”

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, August 23, 2020 ~ Pentecost 12 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “Who Do You Say That He Is?” Gospel Lesson: Matthew 16:13-20 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio The late Christian singer-songwriter Rich Mullins used to say that he loved the Bible, but not for the reasons that mostContinue reading “Sermon: August 23, 2020”

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, August 14, 2020 ~ Pentecost 11 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon Title: “The Universality of God” Epistle Lesson: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Religion is a strange, universal phenomenon.  Throughout history, it has given people hope in times of doubt, fear, and grief.  It has helped explainedContinue reading “Sermon: August 14, 2020”

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, July 26, 2020 ~ Pentecost 8 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon: “Wishing for Wisdom” Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12 & 1 Cor. 4:8-13 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Many cultures have folktales about finding a lantern, rubbing it, and having a genie pop out.  The genie grants the lucky finder threeContinue reading “Sermon: July 26, 2020”

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, July 19, 2020 ~ Pentecost 7 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon: “Stewards of Creation” Scripture Readings: Romans 8:12-25 and Revelation 22:1-5 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Of all the social and political controversies that surround us in twenty-first century America, the one that staggers me the most is the environmentalContinue reading “Sermon: July 19, 2020”

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, July 12, 2020 ~ Pentecost 6 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon: “Sow the Word” Gospel Lesson: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio Prof. Ellis Fowler.  He is one of my favorite people.  He is not a former professor of mine.  He is a fictitious character.  He appears inContinue reading “Sermon: July 12, 2020”

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON Sunday, July 5, 2020 ~ Pentecost 7 Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor Sermon: “Word and Sacrament, Grace and Mission” Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 © 2020, Dr. Tamilio We, as a congregation, have not celebrated Holy Communion since March 1st.  That was four months ago!  I think I can speak forContinue reading “Sermon on Word and Sacrament: July 5, 2020”