First Presbyterian Church

Sermon Archives of the Reverend Dr. David H. Green

As of September 2011, the Reverend Dr.

David H. Green has a new website featuring podcasts of his sermons at http://DavidHGreen.com

Easter Reflections

by Rev. David Green on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 4:50 p.m.

I was asked by Rick Cousins, a writer for the local newspaper, to send a few words about the Celebration of Easter. Here's what I wrote:

Easter is more than a great celebration in the life of the church. Easter is the celebration that distinguishes Christians from believers of any other faith tradition.

Christians do more than celebrate Easter as an event that took place in the past. The truest celebration demands that this event continues even today to shape the lives of Christians and of Christian congregations. In the years that I’ve lived in Galveston, I have seen this happen, time and time again, in the life of the First Presbyterian Church.

Like much of Galveston, our congregation was displaced by Hurricane Ike. For well over a year we conducted our Sunday morning worship services at other locations; at the First Presbyterian Church in Dickinson (3 months) and at the Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church (13 months). We remember well that our friends generously rearranged their Sunday morning schedule to allow our congregation the use of their Sanctuary every Sunday morning. We continue to be grateful to them and for their generosity.

About six months after the storm, the members of our congregation longed to worship at our church home – if only for one morning. In April 2009 we met in our Chapel Garden to celebrate Easter at least near our church home. We enjoyed the opportunity to be near or even to touch the walls of our sanctuary – not because they are some kind of relic or idol with power in themselves (they are not). We did this because we longed to be home.

On that morning we were surrounded by the thick springtime humidity and the droning hum of diesel generators. These were constant reminders of our tropical environs and the loss that we all suffered. The worship service was not focused on what we had lost, but on what we had. We still had a congregation that was living, loving and vibrant in every way. We still had a God who was with us. We still had the ability to say in words “He is risen” and to live these words in our lives.

Like others, we all suffered loss and were impacted by other uncertainties as well. But in what was for many the moment of their greatest grief and the height of life’s uncertainty, they chose to trust in God’s ability to provide for their needs.

As the minister of the church, I was both awed and honored to watch our church family as they gave more, worked more, loved more and trusted in God more than anyone could have expected. Why would they do such things? How could they?

I believe the First Presbyterian Church of Galveston to be a congregation that continues to live-out the great Easter message. This year we are unable to have a sunrise service. The Chapel Garden is now a staging-area for the ongoing repairs to our historic Sanctuary. This Easter morning we will meet at 11:00 a.m., as we do each Sunday, in our McCullough Hall (1903 Church Street).

On Sunday morning we will say the words, “He is risen, He is risen indeed.” Then, on Monday, we will continue to do our best to live these words wherever you may meet us. Easter really is more than a great celebration in the life of the church.

David H. Green, Minister, First Presbyterian Church of Galveston

Easter 2011

The First Presbyterian Church of Galveston is pleased to announce that the hurricane-related repairs to the historic sanctuary are nearing completion. The church plans to return worship services to the sanctuary (19th at Church Streets) on Sunday, May 22, at 11:00 a.m. The community is invited to celebrate with the congregation on this very special occasion. The congregation is planning to celebrate the restoration of the Sanctuary with other community-wide events in the Fall of 2011.

Note: the most recent sermons are on the website http://DavidHGreen.com

Sermons in order chronologically by series

2010 Sermons, chronological (all in mp3 audio) :

Epiphany-Easter :

January 3, 2010 New Sights to Behold

January 10, 2010 Brace for Impact

January 17, 2010 Crime and Punishment

January 24, 2010 Shared Good

January 31, 2010 Shared Membership

February 7, 2010 Shared Responsibilities

February 14, 2010 Standing Together

February 21, 2010 The Breath of God

February 28, 2010 [sermon not recorded]

March 7, 2010 Travel Tips: Be Kind to Others

March 14, 2010 Travel Tips: Ask for Directions

March 21, 2010 Travel Tips: Wait Your Turn

March 28, 2010 Travel Tips: Welcome the Visitor

April 1, 2010 (Maundy Thursday) Travel Tips: Stay Together

April 4, 2010 (Easter) Travel Tips: Tell the Story

Spring (post-Easter):

April 11, 2010 Faith and Doubt

April 18, 2010 The Numbers John 21

April 25, 2010 The Following John 21

May 2, 2010 The Days Ahead Jeremiah 23

May 9, 2010 Family Honor Exodus 20

May 16, 2010 Waiting, Watching & Waiting Some More Lamentations 3

May 23, 2010 (Pentecost) The Big Deal Psalm 104

May 30, 2010 A Lasting Memorial Proverbs 8

Galatians series:

June 6, 2010 [guest pastor; no recording]

June 13, 2010 The Gospel of God Galatians 1

June 20, 2010 A Gospel of Grace Galatians 2

June 27, 2010 The Gospel of Freedom Galatians 5

July 4, 2010 God's People & the Gospel Galatians 6

Summer

July 11, 2010 Conspiracy Theories Psalm 1

July 18, 2010 [guest pastor; no recording]

July 25, 2010 The (Not-So) Easy Choices Psalm 2

August 1, 2010 Here and There Colossians 3

August 8, 2010 [guest pastor; no recording]

Amos series:

August 15, 2010 Self-Inflicted Foolishness Amos 1

August 22, 2010 Self-Righteousness Amos 2

August 29, 2010 Self-Identity Amos 3

* * *

2009 Sermons, chronological (all in mp3 audio):

11:00 a.m. services at First Presbyterian

Advent-Christmas Series:

November 29, 2009 [sermon not recorded]

1st Sunday of Advent

December 6, 2009 Christmas Gifts: Messengers

2nd Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2009 Christmas Gifts: Parties

3rd Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2009 Christmas Gifts: From Pieces to Peace

4th Sunday of Advent

December 24, 2009, 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 27, 2009 Christmas Gifts: Christmas Music

* * *

Pre-Ike (2008) Sermon Archives, chronological:

2008 Sermons (all mp3 audio format)

Jonah Series:

January 6, 2008 Following God 8:45 a.m.

January 13, 2008 Praying to God 11:00 a.m.

January 20, 2008 Running to Repentance 11:00 a.m.

Lenten Series:

February 10, 2008 Jesus: A Man Among Men 11:00 a.m.

February 17, 2008 Jesus: The Teacher 11:00 a.m.

February 24, 2008 Jesus: The Stranger Among 11:00 a.m.

March 2, 2008 Jesus: The One Who Sees 11:00 a.m.

March 9, 2008

Jesus: More Than an Ounce of Prevention 11:00 a.m.

March 16, 2008 (Palm Sunday) Jesus: Inspected and Rejected

Easter Series:

March 23, 2008 (Easter) Resurrection of Hope 11:00 a.m.

March 30, 2008 Resurrection of Security 11:00 a.m.

April 6 , 2008 Resurrection of Vision 8:45 a.m.

April 13, 2008 Resurrection of Abundant Life 11:00 a.m.

April 20, 2008 Resurrection of Peace 11:00 a.m.

April 27, 2008 - Youth Sunday [not available]

May 4, 2008 Waiting... 8:45 a.m.

May 11, 2008 Work of God - Speaking 11:00 a.m.

May 18, 2008 Work of God - Community 11:00 a.m.

May 25, 2008 Work of God - Comfort 11:00 a.m.

* * *

2007 Sermons:

Late Spring (all .pdf text files):

May 27 Child-Like Ways

May 20 Believe

June 3 Wisdom

June 10 Cognitive Dissonance

Mid-Summer , 11:00 a.m. service (all mp3 format unless otherwise noted):

July 29, 2007 The Good News

August 5, 2007 Grace and Gratitude

August 12, 2007 The Gospel and the Law

August 19, 2007 Freedom to Follow

August 26, 2007 The Danger of Good Intentions

September 2, 2007 Truth and Consequences

Autumn 2007 (all in mp3 audio format):

Three Lessons from Philemon , 11:00 a.m. service (all in mp3 audio format):

September 9, 2007 Faith

September 16, 2007 Family

September 23, 2007 Forgiveness

September 30, 2007 A Poor Man

October 7, 2007 Beyond Broken Bread

November 18, 2007 Thanksgiving Remarks

These Thanksgiving Remarks by Rev. David H. Green were delivered at Saint Patrick's (Catholic) Church as part of Galveston’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service. This event is sponsored annually by the Galveston Ministerial Association and welcomes participants of several faiths, including Jewish, Muslim and Christian (Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian).

Jeremiah Series, 11:00 a.m. service unless otherwise noted:

October 14, 2007 Before and After

October 21, 2007 Shattered Lives 8:45 a.m.

October 28, 2007 Appropriate Stubbornnes

November 4, 2007 The Many Forms of "No"

November 11, 2007 [Dr. Harold Vanderpool; sermon not available]

November 18, 2007 The Myth About the Mud

November 25, 2007 Inevitable Change

Advent & Christmas (all mp3 audio):

December 2, 2007 [sermon not available]

1st Sunday of Advent

December 9, 2007 - New Deal Politics 11:00 a.m.