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Sermons and Special Music
from services during pastorate of Ralph Wrightstone
From Bethel UMC Services of
January 1, 2023 thru December 31, 2023
Click on the symbol to begin playing an audio recording.

January 2023
01 - New Year's Day
...... (01:22) - Introduction
...... (01:27) - Text . Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23
...... (17:40) - Message: "What Do You Fear Most?"
08 - 1st Sunday after Epiphany
Pastor Ralph and Judy are out of town this weekend. Lay Leader Tina Oaks is bringing the message today.
...... (20:26) - Message: "A New Year, A New Heart"
...... (03:43) - Closing Remarks
...... (06:57) - Special Music: "Jesus the Light of the World", sung by Travis before the message
15 - 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
...... (04:31) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "John 1:29-42"
...... (00:23) - Text . A Cornerstone Scripture: "Isaiah 28:16"
...... (19:31) - Message: "A Cornerstone"
22 - 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
...... (03:14) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "Matthew 4:12-25"
...... (20:53) - Message: "By the Sea"
...... (00:38) - Closing Prayer
29 - 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Pastor Ralph refers to a previous series of sermons on "Hurts, Hangups and Habits" also based upon "The Beatitudes". Click here to find that series.
...... (03:29) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "Matthew 5:1-12"
...... (18:31) - Message: "Happiness"
...... (00:25) - Closing Prayer

February 2023
05 - 5th Sunday after Epiphany
...... (03:23) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "Matthew 5:13-20"
...... (04:47) - Text . Comments and Scripture: "Revelation 21:9-23"
...... (20:19) - Message: "Salt and Light"
...... (01:04) - Closing Remarks
12 - 6th Sunday after Epiphany
...... (06:00) - Text . Message Scripture: "Matthew 5:21:37"
...... (23:03) - Message: "Reconciliation"
(There was an interruption at about 09:35 into the message at which time it was necessary to change microphones...as the message continues there will be a change in the volume and tone of the recording.)
19 - Transfiguration Sunday
...... (03:13) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "Matthew 17:1-13"
...... (21:57) - Message: "Are You Afraid...of the Dark?"
...... (01:49) - Closing Remarks and prayer
26 - 1st Sunday of Lent
...... (02:33) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "Matthew 4:1-11"
...... (21:13) - Message: "Protect Your Spirit"
...... (00:58) - Presenting "Tempt- Proof" Certificates

March 2023
05 - 2nd Sunday of Lent
...... (05:19) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "John 3:1-17"
...... (21:13) - Message: "Born of the Spirit"
12 - 3rd Sunday of Lent
...... (7:35) - Text . Message Introduction and Scripture: "John 4:5- 42"
...... (21:48) - Message: "A Real Well?"
19 - 4th Sunday of Lent
...... (03:14) - Text . Introduction and Message Scripture part 1 - "John 9:1-34"
...... (01:45) - Text . Message Scripture part 2 - "John 9:35-41"
...... (24:22) - Message: "The Mud Room"
...... (00:58) - Message: Closing Remarks
26 - 5th Sunday of Lent
...... (02:22) - Text . Introduction and synopsis of Scripture - "John 11:1-45"
...... (01:13) - Reading of Scripture part 2 - "John 11:21-29"
...... (16:05) - Message: "When Time Stands Still"

April 2023
02 - Palm Sunday
...... (02:05) - Text . Scripture - "Matthew 21:1-11"
...... (12:05) - Message: "Flash Mobs"
09 - Easter Sunday
...... (01:52) - Introduction
...... (02:26) - Text . Scripture - "Matthew 28:1-10"
...... (03:36) - Special: "Then Came the Morning, Travis and Tricia
...... (13:54) - Message: "A Powerful Stone"
...... (05:30) - Another Message: The Resurrection Change
...... (02:42) - Conclusion
16 - Second Sunday of Easter
...... (03:18) - Text . Scripture - John 20:19-31
...... (01:54) - Commentary from the Bible
...... (14:58) - Message: "If You See it, Do You Believe it?"
...... (02:00) - Conclusion
...... (04:39) - Special: "I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand"
...... In this Travis expressed the need for and the very real presence of God in our lives
23 - Third Sunday of Easter
...... (04:29) - Introduction (some "dessert" before the "meat")
...... (03:51) - Text . Scripture - Luke 24:13-35
...... (17:02) - Message: "Broken"
...... (04:03) - Special: "Because He Lives", sung by Judy and Travis
30 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
...... (02:18) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - John 10:1-10
...... (01:20) - Commentary on the reading
...... (20:53) - Message: "Shut the Back Door!"

May 2023
07 - Fifth Sunday of Easter
...... (03:17) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - John 14:1-14
...... (16:16) - Message: "The Way"
...... (01:51) - Closing Remarks
28 - Pentecost, Memorial Sunday
...... (02:48) - A "Spirited" Song for Pentecost
...... (04:45) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Acts 2:1-21
...... (20:08) - Message: "Go With the Flow"
...... (01:54) - Closing Prayer
21 - Seventh Sunday of Easter
...... (03:58) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - John 17:1-12; The Prayer of Jesus
...... (17:33) - Message: "The Fire of Life"
...... (00:52) - Closing Remarks
14 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
This Mother's Day/Heritage Sunday service was held at Bethel Pond so these recordings were made for the online service on the same topic.
...... (01:34) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - John 14:15-21
...... (12:27) - Message: "Invincible"

June 2023
04 - Trinity Sunday
...... (01:42) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Matthew 28:16-20
...... (22:14) - Message: "Go Make Followers of Jesus"
11 - Second Sunday after Pentecost
The church message on this day was not recorded. This message on the same topic was prepared for the online service
...... (02:54) - Text . Scripture - Matthew 9:9-13,18-26
...... (16:27) - Message: "On the Fringe"
18 - Third Sunday after Pentecost
...... (00:52) - Introduction
...... (01:29) - Text . Scripture - Matthew 9:35-38, The Need for Workers
...... (03:20) - Text . Scripture - Matthew 10:5-23, Instructions for the Disciples
...... (22:51) - Message: "Herding Cats"
25 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
...... (03:04) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Matthew 10:24-39
...... (16:31) - Message: "Fork in the Road" (...wait for it...)
...... (00:30) - Closing Words

July 2023
02 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (1st sermon of series)
...... (01:42) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Matthew 1:1-5
...... (27:07) - Message: "Come Holy Spirit"
09 - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (2nd sermon of series)
...... (02:26) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Acts 1:1-11
...... (30:09) - Message: "The Holy Spirit"
...... (00:27) - Next Week
16 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (3rd sermon of series)
...... (02:37) - Text . Scripture and commentary - John 14:15-21
...... (23:49) - Message: "Holy Spirit School"
...... (00:55) - Closing Prayer
23 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (4th sermon of series)
...... (01:37) - Text . Comments and Scripture - Acts 10:(21-43),44-48
...... (26:32) - Message: "The Desert Places"
...... (01:24) - Text . Closing Prayer
30 - Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (5th sermon of series)
...... (02:09) - Text . Comments and Scripture - Luke 14:1-13
...... (31:09) - Message: "Unleashing the Power
...... (01:36) - Text . Closing Prayer

August 2023
06 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (in a "recess" to the Holy Spirit School, Bethel's Lay Leader, Tina Oaks, brings the message today.)
...... (01:51) - An Introductory Story
...... (02:13) - Text . Scripture - Matthew 18:21-35
...... (17:19) - Message: "Will You Forgive?"
...... (01:14) - Closing Prayer
13 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (6th sermon of a series)
...... (01:09) - re-Introduction to the "Holy Spirit School" series
...... (02:46) - Text . Scripture - Psalm 51
...... (30:15) - Message: "The Desert Places, Part II"
...... (00:37) - Closing Prayer
For the three Sundays from Aug 20-Sept 3, there were no online services and the church services were not recorded. Pastor Ralph did make recordings of his sermon, as he normally does for the online service, and sent copies to those who receive notices about the weekly services. Those recordings were used for the next three entries of this page of sermons so that there will be no gaps in the ongoing Holy Spirit School series of sermons.
20 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (7th sermon of a series)
...... (16:36) - Message: "Unleashing the Power of the Holy Spirit"
...... (09:19) - "Some Travel Tips"
...... (00:51) - Closing Prayer
27 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (8th sermon of a series)
...... (26:33) - Message: "Clothed with Power"
...... (00:40) - Closing Remarks

September 2023
03 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (9th sermon of a series)
...... (24:45) - Message: "Challenging Corruption"
...... (01:03) - Closing Prayer
10 - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (10th sermon of a series)
...... (01:39) - Text . Intro and Scripture - John 16:25-33
...... (26:25) - Message: "Life in the Spirit"
...... (01:30) - Closing Prayer
17 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (11th sermon of a series)
...... (02:27) - Text . Scripture - John 3:1-17
...... (22:52) - Message: "Born in the Spirit"
...... (01:16) - Closing Prayer
24 - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (12th sermon of a series)
...... (02:30) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Galatians 5:16-26
...... (19:27) - Message: "Life in the Spirit, Part 2"
...... (00:39) - Closing Remarks and Prayer

October 2023
01 - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (13th sermon of a series)
...... (02:10) - Text . Message Scripture - Galatians 5:16-26
...... (29:55) - Message: "Assertive Posture"
...... (01:33) - Closing Prayer
08 - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (14th sermon of a series)
...... (01:26) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Philippians 4:4-9
...... (21:34) - Message: "Knowledge of and Experiencing God"
...... (03:06) - Closing Prayer
15 - Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (15th sermon of a series)
...... (01:34) - Text . Scripture - John 16:5-15
...... (16:05) - Message: "Our Helper"
...... (02:19) - A Prayer of Invitation
22 - Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (16th sermon of a series)
...... (03:49) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Revelation 1:1-11
...... (30:14) - Message: "Invitation to Spirit Baptism"
...... (00:26) - Next Week
29 - Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost (17th and concluding sermon of a series)
...... Conclusion of the Holy Spirit School
...... (01:10) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Acts 2:1-4
...... (25:31) - Message: "Baptism in the Holy Spirit"
At the end of the sermon pastor Wrightstone introduces four "Prayers for Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit"
...... (02:06) - Introduction to the 4 Prayers
...... (04:37) - Text . The four Prayers for Baptism in the Spirit

November 2023
05 - Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
...... All Saints Sunday
...... (02:46) - Text . Introduction and Scripture - Matthew 23:1-15
...... (15:55) - Message: "Confronting Hypocrisy with Humility"
...... (03:35) - Celebrating "All Saints"
...... (05:13) - Conclusion of Message
12 - Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
...... (02:02) - Text . Message Scripture - Matthew 25:1-13
...... (21:42) - Message: "Are You Soaked in the Holy Spirit?"
...... (04:29) - Closing Remarks about prayer language
19 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
...... Thanksgiving Sunday
...... (03:01) - Text . Message Scripture - Matthew 25:14-30
...... (the scripture is being read today by Joann George)
...... (02:06) - Commentary on the Scripture
...... (25:46) - Message: "Commitment Without Fear"
...... (00:20) - Closing Prayer
26 - Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
On this sunday between Thanksgiving and Advent, the message deals with the meaning of Thanksgiving. Both church and online services include a Chrismon Service in preparation for the new year.
...... (02:41) - Text . Message Scripture - Matthew 25:31-46
...... (09:32) - Message: "Going,Going,Gone!"
...... (00:26) - Closing Remarks

December 2023
03 - First Sunday of Advent
...... (04:53) - Text . Message Scripture - Mark 13:21-37
...... (15:11) - Message: "Are You Ready?"
...... (00:38) - Closing Prayer
10 - Second Sunday of Advent
...... (02:23) - Text . Message Scripture - Mark 1:1-8
...... (15:49) - Message: "It's a Heart Thing"
...... (00:27) - Closing Prayer
17 - Third Sunday of Advent
...... (02:34) - Text . Message Scripture - John 1:6-9,19-28
...... (18:43) - Message: "Fear of Dark or Light?"
...... (03:15) - Closing Remarks and Prayer
24 - Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve
Morning Message
...... (02:19) - Text . Message Scripture - Luke 1:26-38
...... (16:59) - . Message: "Wrapped in a Cloud"
Christmas Eve Message
...... (01:32) - Text . Message Scripture - Matthew 4:12-17
...... (11:51) - Message: "A Great Light"
31 - First Sunday After Chistmas and New Year's Eve
Bethel Lay leader Tina Oaks speaks today while pastor Ralph and Judy are away for a few days
...... (15:00) - Message: "A (Year-End) Attitude Adjustment"
...... (02:33) - Some Holy Humor (for pastor Ralph)
...... (09:33) - Continuing "An Attitude Adjustment"
...... (01:00) - Closing Prayer

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