Voices from Church and Trade

Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis F. Galloway on November 30, 2025, and rooted in Matthew 3:1–12 and Mark 13:24–37, this Advent sermon explores the mystery of time—the difference between the hours that govern our days and God's "eternal now" that breaks into our ordinary lives. Through the voices of John the Baptist and Jesus' call to watch and stay awake, we're invited to prepare our hearts, embody the fruits of the Spirit, and look for the moments when God's time interrupts our own. A reflection on hope, transformation, and the sacred work we do while we wait for Christ to come again.

In this compelling message, Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon invites us into a powerful call to live out genuine Christian love in our everyday encounters. Drawing from Scripture, Hebrews 113:1-5, he explores what it truly means to treat folk right—not merely with politeness, but with dignity, compassion, and radical grace. He challenges us to consider how we respond to those on the margins, how we handle conflict, and how we reflect the character of Jesus in our relationships. Whether with longtime friends or people we barely know, the way we treat "the other" becomes a gospel witness. Using the simple but profound framework of A-C-T, he invites us to consider what faithful living looks like in real time: Acceptance — seeing every person as created in God's image, without condition or exclusion Compassion — responding to human need not with judgment, but with presence, empathy, and shared humanity Testimony — allowing our lives to speak, becoming living witnesses to the love of Christ in the world With warmth, humor, and pastoral wisdom, Rev. Cannon challenges us to move beyond good intentions and practice a faith that shows up—at home, in the church, and in the community. This message calls us not only to believe differently, but to live differently. Listen and be encouraged to ACT with courage, kindness, and Christ-shaped love. And yes—he manages to connect The Beverly Hillbillies to the gospel, reminding us that hospitality doesn't have to be fancy to be holy.

Sermon preached by Rev. Alice Ridgill on November 16, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is John 4:4-18, 27-30, 39-42.  

Sermon preached by Rev. Lucy Crain on November 9, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is 1 Samuel 16 (selected verses).

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on November 2, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Revelation 7:9-17.

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on October 26, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Acts 4:32-37.

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on October 19, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Mark 5:21-43.

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on October 12, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Hebrews 11-12:3 (selected verses).

Sermon preached by Rev. Keith Grogg on October 5, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is 2 Timothy 1:1-14.

Sermon preached by Rev. Lucy Baum on September 28, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is John 15: 1-12

Sermon preached by Rev. Chuck Williamson on September 21, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Luke 15:1-2.

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on September 14, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Mark 2:1-12.

Sermon preached by Rev. Lewis Galloway on September 7, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Mark 12:28-31.

Sermon preached by Rev. Mary Bowman on August 31, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is 1 Samuel 16:1-13. This sermon is part of the series, I've Always Wondered - Kids' Questions of Faith

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on August 24, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Job 38 (various), 42:1-6. This sermon is part of the series, I've Always Wondered - Kids' Questions of Faith.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on August 17, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Genesis 4:1-16. This sermon is part of the series, I've Always Wondered - Kids' Questions of Faith.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on August 10, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Psalm 119 (various). This sermon is part of the series, I've Always Wondered - Kids' Questions of Faith.

Sermon preached by Rev. Mary Bowman on August 3, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Genesis 1:26-31. This sermon is part of the series, I've Always Wondered.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on July 27, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Acts 16:6-15 . This sermon is part of the series, Her Perspective.

Sermon preached by Rev. Lucy Crain on July 20, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Esther 4: 1-17 . This sermon is part of the series, Her Perspective.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on July 13, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-17. This sermon is part of the series, Her Perspective.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on July 6, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Ruth 1:1-1. This sermon is part of the series, Her Perspective.

Sermon preached by Rev. Chuck Williamson on June 2, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Matthew 22:1-14. This sermon is part of the series, The Parables of Jesus..

Sermon preached by Rev. Lucy Crain on June 22, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Matthew 13:1-15. This sermon is part of the series, The Parables of Jesus.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on June 15, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture for this sermon is Luke 18:9-14. This sermon is part of the series, The Parables of Jesus.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on June 8, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture passage for this sermon is Matthew 25:1-13.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on June 8, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture passage for this sermon is Matthew 25:1-13.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Chuck Williamson on May 25, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is Revelation 21:1-4; 21:22-22:5.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Lucy Crain on May 18, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture passage for this sermon is John 21:1-14.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on May 11, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture passage for this sermon is John 21:15-19.

Sermon preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on May 4, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is Luke 24:13-25.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on April 27, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is John 20:19-31.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on April 13, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is Luke 19:28-40.

  This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on April 6, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for the sermon is John 12:1-8.  

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on March 30, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for the sermon is Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32 (Prodigal).

  This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on March 23, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for the sermon is  Luke 13:1-9.  

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on March 16, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for the sermon is Luke 13:31-35.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on March 2 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is Mark 9:2-9.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery on February 23, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. This is the final sermon in the series "Living Your Okayest Life." The Scripture for this sermon is Jeremiah 1:4-10.

Sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Chuck Williamson at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on February 16, 2025. The Scripture for this sermon is Acts 9:1-6. 

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on February 9, 2025. The Scripture for this sermon is 1 Kings 19:1-16.

Sermon preached by Rev. Pen Peery at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on February 2, 2025. 

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on January 26, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture for this sermon is LUke 9:57-62.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on January 19, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The Scripture passage for this sermon is Matthew 4:18-25.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Anna Dickson on January 12, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.  The Scripture passage for this sermon is John 1:35-51.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on January 5, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.  The Scripture passage for this sermon is Matthew 2:1-12. 

This sermon was preached by Rev. Lucy Crain on December 29, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. 

This sermon was preached by Rev. Pen Peery on December 15, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.