First Congregational Church

New Testament Reading—2 Corinthians 5: 15-20

(Stage Notes: The diary writer enters the stage with diary and pen in hand.  He sits at a desk facing the audience as he begins to write in his diary.)

Day One

Dear Dairy,

I have a crazy pastor.  In the church newsletter today, he went gaga over Harry Potter. He talked about how Harry’s letter of acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been a life-changing event.  It had been the turning point in Harry’s life.  He had gone from being a miserable, picked on kid to becoming the promised one, the wizard who would save the world from the evil Voldemort.
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New Testament Reading—Luke 9: 1-9

(This sermon is largely adapted from Peter Jenkin’s book A Walk Across America.  Quotation marks indicate direct quotes from the book.)

Hello, my name is Peter Jenkins.  I’m walking across the United States.  I started in upper New York state in October of 1973.  I walked 475 miles to Washington, D.C., and then headed through Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and finally Louisiana. I’m now in New Orleans, and I’m halfway through my journey.  I’ve been on the road now for over two years, and I’d like to share with you the story of my journey thus far.  Perhaps, I should say “our journey” because I’ve been with Cooper, my 95-pound, half-Alaskan Malamute dog.  As you can see, he’s ferocious.

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