Advent 4 21 December 2025 Vineville Baptist Church Macon, Georgia Gregory Pope THE COURAGE TO EMBRACE JOY  Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. Psalm 126. Philippians 4.4. Luke 1.46b-55 In her poem “Don’t Hesitate,” Mary Oliver counsels us with these words: If you suddenly and...

Advent 2 Hanging of the Green 7 December 2025 Vineville Baptist Church Macon, Georgia W. Gregory Pope WHEN GOD COMES NEAR Isaiah 58:6-14. Mark 1:1-15. Philippians 4.5 Nestled quietly inside Paul’s letter to the Philippians between the call to joy and the path to peace...

Advent 1 30 November 2025 Vineville Baptist Church Macon, Georgia W. Gregory Pope THE PEACE IN WILD THINGS Isaiah 40:1-11. Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13. Philippians 4.4-7. John 14.27 When you hear the word “Peace” what images enter your mind? Do you hear the voice of a...

Pentecost 24 Holy Humor Sunday 16 November 2025 Vineville Baptist Church Macon, Georgia Gregory Pope THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER  Psalm 126. Proverbs 17.22. Ecclesiastes 3.4. Luke 6:21b.        Going back to the early centuries of the church, on a Sunday after Easter, Greek...

All Saints Sunday 2 November 2025 Vineville Baptist Church Macon, Georgia Gregory Pope THE GOLDEN STITCHES OF OUR GRIEF  Psalm 116. John 11.17-27        Last Sunday would have been my mother’s 81st birthday and my parents’ 63rd anniversary. However in August of 2020...