Light in the Valley

The sermons in this collection, with only a few exceptions, were developed and delivered in the years I served as primary caregiver for my wife Janie, who suffered a disabling stroke in January 2017. At that time I had been retired from full-time ministry only three years. Janie was welcomed into the heavenly choir on October 8, 2022. Until that time, she was invariably my first "audience" for preaching, though never once offering a single criticism. I like to think she still listens to my sermons, and I continue sharing them with her. These messages were offered against the backdrop of the realities of life with her during her poor health, and life after her passing. The reader may notice frequent references to our biblical hope. That has sustained me through many dark hours.

No attempt has been made to update the sermons. They sometimes acknowledge the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, for example, and refer to other current events and personalities in the news. When working as an interim pastor or as regular pulpit supply, I typically based sermons on one of the lectionary readings for the day. These sermons are introduced with a verse or two, but a reading of the full Bible lesson preceded preaching. My practice has been to write a manuscript for every sermon but have generally sought (with trepidation) to speak without notes. I consult commentaries and other references, yet strive to find my own slant on the passages. I enjoy using a variety of Bible translations for preaching, but most texts referenced here are from the New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, or New International Version. A sensitivity to the use of pronouns, particularly with reference to God, is hereby affirmed, though I capitulate to the masculine more often than not.

It has been my privilege to preach in several congregations in the ten years since my retirement. I acknowledge with deep appreciation these that I have served most often in the time frame represented in these pages: First Presbyterian Church of Holly Springs, Mississippi; Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Tennessee; First Presbyterian Church of Rosemark, Tennessee; and Mt. Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Somerville, Tennessee.

George R. Estes, D.Min.

Germantown, Tennessee