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      Praise for So Much Older Then …

      In So Much Older Then ..., Robert Larochelle offers preachers a model for truly dialogical preaching. Most preaching takes the form of a monologue, even so called dialogical and conversational preaching is more about style than substance, but with this book preachers hear the invitation to step out of our comfort zone and invite the congregation to raise questions and enter a true conversation about the Word that has been proclaimed from the pulpit. The eight sermons in the series focus on the kinds of questions the author has been asked during the course of his ministry, questions about issues that range from the problem of suffering to the nature of faith itself. Although in some ways directed to preachers, this brief collection will prove valuable to any number of congregational conversations.

      Dr. Bob Cornwall,

      Central Woodward Christian Church,

      author of Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the Great Awakening and Faith in the Public Square

      So Much Older Then ... starts with a few lines from a Bob Dylan song. In the eight sermons that make up the book, the Reverend LaRochelle blends Jesus and Dylan, faith and intellect, individual salvation and community connectedness into a rich mix which challenges the mind and nourishes the soul. In this world of fragmented organized religion in which so many “true believers” are convinced that they have discovered the true path, Dr. LaRochelle’s open invitation to worship – “All are welcome” – is a breath of theological fresh air. Raised a Roman Catholic and ordained a minister of the United Church of Christ, Bob’s central message is clear – IT ALL COMES DOWN TO JESUS. Whatever your faith, whatever your theological pedigree, the compassion, acceptance, sacrifice, and connectedness with others displayed by Jesus is a model for humans of all faiths.

      The most wonderful thing about Dr. LaRochelle’s sermons is that he does not tell you what to believe. He draws you into thinking about what you believe and helps you work out your own basis for faith. In a world too often filled with religious absolutes, Dr. LaRochelle is a voice of reason and belief, of science and religion. Dr. LaRochelle speaks of the teachings of Jesus as a foundation for connectedness, creating a bond between and among us. The personal thinking generated by reading his sermons left me with the revelation that, for me, God is that which is in between, that which connects us with everyone and everything – the celestial glue, if you will. Perhaps it is really possible to be a scientific Druid, love Jesus, and respect the faith of others. Like many, I was taught in a tradition of religious certainty, but I’m younger than that now.

      Dr. Curtis Brand,

      author, musician, clinical psychologist

      So Much Older Then ... is not only a genuinely loving tribute to Rev. LaRochelle’s former congregation, but an inspiring reflection upon the questions we have all faced. The Reverend presents to us a collection of sermons and congregational responses in which the reader can clearly detect the passion and care with which they were originally delivered. The appeal in LaRochelle’s writing rests not in his answers to the burning questions of life, but in his ability to unearth even deeper queries, forcing the reader to more carefully explore his or her faith. This book is a must-read for everyone, regardless of where you may be along your spiritual journey.

      Eric R. Hutchinson,

      Songwriter/Composer (Believer: The Musical, Lullabies and Love Songs, Imagine Stage Productions)

      In So Much Older Then ..., Rev. Bob LaRochelle offers us a series of inspiring sermons based on the Sacred Scriptures and on the real-life struggles of those he has been privileged to serve in various congregations. The discussion questions are especially helpful in integrating the biblical message with everyday realities. Both clergy and lay persons will find this an invaluable resource.

      Rev. Albert Cutié,

      priest, author and talk-show host (Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida)

      Robert LaRochelle has written a sermon series that is a wonderful tool for both clergy and laity. He uses a positive and uplifting theology to address difficult issues facing the Church and Christians today. It is an excellent resource to aid in starting the conversations that our souls need to have. Rev. LaRochelle also provides a “dialogue sermon” format if you have never tried this!

      Rev. Shauna Hyde

      Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, WV, author of Fifty Shades of Grace and Victim No More!

      LaRochelle has led by example in returning the sermon to its proper context in the liturgy of the church. However, here liturgy takes on its true meaning – the work of the people. This exploration of the communal and conversational nature of preaching will be helpful to any preacher looking for fresh eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mouth to preach Sunday’s sermon.

      Dr. Geoffrey Lentz,

      First United Methodist Church, Port St. Joe, FL,

      author The Gospel According to St. Luke:A Participatory Study Guide and Learning and Living Scripture, editor of The Living Psalter

      So Much Older Then …

      Understanding Preaching as Conversation

      Robert LaRochelle

      Energion Publications

      Gonzalez, FL

      2013

      Copyright © 2013, Robert LaRochelle

      Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV), copyright © 1989 by the Division of the Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

      Cover Design: Henry Neufeld

      Background Picture: © Kathie Nichols

      Dreamstime.com

      http://www.dreamstime.com/kathienichols_info

      Electronic Edition

      ISBN13: 978-1-63199-723-5

      Print edition publication information:

      ISBN13: 978-1-938434-51-8

      ISBN10: 1-938434-51-X

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2013933883

      Energion Publications

      P. O. Box 841

      Gonzalez, FL 32560

      energionpubs.com

      ‘Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats

      Too noble to neglect

      Deceived me into thinking

      I had something to protect

      Good and bad, I define these terms

      Quite clear, no doubt, somehow

      Ah, but I was so much older then

      I’m younger than that now’

       ‘My Back Pages’ – Bob Dylan

      Dedication

      I am so pleased to dedicate this book to the members and friends of the Congregational Church of Union, Connecticut, United Church of Christ. It was in this congregation, which I served from early 2001 to the middle of 2012, that I preached the sermon series around which this book is centered. I dedicate this book to these wonderful people in gratitude for their openness to God’s Word and for the many ways in which they proclaimed that Word to me.

      Acknowledgments

      Along with my former congregation, the Congregational Church of Union, Connecticut, UCC, to whom this book is dedicated, there are several other individuals I wish to acknowledge. First and foremost is my wife, Patricia Coppinger LaRochelle. She has not only sat through many of my sermons in church sanctuaries, but she has also witnessed patiently as many of their ideas have unfolded at home. Likewise, our three children, Brian, Kathleen and Stephen, have quite often shared in their mom’s situation. Quite seriously – For all of their insights and feedback, I am most grateful and I acknowledge these four special

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