The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr.
Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Organization: Covenant United Church of Christ, South Holland, IL
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., is pastor emeritus of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland IL, a thriving church he founded in the mid-1990s.
He is also an adjunct professor of ministry and D.Min. advisor at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, on whose board of trustees he has served.
Ozzie has been a music scholar and teacher, and a professional jazz musician.
He earned a bachelor's from Langston University, a master’s in education in music from the University of Memphis, his M.Div. from McCormick, and a D.Min. degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH.
Day1 Weekly Programs by The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr.
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Ozzie Smith Jr.: Come and Get It
Tuesday January 04, 2022
Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr. says that John preaches in the wilderness, Come and get it! Hope appears in the wilderness. "It's not over," that hope says. Grace is here, come and get it. It's yours for the asking.
Ozzie Smith Jr.: When Jesus Comes Home
Tuesday June 05, 2018
In his sermon on Mark 3:20-35, Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr. says "We hear Jesus make a bold claim about faith that may hurt our ears and sounding anti-family. However, Jesus recognizes the power of connection when there is faith in the family. Obedience to God matters.
Wake Up and Believe!
Tuesday November 11, 2014
Paul’s message in 1 Thessalonians is filled by a zeal based on an intimate knowledge of Christ, which produced his passion for evangelism. Yet converts often suffer from being lulled to sleep--becoming distracted and overly concerned about the future as opposed to living in the present. Dr. Ozzie Smith urges us to wake up and believe!
What Are We Doing Here?
Tuesday January 18, 2011
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith takes a look at a common and distressing situation in churches today: division. But the Apostle Paul had to deal with the same problem in Corinth. What can we learn from his experience?
A Sight for Certain Eyes
Sunday December 28, 2008
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ, South Holland, IL.
More than Enough
Sunday July 30, 2006
The Rev. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois, takes a look at the power of Jesus in answering our problems and fulfilling our lives.
Be Still and Know
Sunday July 23, 2006
The Rev. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois, reminds us of the need to rest and refocus.
Ministry on the Move
Sunday July 16, 2006
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith Jr., pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois, challenges us to reach out and express God's goodness in spite of the sometimes perilous consequences.
It's Not Always What You Think
Sunday October 12, 2003
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr. is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois.
When Hope Won't Quit
Sunday September 07, 2003
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr. is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois.
What Do You Want?
Sunday August 03, 2003
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr. is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois.
Articles by The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Christmastide: A Reminder Where Our Hearts Belong"
Wednesday December 23, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Mac Thigpen, "Christmastide: A Reminder Where Our Hearts Belong."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Place Where Heaven Will Touch the Earth"
Wednesday December 16, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon, "The Place Where Heaven Will Touch the Earth" by the Rev. Dr. Wiley Stephens.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Repent, Ye Saints"
Wednesday December 09, 2009
UCC minister Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon, "Repent, Ye Saints," by the Rev. Dr. Wiley Stephens.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Uncluttering"
Friday December 04, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith responds to this week's Day1 sermon, "Uncluttering," by the Rev. Dr. Wiley Stephens.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "A Vision for the City"
Thursday November 12, 2009
Rev Weimer's message "A Vision for the City" is powerful. He took me to the top floor with that search committee--what an image!
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "What God Values in Stewardship"
Wednesday November 04, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith responds to this week's Day1 sermon, "What God Values in Stewardship" by Dr. Scott Weimer. Join the conversation!
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Being Saints of God"
Wednesday October 28, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon, "Being Saints of God" by Bishop Keith Whitmore.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Shackles That Won't Shrink!"
Wednesday October 21, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to the Rev. Gary Manning's Day1 sermon this week, "Shackles That Won't Shrink!"
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Good News?"
Wednesday October 14, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon by Bishop Will Willimon, "Good News?"
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Peril (and the Promise) of Being Met by Jesus"
Wednesday October 07, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon by Bishop Will Willimon, "The Peril (and the Promise) of Being Met by Jesus."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Let the Little Ones Come unto Me"
Tuesday September 29, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a thoughtful response to Bishop Will Willimon's Day1 sermon this week, "Let the Little Ones Come Unto Me."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "To Make the Wounded Whole"
Wednesday September 23, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon, "To Make the Wounded Whole" by the Rev. Dr. Ken Carter.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Insignificant Greatness"
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon, "Insignificant Greatness," by the Rev. Stephen Lewis.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Heartbreaking Messiah"
Friday September 11, 2009
UCC pastor Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a reflection on this week's Day1 message by Dr. David Lose, "The Heartbreaking Messiah."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Standing in the Tragic Gap"
Wednesday September 02, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 message, "Standing in the Tragic Gap" by the Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn. UPDATE: Dr. Billy Cox adds his reflection.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Words of Eternal Life"
Wednesday August 19, 2009
UCC pastor Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a reflection on this week's Day1 sermon: "Words of Eternal Life" by the Rev. Dr. David Lose.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Woman Less Listened To"
Wednesday August 12, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith responds to this week's Day1 sermon, "The Woman Less Listened To," by the Rev. Dr. David von Schlichten.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Out of the Depths"
Wednesday August 05, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith Jr. responds to this week's Day1 sermon, "Out of the Depths" by the Rev. Benno Pattison.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Thunk, the Gap, and the Six A's"
Thursday July 30, 2009
UCC pastor Dr. Ozzie Smith responds to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Mark Sargent, "The Thunk, the Gap, and the Six A's."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "More Unexpected Jesus"
Wednesday July 22, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 message, "More Unexpected Jesus" by the Rev. Sharon Hiers.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "RSVP to Jesus"
Wednesday July 15, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith responds to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Sharon Hiers, "RSVP to Jesus."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Two Very Different Banquets"
Thursday July 09, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon, "Two Very Different Banquets," by the Rev. Dr. Barbara Lundblad.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Strong in the Broken Places"
Wednesday July 01, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, "Strong in the Broken Places."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "A Daughter's Faith"
Tuesday June 23, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Sarah Shelton, "A Daughter's Faith."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Sleeping Jesus"
Wednesday June 17, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers his response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Sarah Jackson Shelton, "The Sleeping Jesus."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Noisy Spring"
Thursday June 11, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith reflects on this week's Day1 sermon by Dr. Kimberleigh Buchanan: "Noisy Spring," based on Christ's parables of the seeds.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Threefold Nature of God"
Thursday June 04, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith provides a reflection on this week's Day1 sermon by Dr. Fred R. Anderson, "The Threefold Nature of God."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "The Church's Hope"
Wednesday May 27, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith shares a response to this week's Day1 sermon--"The Church's Hope" by Dr. Fred R. Anderson.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "In but not of This World"
Tuesday May 19, 2009
The question is, what are we doing in but not of this world? Rev Howell helps us to wonder with them for it is as he says, "all of us are them." I wonder too how they might have understood Jesus' prayer in the real time of then.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "As the Father Has Loved Me"
Tuesday May 12, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith offers a reflection on this week's Day1 sermon by Dr. James Howell, "As the Father Has Loved Me."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "Neither Heaven Nor Hell"
Wednesday May 06, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith offers some thoughtful reflections on this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Ben Anthony, "Neither Heaven Nor Hell."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on "A Visitor, A Mapmaker, and a Banquet"
Thursday April 30, 2009
Dr. Ozzie Smith provides a thoughtful response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Ben Anthony.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on This Week's Sermon
Thursday April 23, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith provides a thoughtful response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Ben Anthony, "Folding Screens and Forgiveness."
Dr. Ozzie Smith on this week's sermon, "Dealing with Mystery"
Thursday April 16, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, IL, offers a thoughtful response to this week's Day1 sermon by the Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall.
Dr. Ozzie Smith on this week's Day1 sermon
Wednesday April 08, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith, pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, IL, shares his response to this week's Day1 sermon.
Video by The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr.
Day1 Book Launch Party Video
Saturday December 12, 2020
Day1 presents a video Book Launch Party for the new book, "Bread Enough for All: A Day1 Guide to Life," published by Church Publishing, Inc.
Join Day1 host Peter Wallace and seven outstanding preachers/church leaders who share their sermon excerpts from the book and engage in conversation and Q&A: Joanna M. Adams, Anna Carter Florence, William Flippin Jr., Juan Carlos Huertas, Micah Jackson, Charley Reeb, and Ozzie Smith Jr.
Conversation with Ozzie Smith - A 30 Good Minutes Interview
Thursday December 01, 2011
A profile and conversation about music and faith with The Rev. Ozzie Smith, Jr., a jazz musician and pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois.
The Rev. Ozzie Smith Jr. - When Hope Won't Quit (Part 1)
Wednesday February 23, 2011
Part 1 of 2; Sermon Reflections; The Rev. Ozzie Smith Jr. "This is a bumpy, but believable text. It pulls us in the outer region of understanding of where we would place Jesus. It allows us to see Jesus outside of the barriers of culture."
The Rev. Ozzie Smith Jr. - When Hope Won't Quit (Part 2)
Wednesday February 23, 2011
Part 2 of 2; Sermon Reflections; The Rev. Ozzie Smith Jr. "This is a bumpy, but believable text. It pulls us in the outer region of understanding of where we would place Jesus. It allows us to see Jesus outside of the barriers of culture."
What Do You Want (from Jesus)? - Part 2 - Rev. Ozzie Smith Day1 Sermon Reflections
Friday September 04, 2009
Part 2 of 2; Sermon Reflections; The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith: "What do you want from Jesus: the meal or the message? To be filled up with food, or a life that is fulfilled?" The Day1 Reflection Team with hostBill Turpie.
What Do You Want (from Jesus)? - Part 1 - Rev. Ozzie Smith Day1 Sermon Reflections
Friday September 04, 2009
Part 1 of 2; Sermon Reflections; The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith: "What do you want from Jesus: the meal or the message? To be filled up with food, or a life that is fulfilled?" The Day1 Reflection Team with hostBill Turpie.
Radio by The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith - Podcast Extra Interview 2009
Thursday January 29, 2009
Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith discusses the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Trinity UCC in Chicago, Prophetic role of the church in the state and Dr. Martin Luther Kings vision of the church in society.