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Children's Activity

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The bread of life -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus talks about the bread of life in
God's word -- John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A
Teachers or Parents: In the middle of all the activity
Share with all -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Today's lesson is a very easy one to understand. It is practical. It is clear.
You welcomed me -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Teachers: Often children wonder what they can do to
Till death do us part -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
Teachers or Parents: The words of Jesus in this week's Gospel
The Pharisees -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
In today's scripture we find Jesus being challenged by the Pharisees, the legal-minded religious lea
The good shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: This Sunday is often called "Good
What's your treasure? -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C
There are lots of different kinds of treasures.
Pruning the vine -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Materials Small piece of tree branch (1 for each child) Tape Markers
Tell others -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Teachers or Parents: Today's gospel lesson is about sharing in
Fill up the valley -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: It is hard to go through an Advent/Christmas season without at least once hearing some of
We all need God's forgiveness -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Teachers or Parents: Forgiveness is a key to understanding
Not fair! -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Teachers or Parents: Young children especially have an acute
The truth makes us free -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B
Teachers: For this activity you will need sticky labels, or
"Jesus heals" -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Teachers or Parents: Jesus heals! During his life on earth,
The meaning of transfiguration -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
Materials:
Don't be afraid -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
Teachers or Parents: Fear is something we all need to deal
Follow Jesus -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Teachers or Parents: In today's lesson we learn that some of
Going with God -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A
Teachers or Parents: Travel is likely to be part of the
Can you carry the cross? -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
What does it mean to put Christ first? What does it mean to carry his cross?
Keys to the kingdom -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Parents and Teachers: This lesson tells the story about Peter
With God, it's easy -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Teachers or Parents: It has been said that the message of
Upon this rock -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Today's reading introduces the word "church." One dictionary defines the word "church" as "the compa
Jesus the Vine -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus is our vine and we are all
A sign -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Teachers or Parents: The people wanted to know that Jesus

Children's sermon

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Ambassadors for Christ -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Leah Thompson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on be
The mission -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?
Rate of response -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Leah Thompson -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?" (v.
Dear heavenly Father... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secr
First impressions -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!"
Strongman -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Consequences -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousn
Broken and mended -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. (v. 32)
Marking time -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (v. 31)
Repentance -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (v. 11)
Ask... and ask again -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith!
Time -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, an
Juggling act -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly tha
Baptizer -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts
On the clock -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (v. 6)
What do you see? -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning?
This little light -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Do not quench the Spirit. (v. 19)
Snapshot -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (v. 11)
Putting out fires -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (v. 21)
You just had to be there... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. (v. 8)
Hard work -- John 9:1-41 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (v. 5)
Take up your cross -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake wil
Hey batta batta...swing! -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
"Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which
Fly away home -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2010
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has
He was a what? -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
"He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan." (v. 16)

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

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John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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