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Children's Activity

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Who is my neighbor? -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
Things in our country are much different than they were fifty years ago.
Where's Jesus? -- Mark 6:30-34 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Teachers or Parents: In this lesson Jesus tried to take his
Listen to the Shepherd -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are
"Get on the right plane!" -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Teachers or Parents: This parable about the rich man and
Expensive perfume -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: Children are often impressed with a
The day Jesus was baptized -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Materials:Toilet paper roll (one per child) Construction paper
Ephphatha -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Teachers or Parents: Just as Jesus opened the ears of the deaf
Deep water -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
Teachers: This week's children's message has that great story of the disciples letting down their ne
"Spreading the good news" -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Teachers or Parents: God has blessed us all in numerous
Time passes -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C
Teachers or Parents: Talk about staying up late. Perhaps your
Rejoice always! -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: Focus your activity on the second lesson this
Come to the party -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Teachers: Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king
Jesus, the great physician -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A
Jesus was unlike anyone who has ever lived.
UP! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Teachers or Parents: The word "up" is puzzling when it comes
Submission to God's will -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Teachers or Parents: Doing what God wants us to do always
All About Babies -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers: This week's Bible story tells the background of the
The most valuable thing -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B
Instructions
Don't worry so much! -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
Is your house a worry-free zone? Mine isn't.
Family of God -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B
Teachers or Parents: In this lesson Jesus explains that we are
Living water -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: There is no way to spend too much time
Love on Fire -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
Parents or Teachers: In the lesson today Jesus states that he came to
Just a rock -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: If your church building has a
Peter means "the rock" -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
Materials: Fist-sized rocks (one per child)
Who is it? -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Teachers or Parents: We want our children to know who Jesus is
The touch of power -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C
Teachers: The children's message is about the power of touch.

Children's sermon

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Shoemaker... or Elves? -- Romans 13:11-14 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
"The night is far gone, the day is near.
Sabbath laws -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
"And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set
Spirited -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2010
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spir
What do you need? -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2010
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling blo
Bread of the Spirit -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Leah Thompson -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2010
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he com
Be prepared -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
"And they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of
Entertaining angels -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels
Hit it, maestro! -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Leah Thompson -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2010
"The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his w
Words -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2010
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in
Fortune and fame -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
"For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Love poured out -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Leah Thompson -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2010
"And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces enduranc
Lamp -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2010
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and giv
Going away -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
"Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him bac
Hear it now -- John 16:12-15 -- Leah Thompson -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2010
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." (v. 12)
Growing -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2010
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (v. 6)
Seeking answers -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters
Point of view -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Ch
'Yes, yes' and 'No, no' -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2010
Let your word be "Yes, yes" or "No, no"; anything more than this comes from the evil one. (v.
Ignerint -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
"But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overf
Lost and found -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
"Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Building -- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2010
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and
Rejoice -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over nine
Testing, testing -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he
Sun and rain -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2010
… so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and
The mediator -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
"For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himsel

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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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