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Children's Activity

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Taking up the cross -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Teachers or Parents: The idea of a person denying oneself and taking up one's cross to follow Jesus
No grudges allowed -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Paying homage -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Teachers or Parents: Respect is not a high priority today.
Preaching from a boat -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Jesus feeds us -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Teachers or Parents: Children can easily relate to physical food, but the spiritual food of Jesus
A kind of king -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Who is he? -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus' identity is still an issue.
God's biggest job -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Follow the Leader -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Teachers or Parents: Being a disciple of Jesus is not an easy task.
The right tool -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B
Teachers or Parents: Most people and perhaps the children think of the commandments as prohibition
The bread of life -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Gates of Heaven -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Teachers or Parents: The gospel, in the narrowest sense of its use, is the good news that Jesus died
Which crown? -- Passion Sunday - B
Teachers or Parents: The concept of king and kingdom is foreign -- except in many children's storie
Words and the Word -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Teachers or Parents: Words are powerful.
A special meal -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Bitter medicine -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B
Teachers or Parents: The "bitter cup" Jesus had to take goes against our sense of fairness.
We are Christians -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
One person at a time -- Matthew 9:35-10:8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
Teachers or Parents: Evangelism is such a simple thing -- telling the good news to one person at
"Jesus' valentine" -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C
Presenter, Teachers or Parents: Valentine's Day may be somewhat meaningless to young children and s
The throne and the cross -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B
Materials Bible 1 cup whole pecans 1 teaspoon vinegar 3 egg whites
King Jesus -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
Teachers or Parents: If you have a Palm Sunday processional in your worship service, talk about it.
The twelve harvesters -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
Can you name the 12 disciples? There are four J's, two P's, two T's, a B, an A, an M, and an S.
Following Instructions -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B
Materials None Instructions
Forgive us our debts -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C
Teachers or Parents: The lesson stands on its own.
The Last Supper -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
There are a lot of very familiar themes in our gospel reading for today.

Children's sermon

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What's in a box? -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
... who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
Helping God -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members
Taking care of you -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a
Walking on water -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
He [Jesus] said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the
Shiny money -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
Passing the story on -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you. (v. 23a)
A smiling giver -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
God loves a cheerful giver. (v. 7b)
A wonderful stream -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our
Come back to God -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
... for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
Serving others -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around
Thankfulness -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Your faith has made you well. (v. 19c)
Can I do it? -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere
Never give up -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
She [the Canaanite woman] said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs
Good friends -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not
The best coach -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
He will also strengthen you to the end. (v. 8a)
New life in God -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be
Just do it -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the
Great faith -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)
Good for us -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is
God's promise -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (v. 31)
Birds and hair -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
Friends from enemies -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them
Future goals -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - A -- 2008
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (v. 2)
The best paycheck -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Stumbling blocks -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling

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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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