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Children's Activity

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Listen to God -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Serving others -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Patriotism -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Good for us -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Backpacking -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
Materials:Thin ribbonRound lollipops
Preparing -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Materials: Toilet paper rolls Paint Paintbrushes
Your home -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Now or later? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Materials: Craft sticks -- around fifty per child Thick glue
Joining Jesus -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
A mystery -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Remembering -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Baby Jesus -- Luke 2:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Not yet -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Backpacking -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Hearing the news -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Where to look -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Sharing God's love -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEMEAT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
A new man -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Like a dove -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Not welcome -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Gathering us in -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Changes -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Passing the peace -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Disasters -- Luke 13:1-5 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Following directions -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:

Children's sermon

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Being Seed-y -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021
Object: A tomato seed and a tomato to cut open.
Chairs! -- Mark 10:35-45 -- John Jamison -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2021
Object: Chairs for a short game of Musical Chairs.
Pieces of Silver -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2021
Hi, everyone! (Let them respond.) I have a question for you this morning.
Jesus Stopped! -- Mark 10:46-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2021
Object: A cloak, or something to use as a cloak, an old bowl, and a
Washing Your Feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2021
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Isc
The Most Important Rule! -- Mark 12:28-34 -- John Jamison -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2021
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
What’s So Good About It? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They
Jesus Wept -- John 11:32-44 -- John Jamison -- All Saints Day - B -- 2021
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, i
Missing Easter! -- Mark 16:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - B -- 2021
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so
The Offering -- Mark 12:38-44 -- John Jamison -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2021
Object: A small “money bag” filled with coins, and two additional pennies.
Seeing Jesus! -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails
Getting Distracted -- Mark 13:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2021
Object: A heart stereogram image (like the one below), or another stereogram you mi
Being Jesus! -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peac
The Truth! -- John 18:33-37 -- John Jamison -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2021
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.
Being Good Shepherds -- John 10:11-18 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows m
Don't Waste a Good Worry! -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- John Jamison -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2021
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Vines and Branches -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
God's Surprises! -- Luke 21:25-36 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
The Jesus Game! -- John 15:9-17 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
God's Surprises! Part 2 -- Luke 3:1-6 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
Something Special -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2021
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
God's Surprises! Part 3 -- Luke 3:7-18 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibl
Aliens! -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your wo
God's Surprises! Part 4 -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where s
Never Alone -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2021
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes o

Sermon

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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?”

CSSPlus

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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