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Children's Activity

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Responsibility -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The Bible -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The best size -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Thanking Jesus -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2007
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Squeaky people -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Be humble -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
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Reflecting God's love -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
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No more hiding -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Changes -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
God's word -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
No more hunger -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2007
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Remembering -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
God spoke -- John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Lost child -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The real thing -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
It gets better -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
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Don't stare -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Pleasing the crowd -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Catching people -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Huddling with Jesus -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
A big change -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Four rules -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
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Protect me, Lord -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Staying clean -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Table scraps -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:

Children's sermon

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Untouchable! -- Mark 7:24-37 -- John Jamison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2021
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into
Someone you can trust -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what a hard-boiled
Take the Light with You -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2020
Light was an important commodity in Jesus’ world.
Protects and beautifies -- John 17:1-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Good morning! My father once had an old pickup truck that was a
Our Rising Faith -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2020
“He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
Clean the Mess At the Source -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2020
As Jesus raises the bar on what is considered sinful the foundation of his message is to go to the s
Building Together! -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- John Jamison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2020
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (v. 15)
Incredible Secrets -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2020
The disciples see Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, and then Jesus tells them to tell no one
Paired with Jesus -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone live on a farm or near a farm?
Forgive, Forgive, Forgive! -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- John Jamison -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2020
His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back
Obvious Secret -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2020
Lent can be an odd time for church kids.
Eating bugs -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat?
It’s Not Fair! -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- John Jamison -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2020
So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (v. 16)
Temptation Challenge -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Jesus sets the bar high by resisting temptation even from the imagination of the devil.
Here in this place -- John 4:5-42 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
This children's sermon was originally published March 27, 2011.
Two Sons! -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- John Jamison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2020
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (v. 31)
Before and After -- John 3:1-17 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
In this exchange with Nicodemus, Jesus is trying to explain what it is to be born again.
Renters! -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- John Jamison -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2020
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.
Listen Up! -- John 4:5-42 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
The woman from the well had some great news for people after meeting Jesus.
Wedding Gift! -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- John Jamison -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2020
The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So g
Jesus Knows Our Worth -- John 9:1-41 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
There are many wonderful moments in this scripture selection.
Listen, think, and learn -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Good morning! Do you like stories? (get responses) Jesus told stories like this a lot.
Not alone -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Leah Thompson -- Good Friday - A -- 2020
Note: This piece was originally published April 22, 2011.
Trickery! -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- John Jamison -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2020
Hi everyone! Have you ever tried to play a trick on someone?
Sad is Okay -- John 11:1-45 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
The story of Lazarus was always my favorite.

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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