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The Village Shepherd

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Children's Liturgy and Story

The Village Shepherd

A Terrifying Walk -- John 6:1-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Call to Worship: Jesus was able to produce enough food to feed all the people, and
Tim Wants More -- John 6:24-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Call to Worship: Jesus offers us the Bread of Heaven and the Water of Life. Let us
What Does "eternal" Mean? -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Call to Worship: In our worship today, let us come to Jesus to drink at his
The Grain Of Faith -- Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Call to Worship:
The Black Cave -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Call to Worship: John the Baptist came as a witness to the light. In our worship
Josie Runs Away -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Call to Worship:
David's Grandma -- Luke 2:1-7 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Nativity of our Lord - C
Call to Worship:
The Friday Club -- John 3:1-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Call to Worship:
Praxis And The Wandering Minstrel -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Call to Worship: The Angel Gabriel called Mary to special work for God. In our
Jordan's Story -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A
Call to Worship:
David And Jonathan, Best Friends -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C
Call to Worship:
The Folk From The Street Help Out -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Call to Worship:
Benjy's Birthday Party -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Call to Worship: Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny
The Best Present Ever -- Luke 2:8-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Nativity of our Lord - C
Call to Worship: Come, let us go even now to Bethlehem with the shepherds and the
Jonquil's Daffodils -- John 11:1-45 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Call to Worship:
Daisy Loved To Dance -- John 4:5-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
Call to Worship:
The Family -- Matthew 13:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A
Call to Worship:
John And The Power Within -- John 17:20-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
Call to Worship:
John And Jane -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- All Saints Day - A
Call to Worship:
Bunker Stands Alone -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
Call to Worship:
The Ermine Cloak -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Call to Worship:
A Page Boy's Story -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Call to Worship: With the kings, on this feast of the Epiphany let us come to
Jo's First Camp -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Call to Worship:
Ahmed's Gift -- Matthew 28:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Easter Day - A
Call to Worship:
The End Of Their Lives -- Matthew 9:9-13; 18-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A
Call to Worship:

Children's sermon

Children's Story

The Village Shepherd

When Jodie Was Lost -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
It was Jodie's first holiday at the seaside, and she loved it.
Holly's Worry -- Matthew 6:25-34 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A
Holly stared at her face in the mirror. She couldn't believe it!
More Trouble For Praxis -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Praxis the pixie was in trouble again. In fact, Praxis was rarely out of trouble.
Roly Poly Prickle Faces The Music -- John 6:51-58 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Roly Poly Prickle was in something of a mess.
The Parable Of Bamboo -- John 20:1-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Easter Day - C
Once upon a time in the heart of a certain kingdom, lay a beautiful garden.
After Grandma Died -- John 11:1-45 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Death is difficult for anyone to understand and accept, and particularly difficult for children
What Shall I Do? -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
James was really miserable.
He Who Laughs Last -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Henry Hyena had a problem.
Molly's Family -- John 2:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
"I'm never going to get married," declared Molly.
Roly Interprets The Signs -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - C
Roly lay on the stone floor with his head on his paws.
The Moment Of Truth -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
I'd never met my cousin John, although I'd heard plenty about him from my mother.
Adrian's Swimming Coach -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
There wasn't much that Adrian was good at, except swimming.
What Matters? -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
When Lucy Dingall moved to a new house, she was very excited.
Happy Families -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middl
Mole's Great Escape -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Mole shouted his warning to Fox and rabbit, but Fox hardly paused as he chased rabbit, and rabbit
Robert's Choice -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Even after being warned that Herod was out to kill him, Jesus was still determined to go to Jeru
The Mystery Of The Marshes -- John 21:1-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Cley marshes (pronounced Cly), are rich in wild life, especially sea birds.
The Marble King -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Charlie Baker was thrilled. He'd just been given a bag of marbles from his grandmother.
Whose Job Is It Anyway? -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church.
We Piped To You And You Did Not Dance? -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
He was such a nice man.
Greater Love Hath No Man? -- John 10:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
During World War II, a number of British regiments from this part of East Anglia were sent to th
Molly The Milk Molecule -- Matthew 9:35-10:8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
Molly the milk molecule was scared.
Richard's Mum -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The prodigal son's father could equally have been his mother, since mothers too are never quite
The King Is Coming? -- John 18:33-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
The jungle was abuzz with excitement.
Why Doesn't It Work? -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
They were huddled together leaning against straw stacks in a corner of the old barn, where they

Intercession

The Village Shepherd

Broken God... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Courageous God, You Took Such A Huge Risk... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Healing And Compassionate God... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Servant King... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Advent God... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Listening God... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Risen God... -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Unexpected God, Awful Times In My Life Occur Out Of The Blue... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Perfect Community... -- John 17:20-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Triumphant -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
The World Is Preparing Once Again -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of The Highest Heavens... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of The Living... -- John 11:1-45 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Love, I Find It Almost Impossible To Really Love Outside My Own Family -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Love, You Promised To Comfort Those Who Mourn... -- John 13:31-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Creation, Every Branch Of Your Church Tends To Think It Has The Whole Truth... -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Joyful God, it's your birthday... -- John 1:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Understanding God... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Risen God... -- Matthew 28:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Easter Day - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Matthew 24:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Healing God... -- John 5:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Creation, Enable Your Church So To Hear Your Voice... -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Loving And Forgiving God... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Light Of The World... -- John 9:1-41 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Bountiful God... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

The Possible Dream -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2006
Note: This is a substitute for missing content from The Village Shepherd.
The Lord Looks On The Heart -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2006
Many years ago when I was at Primary School, an Australian girl joined our class.
Things Change -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2005
Note: There is no content for Proper 4 / OT 9 / Pentecost 2 from The Village Shepher
Parades And Crosses -- The Challenge Of Ministry -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2005
Note: There is no content for Proper 4 / OT 9 / Pentecost 2 from The Village Shepher
Looking To The Unseen -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2005
Note: There is no content for Proper 5 / OT 10 / Pentecost 3 from The Village Shephe
Risking Relationships That Redeem -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2005
Note: This sermon fills a slot that is not currently filled by The Village Shepherd.
God, Please Send Some Lofty Thoughts -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
E-mail From: KDM To: God Subject: Truly Human, Truly God's
Let Sleeping Dogmas Awake! -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
There are many doctrines in the Bible that receive light billing today.
The Illusion Of Neutrality -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Robert A. Beringer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1992
Charlie Moran, the old National League baseball umpire, always regarded himself and his decisions hi
The Israelites Looked Back -- Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
In John Osborne's famous play, "Look Back In Anger", first produced in the post-war
Shout It From The Rooftops! -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
Years ago, politicians were regarded as the epitome of authority
The Faithfulness Of Mothers -- John 19:25-27 -- Janice B. Scott
To us in England, the fourth Sunday in Lent is always Mothering
The Prophet -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
The hypnotist Paul McKenna
Humility And Courage -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B
Walking home from work one evening, a young man was attacked by five thugs. Instead of just
The God Within -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
When my father was dying,
The Day Of The Lord -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
In the "Manchester
What About Isaac? -- Genesis 22:1-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
If any of us ever stopped to really consider the implications and responsibilities of being a
God's Word Will Succeed -- Isaiah 55:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B
It's difficult to know what to do with old buildings such as Victorian schools. Many Victorian
A New Beginning -- Ezekiel 36:24-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
The Oprah Winfrey television show started in 1986 and will continue until at least 2011 because
A Web Of Deceit -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
We human beings so often
Worry! -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A
I remember as a teenager feeling extremely irritated
Shameful Realisation -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
God must receive a
The Beat Of A Butterfly's Wing -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
It's now well known although hardly comprehensible to me, that a single beat of a
Sins Of The Fathers -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
The relationship between fathers and sons can be difficult. The relationship between famous
Potential -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
This is a year for babies in

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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