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Arley K. Fadness

Arley K. Fadness is a retired ELCA pastor who has served numerous Lutheran parishes in South Dakota and Minnesota. He is currently a member of Custer Lutheran Fellowship in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Pastor Fadness is a congregational consultant who coaches churches in visioning processes, and he also conducts leadership retreats and workshops on “Finding Your True Flair.” A graduate of Augustana College, Luther Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary, Fadness is the author of several CSS titles, including Blueprints For Advent and Christmas, Blueprints for Lent, Six Spiritual Needs in America Today, Holy Moses, Hey Joseph!, and Where’s Noah? He is also a contributing author to Sermons on the First Readings (Series I, Cycle A).
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Children's sermon

CSSPlus

Together We Love -- John 17:20-26 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I ask...that they may be one, as we are one...so that the world may know that you have
Forever Bread -- John 6:25-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2019
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life.
Heavenly Help Is On The Way! -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Arley K. Fadness -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2019
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you foreve
Hello, Holy Spirit Of Truth -- John 16:12-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2019
“When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...”
'I'm Hungry' -- Jesus -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- New Year's Day - C -- 2019
“...Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
Wild Man Healed -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2019
So he went his way, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Discovering Jesus: Eee - pif - on - eee -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2019
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and
Staying Focused -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2019
“When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
You Are the Treasure -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
“You are my Son, The Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (v. 22)
Green Is For Going -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2019
“Go on your way, see I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.”
A Surprising First Sign! -- John 2:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory...”
Mercy, Mercy -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2019
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man....He said, 'the one who sh
A Surprising First Sign! -- John 2:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory...”
M & M Sisters -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2019
“...there is need of only one thing.
Purpose -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2019
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v. 21b)
"Talk to Me" —God -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2019
“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1b)
Coloring a Story -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
“all spoke well of him....they were filled with rage.” (vs. 22, 28)
No Fish? Go Fish... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2019
“...from now on you will be catching people.” (v. 10b)
Toys And More Toys -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2019
“Take care!
Love Your Enemies -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you....” (v. 27)
Things I Love the Most -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2019
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”(v. 34)
Fire! -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2019
“Jesus said, ‘I came to bring fire to the earth,’...” (v. 49a)
Ah Ha, I Get It! -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Arley K. Fadness -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2019
“This is my Son, my chosen: listen to him!” (V. 35b)
Time Out! -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
“And ought not this woman….be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?”
The Right Treasure Chest -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2019
Hello kids,Thank you for joining me for this message I have just for you.

Drama

SermonStudio

A Prince Is Born In Egypt -- Exodus 1, Exodus 2:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Lent 1 Drama Characters Narrator
The Call To Moses -- Exodus 2:11--4:17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 2 DramaCharacters Narrator Moses
Deliverance! -- Exodus 7-12 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 3 DramaCharacters Paulo (the producer)
Wilderness Wanderings (Photos In The Desert) -- Exodus 15-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 4 DramaCharacters Photographer Moses
The Ten Commandments (Ten Friends Of The Covenant) -- Exodus 19:9-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 5 DramaCharacters Voice Of God (offstage)
News From The Desert Times (The Golden Calf Incident) -- Exodus 32 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 6 DramaCharacters
Shalom Unravels -- Genesis 37:1-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
CharactersNarratorBilhahJoseph (teenager)
I'm Alive -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
On February 27, 1991, Ruth Dillow was at her home in Chute, Kansas, when she received the news from
Jesus, Our Shalom -- Ephesians 2:13-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
In a few moments through word and song, we re-live Jesus' last six hours.
Sample Bulletin For Lent -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
Lenten Vespers"Hey Joseph!"Prelude
Sample Bulletin For Maundy Thursday -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
Lord's Supper --Living TableauPrelude"Sweet Hour Of Prayer"
Jesus, Bread Of Life -- John 6:35, 41, 48, 50, 51, 58 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
"I am the Bread of Life" -- JesusThere it sits.Golden brown. Unsliced.
Joseph And Mary In The Garden -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
CharactersJoseph Of ArimatheaMary Magdalene

Sermon

SermonStudio

Veni, Spiritus Sanctus, Veni -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Arley K. Fadness -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2009
On this Pentecost Sunday, as we celebrate the birthday of the church, I want to teach you a simple a
Holy, Holy, Holy -- John 16:12-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2009
On this festival, The Holy Trinity, we celebrate one of the great treasures and mysteries of the chu
Amazing Faith -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2009
Twice in Jesus' ministry, Jesus is flabbergasted.
Sit Up And Speak! -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2009
The telephone rang in my office one day, and a mother, a member of my parish, blurted out, "Oh, past
The Forgiven Love A Lot! -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2009
One day it became obvious that I needed to tell my two daughters, Soon Ah and Rebekah, this story --
Liberating The Possessed -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2009
He is a tortured man! His hair is tossed and tousled.
Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2009
They were 5,000 feet in the air in a two-seat Cessna when suddenly the pilot slumped over.
Appointed And Sent! -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2009
The wheat harvest was glorious that year on our farm in South Dakota.
Checked The Ditch Lately? -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2009
We were driving west on Highway 16 from Custer to Newcastle, Wyoming, when Pam and I spotted this ma
Sister Act(s) -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2009
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan.
When Jacob Got A Vision -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2004
The storyteller is talking about great men and women of vision.
An Incredible Encounter -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2004
Jacob sends presents to brother Esau in the hope of finding favor with him.
Shalom Shattered -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2004
It's art class.
Forgiveness And Reconciliation At Last! -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2004
It happened to a rural Lake County, South Dakota, Lutheran church in August of 2000.
Can You Hear Me Now? -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2004
A cell phone commercial asks, "Can you hear me now?" The assumption is that one can hear any place,
Bloody Lintels -- Broken Bread -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2004
Two Russian surgeons and an anesthetist took turns lying on an operating table beside a critically-i
Saved (Again)! -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2004
Lawrence Henry was 88 years of age when he shared with his family the only sermon he ever preached.
Grace For A Complaining People -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2004
Bob Hope died in 2003 at age 100.
Free Living Water For All -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2004
Travelers near the Badlands of South Dakota were surprised and intrigued in 1936 to see a sign which
Ten Friends Drive Us To The Promise -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2004
"One day last spring, something memorable happened at Carleton University (in Ottawa, Ontario, Canad
A Deliverer Is Born -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2004
The River Nile is the longest river in the world, snaking 4,160 miles from Burundi, Africa, to the M
The Need to Believe that Life Is Meaningful and Has Purpose -- Luke 18:18-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
The Need for a Sense of Community and Deeper Relationships -- John 15:13-17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
The Need to Be Appreciated and Respected -- Mark 1:10-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
The Need to Be Listened to and Heard -- Luke 8:8b -- Arley K. Fadness -- 1997
Worship Aid
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 22
31 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
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22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 26 | OT 31 | Pentecost 23
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All Saints Day
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190+ – Illustrations / Stories
20 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 27 | OT 32 | Pentecost 24
31 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
George Reed
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 24, 2021:
  • Vision Check by Chris Keating — Jesus’ question of Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” becomes an invitation to a joyful, life-giving transformation experience of discipleship.
  • Second Thoughts: Don’t Let Go of My Hand by Quantisha Mason-Doll — In God’s future no one is left behind — even those who would be considered burdens.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
“Full-Throated Joy?” by David O. Bales
“With Weeping And Joy” by David O. Bales
“Second Chances” by Peter Andrew Smith


Full-Throated Joy?
by David O. Bales
Jeremiah 31:7-9

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Sooner or later, we see life as it really is. Job sees clearly that the universe is greater than he can imagine. It’s not all about him. Something great and wonderful is going on, and though he has suffered tremendous loss, he is to reject dust and ashes and live authentically. He is free to be alive.

The author of Hebrews makes it clear that we don’t have to jump through anyone’s hoops anymore. We have the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice and as a result we have perfect access to God, unfiltered, unimpeded. That’s how it is.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Job teaches us that being in the presence of God is an impressive experience. It is beyond what we can think or express. Author Christopher Morley in his book Inward Ho expressed this awesomeness: “I had a thousand questions to ask God; but when I met him they all fed and didn’t seem to matter.” Everything that we thought was so important vanishes in the presence of God. John Wesley put it this way:

CSSPlus

John Jamison

Object: A cloak, or something to use as a cloak, an old bowl, and a handful of pennies.

Note: If you believe your children can do it, this is a great message to have them role-play. Have one child play Bartimaeus, one play Jesus, and the other play the ‘crowd’. Depending on your group, you can ask for volunteers or select specific children for the roles of Jesus and Bartimaeus. If you don’t think role-play will work, just share the story without the role-play pieces.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

They said to the blind man, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." Jesus continues to call us today, so in our worship let us take heart, get up and respond to him.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't hear you when you call.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our hearts are low and we feel fed up and depressed.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Wesley T. Runk
Good morning, boys and girls. Today, we are talking about a very big word, and also a very important one. The word is intercession. What do you think the word intercession might mean? (let them answer) Those were all good tries, but they are not the answers. I said it was a big word and not one that we use very often. I think that I can help you learn what it means in just a minute. First of all, I want to tell you that Jesus is our intercession. That will help us to learn more about what the word means.
David E. Leininger
Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. Physically beautiful with the color and light; spiritually beautiful with story and song. Then there is the special baby -- a baby whose birth was greeted by angels, a baby whose birth meant tidings of joy for all people everywhere, a baby who would save the world. We gather for worship, enjoy familiar company, exchange holiday wishes, then go home, drink eggnog, and eat Christmas treats. God is in heaven and all is right with the world. Or so it often seems.

Stephen M. Crotts
A young man visiting a very small town in Virginia struck up a conversation with an older gentleman sitting on a loafers' bench outside the gas station. "Just look at this town!" The young fellow remarked. "Fresh air, no traffic, you sure don't have much of a population problem around here!" "Wrong, son!" The old man replied. "Dang near every problem we have here is caused by the population!"

It's true everywhere, isn't it? Man's greatest problem is man himself.

The Population Problem

Special Occasion