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Arley K. Fadness

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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

An A Plus Teacher -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2018
“They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not a
Eph-pha-tha (ef-a-tha) -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2018
Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphat
Listening Loudly -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2018
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (v. 7b)
About Losing and Saving -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2018
“...those who lose their life for my sake...will save it.” (v. 35b)
Great Greatness -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me...” (v.37a)
Beloved Just As You Are -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'” (
O the Power of Soap -- The Day of Ashes -- Matthew 6:1-16, 16-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2018
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (v. 21)
Sprinkle, Sparkle -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2018
“Salt is good; (v. 50a)

Good morning boys and girls,
Keeping or Giving -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sa
The Little Bible -- John 3:14-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For God so loved the world He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may n
'I Love You Children' -- Jesus -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2018
“Let the children come to me; do not stop them...” (v.14b)
A Miracle Seed -- John 12:20-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains ju
A Lesson On How To Be Great! -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2018
“...whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.” (v.
Betrayed! -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2018
“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betra
The Last Commandment: Love One Another -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2018
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Finished! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' Then he bowed his head and gav
Doubt Or Dare (to believe) -- John 20:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“Do not doubt but believe.” (v. 27b)
No Ghost But God -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“Touch me and see: for a ghost does not have flesh and bone.” (v.
The Very, Very Good Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (v.
Connected -- John 15:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
Protect Them -- John 17:6-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“Holy Father, protect them in your name....” (v.11a)
You've Got A Friend -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2018
“When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;” (v.
God In A Teacup? -- John 3:1-17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2018
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.... (v.
Who, Who, Who Is Jesus' Family? -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2018
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (v.35)
The Kingdom Grows -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2018
“The kingdom of God... is like a mustard seed....” (v.31)

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 Drama

Characters
Narrator
Moses
Deliverance! -- Exodus 7-12 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 3 Drama

Characters
Paulo (the producer)
Wilderness Wanderings (Photos In The Desert) -- Exodus 15-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 4 Drama

Characters
Photographer
Moses
The Ten Commandments (Ten Friends Of The Covenant) -- Exodus 19:9-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 5 Drama

Characters
Voice Of God (offstage)
News From The Desert Times (The Golden Calf Incident) -- Exodus 32 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2007
Midweek Lent 6 Drama

Characters
Shalom Unravels -- Genesis 37:1-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
Characters

Narrator

Bilhah

Joseph (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 Tableau

Prelude
"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" -- Jesus

There it sits.

Golden brown. Unsliced.
Joseph And Mary In The Garden -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- 2005
Characters

Joseph Of Arimathea

Mary 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.
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
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
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

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Note: This installment is still being edited and appended, but for purposes of immediacy we are posting it for your use. Please excuse any errors or omissions. We’ll have it cleaned up soon.

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There’s an old saying, “Watch what you pray for, you might get it.” A cautionary tale.

I always worry about giving people a rosy picture, a way to solve their problems. Having grown up with sit-coms, indoctrinated with the attitude that every problem could be fixed in a half hour (with commercials), except for the complicated ones (those took an hour), you’d think I’d expect happy endings and easy fixes. But somewhere along the line I was taught or osmosed a different attitude.

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Job 38:1-7, 34-41
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It is a dark, damp, raining Wednesday night in a certain pastor’s church study. Gathered with the pastor are four men in their late fifties. They have their Bibles open. Their eyelids are barely cracked open. A couple of the men were wise enough to stop by a gas station to get a cup of black coffee to stay awake. This is the latest effort in this small town congregation that worships less than ninety people.

CSSPlus

Arley K. Fadness
“...whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.” (v. 43b)

Good morning young folks,

What a blessing to see you this morning. I hope you are well and eager to hear a message from the Bible today. I love sharing and I know you love listening.

Today we will learn about how to be great. Yep, that’s what I said -- how to be great!

Have you ever been in a contest and you came out first? (children respond)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One thing which perhaps separates humans from other animals, is our sense of justice. According to the documentaries I see on television, other animals seem to be driven by basic needs such as hunger, survival and sex. Their lives are centred around satisfying those needs, and even though some animals display considerable domestic organisation and affection for others of the species, they're still driven by their basic primitive urges.

We could also say that humans are driven by similar urges, but our lives are very

SermonStudio

James Evans
Psalm 104 begins and ends with a unique call to praise. Instead of calling on others to praise the Lord, the psalmist instructs himself: "Bless the Lord, O my soul." This psalm and Psalm 103 are the only places in the Bible where this particular expression occurs. What are we to make of this unusual phrase?

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