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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

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We Are Children Of The Resurrection -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2019
“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
You've Got A Friend -- John 14:23-29 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
Don’t Be Fooled! -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2019
“Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He!’”
A Different Kind Of King -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
“Then he (thief on the cross) said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Mission Accomplished! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2019
While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
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)
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
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)
Listening Loudly -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2018
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (v. 7b)
Growing Up! -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2018
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.”
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,
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)
'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)
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
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.

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A Different Kind Of King -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
“Then he (thief on the cross) said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
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)
"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)
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)
Start Seeing Lazarus -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019
“Child, remember… Lazarus...” (v. 25a)
Do It, Jesus! -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2019
“The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ ”  (v. 5)
Gratitude Day -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019
“He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (v. 16a)
Mary's Amazing Surprise -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Easter Day - C -- 2019
“I have seen the Lord.” (v. 18)
You've Got A Friend -- John 14:23-29 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you

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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.
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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.

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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

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For April 28, 2024:
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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.
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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.
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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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