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Donna E. Schaper

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Small Sin, Large Grace -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2008
This pericope is in two parts. First there is the testimony of Nathan against David.
When Necks Break -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2008
What is the point of war? Even wars of old?
Wise Leadership -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2008
Solomon asks for the right thing: He asks for wisdom.
Dedicating Temples -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2008
So much is happening in chapter 8 of 1 Kings that we almost want to get dressed up for an amazing ce
Joy Is For Leaping -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2008
This ode to spring and to love is almost always used at Passover.
Having A Good Name -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2008
Proverbs is right: Having a good name is a terribly important thing.
Finding The Good Woman In Us All -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2008
A good woman is a superwoman, or so it appears to me as I read the list of things she can do.
The Place Beyond Revenge -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2008
A custom is begun!
Being Two People At Once -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2008
David gets in trouble the way many other men get in trouble.
The Place Beyond Punishment -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2008
You can tell a lot about a family by finding out what happens if a child spills something.
Job Is For Real -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2008
We find Job on the edge of town, his money gone, his children dead, picking at his innumerable sores
Falling Short (Of The Glory Of God) -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2006
Sam Goldwyn, the great picture maker, said of one of his movies, "I don't care if the picture makes
Whose Inheritance Is It? -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- Donna E. Schaper -- All Saints Day - C -- 2006
The Holy Spirit gives us our inheritance.
When Christ Is King ... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2006
Many people don't like the theological language of Christ as king.
The Gospel Is Unchained ... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2006
I went to the store to buy a new pair of blue jeans.
Weary In Well Doing -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2006
What makes people weary is conflict.
Think On These Things -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2006
In the letter to the people at Philippi, Paul wanted us to think on things that are beautiful, pure,
Itchy Ears -- 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2006
As usual, the epistle is a little more graphic than we can quite grasp.
Flying Coach To Nirvana -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2006
A good friend of mine, Bob Frederickson, is writing a travel book called Flying Coach To Nirvana.
Boasting And Praying For You -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2006
Recently, I was asked to give a prayer at the area chamber of commerce meeting, with these instructi
Do Not Be Quickly Shaken -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2006
Several years ago, Lyle Schaller made the observation that ministry, once a "high status, low stress
Stay In The City -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
When Jesus leaves earth, in the Ascension, he advises that we stay in the city.

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Job Is For Real -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2008
We find Job on the edge of town, his money gone, his children dead, picking at his innumerable sores
The Gospel Is Unchained ... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2006
I went to the store to buy a new pair of blue jeans.
Flying Coach To Nirvana -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2006
A good friend of mine, Bob Frederickson, is writing a travel book called Flying Coach To Nirvana.
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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.
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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.

 “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
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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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