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Elaine M. Ward

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Children's sermon

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Silent Night, Holy Night -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"Thank you, Pastor, for coming to visit my sick wife, especially on Christmas Eve," said the old man
All Kinds Of Doubts -- Mark 9:24 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A father came to Jesus with his son who needed healing. He begged Jesus, "Help us!"
This Little Light Of Mine -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
(Bring a lamp that uses oil, such as in Jesus' time, and a basket.)
John The Baptist -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
There was once a man named John. He lived in the wilderness, the desert.
The Seed -- Mark 4:1-9 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
There once was a seed and in that seed was life. The seed was buried in the earth.
Francis Of Assisi -- Genesis 1:31 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once upon a time there was a man named Francis who liked to play and sing and dance.
Creation -- Genesis 1:1--2:3 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
In the beginning God created Earth.
The House On The Rock -- Matthew 7:24-27 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Jesus told a story about a man who built his house upon a rock and another man who built his house u
The Aspen And The Wind -- Mark 10:44 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"Whoever wishes to be first must be servant of all."
Moses, The Baby -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once upon a time there was an evil king who ordered that all boy Hebrew babies were to be killed.
The Loving Father -- Luke 15:11-32 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"Alan, you are late again!" Alan's father's jaw twitched, which meant Alan's father was not pleased.
One Small Raindrop -- Psalm 147:8 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"God covers the sky with clouds; God supplies the earth with rain...."
Moses, The Man -- Exodus 3:1-4 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"It's burning!" Moses exclaimed, looking at the bush burning before him.
Jesus' Resurrection -- Mark 16:6 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The small, furry, green caterpillar ate its way up the stalk of grass.
The Mustard Seed -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
(Ask the children's choir or congregation to sing "Hymn of Promise" by Natalie Sleeth, #707, The Uni
David And Goliath -- Psalm 63 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The lion slowly approached the sheep, who, eating the grass, was unaware of the lion about to eat hi
Transfiguration Sunday -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Leader, wearing dark glasses, asks the children, "Do you know why I am wearing dark glasses?" (Pause
Knowing God -- Psalm 116:1-2 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
It was a new room for Zachary. It was his first Sunday in the three-year-old nursery.
Elijah And The Voice -- 1 Kings 19:1 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Elijah was a messenger of God.
Ask Me, I Will Do It -- John 14:1-14 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Brad was a good student.
"Come And See" -- John 1:29-42 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once a teacher asked the children at church to draw a picture of God. But they had never seen God.
All Saints' Day -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A young boy, reading about the saints, decided to become one.
Job -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once upon a time there was a man named Job.
Listening -- Mark 1:35 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Jesus was a healer.
Everywhere There Was God -- John 4:5-42 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
One day Jesus stopped at a well where he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water.

Illustration

StoryShare

We Can Be Changed -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Constance Berg, John E. Sumwalt, Henry Scholberg, Elaine M. Ward -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2004
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "We Can Be Changed"

Sermon

SermonStudio

Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Another Door -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Intergenerational ServiceCall To Worship:
Be Bold In The Spirit -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Pentecost And Baptism -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Living Water -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
"Who Stands With This Child?" -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:Come, let us stand and worship our God.
Advent And Baptism -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:O come, all ye faithful, and worship the Lord.
Easter And Baptism -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship: God is the resurrection. Come, let us worship God.
Communion: The Sacrament Of Word And Table -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
In the 1930s I grew up feeding on words.
Dancing The Sacraments -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
The Blessed Sacrament -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Remember -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:Come, let us remember and worship God who calls us.
Healing And Forgiveness -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Sharing The Bread -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship: Come, let us break bread together as we worship God.
Take The Bread -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Enough For All -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
(Place a sheaf of wheat and a small bunch of purple grapes in a basket on the altar to represent
World Communion Sunday -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
(Place a variety of breads, representing different parts of the world, on the altar.
Advent And Communion -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Easter And Communion -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Pentecost And Communion -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Thanksgiving And Communion -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Call To Worship:
Children And The Sacraments -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Communion And Children
Sacrament Poems -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
The Gift Of BaptismAt baptism I was given a gift,
The Story Of Zacchaeus -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get.

Stories

StoryShare

We Can Be Changed -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Constance Berg, John E. Sumwalt, Henry Scholberg, Elaine M. Ward -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2004
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "We Can Be Changed"

Worship

SermonStudio

Litany For Advent And Christmas Candle Lighting -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2003
LitanyFirst Sunday Of Advent(Light the first candle)
Rally Day -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
Welcome and AnnouncementsPreludeCall to Worship
Reformation Day -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
Welcome and AnnouncementsPreludeCall to Worship
All Saints' Day -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
All Saints' DayService Of Worship
Thanksgiving -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
Welcome and AnnouncementsPreludeCall to Worship
Advent Sundays -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
Four Advent MonologuesPreface
Cousin Jochaved A Heart Prepared -- Luke 2:6-7 -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
I'm so glad that census is over.
A Shepherd Night Watch -- Luke 2:8-15 -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
It began as a night just like any other night.
An Angel Tidings -- Luke 2:8-14 -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
(Angel enters, humming or whistling "Angels We Have Heard On High." Stops center and begins to pu
Youth Sunday -- Stan Purdum, Pamela J. Abbey, Elaine M. Ward -- 2001
Introduction
Standing On The Shore -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
Crumbs From The Cross -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
The Season Of Sacred Stories -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
Let It Go! -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
The Word Jesus Spoke -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
All-Surrounding Grace -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to WorshipProcessional Hymn
Unless A Grain Of Wheat ... -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
Jesus, The Servant -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
The Lord Has Need Of It -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Call to Worship
Did You Know? -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2000
Did you knowDust creates the snow?Common, useless, nuisance dust
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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