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Elaine M. Ward

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Children's sermon

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The Glory Of God -- Psalm 19 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
It was a new church for Sam.
Little Wind -- Luke 2 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Little Wind floated silently to the foot of God's throne.
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.
"Do Unto Others" -- Matthew 7:12 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once a week we go to the grocery store the day I get my allowance.
The Blessing Of God -- Psalm 133 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The psalmist says that God gives good gifts.
Intercession -- Matthew 5:43-48 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
There was once a man who dreamed of a beautiful home, and soon all of his time, energy, money, and a
God Is Great, God Is Good -- Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Every Sunday one of Betsy's parents drove into the circular drive of the church to deliver their chi
Endless Peace -- Isaiah 9:7 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The children were playing happily in the room. The dogs barked. The cats meowed. The lions roared.
God's Mercy -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The psalms (Show the Psalms in the Bible.) were the prayer poems of the people.
A Sunny Day -- Romans 8:26b -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
"It's raining!" Brad said, sadly.
The Christmas Tree -- John 1:5 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Martin Luther stood silently under the cold, starry night, surrounded by the fir and pine trees of t
Balance -- Luke 5:15-16 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A boy was walking down the road, tired, hungry, lonely, limping on his left foot.
God's Steadfast Love -- Psalm 66:8-20 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
One night a mother, praying with her daughter, asked her how she felt when she prayed.
Brother Lawrence -- Psalm 150:6 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The greasy, sticky pots and pans were piled precariously on the sink.
Good News -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus, found himself in prison for telling the truth, and he
Animals At The Manger -- Luke 2:8-16 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
(Children like to make noise.
Have Mercy Upon Us! -- Psalm 123 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
The two-year-old was visiting her grandparents, and as they gathered around the table, holding hands
Forgive Us Our Trespasses -- Luke 11:4 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once Abraham invited a beggar to his tent for a meal.
All God Does, God Does Well -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Some things we can't explain, and we call them mysteries and trust God's love no matter what.
A Little Child Shall Lead Them -- Isaiah 11:6 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
During the winter months the church offered shelter for the homeless: dinner in the evening, sleep a
Teach Us To Pray -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
In our Bible story for today, Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When He's Here -- Psalm 23 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
It was Father's Day and the minister had gathered the children around him at the altar, including hi
Treasures -- Matthew 6:19-21 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
A stone worn smoothIn a sweaty hand,A scrap of string,
The Lord's Prayer In "New Haven" -- Luke 11:2-4 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
Once upon a time in a town called "New Haven," the mother sat on her son's bed and they talked toget
Good Luck? Bad Luck? Who Knows? -- Psalm 78:1-7 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2002
An old Chinese farmer had an old horse for tilling his fields.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
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
Katy Stenta
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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