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James Evans

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The Holy Trinity -- Psalm 8 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- 2006
(See Trinity Sunday, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)
Advent 3 -- Psalm 146:5-10 -- James Evans -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2006
(See Proper 26/Pentecost 24/Ordinary Time 31, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)
Easter 7 -- Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
At first reading, this psalm presents a scattering of themes.
Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17 -- Psalm 14 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2006
(See Proper 19/Pentecost 17/Ordinary Time 24, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6 -- Psalm 30 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2006
(For alternative approaches, see Easter 3, Cycle C, and Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14, Cy
Epiphany 5/Ordinary Time 5 -- Psalm 138 -- James Evans -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Attempting to use mere language to discuss and describe the workings of God is not an easy task.
Lent 5 -- Psalm 126 -- James Evans -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
There is perhaps no greater challenge to the life of faith than suffering.
Proper 4/Pentecost 2/Ordinary Time 9 -- Psalm 96 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2006
Psalm 96 is an enthronement psalm.
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see also Epiphany, Cycle B, for an alternative app
The Day Of Pentecost -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle B, for an alternat
Proper 13/Pentecost 11/Ordinary Time 18 -- Psalm 51:1-12 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2006
(See Ash Wednesday, Cycle A, and Lent 5, Cycle B, for alternative approaches.)
Epiphany 7/Ordinary Time 7 -- Psalm 41 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2006
This psalm is often identified as a prayer of individual thanksgiving but it reads more as a plea fo
Easter 4 -- Psalm 23 -- James Evans -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
(See Lent 4, Cycle A, and Easter 4, Cycle B, for alternative approaches.)
Proper 5/Pentecost 3/Ordinary Time 10 -- Psalm 146 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2006
(See Advent 3, Cycle A, for vv.
Christmas Day -- Psalm 97 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see also Easter 7, Cycle C, for an alternative app
The Holy Trinity -- Psalm 8 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2006
(See also The Holy Trinity, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Proper 4/Pentecost 2/Ordinary Time 9 -- Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2006
(See Epiphany 2/Ordinary Time 2, Cycle B. For an alternative approach to vv.
Epiphany 8/Ordinary Time 8 -- Psalm 103:1-13, 22 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 2006
This is one of those psalms whose words have become so familiar from liturgical usage that they run
Christmas Day -- Psalm 98 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see also Christmas, Cycle A, and Easter 6, Cycle B
Easter 6 -- Psalm 67 -- James Evans -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
The opening verse of this psalm echoes the blessing of Aaron found in Numbers 6:24-26: "The Lord ble
Easter 2 -- Psalm 150 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
Psalm 150 offers eloquent testimony to the power of repetition.
Advent 1 -- Psalm 122 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2006
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (v. 6).
Proper 4/Pentecost 2/Ordinary Time 9 -- Psalm 46 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2006
Categorized as both a "song of Zion" and "a psalm of confidence," Psalm 46 celebrates God's choice t
Proper 6/Pentecost 4/Ordinary Time 11 -- Psalm 20 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2006
Among the greatest political speeches ever written is Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Christmas 2 -- Psalm 147:12-20 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2006
This psalm was likely written for the people of Jerusalem after their return from exile (see vv.

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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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