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John Jamison

John B. Jamison served as a pastor of United Methodist churches in Illinois for over twenty years. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as well as a masters and a Ph.D. in Education. John spent extended time studying in the Holy Land and uses that experience as a source for his sermons and children's sermons. John has written for radio and television, has authored three novels, and is an award-winning children’s book author. When he is not writing, John enjoys painting, gardening, playing the guitar, and spending time with his wife Patricia, their adult daughter, Tricia, and two grandchildren, Ben and Emily.

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Children's sermon

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Fishing Around -- Luke 5:1-11 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2022
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulle
Gimme, Gimme! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2022
Object: An ear of corn.
Flipping Things -- Luke 6:17-26 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2022
They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with u
Appearances! -- Mark 1:4-11 -- John Jamison -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2021
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the fo
God’s Seeds -- Mark 4:26-34 -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2021
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to de
What God Sees! -- John 1:43-51 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2021
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the fo
The Storm! -- Mark 4:35-41 -- John Jamison -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2021
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side
A Childish Faith -- Mark 10:2-16 -- John Jamison -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2021
Object: A list of rules, or a sign with rules you might see at a pool or school.
Another Wow! -- Mark 5:21-43 -- John Jamison -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2021
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered
Follow Me! -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2021
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
Freedom! -- Mark 6:1-13 -- John Jamison -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2021
Calling the twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over imp
The Rich Man -- Mark 10:17-31 -- John Jamison -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2021
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. 
Who Is That? -- Mark 6:14-29 -- John Jamison -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2021
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known.
Chairs! -- Mark 10:35-45 -- John Jamison -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2021
Object: Chairs for a short game of Musical Chairs.
Amazed! -- Mark 1:21-28 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2021
Objects: There are two pieces for this message; a simple magic trick and a badge or

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Gimme, Gimme! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2022
Object: An ear of corn.
Is God Here? -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- John Jamison -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2022
Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory
A Pretty Special Gift #2! -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Object: You need just a few pieces of clothing to dress six children.
Tempted! -- Luke 4:1-13 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answe
A Pretty Special Gift #3! -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Object: A video camera. One on your phone is just fine.
Our Job Description -- Luke 17:5-10 -- John Jamison -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2022
Object: A printed copy of the job description that is included with this week’s mes
Seeing Jesus! -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2022
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (v. 8)
Contacts! -- John 16:12-15 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2022
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the S
Only the Best! -- John 2:1-11 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2022
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water;” so they filled them to the brim.
At Home -- Luke 4:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2022
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synag

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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?”

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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

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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