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Peter Andrew Smith

Peter Andrew Smith is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada currently serving St. James United Church in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He is the author of All Things are Ready (CSS) a book of lectionary based communion prayers and a number of stories and articles, which can be found listed at www.peterandrewsmith.com.
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Stories

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Salt of the Earth -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2020
Maxine tapped her pen on the table as she looked at the open Bible in front of her.
Purify Me Of My Sin -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2020
John knocked at the door and waited. His heart was pounding in his chest and he was sweating.
Finding Hope -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
John sighed and looked out the classroom window. He had no idea what he was going to do.
Finding the Way -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2020
Peter forced himself to take another deep breath and sit back in his chair.
The Living Christ -- John 20:1-18 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Easter Day - A -- 2020
Lily looked at the sign advertising the worship services on campus.
Laying Down in Green Pastures -- Psalm 23 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Robert pushed the rest of the lunch over to one side of the hospital tray.
Left Behind -- Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:44-53 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2020
Contents “Left Behind” by Keith Hewitt
In God's Image -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
Let us make people in our own image. Jessie narrowed her eyes and read Genesis 1:26 one mor
Welcoming -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2020
Contents “Welcoming” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Invaders -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2020
Contents "The Invaders" by Keith Hewitt
Faith In the Storm -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Luke stared at the stack of papers sitting in front of him.
Holy Ground -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2020
Charlie noticed the church a few blocks from his new apartment as he wandered toward the downtown.
Coming to Jesus -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2020
Helen’s picked up her phone to look at the new message.
Dealing With Sin -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2020
John entered the room without saying a word and took a seat at one end of the table.
Truly Exalted -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2020
“There were so many people involved in the project I’m not sure I deserve to be singled out,” Jenny
Called to Serve -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2020
Judy appeared at the door. “Your two o’clock appointment is waiting for you.”
Responding To Signs Of The End -- Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Isaiah 64:1-9 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Contents “Responding To Signs Of The End” by David O. Bales
Everything is Possible with God -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Contents “Everything is Possible with God” by Peter Andrew Smith
Walking Through Fire -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
Contents “Walking Through Fire” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Days Will Come -- Isaiah 65:17-25, Luke 21:5-19 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Days Will Come” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Days Will Come -- Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2019
Contents “The Days Will Come” by Peter Andrew Smith
Yet to Come -- John 2:1-11, Psalm 36:5-10 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019
Contents “Yet to Come” by Peter Andrew Smith

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A Great Light -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
“Well that should do it for out here.” Paul shoveled the last of the snow on the walkway.
In God's Image -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
Let us make people in our own image. Jessie narrowed her eyes and read Genesis 1:26 one mor
Faith In the Storm -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Luke stared at the stack of papers sitting in front of him.

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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
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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