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Rick McCracken-Bennett

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Forgive Us -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2009
I'm ashamed to say that too often I behave like the guy laying in bed with his family refusing to ge
Stuff! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2009
It's everywhere you look.
Don't Be Afraid -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2009
"Don't be afraid." How many times have we heard those words in our lifetime?
The Great Divide -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2009
I have to admit, this is not the Jesus I'm comfortable with.
What If The Disciples Had Email And One Of The Disciples Was A Woman? -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2009
From: Priscilla@galilee.net
But I Really Like The Best Seat In The House! -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2009
Years ago I was a director of alcohol and drug programs in a neighboring county.
Finish What You Start -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2009
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go
Where Would You Go To Meet Jesus? -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2009
I remember reading in a church development book some time ago of the experiences of a church planter
How Do You Know The Good Guys From The Bad Guys? -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2009
I'm going to dispense with the niceties and cut to the chase.
The Great Divide -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2009
Some of us are old enough to remember the old Cat Stevens' tune, "Father And Son." That song, as you
When The Going Gets Tough ... The Tough Start Praying! -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2009
Ever since the sign went up on our property that our church was coming I've gotten phone calls from

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Stuff! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2009
It's everywhere you look.
The Great Divide -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2009
Some of us are old enough to remember the old Cat Stevens' tune, "Father And Son." That song, as you

Stories

StoryShare

Free Stories/illustrations For Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 -- Luke 16:25 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
The Rich Man's Table By Rick McCracken-Bennett Luke 16:19-31
Where Have All The Good Samaritans Gone? -- Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:1-14, Amos 7:7-17, Psalm 82 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, David E. Leininger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
The Boy Who Always Told The Truth -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John S. Smylie -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Contentment -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- David E. Leininger, Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Contentment" by David Leininger
Signs, Signs, Signs! -- Luke 19:1-10, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, David E. Leininger -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week
Lessons Of A Farmer -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, Sandra Herrmann -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week
God's Dinner Bell -- Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, David E. Leininger, Richard A. Jensen -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "God's Dinner Bell" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
Why? -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- C. David Mckirachan, Rick McCracken-Bennett, John E. Sumwalt, Fanny Lee Seville, Scott Dalgarno, David E. Leininger -- Passion Sunday - C
Passion/Palm SundayIsaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11
Rejoice In The Lord -- Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher, Christina Seibel, Timothy F. Merrill -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
The Wisest Person I've Ever Known -- John 6:51-58, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, C. David Mckirachan, Susan K. Hedahl -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Carpe Kairos"
Talking To God -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31, Psalm 26 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
One Day In Paradise -- John 18:33-37, Revelation 1:4b-8, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18) -- Frank R. Fisher, David O. Bales, C. David Mckirachan, Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
A Thanksgiving Reflection -- Matthew 6:25-33, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales, Frank R. Fisher -- Thanksgiving Day - B
NOTE: This installment covers both Thanksgiving Day and Christ The King Sunday.
Follow The Star -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Psalm 29 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Follow The Star" by David Leininger
Here Am I; Send Me! -- Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), Psalm 138 -- Stan Purdum, Rick McCracken-Bennett -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Here Am I; Send Me!" by Stan Purdum
The Lamb -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- John E. Sumwalt, Rick McCracken-Bennett, C. David Mckirachan, Fanny Lee Seville, Scott Dalgarno, David E. Leininger -- Maundy Thursday - C
Passion/Palm SundayIsaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11
Betrayal In The Third Grade -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22:1-15 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan, Fanny Lee Seville, Scott Dalgarno, David E. Leininger -- Good Friday - C
Passion/Palm SundayIsaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11
Everything Old Is New Again -- John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6a, Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, Timothy F. Merrill, David E. Leininger -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
E-Mails To Home: What If Paul Had An E-Mail Account? -- Luke 7:11-17, Galatians 1:11-24, 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Psalm 146 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John S. Smylie -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Follow The Star -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- Epiphany of the Lord - A
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Follow The Star" by David Leininger
E-Mails To Home: What If Paul Had An E-Mail Account? -- Luke 7:11-17, Galatians 1:11-24, 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Psalm 146 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John S. Smylie -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
For May 9, 2021:
  • One Nation Under God? by Tom Willadsen — What would the United States look like if we truly were “one nation under God?” What would it be like to live in a place where everyone was treated as one who has been “born of God?”
  • Dying Is Easy by Dean Feldmeyer — Dying is easy; living the gospel is hard.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Waking Up to Racism” by John Sumwalt
“Twists and Turns” by Frank Ramirez

 
Waking Up to Racism
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 98

Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity. (vv. 8-9)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the mid-1960s, a popular song declared, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of.”1 It was an era of both national and international unrest. And the American landscape was reeling from the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and opposition to both. Amidst headlines so marked by unrest and division, therefore, the sentiment of the song struck a chord with an American audience. 
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48
Prejudice is always wrong. Nat King Cole is a well-known artist who was the first African American to host his own national television program. In 1948, he purchased a beautiful home in an exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood. When the local neighborhood association confronted him and informed him it didn’t want any undesirables to move in, Cole responded, “Neither do I. If I see any coming in here, I’ll be the first to complain.” He lived in that house until his death in 1965.

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John Jamison
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (vv. 9-12)

Hi, everyone! (Let them respond.)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus gave up his life for us. In our worship today let us explore how to love one another as he has loved us.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our love for each other is thin and pale.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we pretend to love but fail to care.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we don't know how to love.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jo Perry-sumwalt
One evening, when I was 26 years old, beleagered by guilt for acknowledged sins, I was deep into an hour-long prayer of repentance. In despair, I grieved that I had broken the commandments and that I was not worthy of God's love.

Near me lay the Bible, unused and unfamiliar. I had never, ever read from the Bible. Yet my hands reached out and took the Bible to open it. I knew not where, nor why. But my hands knew the way. They opened to John 15:9-11 and as my eyes began to read, my mind knew the meaning with clarity. My eyes read verse 10 first:
Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
God's love brings us together.

Collect of the Day
It is noted that God has prepared great joy for those who love Him. Petitions are then offered that such love may be poured into the hearts of the faithful so that they may obtain these promises. Justification as a reward for our deeds (love) is communicated by this prayer.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 98
Stan Purdum
(See Christmas Day, Cycles A and B, for alternative approaches.)

Richard E. Gribble
Once upon a time a great and powerful king ruled over a vast territory. There was something very strange about this kingdom, however -- everything was the same. The people ate the same food, drank the same drink, wore the same clothes, and lived in the same type of homes. The people even did all the same work. There was another oddity about this place. Everything was gray -- the food, the drink, the clothes, the houses; there were no other colors.

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