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The little town of New... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
The little town of New Concord in southeastern Ohio has become known across the country and around t
Tamara was eight years old... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2000
Tamara was eight years old.
We chose a mongrel, but... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2000
We chose a mongrel, but our neighbor chose a purebred.
Don had been successful growing... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
Don had been successful growing up. He had become good at most everything he tried.
Niels Bohr pioneered the quantum... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13<br> -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2000
Niels Bohr pioneered the quantum theory of nuclear physics, and for it the Copenhagen-born scientist
Pastor Barb was often asked... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
Pastor Barb was often asked about what made her decide to become an ordained minister.
On being asked of what... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
On being asked of what country he was a citizen, the Greek philosopher Diogenes replied, "I am a ci
A little boy had five... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2000
A little boy had five barley loaves and two fish.
When the gospel writers included... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
When the gospel writers included the detail of a voice from heaven in the story of Jesus' baptism, t
It costs something to be... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
It costs something to be a follower of Jesus. It is not easy and therefore it is not for everybody.
Stephen Carter in The Culture... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
Stephen Carter in The Culture of Disbelief explores the ramifications of a culture that was raised n
It was late afternoon, and... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2000
It was late afternoon, and I was on my way home in downtown Detroit.
Every young child who has... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2000
Every young child who has become separated from his or her parents at the grocery store knows the fe
Have you ever had a... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2000
Have you ever had a tongue-lashing that you will never forget? Most of us have.
Nathan sat quietly eating his... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2000
Nathan sat quietly eating his candy and enjoying each individual bite.
The Reverend William Smith's daughter... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2000
The Reverend William Smith's daughter Abigail wanted to marry.
It was an unusual situation... -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
It was an unusual situation. Pastor Jane was not the typical pastor.
When you send in your... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1997
When you send in your federal income tax form, there is a spot on the second page where you are aske
He believed in AA because... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1997
He believed in AA because it saved his life.
One of Vincent van Gogh's... -- Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
One of Vincent van Gogh's most celebrated works is titled The Potato Eaters.
The pleasant waitress arrived, and... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1997
The pleasant waitress arrived, and the customer said: "I'll have the special for today, and a cup of
William Jennings Bryan was not... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
William Jennings Bryan was not exactly the religious bigot that he was pictured to be in accounts o
In the South American country... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1997
In the South American country of Colombia, there is a Roman Catholic church where people take their
In Britain during the darkest... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1997
In Britain during the darkest days of WW2, blackout was practiced.
Morton Kelsey, who has written... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1997
Morton Kelsey, who has written eloquently on the subject of love, tells how one day he felt a sharp

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
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Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
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Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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