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First Sunday of Advent - A

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Eagerly awaiting -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like popcorn?
Waking up and getting started -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.
Keeping secrets -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Fa

The Immediate Word

Is Peace Possible? -- Isaiah 2:2-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Carter Shelley -- First Sunday of Advent - A
November 28, 2004Advent 1 / Cycle A Dear Fellow Preachers,

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Back on November 19, 2002... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Back on November 19, 2002, the New York Times ran an article under the ominous headline: "Ast
Thirteen years ago, a concert... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Thirteen years ago, a concert musician, Barry Faldner, and Chip Altholz, a manager and promoter for
Katie collected information about families... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Katie collected information about families in the school district who were struggling financially.
At a recent neighborhood watch... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
At a recent neighborhood watch meeting, the police presented several important ideas on how to secur
The late Fred Rogers was... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The late Fred Rogers was a beloved children's television personality and also a minister.
I have a new hobby... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
I have a new hobby of making leather belts. I put an announcement in the church bulletin
Alison and her mother always... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Alison and her mother always seemed to be at odds, never quite getting along, not
When one looks at the... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
When one looks at the St. Elias mountain range, which borders Alaska, northern British
The choir director and pastor... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The choir director and pastor were feuding. The pastor announced his sermon,
Put on the Lord Jesus... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
Although the passage does not... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Although the passage does not speak specifically of grace and mercy, it certainly does in
Back on November 19, 2002... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Back on November 19, 2002, the New York Times ran an article under the
Thirteen years ago, a concert... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Thirteen years ago, a concert musician, Barry Faldner, and Chip Altholz, a manager and
Katie collected information about families... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Katie collected information about families in the school district who were struggling
At a recent neighborhood watch... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
At a recent neighborhood watch meeting, the police presented several important ideas on
Illustrations for December 2, 2007 from Emphasis -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Preaching The PsalmPsalm 122
The late Fred Rogers was... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The late Fred Rogers was a beloved children's television personality and also a minister.
I have a new hobby... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
I have a new hobby of making leather belts.
Alison and her mother always... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Alison and her mother always seemed to be at odds, never quite getting along, not agreeing on much o
When one looks at the... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
When one looks at the St.
The choir director and pastor... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The choir director and pastor were feuding.
Nathan was afraid. The complication... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1998
Nathan was afraid.
In an April 1968 issue... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
In an April 1968 issue of Aerospace Medicine, a NASA researcher on a space activity suit publ

The Immediate Word

Which Armor Will We Wear? -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- Paul Bresnahan, Thom M. Shuman -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
In Romans, Paul admonishes us to "lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Ro
Is Peace Possible? -- Isaiah 2:2-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Carter Shelley -- First Sunday of Advent - A
November 28, 2004Advent 1 / Cycle A Dear Fellow Preachers,

Poems

Preaching

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Promise of Peace -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- Thomas E. Ridenhour, Sr. -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
The Irish seem constantly at war, seeking to kill each other for religious goals.

The Immediate Word

Is Peace Possible? -- Isaiah 2:2-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Carter Shelley -- First Sunday of Advent - A
November 28, 2004Advent 1 / Cycle A Dear Fellow Preachers,

The Village Shepherd

Light In Our Darkness -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Rosemary was 33 years old.
Is It Getting Up Time Yet? -- Romans 13:11-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Are you a night person or a day person?
How Does God Come To Us? -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Those words about the flood in today's gospel reading, are particularly poignant in light of thi

Stories

Worship

SermonStudio

Peace in God's Kingdom -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 -- Heth H. Corl -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
Call to WorshipPastor:
ADVENT 1 -- Psalm 122 -- Norman A. Beck -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
Among the four texts chosen for this occasion in Series A of the lectionary we are using, perhaps Ps

The Immediate Word

Is Peace Possible? -- Isaiah 2:2-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- Carter Shelley -- First Sunday of Advent - A
November 28, 2004Advent 1 / Cycle A Dear Fellow Preachers,
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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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