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First Sunday after Christmas Day - C

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Children's Activity

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the early 1970s, a... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
In the early 1970s, a psychology professor at Stanford University named David L.
Jesus' family has been to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Jesus' family has been to Jerusalem for Passover and they've stayed seven or eight days --
One preacher took this text... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
One preacher took this text and preached a sermon on: "'Tis a Pity the Kittens Have to
Losing a child is every... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare. Most parents have experienced this at
Seated among the learned rabbis... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Seated among the learned rabbis in the temple, the young Jesus displays a remarkable
On his visit to the... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
On his visit to the temple, Jesus amazed the Jewish teachers with his intelligent answers
The boy Samuel served... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
The boy Samuel served a faithful apprenticeship at the shrine at Shiloh, without seeking perso
Part of the thrill... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Part of the thrill of competing in team sports is the honor of wearing the uniform.
Every mother or grandmother... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Every mother or grandmother who sews probably can tell a story of sewing a garment for a child
What's that? Debbie asked... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
"What's that?" Debbie asked as she watched her grandma at the kitchen counter preparing supper
In the 2000 film... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the 2000 film, Chocolat (among those nominated for Best Picture), a mysterious stran
In the early 1970s... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the early 1970s, a psychology professor at Stanford University named David L.
I remember the first... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
I remember the first tuxedo I ever wore (junior prom in high school), the most important day w
Seated among the learned... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Seated among the learned rabbis in the temple, the young Jesus displays a remarkable awareness
Jesus' parents came to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Jesus' parents came to the rescue of the temple teachers just in time.
On his visit to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
On his visit to the Temple, Jesus amazed the Jewish teachers with his intelligent answers, and
Losing a child is... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare.
There are many reasons... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you. But don't worry.
After a panic-stricken three... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
After a panic-stricken three-day search for their twelve-
There are many father-son... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
There are many father-son relationships which catch our attention.
Police were investigating some suspicious... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Police were investigating some suspicious activity in a parking garage in a suburb of New York City.
Our first parish was in... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Our first parish was in the country, two hours from the closest city.
People magazine likes... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
People magazine likes to run photo columns on "The Worst Dressed" and "The Best Dressed" indi
This text speaks of the... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
This text speaks of the Church and its obligation to a life marked by love, forgiveness, and "Christ
Sometimes the adults say they... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Sometimes the adults say they learn as much from the children's message as they do from the sermon.

Intercession

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

Let Christ Dwell Within You -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
In "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray is a handsome young man whose portrait
Growing In Wisdom And Stature -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
There's a wonderful children's book by David McKee, called "Not Now, Bernard." (Published by Rando

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role play. You can do this with only two children playing the parts of the two women, but if you have more children, you could have two more playing the parts of the children, another playing the part of the synagogue leader, and another playing the part of the country’s leader. You can also add any other roles you might want to add to make it interesting. Also, I have created places for your characters to speak, but you can add more of those to make it all more fun and memorable.

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The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For August 24, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
C. Knight Aldrich, a medical doctor and the first chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago (1955-1964), was a keen analyst of the motivations for our behaviors. He worked with the social services agencies of Chicago for a time, particularly spending hours with teenagers who had been arrested for shoplifting or other theft. Aldrich interviewed them to find out how they had come to this. He also talked with the parents, attempting to discover how they had handled the problem from the first time they knew about it.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 77:1-6

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“We have questions about your conduct as our pastor,” Carl announced as soon as Pastor John sat down at the hastily called board meeting. “We have received complaints about you from the congregation.”

“Complaints?” Pastor John frowned. “From whom and about what?”

“Mrs. Finnigan saw you coming out of what she politely described as ‘A Gentleman’s Club’ last Thursday night when she was driving downtown.” Bruce scowled. “Do you deny this?”

“Not at all,” Pastor John said. “I did have to go to that place on Thursday evening.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus was aware of people's deepest needs and what prompted their actions. In our worship today let us consider how we can discover people's deepest needs and the motives for their actions.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we see only the surface and condemn without real understanding.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are afraid to get sufficiently close to other people to see their inner needs.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The old saying, "experience is the best teacher," could serve as a subtitle for this psalm. Written as a prayer for help in a time of distress or oppression, the psalm subtly hints at a recognition and awareness that only comes with time. There is a track record, so to speak, that the psalmist is aware of: God's record of dependability. Based on God's proven record of saving power and grace, the psalmist is able to pray for salvation, but at the same time celebrate the certainty of its arrival.
Lee Ann Dunlap
Carrie's1 high school guidance counselor noticed she had been acting out a bit in school recently. She had appeared depressed and had been having some authority issues over rules and such. The guidance counselor set Carrie up with a local pastor who had been volunteering a few hours each Friday after a teen suicide a few months before. Most of the other students who came to see the pastor just needed someone to listen to their usual teen issues and heartaches. But, shortly into their time together, Carrie began to open up about some real grown-up problems.
Kirk R. Webster
It's a typical Sunday morning at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. The people file in and sit down in plush pews. Their attention is drawn to the chancel where they see choir members calmly seated, robed in dark blue and white. The mahogany altar table is draped with a silk parament. Two bronze candleholders stand guard at the table edges.
R. Robert Cueni
As was his custom, Jesus went that Sabbath morning to the synagogue for worship. As he was preaching and teaching, he happened to glance toward the fringe of the crowd where he saw a very crippled woman. She was bent over and was unable to stand up straight. When he inquired, Jesus was told the woman had been that way for eighteen years.
John H. Will
Call to Worship
Indeed, this is a day of rest and gladness.
This is God's Sabbath, created for our reflection and renewal.
Let us then not profane it, but keep it holy.
We do this as we honor God and commit ourselves to the well--being of God's creation.
Each of us individually needs a personal rejuvenation of spirit.
Together we seek a strengthening of community, a community that continues to build itself in love.
So do we come as one people to worship God, our Maker and our Sustainer.

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