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Third Sunday of Advent - A

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Children's Activity

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What (not) to wear -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Now or later? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Materials: Craft sticks -- around fifty per child Thick glue
Who is the king? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Do your children have a favorite superhero?
John the Baptist -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: This week's Gospel tells us about John
A great man -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Certainly a primary message Jesus gave
Sending A Message -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers: John the Baptist was the "messenger" God sent to
The joy of our favorite room -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Bulletin (ages 8-10) -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Bulletin (ages 5-7) -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A

Children's sermon

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A Pretty Special Gift #3! -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Object: A video camera. One on your phone is just fine.
Oooo That Makes Me Sooo… Mad? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
John the Baptist asked Jesus, through his own followers, if he really was the “expected one.” Jesus’
Important People -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
Today I have rolled out the red carpet for you.  We are not famous people, movie stars or royalty, s
Preparing the Way -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
First Thoughts
Role models -- James 5:7-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the
What (not) to wear -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Object: a department store magazine/catalog (or clothing store magazine/catalog)
Let it rain -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives th
Now or later? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
... and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" (v.
It's hard to wait! -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
How many of you have a Christmas tree? (show of hands) Did you decorate it?
Who is the king? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
(Show your nativity scene) See what I have with me today? What is this?
Be patient! -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! What do I have here? (Show the present and let
John the Baptist -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! Does anybody know who this is? (Show the
Hurry up and wait! -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
A bean is a seed. Seeds grow into plants. Plants produce more
A great man -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning! This morning I have a copy of what is called a
Do you have patience? -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. What am I holding? (Let them
Are you the one? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what this is? (Show
The importance of being patient -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

The Immediate Word

Let Us Go Forth and Not Be Offended -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
For December 11, 2022:
Small Action = Massive Transformation -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Thomas Willadsen -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
For December 15, 2019:
The Real Deal -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Robin Lostetter, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
In this week’s gospel lectionary text, John dispatches his followers to confront Jesus and ask him:
’tis The Season... -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In last week’s lectionary gospel reading John the Baptist talked about preparing the way of the L
Shop Without Ceasing -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Another Black Friday -- the discount shopping bonanza that marks the day after Thanksgiving -- has c
Same Old, Same Old -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- Thom M. Shuman, Paul Bresnahan -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
So often in life, we are temped to "delegate" or "pass the buck." We don't want to do something, so

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Let Us Go Forth and Not Be Offended -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
For December 11, 2022:
A Pretty Special Gift #3! -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Object: A video camera. One on your phone is just fine.
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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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?”

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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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