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The Transfiguration of Our Lord -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- George M. Bass -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1990
Prior to the adoption of the new lectionary and somewhat revised church year, the Lutheran Church fo
Fifth Sunday of Easter -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- George M. Bass -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Psalm 98 gave this Sunday its name, Cantate: "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellou
Proper 5 -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) -- George M. Bass -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1990
Sunday provides the theological clue within the cycle and season of Pentecost.
First Sunday after Christmas -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1990
The Sundays after Christmas (there may be one or two some years) allow the church time to reflect on
The Holy Trinity -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- George M. Bass -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1990
Trinity Sunday had given its name to the entire second half of the church year; that changed almost
First Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1990
Historically, most of the liturgical churches celebrate the First Sunday in Lent as Invocabit, as th
The Day of Pentecost -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27 -- George M. Bass -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1990
Just when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the event known as Pentecost, occurred is a matter of d
First Sunday of Advent -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1990
Wake up and watch is the biblical/liturgical theme for this First Sunday of Advent.
The Epiphany of Our Lord -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1990
The liturgical and theological function of the festival of Epiphany is to manifest the full glory of
The Ascension of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- George M. Bass -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1990
Something of a minor liturgical controversy surrounds the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord.
Proper 16 -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1990
In 1991 , this will be the pivotal Sunday in the Pentecost cycle/season; thirteen Sundays precede it
Proper 8 -- Genesis 32:22-32, Matthew 10:34-42 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Easter Cycle -- George M. Bass -- 1989
This cycle is made up of two seasons, Lent and Easter, which together form exactly one-quarter of th
Proper 14 -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:22-33 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Salt and Light -- Matthew 5:13-16 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1989
On this Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, we begin the series of parables in Leationary Cycle A with
Maundy Thursday -- Exodus 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- George M. Bass -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 25 -- Ruth 2:1-13, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Faithful and Unfaithful -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 1989
In the twelfth century Cistercian Abbey of Boquen in Brittany there is a madonna called by the monks
Sunday of the Passion -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54 -- George M. Bass -- Passion Sunday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 26 -- Ruth 4:7-17, Matthew 23:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Seed and Soil -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1989
"O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord." (Jeremiah 22:29) These words of Jeremiah were ch
Proper 12 -- Exodus 3:13-20, Romans 8:26-30, Matthew 13:44-52 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 15 -- Exodus 16:2-15, Romans 11:13-16, 29-32, Matthew 15:21-28 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Transfiguration of Our Lord -- Leviticus 1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 5:38-48 -- George M. Bass -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Treasure and Trash -- Matthew 13:44-52 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1989
According to Jesus, there is nothing more precious than the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Promises -- Promises -- Romans 4:13-25 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
In Romans 4, the apostle turns his attention to Abraham, and rightly so for obvious reasons.
Will The Real Messiah Please Stand Up? -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- William L. Self -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
In the early days of television a popular game show, To Tell the Truth, held the attention of the Am
The Agenda Factor -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- William L. Self -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
Architecture and power are Siamese twins joined at the hip.
A Grave Reality -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Glenn E. Ludwig -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 1999
The widow of Nain, the Gospel story just read: Can you picture the scene?
On The Matter Of Love -- John 15:9-17 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
The presence of God is the difference between joy and happiness.
Deductive And Inductive Sermons -- J. Will Ormond -- 1999
The processes of deduction and induction are mirror opposites.
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...! -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1999
Do you remember the fairy tale "Snow White"?
Jesus And The Challenge Of The Bread Business -- Luke 4:3-4 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- 1999
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus
Once And For All -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- John A. Stroman -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
We approach this first Sunday of Lent with mixed feelings.
The Need Of Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1998
From the beginning, it seemed, Ludovicio Gadda was destined for greatness.
Going Through The Waters -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Tempe Fussell, Curtis Fussell -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1998
I suppose when we hear this passage about the parting of the Reed Sea, many of us cannot help but re
The Journey To Freedom Begins -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1998
Mohandas Gandhi, the famous Indian freedom fighter and certainly one of the most influential persona
Fishing With A Harmonica -- Matthew 4:18-20 -- Anthology -- 1998
for an elderly outdoorsman and church memberLawrence H. Craig
A Time To Build Another Story On A Stone House -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
There was much excitement in the summer of '64 at Tell Makor in Israel.
It's Never Too Late -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 1998
The term "late-bloomers" refers to people who respond later in life to an invitation, but still mana
The Rain Of Bread -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Tempe Fussell, Curtis Fussell -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 1998
There is nothing like heading out into the back country, carrying on your back everything you need t
Essential Personnel! -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1998
In some parts of the country it doesn't matter, but in many areas the snow which falls during this t
The Word Of The Lord Came To The Prophet Haggai -- Haggai 1:1 -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
There is something about seeing a zero creep up on the odometer, whether it's in your car, the world
One Last Reminder -- 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
One cannot read the gospels without being impressed with the way that Jesus dealt with the surprises
Our Need To Talk With The Son -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Easter Day - A -- 1998
Three sisters lived in the forest.
Jesus Called To He -- Luke 13:12 -- Anthology -- 1998
for an active church member who had a long struggle with cancerT. A. Kantonen
A Time To Come Along, Bravely -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
The waiting room is adequate but nothing fancy; magazines dog-eared and out of date, a few toys for
Doing Right Because It Is Right -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1998
In a vast field that stretched as far as the eye could see, a great multitude of people milled about
It's Not Over When The Fat Lady Sings -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Tempe Fussell, Curtis Fussell -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1998
Consider this list: a local restaurant under construction, a high school dropout, the cross-stitch I
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1998
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

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John Enochs, Jr. -- 1991
41. None of us can be alone, what God has created us to be.
John Enochs, Jr. -- 1991
30. Communion calls us to our potential.
Easter 2 -- Psalm 2 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Why do the nations conspire,and the peoples plot in vain?
Proper 5 -- Psalm 113 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 1991
Praise the Lord!Praise, O servants of the Lord;praise the name of the Lord.
John Enochs, Jr. -- 1991
45. We had a certified public accountant who believed the offering was God's tax on his people.
John Enochs, Jr. -- 1991
34.
Easter 3 -- Psalm 30:4-12 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,and give thanks to his holy name.
Proper 6 -- Psalm 42 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 1991
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you,O God.
John Enochs, Jr. -- 1991
46.
The events surrounding the last hours of Jesus' life. -- John 18:1-19:42, John 19:17-30 -- Good Friday - B -- 1990
Again, use an order of worship different from your usual order.Suggestion:
The disciples' failure to understand what Jesus was teaching, and their fear about checking it out -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Eastertide, the Season of the Resurrection -- 1990
Christianity focuses on, and revolves around, Easter Day (No such term as Easter Sunday exists.) Chr
Jesus' rebuttal to the disciples -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Jesus' resurrection -- John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-9 -- Easter Day - B -- 1990
1.
Jesus deals with the question of divorce -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
The risen Christ confronts a doubting Thomas -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Jesus' confrontation with the rich young man and the disciples over riches -- Mark 10:17-30 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
The Appearance of the Risen Christ, and the Disciples initial disbelief -- Luke 24:35-49 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Jesus' confrontation with James and John about sharing power -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by choice -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Jesus' healing of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
God the vinedresser; Jesus the vine; we the branches -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
The Great Commandment: Love God, and others as you love yourself. -- Mark 12:28-37 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Friendship with God -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider these ideas:
Birth of the World's Savior - Include the themes of crucifixion, resurrection, Pentecost -- Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 1990
Suggestion: Use the following themes to identify each section of the order of worship:

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Baptism of Our Lord
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
40 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 2 | OT 2
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 3 | OT 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
For January 11, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
At Jesus' baptism God said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Let us so order our lives that God may say about us, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I fail to please you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm sure I have pleased you, but have got it wrong,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I neither know nor care whether I have pleased you,
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:

StoryShare

Argile Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Welcoming Mr. Forsythe" by Argile Smith
"The Question about the Dove" by Merle Franke


What's Up This Week

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
"Jan wasn't baptized by the spirit, she was baptized by spit," went the joke. Jan had heard it all before: the taunting and teasing from her aunts and uncles. Sure, they hadn't been there at her birth, but they loved to tell the story. They were telling Jan's friends about that fateful day when Jan was born - and baptized.


Elizabeth Achtemeier
The lectionary often begins a reading at the end of one poem and includes the beginning of another. Such is the case here. Isaiah 42:1-4 forms the climactic last stanza of the long poem concerning the trial with the nations that begins in 41:1. Isaiah 42:5-9 is the opening stanza of the poem that encompasses 42:5-17. Thus, we will initially deal with 42:1-4 and then 42:5-9.

Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 42:1--9 (C, E); Isaiah 42:1--4, 6--7 (RC); Isaiah 42:1--7 (L)
Tony S. Everett
Jenny was employed as an emergency room nurse in a busy urban hospital. Often she worked many hours past the end of her shift, providing care to trauma victims and their families. Jenny was also a loving wife and mother, and an excellent cook. On the evening before starting her hectic work week, Jenny would prepare a huge pot of soup, a casserole, or stew; plentiful enough for her family to pop into the microwave or simmer on the stove in case she had to work overtime.

Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Bil Keane, the creator of the Family Circus cartoon, said he was drawing a cartoon one day when his little boy came in and asked, "Daddy, how do you know what to draw?" Keane replied, "God tells me." Then the boy asked, "Then why do you keep erasing parts of it?"1
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Being Inclusive
Message: Are you sure, God, that you show no partiality? Lauds, KDM

The haughty part of us would prefer that God be partial, that is, partial to you and to me. We want to reap the benefits of having been singled out. On the other hand, our decent side wants God to show no partiality. We do yield a little, however. It is fine for God to be impartial as long as we do not need to move over and lose our place.
William B. Kincaid, III
There are two very different ways to think about baptism. The first approach recognizes the time of baptism as a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. The person then considers herself "saved." She may grow in the faith through the years, but nothing which she will experience after her baptism will be as important as her baptism. She always will be able to recall her baptism as the time when her life changed.
R. Glen Miles
I delivered my very first sermon at the age of sixteen. It was presented to a congregation of my peers, a group of high school students. The service, specifically designed for teens, was held on a Wednesday night. There were about 125 people in attendance. I was scared to death at first, but once the sermon got started I felt okay and sort of got on a roll. My text was 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, as some refer to it. The audience that night was very responsive to the sermon. I do not know why they liked it.
Someone is trying to get through to you. Someone with an important message for you is trying to get in touch with you. It would be greatly to your advantage to make contact with the one who is trying to get through to you.
Thom M. Shuman
Call To Worship
One: When the floods and storms of the world threaten
to overwhelm us,
All: God's peace flows through us,
to calm our troubled lives.
One: When the thunder of the culture's claims on us
deafens us to hope,
All: God whispers to us
and soothes our souls.
One: When the wilderness begs us to come out and play,
All: God takes us by the hand
and we dance into the garden of grace.

Prayer Of The Day
Your voice whispers
over the waters of life,
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
A Service Of Renewal

Gathering (may also be used for Gathering on Epiphany 3)
A: Light shining in the darkness,
C: light never ending.
A: Through the mountains, beneath the sea,
C: light never ending.
A: In the stillness of our hearts,
C: light never ending.
A: In the water and the word,
C: light never ending. Amen.

Hymn Of Praise
Baptized In Water or Praise And Thanksgiving Be To God Our Maker

Prayer Of The Day

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. What am I wearing this morning? (Let them answer.) I'm wearing part of a uniform of the (name the team). Have any of you gone to a game where the (name the team) has played? (Let them answer.) I think one of the most exciting parts of a game is right before it starts. That's when all the players are introduced. Someone announces the player's name and number. That player then runs out on the court of playing field. Everyone cheers. Do you like that part of the game? (Let them answer.) Some people call that pre-game "hype." That's a funny term, isn't it?
Good morning! Let me show you this certificate. (Show the
baptism certificate.) Does anyone know what this is? (Let them
answer.) Yes, this is a baptism certificate. It shows the date
and place where a person is baptized. In addition to this
certificate, we also keep a record here at the church of all
baptisms so that if a certificate is lost we can issue a new one.
What do all of you think about baptism? Is it important? (Let
them answer.)

Let me tell you something about baptism. Before Jesus
Good morning! How many of you have played Monopoly? (Let
them answer.) In the game of Monopoly, sometimes you wind up in
jail. You can get out of jail by paying a fine or, if you have
one of these cards (show the card), you can get out free by
turning in the card.

Now, in the game of life, the real world where we all live,
we are also sometimes in jail. Most of us never have to go to a
real jail, but we are all in a kind of jail called "sin." The
Bible tells us that when we sin we become prisoners of sin, and

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