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Worship

SermonStudio

NULL -- Matthew 6:25, 33 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or
NULL -- Matthew 10:8 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
NULL -- Matthew 13:31, 32 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which
NULL -- Matthew 25:21 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
NULL -- Mark 8:35, 36 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his for me and
NULL -- Mark 12:14c, 17a -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
NULL -- Luke 6:38 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "Give, and it will be given to you.
NULL -- Luke 12:48 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;
NULL -- Luke 16:10, 11 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever
NULL -- Luke 16:13 -- Leon Collier -- 2005
Minister: "No servant can serve two masters.

Drama

SermonStudio

Raised Voices -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:13 -- Pamela Urfer -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
Cast: Two women, HANNAH and REBECCALength:8 minutes
Great Africans Of The Bible: The Shulamite -- Song Of Solomon -- Pamela Urfer -- 1994
Cast: SOLOMON and his BELOVED, the ShulamiteLength: 6 minutes
He Has Done Great Things -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Pamela Urfer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Cast: Two women, MARY and ELIZABETHLength:7 minutes
Whose Work Is It? -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Pamela Urfer -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Cast: Two women, EUODIA and SYNTYCHE, and one man, CLEMENTLength:10 minutes
Clear The Way! -- Luke 3:3-18 -- Pamela Urfer -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Cast: JOHN the BAPTIST, USHER, FIRST CHURCH OFFICIAL, SECOND CHURCH OFFICIAL
Letting God -- Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-11 -- Pamela Urfer -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1994
Cast: MARY, JOSEPH, three SHEPHERDS and three KINGS. The shepherds may be of either gender.
Reward -- Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 -- Pamela Urfer -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1994
Cast: Two people, SARAH and SIMONLength:5 minutes
Citizenship -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Pamela Urfer -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
Cast: Two people of either gender, TERRY and CHRISLength:8 minutes
Brothers -- Luke 15:11-32 -- Pamela Urfer -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
Cast: Two brothers, NATHAN and JOSHUALength:6 minutes
The Entrance Into Jerusalem -- Mark 11:1-11 -- Pamela Urfer -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1994
Cast: Two people, RIBLAH and HAMATH. Gender is not important here.Length:

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Season Of Reconciliation -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Nancy Kraft -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2008
Ash Wednesday is the day when we enter into an annual pilgrimage that takes us from the grave that n
The Width And Depth Of God's Grace -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- Nancy Kraft -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2008
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the number one wilderness boxing event of all time.
Genuine Hope -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Nancy Kraft -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2008
The season is upon us once again.
The Wisdom Of The Cross -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Nancy Kraft -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2008
There are some people who have the gift of persuasion.
It's About Grace -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Nancy Kraft -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2008
When Bill Clinton was running for president, there was a phrase that drove his political campaign.
God's Great High Priest -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Nancy Kraft -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2008
Redeemer, Word made flesh, Messiah, Savior, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Christ, Good Shepherd.
The Story That Shapes Us -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Nancy Kraft -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2008
Note: This sermon is intended to be presented before the reading of the Passion narrative
On The Night When He Was Betrayed -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Nancy Kraft -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2008
Have you ever been betrayed by one of your closest friends?
How Do We Make Sense Of This? -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Nancy Kraft -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
Good Friday is a hard day. It's depressing and it's confusing.
The Unbelievable Truth -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Nancy Kraft -- Easter Day - B -- 2008
I remember my first experience with death.

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

Being At Peace With One Another -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To encourage children to do their part in building friendships or being at peace with someo
Hands -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To share with the children the wonder of our hands and to encourage them to use their hands
The Control Center -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To stress the importance of learning to listen and to be receptive to what others say.
We All Need Help -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To encourage children to seek help when they need it.
Happy New Year Noises -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To think about what influences life.Material: Noisemakers
A Lesson From A Shell -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To remind the children of the importance of each day and to make the most of each day.
Surprise! -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: Helping children to find joy in each day.
What Day Is This? -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To help children learn what to do when they make a mistake.
Nuts* -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To help children to persevere when faced with a problem.
Reading Faces -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1996
Purpose: To help children learn how to tell what another person might be feeling.

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

The Resurrection Of Our Lord/Easter Day -- Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Easter Day - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Easter, Years B and C, for alternative approac
Easter 2 -- Psalm 16 -- Stan Purdum -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
This psalm is a song of confidence and trust, and the first-century church found in it a prophecy of
Easter 3 -- Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- Stan Purdum -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
(See Maundy Thursday, Cycle A, and Maundy Thursday, Cycle B, for alternative approaches to vv.
Easter 4 -- Psalm 23 -- Carlos Wilton -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
(See Lent 4, Cycle A, and Easter 4, Cycles B and C, for alternative approaches.)
Easter 5 -- Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 -- Stan Purdum -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
(See Liturgy Of The Passion, Cycle A, Cycle B, and Cycle C, for alternative approaches to vv.
Easter 6 -- Psalm 66:8-20 -- Stan Purdum -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
(See Proper 23/Pentecost 21/Ordinary Time 28, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv.
The Ascension Of Our Lord -- Psalm 47 -- Stan Purdum -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Ascension Of Our Lord, Cycle B, for an alt
Lent 3 -- Psalm 95 -- Stan Purdum -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2006
This psalm has two distinct parts.
Lent 4 -- Psalm 23 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2006
(See Easter 4, Cycles A, B, and C, for alternative approaches.)
Lent 5 -- Psalm 130 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2006
(See Proper 8/Pentecost 6/Ordinary Time 13, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

Stories

SermonStudio

The Master's Return -- Luke 12:35-36 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"It's not going to happen to me.
Our Kind -- Mark 5:1-2, 9 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"We've got to live with our own kind." Whenever Lem said this to Fanny and the kids, they knew they
Big Daddy -- Matthew 22:2-3 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"What?" Big Daddy yelled as he gripped the arms of his throne. "But that's impossible!
Broken Promise -- Luke 24:13-14 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"Life is a broken promise now that Jesus is dead," Cleo complained to his friend Eli as they walked
The Sinner -- Luke 18:9 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"Sinner -- SINNER -- that's what I am. A sinner.
The Topbanana Tree -- Genesis 3:1 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"Either she's not gotten around to getting her wardrobe or she's so naive it hasn't occurred to her
Junior -- Luke 15:22-24 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
Dressed in red running trunks, a blue Down-On-The-Farm sweatshirt, baseball cap, and sneakers, Junio
Narrow Door -- Luke 13:22-24 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"It appeared in Haute Couture!""And Entre Nous!"
Fun -- Luke 15:22-24 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
"It's my turn now.
Favorite -- Luke 1:26-28 -- Andre Papineau -- 2002
Mary spent the whole day going over and over what Gabe had told her the morning before. Mr. G.

Prayer

Devotional

SermonStudio

Christmas 1 -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
...
Christmas 2 -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2007
... for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn....
Christmas 2 -- Psalm 147:12-20 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2007
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
Christmas 2 -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2007
...
Christmas 2 -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2007
No one has ever seen God.
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
...
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
... and they knelt down and paid him homage.
The Baptism Of Our Lord / Epiphany 1 / OT 1 -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon

Poems

Pastoral Resources

Children's program

Pageant

Adult study

Youth Resources

Monologues

Church Programs

Meditations

Candlelighting service

Biblical Studies

Humor

Faith Development

Bible Study

Children's Resources

Self Help

Liturgy

Illustration

Spirituality

Biblical Study

Inspirational

Christian Life

Easter

Lent/Easter

Church Growth

Sacrament

Healing

Death

Funeral

Memorial

Observance

Christian

African-American History

Thanksgiving Day

Marriage Ceremony

Wedding Vow

Home Blessing

Church Anniversary

Women's Day

Men's Day

Church Leaders

Mother's Day

Gathering Prayer

Unison Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Intercession

Fellowship

Christian Faith

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
28 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
26 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
22 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
21 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
29 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

SermonStudio

Frank Luchsinger
Huckle the Cat and his school teacher Miss Honey the Bear, Bananas Gorilla, Captain Salty, Pig Will and Pig Won't, Sergeant Murphy the Police Dog, and my favorite, Lowly the Worm; if you know these names then you are familiar with the work of Richard Scarry, author and illustrator of children's books, who passed away in '94 at age 75. Scarry wrote over 250 books, which in thirty languages have sold over 100 million copies. He said, "The greatest compliment I can receive is to be told that some of my books are held together with more Scotch tape than there is paper in the original book.
David E. Leininger
We reflected earlier on Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and its assertion that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and were parents of a daughter. True, there is nothing at all in scripture to back up such a claim, but can you imagine what kind of parent Jesus would have been?
Constance Berg
Pastor Wallace was loved by many, many people. He had come to a rural, agricultural area and stayed for 41 years. He and his wife Bea had four children, three of whom would become pastors themselves. The fourth was a missionary teacher in Madagascar. Pastor Wallace's second and last call was to another rural church he started only thirty miles away. He stayed fifteen years. His reputation was tough but fair; disciplined but compassionate; strong but just.
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Seasonal Theme
Jesus out of the grave and alive and with us.

Theme For The Day
We are prayed for by Jesus that we might be unified with each other and with our God. A summary of the Season of Easter.

First Lesson
Acts 1:1-11
Return To The Upper Room
Stan Purdum
At first reading, this psalm presents a scattering of themes. Some scholars think it was not a psalm at all, but a listing of headings to a number of liturgical pieces. Most, however, see in Psalm 68 the underlying theme of the victory and reign of God, the Divine Warrior -- the God who was with the people of Israel in the wilderness (v. 7). Psalm 68 calls the kingdoms of the world to acknowledge that God is the warrior king who reigns over all. It presents God as the power and strength of the chosen people.
Carlos Wilton
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary. See The Ascension Of Our Lord, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The brief Psalm 93 seems archaic, from the standpoint of our culture. The Lord is enthroned, here, as a cosmic king. The accoutrements of royalty are front and center: the robe of majesty, the girding-on of strength (suggesting a royal broadsword), the throne, the royal decree. Its message, loudly declared from the first verse onward, is simplicity itself: the Lord reigns!
George M. Bass
The church year theological clue
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
David O. Bales
In 1936, near the beginning of the Spanish Civil War one horrible center of fighting was the Alcázar fortress near Toledo. In the middle of horrific fighting, however, every day the firing stopped twice in order to allow a blind beggar to tap his way on the street between the firing lines. We can imagine how welcome those few minutes were to the men on both sides. They probably hoped that the blind man walked slower to give them a few more seconds of peace. Then the reprieve ended and the slaughter again engulfed the two armies that were struggling to kill each other.1
Schuyler Rhodes
I love this story. It doesn't matter how many times I hear it, or how it's told, it never fails to grab me in a new and different way. It's really an incredible tale. And by incredible I mean just that. Without credibility! Who could actually buy a story like this? The disciples, cowardly and virtually faithless, abandoned the Master and scattered in the chaos of his arrest and execution.
Lee Griess
It's one of those stories that circulates around the internet. I don't know if it's true or not but it's so interesting that I have to share it with you. It seems that a woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist toward the electric outlet in the wall. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly electricity, she grabbed a piece of wood that was leaning by the back door, and gave him a good whack, breaking his arm in two places. It was a shame. He was not being electrocuted at all.
Richard L. Sheffield
I want to take the text seriously this morning. It would be easy not to, because Luke's story of the ascension of Jesus is not easy no matter how you take it. For you and me, twenty centuries later, this story may be very hard to take very seriously.

Our take on the ascension of Jesus might be on the order of liturgy as lift-off: Jesus being lifted up to the Air Force song: "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sky!"

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
For May 17, 2026:
  • When Jesus Prays by Chris Keating. Jesus’ high priestly prayer is rooted in the authority of God’s love, and not from a posture of authoritarian control.
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
For May 17, 2026:
  • When Jesus Prays by Chris Keating. Jesus’ high priestly prayer is rooted in the authority of God’s love, and not from a posture of authoritarian control.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus prayed for us all, that we might be protected and united. In our worship today let us explored what it means to be one just as Jesus and the Father are one.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are more ready to criticise other Christians than to be united with them.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we get hung up on small details instead of seeing the big picture.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are too selfish to open up and welcome other people.

StoryShare

Argile Smith
Charles D. Reeb
John S. Smylie
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Wayne's Deployment" by Argile Smith
"In The Event of Power Failure" by Charles D. Reeb
"Where's the Finish Line?" by John Smylie


What's Up This Week
John E. Sumwalt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"The God of All Grace" by John Sumwalt
"Keeping the Word" by Frank Ramirez


* * * * * * * *


The God of All Grace
by John Sumwalt
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
-- 1 Peter 5:10

CSSPlus

Cynthia E. Cowen
The Point: Jesus has the authority to give eternal life.

Special Occasion

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