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SermonStudio

Small Beginnings Which Produce Large Results -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2001
There is a small Franconian village in the rolling hills of Bavaria, Germany, which never ceases to
Thanksgiving Day, USA -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Fifth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme Jesus out of the grave and alive and with us.
Second Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2001
We come in this passage to the Priestly version of God's promise to Abraham of a son.
Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme
Grace Isn't Fair -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2001
So this fellow up in Sonoma County, not far from wine-growing Napa County, anxiously watched the wea
Christ The King Sunday -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme The ministry and teachings of Jesus the Christ.
Sixth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme Jesus out of the grave and alive and with us.
Third Sunday in Lent -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2001
In this season of Lent, we are Sunday by Sunday approaching the foot of that executioner's cross on
Fifth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme
Some Tenants Are Better Than Other Tenants -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2001
Some tenants are a lot better than other tenants.
The Ascension Of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme Jesus out of the grave and alive and with us.
Fourth Sunday in Lent -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2001
In today's Gospel lesson from John 3:14--21, Jesus says to Nicodemus, "As Moses lifted up the serpen
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme
Joy, Grace, And Living Together -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2001
Chirpy was a parakeet.
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:6-14, John 17:1-11 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme Jesus out of the grave and alive and with us.
Fifth Sunday in Lent -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2001
Few accounts are more instructive of the ways of God with his people Israel and with us than is the
In Celebration Of The One-Talent Person -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2001
Some parables of Jesus are really upsetting. This is one of those.
Pentecost Day -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 7:37-39 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Maundy/Holy Thursday -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2001
The scene in our text takes place shortly before Israel's redemption from her slavery in Egypt.
Safer Roads And Real Life -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
Maybe the priest and the Levite were the smartest after all.
Trinity Sunday -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
New Year's Day -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2001
The lectionary specifies the same Old Testament text for New Year's Day also in Cycles A and C.
The Never Lost Ninety-Nine -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2001
The homemade sign hanging on a large construction crane outside Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Io
Proper 4, Pentecost 2, Ordinary Time 9 -- Genesis 6:11-22; 7:24; 8:14-9, Matthew 7:21-29 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2001
Seasonal Theme The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

A Holy--wood Ending -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Richard W. Ferris -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2004
A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long weekend to thaw out during one particu
Family Tree -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Bill Mosley, Bill Mosley -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
The fence between Heaven and Hell was falling apart. It was badly in need of repair.
Help Wanted: Fathers -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, Ephesians 6:1-4 -- 2004
A few years ago Mass Mutual Life Insurance conducted a survey on Americans' views of their fathers.
The Cry For Help -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2004
In the Gospel of Mark, the woman in our story is called a "Syrophoenician." Matthew, however, calls
Faith's Curious Dynamic -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- George L. Murphy -- All Saints Day - A -- 2004
You know that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for, because it might come true"?
Writing The Law On Our Hearts -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2004
In his wonderful book, Open Secrets, Richard Lischer tells of a retired Lutheran pastor who c
Children And The Sacraments -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
Communion And Children
Thank God For The Church -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2004
Try to visualize yourself on the way to church. Not too difficult? Let's make it a little harder.
Honest Abe -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Bill Mosley -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
There's an oft--told story about someone going to church to hear the new young preacher give his fir
What's So Grand About Grandparents? -- 1 Corinthians 13 -- 2004
The title of this sermon is: "What's So Grand About Grandparents?" Many of you already knew that tod
The Incomparable Christ -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2004
While sightseeing in Boston last fall, I entered the narthex of a church building.
Completing The Master's Work -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2004
Classical music provides some significant examples of great musical compositions that were never fin
Passing And Failing -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Charles L. Aaron, Jr. -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2004
School might be tolerable if we could do away with tests.
Sacrament Poems -- Elaine M. Ward -- 2004
The Gift Of BaptismAt baptism I was given a gift,
Removing Obstacles -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- James L. Killen, Jr. -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2004
Our church has an important mission.
The Letter To Ephesus -- Revelation 2:1-7 -- Bill Mosley -- 2004
In the season of Lent we prepare for Easter.
Different -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2004
The Christian faith is supposed to make a difference in our lives.
Pass The Pigweed -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Bill Mosley -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
They tell a story about a hurricane blowing through Galveston, LaMarque, and Texas City heading stra
We Need A Good Priest -- Always -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- 2004
The purpose of this sermon is first to present Jesus Christ as our Great High Priest, as described i
Do You Get It? -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- George L. Murphy -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2004
"Is that really necessary?" It's a question that we may ask when something unpleasant or disturbing
Building Our Foundation On God -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2004
"I'd sell my soul to play for the Washington Senators." Joe Hardy, the protagonist in the popular Br
Getting More Of God Than We Really Want -- Exodus 24:15-18 -- John T. Ball -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2004
There is an old story about a Sunday school teacher who asked a young girl in her class why her litt
The Hallelujah Chorus -- Revelation 19:1-8 -- Bill Mosley -- 2004
In 1741, a 56-year-old German living in England was at the lowest point in his career.
How Does It Work? -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2004
There is a very nice book for children that is titled, The Way Things Work.
The Seeing Eye -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Bill Mosley -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
An airplane flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles had a 45-minute delay and everybody on board wa

Spirituality

Stories

SermonStudio

Neighbor To The Man -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Minneapolis is a cool city to live in. In more than one sense is it cool.
A Question Of Identity -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
The Weeds Among The Wheat
Connecting -- 1 Samuel 3:10 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- 1993
It's not the connections you have, Kara thought, but the
Father And Son -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Betty Lynn Schwab -- 1993
The little group of doctors and interns burst out laughing at
Midas -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
The spirit of the 1980's had penetrated far deeper into the life style of Americans than even most e
Role Model Ignored -- Matthew 18:23-35 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Parallel Parable: Matthew 18:23-35The Unforgiving Servant
Eden -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20 -- Charles W. Byrd -- 1993
The small country of Gardenia had been a democracy for more
Answering The Call -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Steven E. Burt -- 1993
It was in the days of sail, long before electricity, when oil
I've Heard That Song Before -- Luke 14:16-24 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
''I suppose you're aware of the fact that Uncle Henry's annual bash is coming up soon,'' Chad said t
The Contractor"s Choice -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Parallel Parable: Matthew 20:1-16The Laborers In The Vineyard
Believing Is Seeing -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Paul Lintern -- 1993
"Oh great!" Al was not excited about being at this workshop on team-
Getting Up The Courage -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Sandra Herrmann -- 1993
Julie hadn't been able to think of anything for a month but a
Which Ones Were Lost? -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
The first time I set eyes on that grand old church building was in the cool of a January evening.
The Bishop And The Lady -- Luke 7:36-50 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Parallel Passage: Luke 7:36-50A Sinful Woman Forgiven
And The Wind Came Up -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1993
It was going to be a beautiful summer evening. The sun
What's Appropriate? -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1993
Mary and Jack had really begun to feel at home in their new
Midas -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Parallel Parable: Luke 12:13-21The Rich Fool
Touching Cloaks -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Betty Lynn Schwab -- 1993
Beth found herself humming. It was always like this for her as
Casting Out A Demon -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Peter C. Garrison -- 1993
The name "Gabby" does not invoke terror. Maybe sheer gabbiness
I've Heard That Song Before -- Luke 14:16-24 -- Merle G. Franke -- 1993
Parallel Parable: Luke 14:16-24The Great Dinner
Hometown Prophets Don't Get No Respect -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Steven E. Burt -- 1993
Caroline grew up in Phillipsville and spent all her life there
Time To See The Moon -- Mark 1:40-45 -- B. Kathleen Fannin -- 1993
Her life was a suffocating mess, totally out of control.
Life In The Light Of Eternity -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1993
Emilio Lopez received a surprise phone call from his bishop
Calling For You And For Me -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Susan K. Hedahl -- 1993
Karenza smiled as she hung up the phone. The principal's
Remember Not The Former Things ... -- Isaiah 43:18-25 -- James E. Sargent -- 1993
The old man sat down, picked up his pen and tried to write.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

Worship

SermonStudio

Proper 24, Pentecost 22, Ordinary Time 29 -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 18:1-8
Paradox -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2000
Gospel: Luke 23:33-43Theme: ParadoxCall To Worship
Epiphany 4 -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 4:21-30
Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 | Pentecost 5 (First Reading) -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2000
First Lesson: 1 Kings 19:1-15a Theme: The Sound Of Silence
Fully Alive -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Easter Day - C -- 2000
Call To Worship
Epiphany 5 -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 5:1-11
Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 | Pentecost 5 (Second Reading) -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2000
Second Lesson: Galatians 3:23-29Theme: Before Faith Comes
Second Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
First Lesson: Acts 5:27-32 Theme: Authority From BeyondCall To Worship
Epiphany 6 -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 6:17-26
Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 | Pentecost 5 (Gospel Reading) -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2000
Gospel: Luke 8:26-39Theme: Tell All
Third Sunday of Easter -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
First Lesson: Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)Theme: Straight-Away Call To Worship
Epiphany 7 -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 6:27-38
A Double Share -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2000
Call To Worship
It's Up To You -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2000
Call To Worship Leader: It is up to usPeople: To take the first step.
To Be Continued -- Acts 9:36-43 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
Call To Worship Leader: After Jesus' death, many wondered if the healing had ended.
Epiphany 8 -- Luke 6:39-49 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: GreenGospel: Luke 6:39-49
All Shall Know God -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2000
Call To Worship Leader: From the least to the greatest among us, all will know God.
No Distinction -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
Call To Worship
Epiphany -- Wayne H. Keller -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: Green(January 6 to the Beginning of Lent)
Cornucopia -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2000
Call To Worship Leader: Come, let us give thanks to God.
Lydia -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
Call To Worship
Good Friday -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Good Friday - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: Purple/Black; White in some culturesGospel: John 18:1--19:42
Mask -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2000
Call To Worship
Seventh Sunday of Easter -- John 17:20-26, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Acts 16:16-34 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
First Lesson: Acts 16:16-34 Theme: Do Not Harm Yourself Call To Worship
Lent 1 -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Wayne H. Keller -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
Liturgical Color: PurpleGospel: Luke 4:1-13

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

Special Occasion

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