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Worship

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Headlines -- George A. Nye -- 1994
The tabloid headlines at the checkout stands are intriguing.
Judgment -- George A. Nye -- 1994
In our pluralistic society, we're told not to judge one
Being -- George A. Nye -- 1994
The image comes to me of a man who looks small on a barren
The Miracle Of Life -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationIntroductory Moments
With Unwavering Trust -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationThe Call To Worship: (By the leader)
Everyone Is Searching -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationWords Of Preparation: from Deuteronomy 4:29; James 4:8, 10.
Do You Want To Be More Spiritual? -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation: (The congregation reverently quiet)
He Came Seeking Fruit -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationWords To Start Our Meditation:
Strong Faith For Weak People -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationSome Thoughts To Meditate Upon:
What Do You Expect Your Religion To Do? -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation (The people reverently quiet)Words Of Preparation:

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Free: For What? -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2001
Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina sits on property that was once a large southern plantation.
Too Err Is Human -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2001
Craig Christina in his excellent sermon, "Between Two Worlds," reminds us of Robert Lewis Stevenson'
Cheating The Reaper -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2001
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation ..." (v. 1 NIV). No condemnation! No condemnation?
All In The Family -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2001
How to begin a sermon? It always is a preacher's dilemma as to how to introduce a sermon.
Having High Hope -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2001
Into Thin Air is John Krakauer's grizzly account of the loss of twelve persons attempting to climb M
Lent Is About Reconciliation -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
The story of Lent really begins back in the Garden of Eden.
Easter Is About You -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Easter Day - A -- 2001
Probably the most difficult sermon the Christian preacher is assigned to deliver is the sermon for E
The Outcome Of Faith -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
The United States of America has earned the reputation of being the most violent culture in the worl
Genuine Mutual Love -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
A rather insightful novel about the problem of Christian missions to Africa is Barbara Kingsolver's
Credit For Suffering -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
The Second Reading for today is a continuation of readings from the Petrine epistles appointed for t

Children's sermon

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The saints of God, past, present and future -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Russell F. Anderson -- All Saints Day - A -- 1995
Lesson 1: Revelation 7:9-17 (C); Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 (RC)
The risen, ascended and exalted Christ. -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 1:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten observance -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
God's grace and favor -- Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 -- Russell F. Anderson -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Christ our king -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
The bodily presence of Christ communicated through bread and wine -- Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:51-58 -- Russell F. Anderson -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Deuteronomy 8:2--3, 14--16
faith and doubt -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E, L)
The risen Christ is revealed -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
God is our Shepherd and guide -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 2:42--47 (C); Acts 2:14, 36--41 (RC)
Come into me -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 7:55-60 (C)

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 5
28 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
26 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
29 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – 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...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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Richard E. Gribble, CSC
When Charlie Atlas was a teenager his parents purchased for him a dresser mirror that he placed in his bedroom. Before this, whenever Charlie needed to use a mirror, he went to the bathroom, but there he was only able to see his head and possibly his shoulders. When he got dressed up he used his parents' full-length mirror in their bedroom. Charlie was happy with his new mirror; he spent many hours in front of it.
Elizabeth Achtemeier
There is a strange belief abroad in our land at the present time, the belief that we cannot know God. Such a belief rises partly from a feeling of awe before the divine -- the feeling that God is so unfathomable, so other, so beyond our feeble understanding that we cannot possibly experience who he truly is in all of his fullness and perfection. And perhaps that is the reason that the Athenians have erected that idol "to an unknown God" that Paul encounters when he visits their city. They know that there is a god beyond them, but they cannot define him or name him.
Stan Purdum
(See Proper 23/Pentecost 21/Ordinary Time 28, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-12.)

Psalm 66 is a song of communal thanksgiving, probably composed to celebrate some national deliverance. Because of the personal language of verses 13-20, there is some speculation that this psalm was originally two hymns, but as it stands, it contains a combination of corporate and personal prayers, both appropriate in worship.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 17:22--31 (C, E, L)
Schuyler Rhodes
Are you one of those people who always has a backup plan? Do you make your commitments and focus your energies on one thing, but have an alternative in mind just in case things don't work out with the first one? You might call it "Plan B" or something else, but basically you're hedging your bets and covering yourself in case the situation goes south.
Mark Ellingsen
Jesus was still in the middle of his farewell discourse to his disciples. He was trying to comfort the despair that they were feeling when they had first heard the news (during the last supper) that Jesus would be leaving them (John 13:21, 33; 14:1). He had comforted them with the good news that he was on the way to God the Father, that in associating with Jesus, the disciples had been in fellowship with the Father (John 14:6-11). Whoever believed in him, Jesus said, would be able to do the works that he had done, even greater works (John 14:12).
Albert G. Butzer, III
Here are two statements about the world. Tell me if both of them ring true for you. The first of them is this: "The world is a beautiful place." And the second statement is this: "The world is a terrible and dangerous place." Both statements are true - don't you agree? - and yet, ironically, they seem to say the exact opposite thing. How much easier it would be to affirm one statement or the other, but not both.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
The name Robert Stroud is not one commonly heard in ordinary conversation, but this man's contribution to humanity will live on in the minds of many under a different title, "The Birdman of Alcatraz." By nature, Robert Stroud was not a congenial man. As a youth he was always getting into fights, disagreements, and various altercations. When he was only nineteen he killed a man in a barroom brawl, was convicted of second--degree murder, and was sentenced to the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, since the crime was committed on Federal land.
Richard W. Ferris
In a large stone cathedral in Europe there was a grand, magnificent pipe organ. On a particular Saturday afternoon, the sexton was making one final check of the choir and organ loft high in the balcony at the back of the church. As he was making his inspection, he was startled to hear footsteps echoing up the stone stairway behind him. He thought the doors were all locked and that no one else was in the church. He turned to see a man in slightly tattered traveling clothes coming toward him.
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Acts 17:22-31
Theme: To A Known God

Call To Worship
Leader: God is a known God who continually gives us evidence of presence.
People: God is a knowable God who extends to us the hand of hope.
All: Come, let us worship God. Amen.

Collect
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Our Cities Cry To You, O God (PH437)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (PH376, UM384, LBW315, NCH43)
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine (PH321, UM465)
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit (PH398, UM334)
Thy Holy Wings, O Savior (UM502)
Come Down, O Love Divine (LBW508, NCH289, PH313)
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee (OBW492, NCH502, PH357)
My Song Is Love Unknown (LBW94, NCH222, PH76)

Anthems
Praise The Lord, Service Music, Hal Hopson, CGA, Unison 2--part

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Mary Austin
George Reed
For May 10, 2026:

StoryShare

John Fitzgerald
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the classic Little House on the Prairie series neared an end to her
life. At this juncture she penned an essay about hope in face of the constant current of change. Here is an excerpt from that writing: 
Frank Ramirez
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Always Be Ready" by Frank Ramirez
"Looking for God" by Peter Andrew Smith
"A Gentle Profession" by Peter Andrew Smith


What's Up This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
The lessons for the Sixth Sunday of Easter direct us to sermons on the great things God’s love does, appreciating in two cases this love’s cosmic character (especially leading to a stress on justification by grace). This is an appropriate theme with the festival of the Ascension in view, which celebrates Christ’s almighty power and cosmic vindication. 

Acts 17:22-31
William H. Shepherd
Schuyler Rhodes
In Garret Kreizer's novel, God of Beer (2002), the high school social studies teacher tells the class about Gandhi's assertion that if God ever came to India, he'd have to come as bread, in order to get the attention of the starving peasants. The teacher then asks the class what form God would have to take in order to get the attention of their high school. "Beer," says one student. "Yeah," another chimes in, "it's the only thing to do around here."

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

CSSPlus

Hi there, boys and girls! How many of you have rules that you have to follow at home? (show of hands) What are some of the rules you have? (let them tell you) What about at school? Do you have rules there? What are they? (let them tell you)

Why should we even have rules? (see what they think) I think we have rules because it makes it easier for us to be together. If we are all kind to each other, we will all be happier. If there are rules, then maybe people will fight less.

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