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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Genesis l:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 29 -- B. David Hostetter -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPAscribe to the Anointed the glory due to Christ's name; bow down
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)God's face shines upon us in Christ.
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20, Psalm 62:5-12 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPLet your heart wait silently before God; our hope of salvation is
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28, Psalm 111 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPHappy is the person who takes delight in the word of the Lord and
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPO praise the Lord. How good it is to sing psalms to our God!
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45, Psalm 30 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPRejoice and be glad, good people, sing aloud before our
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Isaiah 43:18-25, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Mark 2:1-12, Psalm 41 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPIn Christ Jesus every one of God's promises is a "Yes." For this
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Hosea 2:14-20, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, Mark 2:18-22, Psalm 103:1-13, 22 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPBless God from your innermost heart and hallow God's name,
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Deuteronomy 5:12-15, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, Mark 2:23--3:6, Psalm 81:1-10 -- B. David Hostetter -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPWorship the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Psalm 25:1-10 -- B. David Hostetter -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPLook for signs of the covenant which God makes with us and our

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When The Song Can Finally Be Sung -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
Now you can't even trust the police.
Creating Family -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
The issue was one of survival.
If You Hate To Wait, Try This -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
I am certain someone dreamed up the idea long before I encountered it in its tubular steel reality,
God's Gift For Impatient People -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
On the rare occasions when they would choose a direct confrontation, rather than their traditional h
Peeking Over The Fence -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Good Friday - C -- 2000
It wasn't quite a race, although there was a noisy, clamoring crowd, a definite course, and an endin
When Seeing Blocks Believing -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
Home builders can reveal the secret to you: what will make the floor plan and design attractive -- a
Hold On! Your Life Is At Stake! -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
The names of the places -- Treblinka, Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and all the rest -- remain seared into
Don't Look For Any Benches -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
Let your imagination run with it; it is a riddle: What are the numbers 28, fourteen, and five all ab
Words We Know, But God Doesn't -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
Native Texans know the place as "the hill country." Not like the high rolling plains of the Edward's
If You're Going To Get There, You've Got To Leave Here -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2000
Cokie Roberts, Chief Congressional Analyst for ABC News and a national correspondent for National Pu

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Fourth Sunday Of Advent -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1993
David tells his prophet, Nathan, that he wants to build a
All Saints' Sunday -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44, Isaiah 25:6-9 -- John R. Brokhoff -- All Saints Day - B -- 1993
We have here the eschatological feast of God. It is to be held
Christ The King -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1993
Scholars are divided on the question whether David actually
The Resurrection Of Our Lord (Easter Day) -- Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25: 6-9, John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Easter Day - B -- 1993
This passage looks forward to the day when God will offer a
Second Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Here is a picture of the apostolic church. In this passage we
Third Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
The people of Jerusalem assembled at the temple were astounded
Fourth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Peter and John are standing before the Sanhedrin to give an
Fifth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-12, John 15:1-8 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
The treasurer of an Ethiopian queen was on his way home after
Sixth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
These verses constitute the conclusion of a Roman centurion's
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
The church is living between Jesus' departure and the coming

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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.

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