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Worship

SermonStudio

Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2005
First Lesson: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Theme: I Knew This Would Happen!
Theme: One Lord, False Profits -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 111:10)
Theme: View From A Height -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Isaiah 40:31)
Theme: If Only -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: Get In The Game -- Isaiah 43:18-25 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 8:1, 3-4, 9) One:
Theme: A New Name, The Right Name -- Hosea 2:14-20 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: Walk To The Light -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2005
Call To Worship Arise, shine; for your light has come!
Theme: Believe It Or Not! -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25) One:
Nevermore Forevermore -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- Frank Ramirez -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship Storms are raging all about,
Theme: Spell My Name With An "H" -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 22:23-24) One:

Drama

SermonStudio

The Collection -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersNarrator: male or female, any ageHusband: male non-speaking role
Sundays -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, Mark 2:23--3:6 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersJane: friend of Sara's and a similar age
Questions -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
(This can be done as a readers' theatre or memorized with three or six people.
Raging -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
(This stand-alone monologue should be done as simply as possible, one on one with God)
Attitude -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersNarrator: male or female, any ageCain: the older brother
A Thorn -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-6 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersJessica: a sick singer who wants to make a career singing
The Inheritance -- Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersAttorney: middle-aged, can be male or female
The Food -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, John 6:1-21 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersKristen: female, college age or older
Isaiah's Surprise -- Nancy Steltz -- 1987
Staging: Gabriel is on the far right; Mary is sitting center stage; the chorus stands at left stage.
Recollections of Enoch, A Jewish Captive In Babylon -- Robert A. Morgan -- 1985
I thought I was an old man when we were brought to Babylon, and I am ten years older now.

Sermon

SermonStudio

Father, Forgive Them -- Luke 23:32-34 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
Paradise -- Luke 23:39-43 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah
Woman, Here Is Your Son -- John 19:26-27 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his moth
Abandonment -- Mark 15:34-35 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani" which m
I Thirst -- John 19:28-29 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture
It Is Finished -- John 19:30 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up h
The Final Word -- Luke 23:44-49 -- Robert D. Cornwall -- 2008
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while
God Never Gives Up On Us -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2008
Have you noticed that no matter how much of a mess we make of our lives, God never gives up on us?
The Three Dimensions Of Life -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2007
Today's reading starts in the ancient world before the great flood.
God, What Are You Up To? -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2007
One of the better programs on television from 2003 to 2005 was a series on CBS called Joan of Arc

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

The Jumping Flame -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to try new things.
A Lesson From Paper -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To help the children understand that as we grow older,
The Arrow Of Friendship -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To think about the meaning of true friendship.
Fishing With A Net -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show the need for each one to accept responsibility
The Lever -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show how people working together can accomplish more
Useful Junk -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show how God can refashion us into something good.
If The Shoe Fits -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To stress the importance of accepting help when it is needed.
Let Your Light Shine Through -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To help children see that even little deeds of kindness are important.
Putting God In His Place -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show the importance of keeping God at the center of life.
Try, Try Again -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to keep on trying when they have

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Mom, Where Did We Come From? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Occasionally a sermon on who we are, historically, would be appropriate.
One Bible -- So Many Churches! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Why are there so many different denominations?
Guns  Rn't Us -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We must explore whether guns are worth the cost of life and limb.
Ate With Any Wicked People Lately? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: As Christians are we allowed to associate with "bad" people?
When Your Friends Are Naughty -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How do we act when our friends do wrong things?
Love Your Neighbor -- Very Carefully! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: It is important to remind our church family to not allow ourselves to be place
Worship Is More Than Just Staying Awake -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: When is worship really worship?
Little Orphan Annie Complex -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need to deal with our fear of growing old.
Would Jesus Stretch The Truth? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Jesus used exaggeration in his teaching and for good reason.
A Sunday School For Adults Only! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Sunday school is not only for children, but also perhaps even more important f

Stories

SermonStudio

Epiphany: A Wonderful Holiday -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2001
I have lived in two different countries where Epiphany is a very important holiday: The Netherlands
The Love Of Being A Christian -- John 1:29-42 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2001
Bob Bohn was serving in Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1971.
A Time To Rest, A Time For Renewal -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2001
Stan needed rest, but there was no letting up.
An Open Letter To Congressional Delegation And The U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Dear Sirs:
Sweet/Salty Love -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
While waiting at the beauty salon, I was captivated by an article in People magazine (January
The Stolen Generation -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2001
In an October 2, 2000, Time magazine article written by Terry McCarthy, Archie Roach recounts
Conscience-Building -- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2001
Trace was known for his strong, durable buildings.
Today's Trouble Is Enough For Today -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A -- 2001
Margy was born in 1934.
A Religious Dilemma -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Constance Berg -- Good Friday - A -- 2001
Maia knew she was carrying twins.
Rainbow -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Constance Berg -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
The clown came walking ever so slowly up the aisle, smiling. She looked around.

Prayer

Devotional

SermonStudio

Lent 3 -- John 4:5-42 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink ..." The Samaritan
Lent 4 -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
...
Lent 4 -- Psalm 23 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. -- Psalm 23:1
Lent 4 -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light....
Lent 4 -- John 9:1-41 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
... One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. -- John 9:25
Lent 5 -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
... They say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely."
Lent 5 -- Psalm 130 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord ... O Israel, hope in the Lord!
Lent 5 -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Lent 5 -- John 11:1-45 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazaru
Passion/Palm Sunday -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2007
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.

Poems

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Candlelighting service

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Easter

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Thanksgiving Day

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Wedding Vow

Home Blessing

Church Anniversary

Women's Day

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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...
Easter 2
30+ – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
26 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
27 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Christopher Keating
For April 12, 2026:

StoryShare

Keith Wagner
Contents
"Spiritually Speaking" by Keith Wagner
"Living With More Power" by Keith Wagner


Spiritually Speaking
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 16
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"When through Fiery Trials" by Alex Gondola
"Tracks" by Keith Hewitt


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited. Peter's eyes were shining, and he could hardly contain his impatience. John was always quieter than Peter, but even he seemed full of barely suppressed eagerness. They were both tugging at Thomas, while at the same time dancing round him.

Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
This psalm is a song of confidence and trust, and the first-century church found in it a prophecy of the Resurrection. Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, quotes verses 8-11 (Acts 2:25-28), applying them to the risen Lord. Thus, its designation as the responsorial psalm for Easter 2.

The psalm falls easily into three divisions: verses 1-4, there is no good apart from God; 5-8, the Lord is my portion and my counselor; and 9-11, there is joy and life with God.
John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E)
According to God's plan and David's prophecy, Jesus was raised from the dead. This pericope is a part of Peter's Pentecost sermon. It is a sample of the early church's preaching, as Luke understood it, summarized in the crucifixion, resurrection, and fulfillment of prophecy. Peter emphasizes that what happened to Jesus was according to God's plan. He quotes Psalm 16 as a prophecy by David of the resurrection which was fulfilled. The disciples are witnesses to the fulfillment because of their encounters with the risen Lord.
Tony S. Everett
So, here we are just over one week after Easter Sunday. Vigils are finished. Sunrise services are over. Dishes from the youth breakfast have been washed and put away. Brass and tympani fanfares have concluded. Flowers on the cross have begun to wilt and blow away. Fewer pews are filled.
Richard L. Sheffield
What the disciples of Jesus reported to their fellow disciple Thomas they had seen seemed unbelievable. And Thomas didn't believe it! They said they saw Jesus alive. Well, Thomas saw him alive until late the previous Friday afternoon when Thomas saw him dead. It was now Sunday afternoon -- and to what they said they saw, Thomas' response was, "Seeing is believing," and until I see something different from what I have already seen, I will not believe a word of what you say.
Albert G. Butzer, III
Several years ago the Episcopal Church launched a creative and clever advertising campaign. One of their ads pictured a young man with a frustrated look on his face because someone had put a heavy piece of tape across his mouth. His mouth had been taped shut; he was unable to speak. The caption, which accompanied the picture, said this: "The problem with churches that have all of the answers is that you can't ask questions."
Harry N. Huxhold
The United States of America has earned the reputation of being the most violent culture in the world. That really is an oxymoron. How can one speak of culture as being violent? Yet the problem of violence is so widespread in our nation that Gavin De Becker, an authority on violence, notes that we are a nation with more firearms than adults, and twenty thousand guns enter our commerce every day. His book, The Gift of Fear, is about our fear which furnishes us survival signals to protect us from violence. We should not be shocked that anyone is capable of violence.
Bill Mosley
The great luxury liner was on fire, but no one knew it. Deep in the hold, near the engine room, hundreds of tons of coal were stored. Coal--powered ships used to carry the coal in a watered--down state. But this ship was new, and very big; bigger than any ship ever built, or had ever sailed. So even though the coal was watered for safety, the enormous amount meant that there were dry spots. A fire smoldered undiscovered deep in the coal supply, and when it was discovered, a fire--fighting crew was sent to quench it. They worked for days, even weeks, and couldn't put it out.
B. David Hostetter
CALL TO WORSHIP
Bless our God who has given us counsel.
Come to worship with exulting heart and rejoicing spirit.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
I Danced In The Morning (UM261, PH 302)
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (CBH 272)
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee (NCH507)
We Live By Faith And Not By Sight (NCH256, PH398)
O Sons And Daughters, Let Us Sing (NCH244, PH116, 117)
Breathe On Me, Breath Of God (CBH356, UM420, PH316)
These Things Did Thomas Count (NCH284)
When In The Night I Meditate (PH165)

Anthems
From the Messiah: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, G. F. Handel
Frank Ramirez
Call To Worship (Acts 2:32)
 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.


Collect
 We lift up our eyes to you Lord, after the despair of the cross. We follow the path from the empty tomb to see you risen and walking among us! We praise your name in victory! Amen.


Prayer Of Confession

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fresh air is precisely what many people feel they never get in church. Many recall the experiences of former times when the air was stodgy and stuffy. In some communities of faith the air is still a bit stifling, and so when invited to worship, the response is often, "Been there. Done that."

Yet our lessons are full of the freshness of spring, bringing life and vigor to what had been dormant, as though frozen in winter and refusing to thaw.

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Wayne Brouwer
One of my good friends died last year. He had reached a good age and was mostly ready to go. In fact, he once told me he had more lives than the proverbial cat's nine. On too many occasions, because of cancer and accidents and blood diseases, doctors had written him off. Yet, like the Energizer bunny, he kept going and going and going....

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we read from the Bible about a special meeting between Jesus, who had been resurrected a week earlier, and his disciples. All of the disciples believed the resurrection except Thomas, who had not been in the room when Jesus met with the disciples a week earlier. Thomas had heard about it but didn't believe. He said that unless he saw for himself the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus, he would not believe.
Good morning, boys and girls. What does this sign mean? (Let them answer.) It is a question mark. When you see it that means someone is asking a question. Sometimes it means that someone doesn't believe what you are saying. That means the person is doubting you. It's a very common thing to have doubts about something. If one of you told me that you don't like to play with toys, I'd say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it. I'll bet you really like to play with toys." If one of you told me that you didn't like candy, I would say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it.

Special Occasion

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