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Proper 18 -- Exodus 19:16-24, Romans 13:1-10, Matthew 18:15-20 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 21 -- Exodus 33:12-23, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 7 -- Genesis 28:10-17, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 10:24-33 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 9 -- Exodus 1:6-14, 22-2:10, Matthew 11:25-30 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 5 -- Genesis 22:1-18, Matthew 9:9-13 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Season of Pentecost -- George M. Bass -- 1989
Pentecost is a day, a season, and a cycle.
Proper 24 -- Ruth 1:1-19a, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Second Sunday of Advent -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 27 -- Amos 5:16-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Third Sunday of Advent -- Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 -- George M. Bass -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 28 -- Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, Matthew 25:14-30 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Ascension of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:44-53 -- George M. Bass -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Reformation Sunday -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- George M. Bass -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Ash Wednesday -- Joel 2:12-19, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- George M. Bass -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
All Saints' Day -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- All Saints Day - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Baptism of Our Lord -- Isaiah 42:1-4, Acts 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17 -- George M. Bass -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Second Sunday after the Epiphany -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-41 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
First Sunday after Christmas -- Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Second Sunday of Easter -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- George M. Bass -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Fourth Sunday of Easter -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- George M. Bass -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany -- Isaiah 49:8-13, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:27-37 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Easter Season -- George M. Bass -- 1989
The Vigil of Easter
Seventh Sunday of Easter -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- George M. Bass -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Third Sunday of the Epiphany -- Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Sixth Sunday of Easter -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- George M. Bass -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue

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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1998
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
While This House Lies In Ruins -- Haggai 1:2-15 -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
Hymnologists say the first hymn in a hymnal tells a lot about the rest of the book.
Amazing Grace -- Anthology -- 1998
for a charter member of the churchJames W. Robinson
It's Not Over When The Fat Lady Sings -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Tempe Fussell, Curtis Fussell -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1998
Consider this list: a local restaurant under construction, a high school dropout, the cross-stitch I
A Time to Answer: Where Do You Live? -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
Where do you live? It's a question we ask sometimes. Where's your home? Where are you from?
Community Forms The Common Good -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
"Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again.
Use Them Or Lose Them -- Matthew 21:33-43 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1998
"Use it or lose it." We have all heard this expression, said it ourselves, and applied it more than
A Word Too Great To Ignore -- Acts 3:11-19 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
If you were asked to put the Christian faith into a single word, there is little doubt how the major
How Much Sin Is Too Much? -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1998
Of all the pressing questions of the day, a sign on one person's desk asks, "How much can I sin and
Tears -- John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... Jesus began to weep...
This House In Its Former Glory -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twent-first day of the month, the wo
The Victory -- Anthology -- 1998
for a church member who suffered a heart attackRobert S. Kinsey
These Are They -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- William A. Jones -- All Saints Day - A -- 1998
Of all societies in the earth, the Christian Church without question is the most mysterious.
The Day God Forgot -- Hewbrews 10:16-25 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Good Friday - A -- 1998
Two boys are racing their bicycles.
The Shepherd And His Sheep -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- William A. Jones -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 1998
The scriptures are replete with striking symbols.
A Bigger Peace -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Frank Luchsinger -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
There is only one cupcake left and there are two little girls. "I want the bigger piece!
Proclaiming The Message Of God -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
"When Christ calls a person, he bids that one to come and die." These words were written by Dietric
Self-Sacrifice And Personal Suffering Reveal Life At Its Best -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Joseph M. Freeman -- All Saints Day - A -- 1998
Could one of the greatest mysteries of life be connected to whether or not one truly appreciates and
Quit Throwing Stones -- John 7:53-8:11 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
How grateful I am for this story from the Gospel of John!
How Long Should We Stay? -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1998
Mountains were very important to Matthew.
The Golden Years -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... There was also a prophet, Anna... she was of a great age...
Yes, It Becomes Unclean -- Haggai 2:11-17 -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
When my family grew large enough, not so much in numbers, but in the size of its members, it was t
When A Christian Dies -- Anthology -- 1998
Sunday sermon after a member's death in church the previous Sunday
The Mandate: Positive And Purposeful -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- William A. Jones -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1998
No other God, no graven images, no taking of the name of the Lord in vain, no work on the Sabbath, n
Inherit The World -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
"The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come throug

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Mark contrasts the showy religion of the Pharisees with the modest religion of the poor widow -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
The holiness and truth of God centered in the response of God's creation -- John 17:11-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Signs of the end -- Mark 13:1-13, 24-32 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
Witnessing - Bearing witness to the light of the world -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 1990
Invitation to the Corporate CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Signs of the end - The return of Christ symbolized by the fig tree -- Mark 13:24-31 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
Pentecost, the Season of the Holy Spirit -- 1990
Pentecost, meaning "Fiftieth Day," has its roots in the ancient Jewish Feast of Weeks, a celebration
Pilate's question: 'Are you the Jews' king?' -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
The Coming and Presence of Holy Spirit -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, John 7:37-39a, John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1990
Bulletin HeadingConsider this:
Advent, the Season of Expectancy -- 1990
The church regulates its church year, not by the civil or astronomical calendar, but by the events i
the Protestant Reformation -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1990
Suggestion:
The Trinity of God: -- John 3:1-17, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Epiphany, the Season of the Evangel -- 1990
January 6, the beginning of Epiphany, is followed by a season which varies in length, depending on t
The raising of Lazarus -- John 11:32-44, Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Jesus' eating and healing on the Sabbath -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
The News of Birth -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Jesus' reminder to, and departure from, the disciples -- Luke 24:44-53, Mark 16:15-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Preparing for and participating in the Passover -- Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
The beginning of Jesus' ministry - His baptism. -- Mark 1:1-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Thanksgiving -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Religious leaders accusing Jesus in league with the demons -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Calling the disciples to a special ministry. -- John 1:35-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Jesus' presentation in the temple. Jesus' blessing; his parents' amazement. -- Luke 2:22-40 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
Parables of the Kingdom -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Jesus' preaching commands/demands change - Repentance -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
John's version of the Christmas story - The Word -- John 1:1-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:

Worship Service

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
New Year's Eve/Day
13 – Sermons
40+ – Illustrations / Stories
16 – Children's Sermons / Resources
6 – Worship Resources
6 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas 2
20 – Sermons
60+ – Illustrations / Stories
12 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
12 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany of the Lord
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

Nazish Naseem
Mary Austin
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For January 4-6, 2026:
Nazish Naseem
Mary Austin
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For January 4-6, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
I was only just full-grown when we set out on the journey, but I was strong and eager for adventure. And by the time we returned to our own land after many years, I was older and wiser than my age might have you believe.

Don't get me wrong. I was happy in my home, living in the paddock with my brothers and sisters and the rest of the herd, for we were well looked after. We always had food and water, and the camel master almost never beat us, even when occasionally we'd spit at him, just for fun.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Frank Ramirez
Timothy F. Merrill
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Sons from Far Away, Daughters in Nurses' Arms" by David O. Bales
"Tenting Among Us" by Frank Ramirez
"God's Resolutions" by Timothy F. Merrill


What's Up This Week
C. David Mckirachan
Larry Winebrenner
Keith Hewitt
Contents
"A Time for Everything" by Larry Winebrenner
"A Word of Hope" by Larry Winebrenner
"You Were Adopted" by C. David McKirachan
"Behold the Man" by Keith Hewitt


* * * * * * * *


A Time for Everything
Larry Winebrenner
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Henry didn't like Jack.

Oh, he loved him like a brother. He would die for his friend. But oh, the arrogance. He always thought he was right. And he would always use authority, authority of some kind, to support his claims.

SermonStudio

Mark Wm. Radecke
This season, the boundaries of darkness are pushed back. A light shines in the darkness and the darkness is powerless to extinguish it.

Darkness has always been a potent metaphor for those things in life that oppress and enthrall us, frighten and intimidate us, cause us worry and anxiety and leech the joy from our lives.

We know darkness in our physical lives when illness is close at hand, when we lack the basic necessities of life -- food, shelter and clothing.
Paul E. Robinson
Early in January in northern Canada the sun peeks above the horizon for the first time after six weeks of hiding. An important dawn for Canada. Imagine how the lives of people in the northern latitudes would be different if they got used to the darkness and never even expected that a dawn would ever lighten their horizon again.
John N. Brittain
We lived in Florida for a while in the 1980s and it was then that we learned about Tarpon Springs. Not a large city, it has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any place in the US. This dates back to the 1880s, when Greek immigrants moving into the area were hired as sponge divers, a trade they had plied back in the old country. Today Tarpon Springs' main claim to fame is the Greek Orthodox Church's Epiphany celebration, which is held every January 6, with the blessing of the waters and the boats.
Charles L. Aaron, Jr.
Early January always feels like a fresh start. The Christmas whirlwind has settled down. We still have a fighting chance to keep our resolutions for the new year. Cartoons always depict the New Year as a baby, full of possibilities and innocence. We hope that with a new year we can leave the baggage behind us, stretching toward a brighter future.

Stephen M. Crotts
Many things are written with all of the excitement of some fresh truth recently received. Other things are written from anger. And there is much these days in any pastorate to make one mad. Still other messages are delivered from depression. I'm convinced that the majority of preachers I know are over the edge into burnout. And what of this particular study? Where am I coming from? Today, I'm writing from a broken heart, a heart shattered by a fallen comrade.
William B. Kincaid, III
Did you notice that bad things did not stop happening through the holidays? And is any warning necessary that bad things will happen in every season of this year? Surely there is better news than that, but we ought to be honest about the bad news. Not even the holidays generate enough good will to stop people from blowing up airplanes and destroying people's reputations and abusing children and selling drugs to teenagers and gunning down their neighbors.
Robert A. Beringer
"So, what's new?" he asked. It happens all the time. You meet someone on the street you have not seen for awhile. "What's new?" "Oh, nothing much, really.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

When to accommodate and when not to accommodate? That's the question we face today. Most likely, the minds and hearts of our congregations will be focused on the new year. They will have just celebrated the advent not only of a new year but in this case a new millennium. With all the hype about the year 2000, our attention will doubtless be engrossed in the calendar. On the other hand, today is also an important liturgical celebration of the naming of Jesus. It provides us opportunity to acknowledge the importance of that name which has become sacred in our tradition.
Mark J. Molldrem
Schuyler Rhodes
These are the longest hours of darkness. Although the winter solstice is passed, the darkness lingers for many more weeks. The season becomes a symbol for the longing of the human spirit to "see the light." It becomes difficult to catch sight of the light, however, when so many shadows lurk at every turn of a corner we make. We claim to be an enlightened people; yet settle for clap-trap on television and spend countless hours absorbing it like a sponge under a dripping faucet. We call athletes heroes for nothing more than being good at what they do.
Cathy Venkatesh
In many countries, January 6 is a public holiday with parades, parties, and festivities celebrating the visit of the wise men. For some Christian churches, the main celebration of Christ's incarnation occurs on this day. But in the United States, Monday, January 6, 2014, is nothing special in the public sphere. For most of us, this day marks the beginning of our first full week back at work or school after the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

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Teachers: Most youngsters (and many adults) have a misconception of the wise men. The Bible does not state that the wise men visited Jesus at the manger. Even so, our tradition of gift giving at Christmas may relate to the wise men's gifts. The church celebrates the arrival of the wise men's visit to Jesus 12 days after Christmas. This event is called "Epiphany."

Take a moment to explain to your students the significance of Epiphany, the wise men, and Jesus. The lesson from Matthew states three gifts that the wise men gave Jesus: gold, frankincense and
Today we are going to be like the wise men from the East who looked for baby Jesus. They were told the wonderful story about a promised Messiah who would save the world. He was the "king of the Jews" and would be king of all people. They traveled a great distance. They wanted to see the baby. They had to see the baby! So they left and ended up in Jerusalem. There they asked about the promised king.

The man who was king became very jealous. Even though they were looking for a spiritual king -- a king of our hearts, minds,
Teachers or Parents: Have an Epiphany pageant to close off the Christmas season and the twelve days of Christmas with the children of your church. Have people stationed in various parts of the home or church building where you might go to ask the question, "Are you the Messiah?" They will, of course, say, "No." The first group might add, "Look for the star." Involve as many children as possible. Let them ask the question. Let them get into the role of wise men from the East. Help them relive the story and see that Jesus is more than king of the Jews or king of

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