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Worship

SermonStudio

Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Frank Ramirez -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2002
Call To Worship (based on Acts 1:6-11)
Fourth Sunday Of Advent -- Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
Advent WreathWe hear your words, "Do not be afraid. I am with you."
Easter Sunday -- Psalm 118:14-24 -- Frank Ramirez -- Easter Day - B -- 2002
Call To Worship (Psalm 118:14-24)
Second Sunday Of Easter -- 1 John 1:1 - 2:2 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2002
Unison Confession Of Faith (1 John 1:1 - 2:2)
First Sunday Of Advent -- Frank Ramirez -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
Advent WreathWe come with open minds.
Second Sunday Of Advent -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
Advent WreathWe come with many fears and anxieties.
Third Sunday Of Advent -- Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
Advent WreathWe bring our fears into your revealing light.
The Lord Gathers All His People -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
The Coming King -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Transfiguration Sunday -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2002
First Lesson: 2 Kings 2:1-12 Theme: The Lord's Spirit Stays With Us

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

All Is New In Christ -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
Running as fast as his feet would carry him, Androclus raced into the forest.
Carrying The Burdens Of Others -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2006
There was a man named Sundar, a convert to Christianity who decided to go to India to be a missionar
Sharing God's Love -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Good Friday - C -- 2006
There once was a king who ruled over a vast empire, but alas, he was rather old and thus decided tha
Repairing Our Lives -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Easter Day - C -- 2006
Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled over a small kingdom that wasn't powerful nor was it kn
Jesus Brings Hope -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
The International Government of the World, or IGW, made its announcement with joy: the last Christia
Death To Glory -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
Once in a far-off land, there was a great king whose dominion extended far and wide.
Enduring The Trials Of Faith -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
"In the seventh year of his reign, two days before his 65th birthday, in the presence of a full cons
New Creations In Christ -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
There once was a very unhappy old man.
Jesus, The Light Of The World -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
In the beginning when the Great Spirit created all that exists, he gave great gifts to all the anima
Caring For Others: The Christian Vocation In The World -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2006
When Bobby Smith was a youngster, his family lived near Mrs.

Children's sermon

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

.A Kentucky Story (in fun, of course) -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A visitor in a sixth grade classroom listened to the children answer questions from their teacher.
Not Couch Potatoes -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
Recently, people who watch television most of the time have been called "Couch Potatoes." Have you h
On Playing Hookey -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A little boy was crying, and someone asked him what was the matter.
Pastor On Skates -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A wealthy woman entered Heaven, and Saint Peter produced a bicycle for her to ride on the golden str
Patience, Dear! -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
Husband shouting at wife: "For the last time, are you ready to go?"
Playing The Numbers -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A woman entered a guessing game at a store to win a new refrigerator.
Six Pieces Or Eight Pieces? -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A guy was ordering a pizza by telephone, when the man on the phone asked: "How shall we cut the pizz
Super Religious -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
The story is being told that Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and Bob Schuller were to be received into h
That Bag Of Cookies -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
The other day a businessman reported to an airport, purchased his ticket, and was checked through ca
That Special Day -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
As a man was leaving for his office on a wintry day, his wife hinted, "Tomorrow is a special day, yo

Stories

SermonStudio

A Salute -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
There she walks carefree into the store.
An Autonomous Person -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
On the inside cover of a Sigurd Olson book which she gave me for my sixtieth birthday, she wrote, "A
Adoption -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Why did we do it, Leon? There is no easy answer. Maybe it was not the thing to do.
Using Our Children -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Jim* was elected president of his class and was on the honor roll both semesters.
An Impossible Wish -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Leon, how I would like to spare my children and loved ones much of the unnecessary pain and folly we
A Gratifying Moment -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
"What is your brother doing these days?" "Oh, he's a successful accountant out West." "How did your
Secularization? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
The family Christmas gathering has come and gone --
An Extremely Difficult Adjustment -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Control and supervision of our lives from our children?
The Simple Life -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
We originally planned to keep the place simple and easy to maintain, Leon.
Close In Heart -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Constance Berg -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
Whenever I think of Katy, I think of God's perfect timing.

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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

SermonStudio

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.

Special Occasion

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