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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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Metanoia: The Process Of Conversion -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
Is the life you lead one for which you want to be remembered?
Doing Right Because It Is Right -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1998
In a vast field that stretched as far as the eye could see, a great multitude of people milled about
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.
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."
Amazing Grace -- Anthology -- 1998
for a charter member of the churchJames W. Robinson
Tears -- John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... Jesus began to weep...
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.
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
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
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
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
The Victory -- Anthology -- 1998
for a church member who suffered a heart attackRobert S. Kinsey
The Golden Years -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... There was also a prophet, Anna... she was of a great age...
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!
Quit Throwing Stones -- John 7:53-8:11 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
How grateful I am for this story from the Gospel of John!
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
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
How Long Should We Stay? -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1998
Mountains were very important to Matthew.
When A Christian Dies -- Anthology -- 1998
Sunday sermon after a member's death in church the previous Sunday
Easter: A Time For Higher Things -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Easter Day - A -- 1998
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Make Good Use Of Your Injustice -- Philippians 2:1-11 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... he emptied himself taking the form of a slave...

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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
Advent, the Season of Expectancy -- 1990
The church regulates its church year, not by the civil or astronomical calendar, but by the events i
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:
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 Protestant Reformation -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1990
Suggestion:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Thanksgiving -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
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:
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:
Jesus' calming of the sea: the disciples' fear and awe -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Baptism of Our Lord
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
40 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 2 | OT 2
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 3 | OT 3
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

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
For January 11, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
At Jesus' baptism God said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Let us so order our lives that God may say about us, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I fail to please you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm sure I have pleased you, but have got it wrong,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I neither know nor care whether I have pleased you,
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:

StoryShare

Argile Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Welcoming Mr. Forsythe" by Argile Smith
"The Question about the Dove" by Merle Franke


What's Up This Week

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
"Jan wasn't baptized by the spirit, she was baptized by spit," went the joke. Jan had heard it all before: the taunting and teasing from her aunts and uncles. Sure, they hadn't been there at her birth, but they loved to tell the story. They were telling Jan's friends about that fateful day when Jan was born - and baptized.


Elizabeth Achtemeier
The lectionary often begins a reading at the end of one poem and includes the beginning of another. Such is the case here. Isaiah 42:1-4 forms the climactic last stanza of the long poem concerning the trial with the nations that begins in 41:1. Isaiah 42:5-9 is the opening stanza of the poem that encompasses 42:5-17. Thus, we will initially deal with 42:1-4 and then 42:5-9.

Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 42:1--9 (C, E); Isaiah 42:1--4, 6--7 (RC); Isaiah 42:1--7 (L)
Tony S. Everett
Jenny was employed as an emergency room nurse in a busy urban hospital. Often she worked many hours past the end of her shift, providing care to trauma victims and their families. Jenny was also a loving wife and mother, and an excellent cook. On the evening before starting her hectic work week, Jenny would prepare a huge pot of soup, a casserole, or stew; plentiful enough for her family to pop into the microwave or simmer on the stove in case she had to work overtime.

Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Bil Keane, the creator of the Family Circus cartoon, said he was drawing a cartoon one day when his little boy came in and asked, "Daddy, how do you know what to draw?" Keane replied, "God tells me." Then the boy asked, "Then why do you keep erasing parts of it?"1
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Being Inclusive
Message: Are you sure, God, that you show no partiality? Lauds, KDM

The haughty part of us would prefer that God be partial, that is, partial to you and to me. We want to reap the benefits of having been singled out. On the other hand, our decent side wants God to show no partiality. We do yield a little, however. It is fine for God to be impartial as long as we do not need to move over and lose our place.
William B. Kincaid, III
There are two very different ways to think about baptism. The first approach recognizes the time of baptism as a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. The person then considers herself "saved." She may grow in the faith through the years, but nothing which she will experience after her baptism will be as important as her baptism. She always will be able to recall her baptism as the time when her life changed.
R. Glen Miles
I delivered my very first sermon at the age of sixteen. It was presented to a congregation of my peers, a group of high school students. The service, specifically designed for teens, was held on a Wednesday night. There were about 125 people in attendance. I was scared to death at first, but once the sermon got started I felt okay and sort of got on a roll. My text was 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, as some refer to it. The audience that night was very responsive to the sermon. I do not know why they liked it.
Someone is trying to get through to you. Someone with an important message for you is trying to get in touch with you. It would be greatly to your advantage to make contact with the one who is trying to get through to you.
Thom M. Shuman
Call To Worship
One: When the floods and storms of the world threaten
to overwhelm us,
All: God's peace flows through us,
to calm our troubled lives.
One: When the thunder of the culture's claims on us
deafens us to hope,
All: God whispers to us
and soothes our souls.
One: When the wilderness begs us to come out and play,
All: God takes us by the hand
and we dance into the garden of grace.

Prayer Of The Day
Your voice whispers
over the waters of life,
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
A Service Of Renewal

Gathering (may also be used for Gathering on Epiphany 3)
A: Light shining in the darkness,
C: light never ending.
A: Through the mountains, beneath the sea,
C: light never ending.
A: In the stillness of our hearts,
C: light never ending.
A: In the water and the word,
C: light never ending. Amen.

Hymn Of Praise
Baptized In Water or Praise And Thanksgiving Be To God Our Maker

Prayer Of The Day

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. What am I wearing this morning? (Let them answer.) I'm wearing part of a uniform of the (name the team). Have any of you gone to a game where the (name the team) has played? (Let them answer.) I think one of the most exciting parts of a game is right before it starts. That's when all the players are introduced. Someone announces the player's name and number. That player then runs out on the court of playing field. Everyone cheers. Do you like that part of the game? (Let them answer.) Some people call that pre-game "hype." That's a funny term, isn't it?
Good morning! Let me show you this certificate. (Show the
baptism certificate.) Does anyone know what this is? (Let them
answer.) Yes, this is a baptism certificate. It shows the date
and place where a person is baptized. In addition to this
certificate, we also keep a record here at the church of all
baptisms so that if a certificate is lost we can issue a new one.
What do all of you think about baptism? Is it important? (Let
them answer.)

Let me tell you something about baptism. Before Jesus
Good morning! How many of you have played Monopoly? (Let
them answer.) In the game of Monopoly, sometimes you wind up in
jail. You can get out of jail by paying a fine or, if you have
one of these cards (show the card), you can get out free by
turning in the card.

Now, in the game of life, the real world where we all live,
we are also sometimes in jail. Most of us never have to go to a
real jail, but we are all in a kind of jail called "sin." The
Bible tells us that when we sin we become prisoners of sin, and

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