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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
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
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
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 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
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
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
The Easter Season -- George M. Bass -- 1989
The Vigil of Easter
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
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
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
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany -- Isaiah 58:3-9a, Matthew 5:13-20 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue

Sacrament

Self Help

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SermonStudio

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
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.
God's Baffling Grace -- John 5:2-14 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
"Listen, you are well now; so stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
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
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.
The Day God Forgot -- Hewbrews 10:16-25 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Good Friday - A -- 1998
Two boys are racing their bicycles.
The Victory -- Anthology -- 1998
for a church member who suffered a heart attackRobert S. Kinsey
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
Tears -- John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... Jesus began to weep...
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
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
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
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.
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
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!
When A Christian Dies -- Anthology -- 1998
Sunday sermon after a member's death in church the previous Sunday
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
The Golden Years -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... There was also a prophet, Anna... she was of a great age...
How Long Should We Stay? -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1998
Mountains were very important to Matthew.
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
Quit Throwing Stones -- John 7:53-8:11 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
How grateful I am for this story from the Gospel of John!
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.
Center Yourself In The Lord -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
When Charlie Atlas was a teenager his parents purchased for him a dresser mirror that he placed in h
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

Spirituality

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Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

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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:
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:
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:
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:
Parables of the Kingdom -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
A teaching with authority - A summary of Jesus' teaching ministry -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider 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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For January 25, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus called Simon and Andrew, James and John, to follow him. They immediately made their decision and dropped everything, for they knew the importance of their call. When Jesus calls us, do we hear him and do we respond?

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I'm busy I find it difficult to hear you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm busy, I find it difficult to respond to you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm busy I'm not sure whether I want to follow you.
Lord, have mercy.
Janice B. Scott
I remember years ago watching an old film, which I think was "The Nun's Story." The young nun who was the heroine of the story had all sorts of difficulties in relationships with the other nuns. The problem was that she was super-intelligent, and the other nuns resented her. In the end the young nun went to the Mother Superior for advice, and was told that as a sign of humility she should fail her coming exams!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Angel of Mercy"
Shining Moments: "A Dog's Life" by David Michael Smith
Good Stories: "God's Call" by Stephen Groves
Scrap Pile: "The Way Less Taken" by Garry Deverell


What's Up This Week
by John Sumwalt

C. David Mckirachan
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"Ordinary Time" by C. David McKirachan
"Who's the Fool?" by C. David McKirachan
"Sharing the Light" by Sandra Herrmann


* * * * * * *


Ordinary Time
by C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 9:1-4

SermonStudio

John N. Brittain
How familiar Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1 sound! Chloe's people had reported quarreling among the believers. Imagine that -- disagreements in a church! There were rivalries and backstabbing even in the very earliest days of the Christian community.
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
A few years ago, I was on a retreat in northern Michigan, and I knew that some of our friends from home were sailing in the vicinity. One evening I went to the local boat dock, and walked through the lines of boats calling out the names of our friends, hopeful that they might be there. I remember the joy I felt when I yelled their names, and they answered! They were actually there, and they responded to my call!
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: In Christ's Name
Message: What on earth will bring us together, God? Lauds, KDM

How long must we wait, God,
for people to stop fighting
nations and nations
buyers and sellers
big ones and little ones
in-laws and relatives
husbands and wives
sisters and brothers
for me to stop fighting with me?
How long must we wait, God,
before we let the Christ Child come here?1
William B. Kincaid, III
In some parts of the country it doesn't matter, but in many areas the snow which falls during this time of the year can bring things to a decisive halt. Schools close. Events are canceled. Travel becomes tricky. If the conditions become severe enough, the decision may be made that not everybody should try to get to work. Only those who are absolutely necessary should report.
R. Glen Miles
"There will be no more gloom." That is how our text begins today. For the ones who were in anguish, glory will replace the gloom. Light will shine in darkness. Celebration will replace oppression. A new day will dawn.

In one sense these verses offer a summary of the overall message of the scriptures, "The darkness will pass. The light of a new day is dawning and there will be joy once again." At the end of the Bible, almost as if the original collectors of these sacred texts intended to remind us again of this word of hope, the Revelation of John tells us:
Robert A. Beringer
After a service of ordination to the Christian ministry, a sad-faced woman came up to the newly-ordained pastor and said, "It's a grand thing you are doing as a young man - giving up the joys of life to serve the Lord." That woman's attitude reflects a commonly held belief that to be serious about our faith means that we expect all joy to be taken out of living. For many, Christianity appears to be a depressing faith, with unwelcome disciplines, that cramps our lifestyle and crushes our spirits.
John T. Ball
All religions offer salvation. Eastern religions offer salvation from the illusion of being separated from ultimate reality - as in Hinduism, or from the pains of desire, as in Buddhism. Nature religions preach a salvation by calling us to realize we are linked to the natural world. Humanistic religions offer a salvation tied to the call to live in dignity and justice without divine aid. The biblical religions - Judaism, Islam, and Christianity - describe salvation in somewhat different ways. Judaism sees salvation primarily as an earthly and corporate affair.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Litany Of Confession
P: Discord, dissention, strife,
C: anger, violence, hatred;
P: we confess to you, O God,
C: our schemes, our willful rebellion,
our hidden hostilities toward your children.
P: We confess to you, O God,
C: our lack of trust in your presence,
our need to control, our insatiable appetite for praise.
P: We confess to you, O God,
C: our fear of speaking the truth in love,
our self-hatred, our moments of utter despair
when we no longer believe you are at work in us.
Wayne H. Keller
Adoration And Praise

Invitation to the Celebration
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Canticle Of Light And Darkness (UM205)
To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born (CBH189)
God Of Our Strength (CBH36)
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus (CBH250, UM297, NCH190, PH92)
In The Cross Of Christ I Glory (CBH566, UM295, NCH193--194, PH84)
Lord, You Have Come To The Lakeshore (CBH229, NCH173, PH377, UM344)
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life (PH408, CBH405, UM42, NCH543)
Jesus Calls Us, O'er The Tumult (UM398, NCH171--172, CBH398)

Anthems

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
In 1882 George MacDonald wrote a fascinating story that powerfully illumines the thought behind today's lectionary passages. MacDonald called his tale "The Day Boy and the Night Girl: the Romance of Photogen and Nycteris" (it is available online at http://www.ccel.org/m/macdonald/daynight/daynight.html). In MacDonald's fable a witch steals a newborn girl and raises her in the total darkness of a cave. The witch experiences both light and darkness, but not the girl. She is completely immersed in the black world.
Wayne Brouwer
"Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous!" said Winston Churchill. "In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times."

In one of his essays, Albert Camus describes a powerful scene. John Huss, the great Czech reformer of the church, is on trial. His accusers twist all his ideas out of shape. They refuse to give him a hearing. They maneuver the political machine against him and incite popular passion to a lynch-mob frenzy. Finally, Huss is condemned to be burned at
David Kalas
Schuyler Rhodes
I was in the home of a church member the other day where I saw a marvelous family portrait. The picture had been taken on the occasion of a fiftieth wedding anniversary, and the entire family had gathered for the occasion. The celebrating husband and wife were seated in the center of the picture, flanked by their adult children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. It was a magnificent full-color illustration of God's design.

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