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At The Right Place At The Right Time -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1996
Sherry was struggling with some personal issues in her life.
Joy Comes In The Morning -- Psalm 30:1-5, 11-12 -- Robert G. Mccreight -- 1996
Introduction
Our Dilemma And Delight -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1996
For the past five Sundays the lectionary has assigned gospels from John.
A Taste Of Life -- Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 -- William G. Carter -- 1996
The workshop was winding up.
When Life Seems Out Of Control -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9,15, 31-33 -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1996
During the week he was always dressed in a dark suit, a white shirt, and an expensive tie.
The Final Questions -- John 6:56-69 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1996
We are all being taught by God.
Learning to Live Without Jesus -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- William G. Carter -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1996
Everywhere you looked, you saw people in tie-dyed t-shirts.
Leaving A Legacy -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1996
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 18-year-old David Neuer when he met Pope Pius XII in the
Himself The Real Presence -- John 6:51-58 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1996
Accustomed as we are to hearing the words, "This is my body" in the consecration of the sacrament an
Water Won't Quench The Fire -- John 7:37-39 -- William G. Carter -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1996
An unusual piece of mail arrived at the office the other day.
A Homecoming To Remember -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1996
In the heart of our nation's capital, in sight of the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, is the Holoca
When Something Is About To Happen -- Mark 13:32-37 -- Thomas G. Long -- 1996
"I'll tell you what keeps me coming to this church." The man who spoke was punching the air with his
Flesh For Our Life -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1996
Once again our Lord tells us, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven." "Bread of life" --
A Blessing Behind Locked Doors -- John 20:19-23 -- William G. Carter -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1996
Every Sunday morning, the people of a church in the Pacific Northwest say, "Peace be with you." They
Evergreen Wreath and Faded Leaf -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
The occasion was a joyous one as the young bride and groom settled into their seats at the head tabl
Silly Love Songs -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1996
"I can see no trace of the passions which make for deeper joy," wrote the French writer Stendhal abo
What Do You Mean, "Repent"? -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Thomas G. Long -- 1996
Bright Lights, Big City is Jay McInerney's searingly-witty, emotion-ripping novel of one ma
Bread In Our Baskets -- John 6:24-35 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1996
After the Lord's miraculous multiplying of the two fish and the loaves of bread, the crowd had seen
Last But Yet First -- Mark 9:30-37 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1996
In order to be last, you must give others a place in front of you.
Can Christians Dance? -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1996
A few years ago, I was asked to serve as the worship leader at a regional church conference for teen
The Warrior and the Shepherd Are One! -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
A friend conveys the story of his childhood misconception about finding his vocational way in life.
Lasting Impressions -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Timothy J. Smith -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1996
During his first visit to the United States, Albert Schweitzer found himself at Pennsylvania Station
There's A Man Going Around Taking Names -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Thomas G. Long -- 1996
There is an old black gospel song from the American South, most often sung to the driving beat of a
Children Just Forever -- Mark 9:38-50 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1996
You are now, each one of you, and you have always been since you were baptized, one of these "little
Looking A Little Bit Crazy -- Mark 3:20-35 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1996
A photocopied sign was posted inside a church office.

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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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