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Worship

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Ash Wednesday -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
Theme: The Life Of Righteousness Call To Worship
Ash Wednesday -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
First Sunday In Lent -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: Temptation Call To Worship
First Sunday In Lent -- Romans 5:12-19 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: New Beginnings Call To Worship
First Sunday In Lent -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: Temptation Call To Worship
First Sunday In Lent -- Psalm 32 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Second Sunday In Lent -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: God's Call Call To Worship
Second Sunday In Lent -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: Victory Through Faith Call To Worship
Second Sunday In Lent -- John 3:1-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: God's Love And Our Response Call To Worship
Second Sunday In Lent -- Psalm 121 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance

Drama

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On Having A Good Church Fight -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- John T. Ball -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Today's scripture from 1 John is one of the treasures of all the New Testament.
Salvation Is A Journey, Not An Arrival -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- John T. Ball -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
In this Information Age, we find summaries of the news helpful.
Faith As Alternating Current -- 1 John 3:16-20 -- John T. Ball -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Some troublesome things about the Christian life are its mood swings.
Love -- The Only Absolute Commandment -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- John T. Ball -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Love is central to the New Testament message. Jesus called his followers to practice love.
The Commandments Are Not Burdensome -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- John T. Ball -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
In the Exodus story, Moses leads the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity and takes them to the moun
The Blessings Of Writing -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- John T. Ball -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
One of the blessings of God is the gift of writing, of putting our thoughts and observations on clay
True Resurrections -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- John T. Ball -- Easter Day - B -- 2005
Today, Easter is the central festival of the church, out of which comes two derivative festivals, Ch
Getting It Straight -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Donald Charles Lacy -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2005
What a colorful figure Paul must have been in flesh and blood!
Being Single-minded -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Donald Charles Lacy -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2005
The Second Coming of Christ was much in the thoughts of the ancient church.
Looking Out For Others -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Donald Charles Lacy -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2005
Being able to synthesize in such a way that harmony can be the outcome is among the many things the

Children's sermon

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Preaching

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Fifth Sunday in Lent -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Endings can be sad.
Maundy/Holy Thursday -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2003
The same Old Testament text is used for Maundy Thursday in all three cycles of the lectionary.
New Year's Day -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- New Year's Day - B -- 2003
All of us know that there are proper times to do and say certain things.
Passion/Psalm Sunday -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2003
This is the stated text also in Cycles A and B.
Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2003
This reading from Acts is the stated lesson in all three cycles of the lectionary.
Proper 10 -- Amos 7:7-17 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2003
This text gives the third in a series of four visions (7:1--8:3) that the prophet Amos was granted d
Proper 11 -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2003
The lectionary often combines parts of two separate sections.
Proper 12 -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2003
We are a whoring nation, are we not?
Proper 13 -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2003
Few passages in the Old Testament are more important than this one, because it sets forth central un
Proper 14 -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2003
In the popular piety that so dominates American religious life, there is the saying that "God hears

Stories

SermonStudio

Holy -- 1999
There were two places in Amsterdam where there were big crowds but it was hushed: In the Van Gogh mu
Holy Spirit -- 1999
A television commercial for John Hancock Insurance says: "We can help you here and now, not just her
Homeless -- 1999
On December 28, 1984, National Public Radio reported that Jesse Carpenter was buried in Arlington Na
Honor -- 1999
In Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Evita, which was made into a movie starring the infamous Mad
Hope -- 1999
Amy Grant, interviewed on CNN, was asked what the purpose of Christian music is.
Humanity -- 1999
At the formal academic ceremony of graduation at Wittenberg University, I saw a dog come behind the
Humanness -- 1999
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle blew up one and a half minutes out of Cape Kennedy.
Human Worth -- 1999
A letter arrived from Lydia Manawu in Liberia, marked, "No Monetary Value."
Humility -- 1999
Lee Kalmer, Dean of ISU College of Agriculture, told of a farmer buying a new tractor.
Humor -- 1999
The Iowa State football coach told a story about a football game between centipedes and insects.

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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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