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Worship

SermonStudio

Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Deuteronomy 18:15-22, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28, Psalm 111 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Fifth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45, Psalm 30 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship From Psalm 30. Leader: I will exalt you, O Lord,
Seventh Sunday After The Epiphany -- Isaiah 43:18-25, Mark 2:1-12, Psalm 41 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
The Epiphany Of Our Lord -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Call To Worship Selected verses from Psalm 22. Leader:
First Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Second Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, Psalm 22:23-31 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship Based on the Genesis 17 passage. Leader:
Third Sunday in Lent -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22, Psalm 19 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship Psalm 19:1-2 Leader:
Fourth Sunday in Lent -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Call To Worship This is what Jesus was born for. Leader:

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

It's Not About You; It's All About God -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2007
Jesus left the house (which one we are not sure).
Life's Purpose Is Often Hidden! -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2007
Life is a messy affair. Our purpose is often hidden.
Ecological Politics -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
One of the greatest military campaigns ever conducted was the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC.
Religious Balkanization -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2007
As a seminary intern in St. Louis, Missouri, I was part of a Jewish-Christian Dialogue group.
Mistaken Identitiy -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2007
Appearances can be deceiving.
The Road No One Wants To Travel -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2007
Some time ago, I was riding a train through central England and a man boarded at one of the stops.
Personal Politics -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2007
Thomas Browne said that "the vices we scoff at in others laugh at us from within ourselves." More th
How Beautiful The Feet -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Larry Lange -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
The whole thing is stupid and unnecessary, Judy was thinking as she was driving to the nursing home.
The Heifer That Will Change The World! -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Larry Lange -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2007
The Reverend Clyde Lott is a national champion cattle judge and livestock showman.
We Are The Champions -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Larry Lange -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2007
The year I knew Jack, one of the cattle he had raised was awarded the title "State Champion Steer."

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

The Prayers -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward following the creed.
The Peace -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward following the words of the peace before the peace is shared.
The Offering -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward at the time of the offering.
The Offertory (Create in Me ...) -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(While the offering is being received, or just before the offertory is sung, ask the children to com
The Offertory (Let The Vineyards ...) -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward while the offering is being received.
The Offertory (What Shall I Render ...) -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward during the offering.
The Offertory Prayer -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward after the offering has been received.
The Great Thanksgiving (Litany) -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward at the usual time for the children's sermon to avoid interrupting
The Great Thanksgiving (Preface) -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(Ask the children to come forward at the appropriate time.
Candles -- Larry L. Sydow -- 1991
(At the time when the acolytes usually come out to light the candles, call the children forward.)

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Religion That Will Scare You To Death -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Is there still fear associated with some religion and should there be?
Knock, Knock -- Who's There? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How do we handle the religious zealots who knock at our door?
Pilgrim Or Tourist? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How serious (or loose) is our connection to Jesus Christ, the church, and Chri
The Multi-Billion-Dollar Rodent Den -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Too many people are missing the intelligent and appropriate response to alcoho
Wicked, But Worth It -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need to recognize the delicate balance between the realization we are sinne
Drive-Thru-Window Church -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: For some churches and for some church members, a quick and convenient Sunday m
Blemishes And Biblical Authentication -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: "Defects" or "flaws" in the Bible do not necessarily diminish its value or tru
A Dangerous Way To Read Your Bible -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Unavoidably and necessarily we must "pick and choose" which passages in our Bi
Skeletons In The Church Closet -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: The Church is not now, and has not in the past, been perfect.
The Christian And False Besmirchment -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Christians should be extraordinarily careful not to judge others on flimsy and

Stories

SermonStudio

Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Democracy
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Discipleship
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Discipleship
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Ego
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Ego
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Encouragement
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Enthusiasm
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Envy "Everybody loves success, but they hate successful people." (John McEnroe)
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Envy
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Eternal

Prayer

Devotional

SermonStudio

Proper 27 -- Mark 12:38-44 -- William W. Helland -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2005
Mark 12:38-44
Proper 28 -- Mark 13:1-8 -- William W. Helland -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2005
Mark 13:1-8
The Transfiguration Of Our Lord -- Mark 9:2-9 -- William W. Helland -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2005
Mark 9:2-9
The Holy Trinity -- John 3:1-17 -- William W. Helland -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2005
John 3:1-17
Christmas 1 -- Luke 2:22-40 -- William W. Helland -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2005
Luke 2:22-40
Christmas 2 -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- William W. Helland -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2005
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
The Nativity Of Our Lord/Christmas Eve/Christmas Day (Proper 1) -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- William W. Helland -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2005
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
The Burning Bush -- Exodus 3:1-5 -- William C. Bartlett -- 2001
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock
The Passover -- Exodus 12:3, 5-7, 11-13 -- William C. Bartlett -- 2001
Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb fo
"We Don't Know What To Do" -- 2 Chronicles 20:12-15 -- William C. Bartlett -- 2001
"O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them?

Poems

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Thanksgiving Day

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Women's Day

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Unison Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Intercession

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Christian Faith

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
Contents
"Reason for Hope" by John Fitzgerald

Reason for Hope
by John Fitzgerald
1 Peter 3:13-22

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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