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Children's Activity

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"Love your neighbor" -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
Teachers or Parents: Who is our neighbor? We need to teach
Priceless gift -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: The emphasis is on giving as based in
Are you a good steward? -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very l
The tears of Jesus -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B
Materials Clothespins Silk flowers
Blessed you are -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: Before class, ask if each child can bring a baby picture or another picture that can be us
The big book -- Luke 10:17-20
Teachers or Parents: In case you didn't know it, angels are
Seeing Jesus -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A
Teachers or Parents: Children are often focused on the wrong
Jesus can set you free -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Today's reading is about a woman who is healed by Jesus.
The truth will make you free -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B
Teachers or Parents: Reformation Sunday provides us a wonderful
Scared by the light -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
Teachers or Parents: Learn the hymn, "What A Friend We Have In
Quenching a thirst -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
Materials:Empty soup cans with the sharp edges removed (one per child)
Jesus and children -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B
Teachers: Jesus talks about children in this lesson. He took a
"Finding that which was lost" -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Teachers or Parents: These parables about finding something
One grain -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Teachers or Parents: Easter comes in two weeks. Plant a bean
Kingdom of heaven clock -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Teachers: Jesus tells a parable, which involves different times of
Good fruit -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Another day, another parable. In today's parable, a man plants a field of good wheat.
"Who's number one?" -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
Teachers or Parents: Children need to learn about
Spreading fame -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C
Teachers or Parents: Who doesn't like knowing someone famous?
Take care of others -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
There are two men in today's lesson. One is wealthy and has everything he needs.
Who gives the most? -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Materials Lace Pennies Glue Instructions
The Temple library -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
Teachers: Since this is the last Sunday of the year, a good connecting activity to the lesson is to
Prepare the way -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: Make this Sunday's activity a time for your students
Shalom -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: The Bible tells us that the peace of
Be different from the world -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
What does it mean to be different from the world?
Who will do the work? -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
In today's Gospel Lesson, Jesus says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Children's sermon

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Doin' time -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. (v.
Being a Blabbermouth -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This is one of those provocative stories in the gospel where Jesus seems to w
Prepare a place -- John 14:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places.
Playing referee -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you
Batter up -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (v.
Being Healed -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Anna Shirey -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: How does it feel to be truly seen?
Covered -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you -- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but
Money, money, money -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things t
Welcome -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (v.
Carrying God's Mark -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: As we begin our journey into Lent, we are faced with some weighty spiritual q
Father, Son, Spirit -- John 14:15-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (v.
Make new friends -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God
Forgiveness box -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Not just a good yarn -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of ou
Being the Beloved -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This Sunday it would be easy to stick with the first part of the text, which
We are the body -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (v. 23)
Love -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (v. 40)
Safe and warm -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (v.
Clean indeed -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazz
Waiting for the Right Gift -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This first Sunday after Christmas we are introduced to two familiar character
Extra-terrestrial -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
You are witnesses of these things. (v. 48)
Neat and tidy -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you beli
God's rules -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the f
Ambassadors for Christ -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Leah Thompson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on be
Burdens eased -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (v. 7)

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sandra Herrmann
Merry Christmas! The midwinter festival has come, and it calls for parties, feasting and drinking and dancing and the exchange of gifts. Like all people in the northern hemisphere, we need light in the dark days of winter. The only problem with all of this is that the pressure to be joyful can send us spiraling in the exact opposite of mind sets.
Christmas shops are not just for Christmas anymore. These stores that specialize in everything yuletide-ish do business year round and can be found everywhere. I have seen them in an outlet mall near Washington, D.C., nestled in a small village in the mountains of North Carolina and adorning the white sand beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is born! A bright light has come into our world, so let us thank and praise God for his gift to us of Jesus, the Messiah.

Invitation to Confession:

 Lord Jesus, we are thrilled by your birth, make us worthy to worship at your crib.

Lord, have mercy.

 Lord Jesus, we are thrilled by your birth, may we remember you in today's excitement.

Christ, have mercy.

 Lord Jesus, we are thrilled by your birth, be born in our hearts today.

Lord, have mercy

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
A Story to Live By: "
Christmas Stories: "Christmas Presence" by Janice Hammerquist
"Silver In His Soul"
"www.ChristmasHouse" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: Great Prayer of Thanksgiving for Christmas Eve by Thom M. Shuman


What's Up on Christmas Eve

Lamar Massingill
John E. Sumwalt
Contents
"Taking His Joy unto Ourselves" by Lamar Massingill
"God Acted that We Might Act" by Lamar Massingill
"The Hopes and Fears of All the Years" by John Sumwalt
"God with Us" by Peter Andrew Smith


* * * * * * * *


Taking His Joy unto Ourselves
Lamar Massingill
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Christmas would be incomplete without recognizing Incarnate Love's first fruit, which is joy. Johann Sebastian Bach recognized it when he, as an act of worship, composed "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

SermonStudio

John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:2--7 (C, RC); Isaiah 9:2--4, 6--7 (E)
Mark Wm. Radecke
Year after year, we are drawn to this night: This night with its carols, its candlelight, its communion, and the combined fragrance of pine, poinsettia and perfume. (Is that Passion or Poison you're wearing? Or maybe it's Polo!) The gentle poetry of Luke's story draws us, too.

Why is it that we are so drawn to this night, I wonder? There are, I suppose, as many answers as there are people in this room.
Charles L. Aaron, Jr.
It's not an easy life, I'll tell you that. I work my small farm during the day, but that doesn't bring in enough money. I have a family to support, taxes to pay -- oy, don't get me started on taxes -- so I need more than my farm brings in. I do the only other thing I know how to do. I hire myself out for the night shift watching other people's sheep. Tending sheep would not be my first choice, you understand. First, I have to stay awake all night. Then, there's counting the sheep to make sure one or two haven't wandered off. Thieves are always a problem.
Timothy J. Smith
There is a special feeling from being in church on Christmas Eve. For many of us it feels like coming home for Christmas. We come to hear the familiar story of Mary and Joseph making their way to the little town of Bethlehem. We hear once again of Baby Jesus born in stable. Soon after an unexpected encounter with angels, the shepherds head to the manger to see Jesus for themselves. Children have creatively acted out this story for generations complete with the wise men offering their gifts. Living Nativities complete with live animals are portrayed in church parking lots in many communities.
Frank Luchsinger
"The grace of God has appeared ... training us ... to await our blessed hope" (Titus 2:11-13), and oh, how we have waited! The air is filled with anticipation, the Holy Night has come. We each wait for different things: the lighting of candles, the singing of carols, loved ones returning home, feasting, and forgetting ferment, for the Prince of Peace is coming. We wait for delight in the eyes of someone we love as he or she opens that special gift. We wait in awe in the hope that one star's strong light lingers still and will lead us home to him who redeems us.
John B. Jamison
He stood on the steps and waved. He nodded to those cheering to him from below, and took a deep breath as if to soak up their praise.
Susan R. Andrews
At the risk of putting you to sleep, I'd like to ask each one of you to close your eyes. Right now, for just a minute. Please close your eyes. And now imagine with me. Imagine that you are holding a newborn baby. Imagine how this baby feels - skin touching skin, curves touching curves - harmonious heartbeats as life surges between you. Imagine the smell - the earthy sweetness of breath and body perfuming the air. Imagine the sound - the silent melody of sighing, stretching, settling. Right now, for just a minute, let your imagination go. Feel the baby. Smell the baby. Hear the baby.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Gathering
P: Born into this world,
C: born into our lives,
P: God made flesh.
C: O Emmanuel, we praise you now and forever. Amen.

Hymn Of Praise
O Come, All Ye Faithful or Jesus, What A Wonderful Child

Gospel Procession
Have the children (dressed as Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds) process and then read the gospel from the center of the congregation.

Intercessory Prayers
After each petition:
L: O God of love,
C: be born in us today.
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
O Sing A New Song To The Lord (PH216)
Angels From The Realms Of Glory (UM220, PH22, NCH126)
Born In The Night (PH30, NCH152)
Once In Royal David's City (PH49, UM250, NCH145)
The First Nowell (PH56, UM245, CBH199, NCH139)
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (UM248, PH46, CBH192)
What Child Is This? (UM219, PH53, CBH215, NCH148)
Silent Night (PH60, UM229, CBH193, PH134)
The Friendly Beasts (UM227, NCH138)
That Boy--Child Of Mary (PH55, UM241)
Frank Ramirez
Call To Worship (based on Isaiah 9:2-7)

One: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light -

All: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shone.

Women: You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

Men: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders -

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Merry Christmas, boys and girls. (Show one of your signs). Do any of you know what this sign means? (Let them answer.) That's right, it means (provide answer). (Show another sign and ask what it means. Let them answer.) Very good. Signs are very important aren't they? They give us direction. They tell us what to do and what not to do. The Bible gives many signs also.

You all know the story about the shepherds on Christmas Eve. The shepherds were in the field watching their sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared to them. The Bible says that the shepherds
Leah Thompson
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all… (v. 11)

Good morning, boys and girls! How are you today? (allow answers) Who can tell me what today is? (allow answers) That's right -- it's finally here! Today is Christmas [Eve]! We have spent the whole season of Advent preparing for right now. The long preparation is finally over. Christmas is here!

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