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Children's Activity

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Mercy for a blind beggar -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B
Various Activities
Scars tell a story -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Materials:Oven or toaster oven Rolls of sugar cookie dough
If the Shoe Fits -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Parents or Teachers: The lesson today was about rules and finding
Using the right bait -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the hymn "I Love To
Bread or stone? -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: The real lesson is on temptation. Most
Stained-Glass Windows -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Teachers: The dove is a familiar Christian symbol. One of its
Finding life -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Materials Small, smooth rocks, 1 for each child Craft paint
Who is the Spirit? -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Teachers or Parents: The "Trinity" will always be a mystery,
Pretty packages -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Materials Small jewelry boxes (cardboard), one for each child
Parable in drama -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Teachers: The parable of the three servants can be retold with
"Beating the devil" -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: Fighting temptation is a lifelong battle
Huge! -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Teachers or Parents: We can all feel so insignificant at
Do unto others cards -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C
Teachers: Give each student a set of index cards. Each student
Holy Spirit cards -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers: Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them the
A drama on water -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
Parents and Teachers: The disciples thought they saw a ghost!
Jesus feeds us all! -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Materials: Colored paper Crayons, markers Glitter, stickers
"Blessed!" -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers or Parents: Today's lesson talks about
Straining the difference -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C
Teachers or Parents: The difference in people is in their
"I once was lost ..." -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: Learn the hymn "Amazing Grace." If
Thanks to God -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Teachers or Parents: Ask about birthday and Christmas gifts.
We need the doctor! -- Mark 2:13-22 -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus came into the world to save the
Come to me! -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A
Teachers or Parents: The invitation of Jesus to come to him
The big secret -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Materials Small wooden blocks Red fabric Green ribbon Scissors
One and the same -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A
In today's gospel passage, Jesus reminds his disciples that to know him is to know God.
Spread the news -- John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 -- Easter Day - C
Alleluia! He is risen! Sometimes it seems like Lent will

Children's sermon

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All Things Possible -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2018
“...for God all things are possible.” (v. 27b)
Keeping or Giving -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sa
A Lesson On How To Be Great! -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2018
“...whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.” (v.
Respecting God's House -- John 2:13-22 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at
Blind Beggar Bartimaeus Believes -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2018
“And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.”  (v.
The Little Bible -- John 3:14-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For God so loved the world He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may n
Love in Two Colors -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2018
“You shall love the Lord your God....and your neighbor as yourself.” (v.
A Miracle Seed -- John 12:20-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains ju
Jesus was sad -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2018
Because of a scheduling error, we are highlighting this children's sermon from the archives.
Betrayed! -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2018
“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betra
Jesus' New Math -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2018
“...this poor widow has put in more...all she had to live on.” (v.
The Last Commandment: Love One Another -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2018
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Be Calm -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2018
“...do not be alarmed...” (v. 7a)
Finished! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' Then he bowed his head and gav
Jesus' friends -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have friends?
Thank you, God -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2018
“Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (v.
A new life -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 2018
Good morning, boys and girls, it's Happy Easter Day!
Doubt Or Dare (to believe) -- John 20:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“Do not doubt but believe.” (v. 27b)
The Truth King -- John 18:33-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2018
“My kingdom is not from this world” (v. 36a)
No Ghost But God -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“Touch me and see: for a ghost does not have flesh and bone.” (v.
Watching -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
The Very, Very Good Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (v.
A Road For The King -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Good morning boys and girls,
Connected -- John 15:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
Closer And Closer -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
“...but one who is more powerful than I is coming..” (V. 16a)

Sermon

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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