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Children's Activity

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Prayer line -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Teachers or Parents: Prayer is an important part of our
Come and see -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
In some circles, the word "evangelism" is intimidating.
Lazarus, Come Out! -- John 11:1-53 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers: Tell this story to your class. Have them create a
"That's not fair!" -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Teachers or Parents: Many adults have trouble understanding
Attract and repel -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: Jesus talked about sheep and shepherds in many of his stories.
Who is calling? -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Teachers: This week's first lesson and gospel theme have
Popular John -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A
Teachers or Parents: Bring a newspaper or news magazine.
"Be ready!" -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Advent is a time of preparation. The
The most important commandment -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Teachers or Parents: Love is the fulfilling of the law says
Looking for heaven -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Materials Wire-nuts (74B yellow) 2 1/4-inch piece of plastic lanyard (any color)
A wise nation is a godly nation -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
Teachers or Parents: We need to instill in our children a
There's always enough -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Teachers or Parents: We need to make our children aware that
Unfunny laughter -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Teachers or Parents: Ridicule is a form of social control.
"Bad news; good news" -- Luke 21:10-19 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Teachers or Parents: Some children get quite frightened by
Don't worry! -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B
Teachers or Parents: Worry is something that permeates our
Where are the other nine? -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
It's amazing what a big deal it is to say "thank you." Think of the times when you've done something
The peanut butter -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The first miracle -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Teachers or Parents: In this modern era when there are many in
Get rid of bad habits -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Teachers: This week's lesson, in essence, reminds Christians
Show us -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: Both lessons today talk about the
Fishing for people -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Today's gospel lesson is a fun one to share with children.
The Bread And The Cup -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
Teachers: The Passion narrative reading for this Sunday is
Pass it on -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: Love is one of the most important words in the Bible.
Let's go fishing -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Teachers: Jesus called his first disciples from their jobs at
A great man -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Certainly a primary message Jesus gave

Children's sermon

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What Is Lasting -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Ask and You Will Receive -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Worth the Effort -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Gathering Under God's Wings -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Storing Up Treasure -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Waiting for Fruit -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
On the Look Out! -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
A Tale of Two Brothers -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
The Ties that Divide -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Love Begins at Home -- John 12:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
People Over Plans -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
We Remember -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Anna Shirey -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Who's in Front? -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Strengthened to Serve -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Counting the Cost -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Who Has the Power? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Anna Shirey -- Good Friday - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
The Lost Is Found! -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
The New Beginning -- John 20:1-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
The Kindness Wheel -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Jesus Breathes Peace -- John 20:19-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2013
First Thoughts
The Greatest Abyss -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Do You Love Me? -- John 21:1-19 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Increase Our Faith! -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2013
First Thoughts
Who's the Main Attraction? -- John 6:1-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This passage from John has a lot in it, and it is tempting for us to focus on
Bread that Makes Hungry -- John 6:24-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Often we hear faith described as a solution to a problem, such as helping us

Sermon

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For October 19, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 31:27-34
John Calvin makes very clear why a new covenant is needed according to this text. He observes:

… the fault was not to be sought in the law that there was need of a new covenant, for the law was abundantly sufficient, but that fault was in the levity and the unfaithfulness of the people. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.X/2, p.130)
David Coffin
What happens when one’s past life narrative or goals in life have drastically shifted or collapsed? How do they rebuild hope? For Israel, they lost their land, monarchy, and national identity. In the days of the New Testament,they could easily be identified as living in the “fourth world” country. That is, existing in substandard conditions in one’s own native land?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Rose sat back in her chair and opened her magazine. She heard the thump of the stairs and caught a glimpse of her daughter and son in the corner of her eye. She turned her head as they put water bottles in their backpacks.

“What are you two doing?” she looked over at the clock. “Don’t you have homework?”

“All done,” Paul and Linda announced at the same time.

Rose ignored Linda but locked eyes with Paul. He met her gaze for a few moments and then sighed.

“Okay, I’m almost done but still have some math questions,” he admitted.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told us that we should always pray and not lose heart, for God is on our side. In our worship today let us pray to the Lord for the needs of others and for all our own needs.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes you don't seem to be there when I pray and I feel like I'm talking to myself.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes my prayers seem so dry and boring that I give up.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Psalm 119 is well-known as the longest chapter in the Bible. The poem is actually an extended, and extensive, meditation on the meaning of the law. Given the sterile connotations often associated with "law" and "legalism," it's hard sometimes to appreciate the lyrical beauty of these reflections. One thing is for certain, the writer of this psalm does not view the law as either sterile or void of vitality.

Schuyler Rhodes
There is perhaps no better feeling than knowing that someone "has your back." Having someone's back is a term that arose from urban street fighting where a partner or ally would stay with you and protect your back in the thick of the fray. When someone has your back, you don't worry about being hit from behind. When someone has your back you can concentrate on the struggle in front of you without worrying about dangers you cannot see. When someone has your back you feel protected, secure, safe.
David Kalas
I wonder how many of us here are named after someone.

Chances are that a good many of us carry family names. We are named for a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, or an aunt somewhere on the family tree. Others of us had parents who named us after a character in the Bible, or perhaps some other significant character from history.

All told, I expect a pretty fair number of us are named after someone else.

John W. Clarke
Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah is one in which the Hebrew people, not knowing what else to do in terms of addressing their predicament, decide to blame it all on God. They believed their problems to be the result of their sins and the sins of their fathers. Of course, one person's sin does indeed affect other people, but all people are still held personally accountable for the sin in their own lives (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:2).
Donna E. Schaper
As usual, the epistle is a little more graphic than we can quite grasp. Itchy ears: what a concept just in physical terms. Experience it for a minute. You itch, you scratch, you sort of know you shouldn't scratch because it will only make the itch worse. But still you scratch, while wondering how the itch ever got started in the first place. What a concept: itchy ears as a vehicle for spiritual truth.

John E. Berger
Did Jesus ever do comedy? Indeed he did, and the Parable of the Unjust Judge is partly comic monologue. The routine began with a probate judge so ridiculously dishonest that he announced, "... I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone...." (There must have been a gasp of disbelief from Jesus' audience.)

The Unjust Judge was nagged by a widow, however, who had every right to nag, because she had been cheated by somebody in the community. A good judge would have helped the widow, but remember, this judge "neither feared God nor had respect for people."

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And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? (v. 7)

Good morning, boys and girls. Yesterday, I was riding in my car and I kept hearing this noise. I call it a squeak. Do you know what a squeak sounds like? (let them answer) Squeaks are very annoying. It is hard to find a squeak in your car, so it is still squeaking.

I also have a chair that has a squeak and I brought it in with me today because it is

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