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The Village Shepherd

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Janice Scott ... The Village Shepherd

After being ordained in 1994 with the first wave of women priests, Janice became curate in a large city centre parish in Norwich and from there, moved to South Norfolk in 1999 as Rector of a rural benefice of six parishes. After completing her MA in Pastoral Theology with the Cambridge Theological Foundation in 2008 she was appointed Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. Janice now lives with her husband Ian just outside Norwich. In addition to her diocesan work and writing "The Village Shepherd," she is a freelance writer for Redemptorist Publications in the UK. She has also written and broadcasts "Pause For Thought" on a local radio station and has written several novels, all with a church background.

Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A

Children's Liturgy and Story

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that the kingdom of God would be given to those who produced the fruits of the kingdom. In our worship today let us explore what the "fruits of the kingdom" might be.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I care more about my own comfort than about your fruits.
Lord, have mercy.

Children's Story

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief. Praxis was a very rare pixie whose skin changed colour according to his mood, and just now he was bright purple with excitement. Mr Grump the goblin teacher had been called away by an urgent message, leaving the pixies to get on with learning their spellings.

Intercession

Matthew 21:33-46

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.

Sermon

Exodus 20.1-4,7-9,12-20

Janice B. Scott
The psychologist Scott Peck begins his famous best-seller, "The Road Less Travelled" with the immortal words, "Life is difficult." That simple statement has been a revelation to many of Scott Peck's readers, for it has brought them a sense of freedom. They no longer have to struggle with feelings of guilt and inadequacy just because nothing in their lives runs smoothly. Once they can accept that life is difficult, they are free to make of it the best that they can without worrying too much about how awful their life is.

Scott Peck expounds his statement with subjects that might be regarded askance today, including topics such as "discipline" and "facing pain" and "delaying gratification" and

Sermon

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
In my spare time I enjoy a thriller, either on the screen or in book form. I discovered Patricia Cornwell on holiday, and have enjoyed reading about the exploits of her heroine Dr Kay Scarpetta, forensic pathologist.

Like all heroes and heroines of thrillers, Dr Scarpetta often walks into danger. As I sit in my armchair reading about a solo midnight assignation in a cold and lonely place, I find myself willing Dr Scarpetta not to go, for I know she's going to end up in trouble!

It's always obvious to the reader or the viewer that dark and lonely places, where the hero or heroine is instructed to go alone, are fraught with hazard and much better avoided.

Sermon

Philippians 3.4b-14

Janice B. Scott
When my children were small, they watched all the Superman films. They were devoted to the character, and hung on every word and every twist of the plot, waiting with bated breath for the outcome, where we all knew good would conquer evil.

Perhaps Superman represents the sort of person that many human beings would like to be. Someone who has enormous strength, unflagging energy and who never wavers in the face of danger, but flies straight into it. And despite taking terrible beatings from time to time (especially when Kryptonite is involved!) always wins through in the end.

What is The Village Shepherd?

The Village Shepherd offers sermons, bible stories, children's stories and prayers based on the Revised Common Lectionary. These inspirational sermons, stories, and prayers are sure to touch your heart, because they reflect the simple virtues and tranquil serenity that characterize Reverend Scott's English countryside pastorate. The questions "Where is God in this particular situation?" and "Where does the Gospel story cross our own human story?" are always at the heart of these meditations -- but rather than finding overt answers, instead you will be gently led to make your own connections and discover the powerful ways in which God works. Janice Scott has the unique ability to find interesting details in ordinary life that illuminate scripture, while still challenging even the most intellectual reader. And that gift is precisely what also makes her an outstanding communicator with children.

Most weeks include:

  • Sermon based on the Gospel reading
  • Sermon based on the Epistle reading
  • Sermon based on the First reading
  • Children's stories linked with the Gospel readings
  • Children's liturgy and story (a different story than mentioned above)
  • An intercessory prayer
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pent 17
23 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pent 18
23 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pent 19
27 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
17 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pent 20
23 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Bethany Peerbolte
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For October 4, 2020:
  • The Influence Of Her Religion by Dean Feldmeyer — What if Amy Coney Barret’s devout brand of Catholicism affects the way she approaches the task of interpreting the Constitution? Well, I’m a liberal and I hope it does.
  • Second Thoughts: The Landowner is Coming by Bethany Peerbolte — When we coerce someone to hide or deny their identity God does not get a cut of the harvest.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
“Me and the man upstairs have an understanding.”

Did you ever hear something like that from someone who suggests they have an exemption from faith, the Bible, and any religious expectations?

We are called into a personal relationship with God, but it is God who sets the parameters and boundaries in that relationship, including how we are to address God.
Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
The toy “Etch A Sketch” is sixty years old in 2020. Wow! That’s hard to believe, isn’t it? I remember playing with an Etch A Sketch as kid. It had a red border surrounding the screen and two knobs which you could move to cause the sketch to be made. There is an Etch A Sketch website that celebrates this iconic toy’s birthday and has pictures of some amazing sketches.

StoryShare

C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Confronting Injustice” by C. David McKirachan
“Get Back!” by Frank Ramirez

Confronting Injustice
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 21:33-46

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. (vv. 33-34)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief. Praxis was a very rare pixie whose skin changed colour according to his mood, and just now he was bright purple with excitement. Mr Grump the goblin teacher had been called away by an urgent message, leaving the pixies to get on with learning their spellings.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
Grace loves to garden and she tends her garden carefully. She lives in a town of two million, in a quiet neighborhood in a three--bedroom house with a nice backyard. She is happy where she is.

The environment is very important to Grace, who is a retired geography teacher. Her husband is in the Alzheimer's unit at a nearby hospital, and Grace uses her time to garden as her meditation time. She has lived a good life, and she is thankful for every thing and every day she gets. She is grateful for her life of 81 years.

Special Occasion