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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.

Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C

Children's Liturgy and Story

Luke 4:14-21

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

 The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus as he worshipped in the synagogue at Nazareth. Let us ask God's Spirit to fill us as we worship in church today.

Invitation to Confession:

 Jesus, when we are unaware of your Spirit within us,
Lord, have mercy.

 Jesus, when we deny your Spirit within us,
Christ, have mercy.

 Jesus, when we reject or damage your Spirit within us,
Lord, have mercy.

 Reading:

 Luke 4:14-21

Children's Story

Luke 4:14-21

Janice B. Scott
When Jesus chose that particular passage from Isaiah, he went to the heart of his gospel - an option for the poor. But the existence of large numbers of poor keep comfortable people comfortable, so he was immediately marked out as a dangerous person with dangerous ideas. And he was eventually executed for his beliefs.

Today's story is about Oscar Romero, who suffered a similar fate when he too chose an option for the poor.

The Christian gospel is a dangerous gospel when it's truth is really heard.

(All the information for this story was from the web site: The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation)

Intercession

Luke 4:14-21

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

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Janice B. Scott
Here in Norwich diocese we've been exploring a national initiative set up by the last Archbishop of Canterbury some years ago. Called "Springboard", it's an evangelism initiative, because numbers of regular worshippers in the Church of England have dropped dramatically over the last few decades.

Sermon

Luke 4:14-21

Janice B. Scott
Some time ago there was a series of programmes on BBC 2 on the recent history of the Catholic Church. The series was called "Absolute Truth", and one programme looked at Catholicism in the developing parts of the world. It studied the work of liberation theologians in Latin America, particularly Leonardo Boff and Oscar Romero.

The work of these liberation theologians grew directly out of their close contact with the people amongst whom they were living. Many people in Latin America live in abject poverty, and under a very repressive regime, and both these men in different ways retold the story of the gospel message, relating it to the people and the conditions in which they live.

Sermon

Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6, 8-10

Janice B. Scott
Readings:

Nehemiah 8:1--3,5--6, 8--10 -- Ezra reads the book of the law of Moses to the people, and reassures them that the joy of the Lord is their strength.

1 Corinthians 12:12--31a -- one body with many members.

Luke 4:14--21 -- Jesus reveals a dangerous gospel.

Theme

Evangelism

Nehemiah 8:1--3, 5--6, 8--10

Here in Norwich diocese we've been exploring a national initiative set up by the last Archbishop of Canterbury some years ago. Called "Springboard", it's an evangelism initiative, because numbers of regular worshippers in the Church of England have dropped dramatically over the last few decades.

Sermon

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Janice B. Scott
Around eight years ago, toddler Jamie Bulger was enticed away from his mother's side in a shopping mall by a couple of young lads, aged about ten and with nothing better to do than to get up to mischief. But the mischief got very much out of hand, and Jamie was murdered by those two boys in a particularly brutal and horrifying fashion.

The whole country was aghast at what had happened, and almost a tidal wave of fear and anger and revulsion was unleashed against the two boys who had murdered at such a young age. After being found guilty at trial, they were sent to secure institutions for what remained of their childhood.

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
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Epiphany 2 | OT 2
28 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
22 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Epiphany 3 | OT 3
20 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
22 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
26 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 4 | OT 4
20 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (vv. 16-21)

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For January 23, 2022:
  • Coach Comes Calling by Dean Feldmeyer — In today’s Epistle lesson, when Paul speaks of gifts that are given to us by God, nowhere does he mention the word “privilege.”
  • Second Thoughts: A Healthy Body by Tom Willadsen — Imagine the whole church being able to act in coordination, as a healthy body, because everyone recognizes the collective, communal health depends on the responsible choices individuals make.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I’ve attended a lot of NFL games over the years. I lived in Cleveland, Ohio during the 1980s, when the Browns were often fielding an exciting and competitive team. And now, for the past decade, I have been living in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the Packers have enjoyed a lot of winning seasons. And so, I’ve been fortunate to watch a lot of good football in person.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
In a comment which explains a lot of what is happening in contemporary America, the Greek philosopher Aristotle observed, “Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.” Mahatma Gandhi is said to have observed that “Poverty is the worst form of violence.”

Singer-songwriter Bono observed in a comment in accord with a Christian reading of this lesson (esp.vv.9-10): “To me a faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned with the poor... it’s nothing.” The initiator of black theology James Cone made a similar comment: 

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“No problem.” Carl held up his hands. “If you tell me as the senior minister that I need to wait to hold the session until later in the week, then that is what we’ll do.”

Pastor Luke frowned. “Jack told me you were adamant that you had to start on Tuesday night --otherwise nothing would work properly.”

“Well.” Carl rubbed his neck. “It would make things easier if we didn’t have to delay. I mean, we have the promotional material all done up for the rally and we are talking to speakers.”

“Yet it is not impossible for you to move to a different date?”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
When Jesus chose that particular passage from Isaiah, he went to the heart of his gospel - an option for the poor. But the existence of large numbers of poor keep comfortable people comfortable, so he was immediately marked out as a dangerous person with dangerous ideas. And he was eventually executed for his beliefs.

Today's story is about Oscar Romero, who suffered a similar fate when he too chose an option for the poor.

The Christian gospel is a dangerous gospel when it's truth is really heard.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
-- Psalm 19:14

Richard A. Jensen
It was to be "Spiritual Gift" Sunday in Corinth of old. After all it was no lesser an authority than Paul himself who had said of these people that they were, "... not lacking in any spiritual gift" (1 Corinthians 1:7). Not lacking indeed! They were abounding in spiritual gifts and once every year they gathered in their worship service to honor the greatest among them.
Mary S. Lautensleger
One of the more colorful eras of our country's past is the old Wild West. We can visualize cowboys chasing stagecoaches over rough, barren terrain, and sheriffs swaggering down dusty main streets. Towns sprang up virtually overnight around regions rich in natural resources such as lumber, borax, silver, and especially gold, the glitter that inflamed a continent.
Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III
Sweat swarmed and beaded the palms of his hands as his heart thumped and pulse escalated. Bulging eyes blinked rapidly as his face twitched. His brown, swollen hands rumbled nervously through the inside pocket of his urine-stained tweed overcoat. "I got to find a match," he said to himself. "I got to find a match." Again he jerked through every pocket of his pants, jacket, and shirt. Still no match.

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