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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 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C

Sermon

Luke 13:10-17

Janice B. Scott
Some years ago, probably in the eighties, when women were only permitted to be deaconesses within the Church of England, a new deaconess from around this area took part in the Snowball campaign. This was a national campaign against nuclear weapons, in which participants cut a small area of the perimeter fencing surrounding any establishments which were thought to carry nuclear weapons.

Sermon

Hebrews 12:18-29

Janice B. Scott
When I find a Bible passage (especially one of the epistles) difficult to understand, I usually turn to Eugene Peterson's "The Message". In today's reading from Hebrews 12:18-end, the writer compares the experience of the Golden Years of the Old Testament to the infinitely more golden time earned for us by Jesus. The writer reminds the Jews of the time when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land and God made a covenant with the people. This was the time which was always remembered by the Jews as the Golden Years, a time when God was intimately involved with his people. Then the writer tells the Jews about God's new covenant with his people through Jesus.

Sermon

Isaiah 58:9b-14

Janice B. Scott
Perhaps what most people crave in today's world, is to love and to be loved. But it may also be true that not many people outside the church would use quite that terminology. Some people might say that they're looking for happiness, others might settle for contentment, especially the contentment of knowing that their family is happy and secure. Yet others might express their desires in different ways , such as the longing for good health or the desire for wealth, but probably at the root of all these wishes is the search for happiness. And deep beneath, underlying the search for happiness, is the need to love and be loved.

Intercession

Luke 13:10-17

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.


Courageous God, life can be so scary at times. I find it easy to close my eyes and not notice the injustices in the world, or to pretend that they're not my problem. For once I begin to be aware, I may find I have to stand alone.

Children's Story

Luke 13:10-17

Janice B. Scott
It wasn't until the early summer of his first year that Jason Court felt really fed up with his new school. Until then he'd rather enjoyed it, even with all its rules and regulations, but in the unexpected heatwave of early summer, his patience cracked.

The school rules clearly stated that school blazers must be worn at all times, unless permission was given to remove them, by a member of staff. One day, when all the classroom windows were open but the temperature was nearing 80 degrees, Jason took off his blazer and hung it carefully on the back of his chair.

It was unfortunate that he chose Mr Hobbs' lesson. "Court!" thundered Mr Hobbs. "What do you think you're doing? Put that blazer on immediately!"

Children's Liturgy and Story

Luke 13:10-17

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus was aware of people's deepest needs and what prompted their actions. In our worship today let us consider how we can discover people's deepest needs and the motives for their actions.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we see only the surface and condemn without real understanding.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are afraid to get sufficiently close to other people to see their inner needs.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we hide behind excuses so that we can criticize other people.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:
Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV)

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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Proper 16 - OT 21 - Pentecost 11
25 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons, etc.
18 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 - OT 22 - Pentecost 12
24 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 - OT 23 - Pentecost 13
26 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
28 – Children's Sermons / Resources
18 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 19 - OT 24 - Pentecost 14
24 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Perhaps what most people crave in today's world, is to love and to be loved. But it may also be true that not many people outside the church would use quite that terminology. Some people might say that they're looking for happiness, others might settle for contentment, especially the contentment of knowing that their family is happy and secure. Yet others might express their desires in different ways , such as the longing for good health or the desire for wealth, but probably at the root of all these wishes is the search for happiness.

SermonStudio

Chrysanne Timm
Today, and for the next several weeks, the Revised Common Lectionary devotes attention to one of the most intriguing figures in all of the Old Testament -- the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah began his work as the bearer of God's word to the nation of Judah during the time of King Josiah's reign in 627 BC. His prophesying continued even as Judah's brightest and best were forced to leave their homeland for exile in Babylon in approximately 586 BC.

Special Occasion