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The Village Shepherd

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The Village Shepherd

Baptism In The Spirit -- Acts 8:14-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
I was very disturbed to read in the papers recently about those two teenage girls who both died, a
The Sin Of Adam -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
It always strikes me as strange that St Paul puts so much emphasis on Adam's sin, but that t
Is This The End? -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Today is Advent Sunday, the first day of the New Year.
Hang On In There -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
Although I love reading, I've never been a great lover of biographies.
Unity In Diversity? -- John 17:20-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
In his book, "The
Little Girl, Get Up! -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
When I was growing up, there was considerable stereotyping of boys and girls.
The Distress Of Death -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Surprisingly, most
Rejection - The Cost Of Discipleship? -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
The Church of England seems to hold an unlikely fascination for the media.
When Will He Come? -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - C
Some years ago when our children were very small, we took advantage of one of those holiday
Nurture And Care -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
We're off on holiday soon, travelling up to Northumberland to crash out for a while, just walkin
Your Challenge, Your Choice -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
What a challenge Jesus gave Peter in today's gospel reading.
Every Member Ministry -- And Judgment? -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Here in England, despite being constantly told of the drop in church attendance, the Church cont
The Christian Use Of Anger -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
There was an incident some years ago, when an elderly lady in some village parish in England was
Accepting Responsibility -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
The story was told in the press recently of two teenage sisters who befriended an elderly widow.
Fasting And Temptation -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
I once fasted for five days.
The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
I once heard a definition of original sin as being like walking through a network of treacle.
As You Sow, So Shall You Reap? -- Galatians 6:7-16 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
The Rich List was published recently, showing something like the wealthiest 538 people worldwide.
The Sickness Of Society -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Around eight years ago, toddler Jamie Bulger was enticed away from his mother's side in a shopping
How To Find The Kingdom -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
As my family will tell you, with groans, I've always been tempted by shortcuts.
Groping For God -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
Each year I visit the local Church of England primary school, to tell the older children (10 and 11
Unconventional People -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
There's often something both attractive and a bit scary about unconventional people.
Light In The Darkness -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Those who follow the police soap "The Bill" on television, will be familiar with The Bronty.
Work And Rest, Wholeness And Healing -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
I recently watched a documentary of Prince William's life, made to celebrate his twenty-first bi
'real' Christians -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
As a teenager, I remember a visit to our church youth club by Sylvia.
When The Penny Drops? -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
There are many people whose lives have been completely changed by a single event.

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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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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