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The Village Shepherd

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The Village Shepherd

Experiencing The God Within -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Today we celebrate Epiphany, the time when the Wise Men, astrologers, Magi, kings -- call them what
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
The Lamb Of God -- John 1:29-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
The Churches' Advertising Network nearly always comes under fire.
Family Likenesses -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C
It's very interesting to be in the local school when children and parents are there together.
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.
He Emptied Himself... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - B
The postman regularly delivers a lot of junk mail to our house, but thoughtfully bundles it together
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.
Growing In Wisdom And Stature -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
There's a wonderful children's book by David McKee, called "Not Now, Bernard." (Published by Rando
'let No-One Put Asunder?' -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
It's a well-known fact that membership of the Church of England and of other churches in England h
Anything Can Happen -- Acts 1:6-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A
It's always interesting to ask children whether they have any idea of what they will do with their l
What's In A Name? -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A
Names come and go.
Sexuality -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
The Anglican Communion is the umbrella organisation which holds together in an alliance Episcopal ch
Quality Of Being -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
I used to know a man who was a devout Christian.
Meeting With Jesus Requires Me To Be Real -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C
I met a young man recently who'd been thrown out of the local church youth club for constantly bei
Are You Ready For Life's Crises? -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
One of my failings tends to be that of procrastination.
The All-Or-Nothing Gamble -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Richard Branson launched his first business in 1969, at the age of nineteen.
Everyone Who Does What Is Right Is Righteous -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
I watched highlights from the London Marathon on television just before Easter.
The Resurrection And The Life -- John 11:1-45 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
I took a funeral last year where a close relative of the deceased came up to chat with me after th
The Lakeside -- John 21:1-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
I've recently spent several hours by the lakeside, for I've been in retreat this past week in the
Faith Is Like Good Cheese Or Good Wine, It Matures Gradually -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Some years ago we had a wonderful Diocesan Conference.
How Many Marbles Do You Have? -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Janice B. Scott -- Easter Day - B
Today is a day tinged with sadness for the whole nation, because even as we meet to celebrate Ea
Enabling Suffering -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
In my first job as a newly-qualified physiotherapist, I had to treat a
Treachery Or Tough Love? -- Genesis 22:1-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Some while ago there was a tragic but interesting story which made the headlines in the national pre
God's Strength Is Made Perfect Through Weakness -- Matthew 9:35-10:8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
I once knew a Church of England lay reader, Dorothy, who was the most physically vulnerable pers
Joined At The Hip? -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
We all eagerly followed the progress recently of Siamese twins from Iran who were joined at the

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...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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