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The Village Shepherd

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The Village Shepherd

Boundless Grace, Even Through Judgment -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Imagine you need to update your car.
Co-Workers With God -- 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Between December 1998 and March 1999, a study was made at Columbia University College of Physician
On Whose Authority? -- John 1:6-8; 19-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Recently, we had a moving and impressive confirmation service at a local church.
Single-Minded Focus -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
I once had a friend who was having a very tough time at work.
Evangelism -- Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6, 8-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Readings:
The Importance Of Preparation -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Now that most of the population of the UK, even in rural areas like this, have access to pri
Risking Everything -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B
Heroes of our time, like Bonhoeffer or Edith Cavell or Martin Luther King are remembered and admired
The Power Of Slavery -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - A
Around the end of the nineteenth century, a book appeared on the
God's Open Secret -- Forgiveness -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
One of the most difficult concepts in Christianity seems to be that of forgiveness.
The Three-In-One God -- John 3:1-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
It's said that one of the things which distinguishes human beings from animals, is the use of humo
Headline Christianity -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
There was a headline in The Times a while ago, which said: 'More than 28 per cent of all suspected
Who Is My Neighbour? -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
From time to time there are gruesome stories in the media about people who have died in their own
Unwitting Goodness -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
I used to know a man who claimed to be able to make himself invisible.
Life After Death -- Job 19:23-27 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
We're coming up to that dark time of the year just before Christmas, which most of us try to lighten
Prayer -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Despite the fact that the Millennium celebrated 2000 years of Christianity, the cross, the central
Christian Chameleons? -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B
I've just had news of yet another parish priest who is off sick, suffering from over-exhaustion or s
Closet Followers Of Jesus -- John 3:1-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
It's strange how easy it is to condemn people if you think of them as a group.
Obeying God's Commandments -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B
At a recent Bible study of Hebrews, we were introduced to the idea of Jesus as a pioneer, since
The Awkward Squad - Weeds Or Wheat? -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
You always get one!
Eternal Life -- What Is It Like? -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C
Novels about science fiction have been popular since before the days when human beings first walke
The Importance Of Humility -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Over recent years there have been some appalling bomb outrages.
Euthanasia Or Assisted Suicide? -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
There are times in every human life when we suddenly find ourselves thrust up against pain and diffi
Is He The Messiah? -- Mark 11:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - B
I started experiencing difficulties with the concept of truth in my childhood.
God's Fire - Terrifying Or Purifying? -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
When I find a Bible passage (especially one of the epistles) difficult to understand, I usually tu
The Strength And Beauty Of Suffering -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - B
I haven't seen "The Passion" -- the latest film about the crucifixion, directed by Mel Gibson.

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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