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The Village Shepherd

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The Village Shepherd

Shame -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - A
It is said that one thing which distinguishes human beings from the great apes and other animals, is
Dangerous Gospel -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Some time ago there was a series of programmes on BBC 2 on the recent history of the Catholic Chur
Life Is Unfair! -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
Perhaps one of the earliest lessons all human beings learn, is that life is unfair.
The Freedom Of The Cross -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
I shall never forget that moment on February 11, 1990 when Nelson Mandela was freed after nearly 3
Get Up, And Live Life To The Full -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B
They say the camera never lies, but that's no longer true, as the Royal Family proved on that
God's House -- Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Although church attendance is down dramatically compared with fifty years ago, there is one sure way
The Wealth Of Christ The King -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
A week or two ago, a Norfolk teenager won nearly ten million pounds on the National Lottery.
Jesus' Message To Us -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
I sometimes catch those programmes on television which offer
After Death, Life -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
The death of someone you love, causes perhaps the worst pain known to human beings.
What Is Sin? -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C
George and Doreen lived in a prefab. They'd lived there for sixty years.
I Am A New Creation? -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
I've always loved stories.
Set Apart Yet In The Midst? -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Autism is a condition which has come very much to the fore in recent years, and "The Times" (new
Different Kinds Of Love -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
With most young couples, the first baby to be born produces incredible feelings of love and tender
Let Christ Dwell Within You -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
In "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray is a handsome young man whose portrait
The Nature Of Sin -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Ash Wednesday - A
The story's told, that in the 3rd and 4th centuries, out of the Germanic areas of Europe, came the
Food, Glorious Food! -- John 6:24-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
I recently spent a week in the Western Highlands of Scotland, where the scenery is breathtaking.
Profound Experiences -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
The highlight of the famous Alpha course is the Holy Spirit weekend, although it has to be said that
The Way Of The Cross -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - C
Today's theme is "The way of the cross".

Worship

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Easter 4
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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