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James Evans

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The Baptism Of Our Lord/Epiphany 1/Ordinary Time 1 -- Psalm 29 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Baptism Of Our Lord, Cycle B, and Trinity
Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14 -- Psalm 30 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2006
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)
Proper 7/Pentecost 5/Ordinary Time 12 -- Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2006
Some psalms display a clear context, a human situation that has led to the writing of the hymn.
Thanksgiving Day -- Psalm 100 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2006
This brief psalm is among the most familiar in the psalter, but that is primarily because its verses
Ash Wednesday -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2006
The superscription to this psalm identifies its origins with David's prayer after the prophet Nathan
Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14 -- Psalm 48 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2006
Psalm 48 is a song of praise celebrating the presence of God.
Christmas 1 -- Psalm 148 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Christmas 1, Cycle A; Christmas 1, Cycle B; an
Advent 2 -- Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2006
(See The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle A, and The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle B, for alternative ap
Proper 10/Pentecost 8/Ordinary Time 15 -- Psalm 82 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2006
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic w
Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14 -- Psalm 45:10-17 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2006
(See Proper 17/Pentecost 15/Ordinary Time 22, Cycle B, for an alternative approach, emphasizing v
Proper 25 / Ordinary Time 30 / Pentecost 20 -- Psalm 65 -- James Evans -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2006
(See Thanksgiving Day, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)
Lent 1 -- Psalm 25:1-10 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
(See Advent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Proper 10/Pentecost 8/Ordinary Time 15 -- Psalm 24 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2006
Psalm 24 celebrates the orderly reign of God over creation.
Epiphany 8/Ordinary Time 8 -- Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 2006
(See Proper 20/Pentecost 18/Ordinary Time 25, Year B, for an alternative approach.)
Advent 4 -- Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2006
(See Advent 1, Cycle B, and Proper 15/Pentecost 13/Ordinary Time 20, Cycle C, for alternative app
Easter 7 -- Psalm 97 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2006
(See Christmas Day, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)
Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14 -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2006
Today the lectionary identifies a second, alternative psalm selection besides the Psalm 45:10-17 roy
Proper 28 / Ordinary Time 33 / Pentecost 23 -- Isaiah 12 -- James Evans -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2006
(For an alternative approach to vv. 2-6, see Advent 3, Cycle C.)
Epiphany 3/Ordinary Time 3 -- Psalm 62:5-12 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2006
"[God] alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken" (Psalm 62:6).
Proper 11/Pentecost 9/Ordinary Time 16 -- Psalm 89:20-37 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2006
(See Advent 4, Cycle B, for vv. 1-4, 19-26.)
Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- James Evans -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
(See Proper 16/Pentecost 14/Ordinary Time 21, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Christmas Eve -- Psalm 96 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Christmas Eve, Cycle B, for an alternative app
The Day Of Pentecost -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle B, for an alternat
The Ascension Of Our Lord -- Psalm 93 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary.
Easter 7 -- Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2006
At first reading, this psalm presents a scattering of themes.

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Easter 4
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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