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Peter Andrew Smith

Peter Andrew Smith is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada currently serving St. James United Church in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He is the author of All Things are Ready (CSS) a book of lectionary based communion prayers and a number of stories and articles, which can be found listed at www.peterandrewsmith.com.
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Stories

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Witnesses -- Luke 24:36b-48, Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Psalm 4 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents “Witnesses” by Peter Andrew Smith
Rooted in Faith -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents "Rooted in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
Keeping the Sabbath Holy -- Mark 2:23--3:6, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2018
Contents “Keeping the Sabbath Holy” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Gift of Healing -- Mark 5:21-43, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2018
Contents “The Gift of Healing” by Keith Wagner
Why We Need Shepherds -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Psalm 23, Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2018
Contents “Why We Need Shepherds” by Frank Rairez
Living Bread -- John 6:51-58, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2018
Contents “Living Bread” by Keith Wagner
I'm Okay with That -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2018
Contents “I'm Okay with That” by Peter Andrew Smith
Hearing the News -- Mark 10:46-52, Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2018
Contents “Hearing the News” by Peter Andrew Smith
Giving Thanks -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2018
Morris stared at the plain white tiles of the hospital ceiling and wondered how much longer he would
Shining in the Darkness -- Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 1:68-79 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Contents “Shining in the Darkness” by Peter Andrew Smith
A New Season -- Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- New Year's Day - A -- 2017
Contents "A New Season" by Peter Andrew Smith
Burning Hearts -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Burning Hearts" by Peter Andrew Smith
Intimacy -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Intimacy" by C. David McKirachan
Going Native -- Matthew 10:24-39, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2017
Contents "Going Native" by C. David McKirachan
The Sower -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 119:105-112 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Contents "The Sower" by Peter Andrew Smith "Big Rocks" by John Fitzgerald
Faithful Works -- Romans 10:5-15, Psalm 85:8-13 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2017
Contents "Faithful Works" by Peter Andrew Smith
Teeth -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Contents "Teeth" by C. David McKirachan "Being Ready" by Peter Andrew Smith
Redefining Fair -- Matthew 20:1-16, Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2017
Contents "Redefining Fair" by Peter Andrew Smith
What We Give to God -- Matthew 22:15-22, Psalm 96:1-9 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2017
Contents "What We Give to God" by Peter Andrew Smith
Watch -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
Contents "Watch" by C. David McKirachan
I Was A Prisoner -- Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 65 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2017
Contents "I Was A Prisoner" by Peter Andrew Smith
A New Season -- Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- New Year's Day - A -- 2017
Contents "A New Season" by Peter Andrew Smith
Make a Way Through the Desert -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "Make a Way Through the Desert" by Frank Ramirez

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Looking for the Rainbow -- Mark 1:9-15, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Genesis 9:8-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Contents "Looking for the Rainbow" by Peter Andrew Smith
Why We Need Shepherds / Away for Awhile -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Psalm 23, Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2018
Contents “Why We Need Shepherds” by Frank Rairez

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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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