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Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When a new pastor arrived... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
When a new pastor arrived at a small rural parish, she found the church's self-image was fragile.
Hagar the Horrible and Lucky... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Hagar the Horrible and Lucky Eddie were standing at the front door of a barricaded castle.
David has sinned. He... -- 2 Samuel 12:15b-24 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
David has sinned. He had stolen the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and Uriah was dead.
When the great Rabbi Israel... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov saw misfortune threatening the Jews, it was his custom to
The State of Ohio has... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
The State of Ohio has fallen in line with several other states and passed a mandatory seat belt law.
It is not a... -- 2 Samuel 12:15b-24 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
"It is not a matter of mere theorizing or intellectual assent to certain facts.
Our high school wrestling team... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Our high school wrestling team, together with coaphing staff, cheerleaders and chaperones, 28 people
I attended a lecture presented... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
I attended a lecture presented by an archeologist.
Great persons are often... -- 2 Samuel 12:15b-24 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Great persons are often ahead of their time in significant ways, or they break the bonds of a
Many years ago I conducted... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Many years ago I conducted a funeral for a man who didn't attend church regularly.
College days are fond memories... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
College days are fond memories.
The little tyke was... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
The little tyke was all dressed up, playing in the yard on a beautiful Sunday morning.
Diogenes visited Plato one day... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Diogenes visited Plato one day and seeing that his floors were magnificently covered with plush carp
One day Dr. Norman Vincent... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One day Dr. Norman Vincent Peale walked through the streets of Hong Kong.
The Apostle Paul encouraged his... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
The Apostle Paul encouraged his readers not to be deceived by false philosophies.
In early summer, there... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Anybody exploring new country, new... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Anybody exploring new country, new towns or villages, may have the good fortune to wonder through th
The Apostle Paul says in... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
The Apostle Paul says in verse eight, "See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of
When I was a... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
When I was a youngster I remember cutting myself on purpose, and then intermingling my blood w
One sure way of detecting... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One sure way of detecting false religion is that it is concerned with plundering people, enslaving t
Officials of a small town... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Officials of a small town in New York State reported that a man who had won more than one million do
Someone who swims well... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Someone who swims well may have difficulty realizing the stark terror of water that a nonswimm
An old whaling captain tells... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
An old whaling captain tells of one morning when he had been sailing into strong winds and making li
Baptism superseded circumcision which was... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Baptism superseded circumcision which was administered when a child was only eight days old.
The work of God... -- Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
The work of God on behalf of his people is the only manifestation of his grace and faithfulnes

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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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