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Children's Activity

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Planting the seed -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Teachers or Parents: This week's lesson is about growing
Turning the world upside-down -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
Materials:
Serving others -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Teachers: Servanthood is today's theme. The suggested activity
You, Jesus, and God -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me" (v. 40).
The Nunc Dimittis -- Luke 2:22-40 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Teachers or Parents: Simeon's story is a story about
Resurrection -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: Death is a subject we usually avoid
It's Your Turn -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Parents or Teachers: Throughout our lives there will always be people who
Parable of wheat and weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30 36-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Parents and Teachers: Help your students understand the
The good soil -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A
Materials:
The one who heals -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B
Teachers or Parents: There are so many wonderful new
Only Jesus -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: More and more, we are hearing that it
Time, Treasure and Talent -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Parents or Teachers: The lesson today is about counting the cost of being a
Mark 10:17-31 -- Rich in so many ways -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Materials Different size cardboard boxes Ribbon Tape Wrapping paper
You are beloved! -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Teachers or Parents: See the previous Plus section for an
Palm prints -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: Use the text today to teach the children
Keep a promise -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have jobs that
Pleased as punch -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
Teachers: Today's children's message is about a time when God was well pleased with Jesus.
Guided into truth -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
In this week's Gospel Lesson we read about Jesus and his desire to reveal himself fully to us.
John the Baptist -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: This week's Gospel tells us about John
"He has risen!" -- Luke 24:1-12 -- Easter Day - C
Teachers or Parents: Amid all the secular symbols of Easter
Bread from heaven -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Materials 7 pieces of white bread, without crust Medium-sized bowl
The teacher's apple -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Teachers or Parents: Teachers are important to children and
Angel cookies -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - C
Teachers: One of the main characters in Luke's Christmas story
Peace! Be Still -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus calms a storm in today's lesson.
Giving God what belongs to God -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Materials Small, clean jar for each child

Children's sermon

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Are We There Yet? Part 4 -- Luke 1:26-38 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
IMPORTANT: This sermon is the fourth in a series to go through Advent.
Are We There Yet? Part 5 -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- John Jamison -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2020
Important Note: Set the alarm!!!
The Wait is Over -- Luke 2:22-40 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2020
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher.
Trailer To A Gospel -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2020
John’s opening is daunting.
We're GREAT! -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2020
John the Baptist is humbled by Jesus’ request to baptize him.
There Is Enough Friendship To Share -- John 1:29-42 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2020
John the Baptist gives us a great example of how to be a friend.
Lost and found -- Matthew 10:34-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what this is? (Show
Different Parts, Yet One -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2020
Good morning! This morning I want to see if we can think of
Wanted: Best Friend -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
As Jesus calls his disciples it seems like he has a criterion for the people with which he wants to
All that food! -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2020
(Note: If your church or community sponsors a specific "food
Pick the Last First -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2020
Jesus turns the theology of the day on it’s head by saying the people who you thought were left out
"Talk to Me" —God -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2019
“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1b)
Toys And More Toys -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2019
“Take care!
A Surprising First Sign! -- John 2:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory...”
Things I Love the Most -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2019
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”(v. 34)
Purpose -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2019
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v. 21b)
Fire! -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2019
“Jesus said, ‘I came to bring fire to the earth,’...” (v. 49a)
Coloring a Story -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
“all spoke well of him....they were filled with rage.” (vs. 22, 28)
Time Out! -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
“And ought not this woman….be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?”
No Fish? Go Fish... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2019
“...from now on you will be catching people.” (v. 10b)
The True Place Of Honor (Chanticleer Be Gone!) -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2019
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.”
Who Is Truly Blessed? -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2019
“...for power came out of him and healed all of them.” (v. 19b)
Making Plans -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2019
“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (v
Love Your Enemies -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you....” (v. 27)
Dancing Angels -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2019
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner

Sermon

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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?”

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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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