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Children's Activity

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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
He'll be back! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Teachers or Parents: The focus of our attention as we
"Lip service is not enough" -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Teachers or Parents: Promises need to be kept. God always
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.
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
Giving God what belongs to God -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Materials Small, clean jar for each child
The good soil -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A
Materials:
Slow to believe -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
After the resurrection of Jesus -- but before it was known -- two of his followers were walking alon
Be True To Your Word -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A
Teachers: Focus your students' attention on making promises,
God's blueprints -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Jesus was sad -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus understands our emotions. Jesus
Jesus the fisherman -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
Teachers: Jesus tells Peter to cast his nets again, even
Lip service is not enough -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: Most of us understand the value of
Lost and Found -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Parents or Teachers: Today's lesson is about the lost sheep and the lost
A wedding party -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Teachers: This lesson is the story of Jesus' first miracle. It happened during a wedding.
Defining greatness -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
Materials White craft foam or felt Markers Instructions
The Easter Drama -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B
Teachers: Create a short Easter drama with your students. You
A letter to God -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Teachers: Jesus tells a lawyer that the greatest commandment
The new that stays new -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B
Teachers or Parents: Make the days of Lent different
How much? -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: Have the children memorize John 3:16. This
The name of Jesus -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers and Parents: It is good for children to learn to
"Blessed are those who believe" -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: Unbelief is the one unforgivable sin!
Make me clean! -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B
Teachers or Parents: Like the unclean leper that Jesus cured, all
Taking the hard way -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Materials A pattern Knitting needles Yarn Knitted sweater

Children's sermon

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Ah Ha, I Get It! -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Arley K. Fadness -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2019
“This is my Son, my chosen: listen to him!” (V. 35b)
One Master Only -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2019
“No slave can serve two masters...you cannot serve God and money.” (v.
The Right Treasure Chest -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2019
Hello kids,Thank you for joining me for this message I have just for you.
Start Seeing Lazarus -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019
“Child, remember… Lazarus...” (v. 25a)
Jesus Won! -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“Jesus answered him, It is said, 'do not put the Lord our God to the test.'”
Do It, Jesus! -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2019
“The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ ”  (v. 5)
Like A Mother Hen -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood un
Gratitude Day -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019
“He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (v. 16a)
Second Chances -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
 “Sir, let it alone for one more year...”
Never Quit Praying -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2019
“Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray and not lose heart.” (
A Lost Boy Found! -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“he was lost and has been found.”
What Fun To Be Free! -- John 8:31-36 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2019
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (v. 36)
Extravagant Love -- John 12:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (v. 3b)
Beggars And Braggers -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2019
“...all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v.14b)
The Parade That Fizzled -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (19:38a)
Bullies Begone! -- Luke 6:20-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- All Saints Day - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies...pray for them...do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Beautiful Feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2019
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anoth
'I'm Hungry' -- Jesus -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- New Year's Day - C -- 2019
“...Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
Jesus Finds Shorty -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2019
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (v. 10)
The Day Jesus Died -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - C -- 2019
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said,'it is finished,' then he bowed his head and
Mary's Amazing Surprise -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Easter Day - C -- 2019
“I have seen the Lord.” (v. 18)
Discovering Jesus: Eee - pif - on - eee -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2019
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and
We Are Children Of The Resurrection -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2019
“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
Wonderful, Weird Things To Believe -- John 20:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“Thomas answered Him, 'my Lord and my God!'”
You Are the Treasure -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
“You are my Son, The Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (v. 22)

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?”

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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