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Children's Activity

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How much? -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: Have the children memorize John 3:16. This
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
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
Defining greatness -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
Materials White craft foam or felt Markers Instructions
Mustard seed faith -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Teachers or Parents: The question of faith is a difficult one
"Going fishing" and "A treasure hunt" -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Parents and Teachers: Here are two games geared to different age groups.
Growing weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Materials: Paper Markers, pens, pencils Scissors
Follow God's directions -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A
Teachers or Parents: We would all like our children to
"Follow his directions" -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: The Gospel message is clear: if we
The sin-disease connection -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B
Teachers or Parents: The theme of healing continues this
Pretty packages -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Materials Small jewelry boxes (cardboard), one for each child
Using the right bait -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the hymn "I Love To
Bread or stone? -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: The real lesson is on temptation. Most
Who is the Spirit? -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Teachers or Parents: The "Trinity" will always be a mystery,
"How many coats?" -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers or Parents: Today is the traditional "Joy" Sunday
Giving Jesus your best -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Mary loved Jesus so much that she honored him by giving him
Correcting our vision -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Teachers: The children's message was about Jesus coming to correct our vision.
The widow's all -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Teachers or Parents: Giving to God is important -- as
Planted by water -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C
Teachers: Jeremiah compares things that grow to people who
Stained-Glass Windows -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Teachers: The dove is a familiar Christian symbol. One of its
Scars tell a story -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Materials:Oven or toaster oven Rolls of sugar cookie dough
Finding life -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Materials Small, smooth rocks, 1 for each child Craft paint
Listen, think, and learn -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Many times Jesus told stories to illustrate a point.

Children's sermon

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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!'”
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...”
A Different Kind Of King -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
“Then he (thief on the cross) said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Breakfast At The Beach -- John 21:1-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“It is the Lord!”
You're Safe! -- John 10:22-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”
Forever Bread -- John 6:25-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2019
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life.
Loving Arms -- John 13:31-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Planning For The Surprise -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
There are probably two kinds of kids listening to these verses.
You've Got A Friend -- John 14:23-29 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
Unexpected Teacher -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
Matthew introduces John the Baptist, the person who God has sent to prepare the people for Jesus.
Mission Accomplished! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2019
While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
Oooo That Makes Me Sooo… Mad? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
John the Baptist asked Jesus, through his own followers, if he really was the “expected one.” Jesus’
Together We Love -- John 17:20-26 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I ask...that they may be one, as we are one...so that the world may know that you have
What’s In A Name? -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
What’s in a name? A lot.
Heavenly Help Is On The Way! -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Arley K. Fadness -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2019
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you foreve
Hold On To The Good News -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Bethany Peerbolte -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2019
This story is obviously missing some details.
Hello, Holy Spirit Of Truth -- John 16:12-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2019
“When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...”
Trusted Advice -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2019
Children are at a stage in life where they are told to do all kinds of things.
Wild Man Healed -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2019
So he went his way, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Staying Focused -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2019
“When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Green Is For Going -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2019
“Go on your way, see I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.”
Mercy, Mercy -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2019
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man....He said, 'the one who sh
M & M Sisters -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2019
“...there is need of only one thing.
'I Love You Children' -- Jesus -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2018
“Let the children come to me; do not stop them...” (v.14b)
O the Power of Soap -- The Day of Ashes -- Matthew 6:1-16, 16-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2018
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (v. 21)

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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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