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The Village Shepherd

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Children's Liturgy and Story

The Village Shepherd

Uncle Richard -- John 17:6-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
Call to Worship: As Jesus prays to the Creator God for us, let us join our hearts
The Delivery -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Call to Worship:
Mr Skillett Is Very Worried -- Luke 8:21-25 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C
Call to worship:
The Potato Race -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Call to Worship:
May The Force Go With You -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Call to Worship: On this, the birthday of the Christian Church, let us welcome
Henry's Hurdle -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Call to Worship:
Molly's Silver Bracelet -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
Call to Worship:
The Poisonous Plants -- John 13:31-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Call to Worship:
A Very Special Person -- John 3:1-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Call to Worship: Let us join together today in worship of the three-in-one God; God
Rory's Bark -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Call to Worship:
Molly's Prayer -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Call to Worship:
The Odd Bunch In The Street -- John 1:10-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C
Call to Worship:
Pippa Wants A Phone -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A
Call to Worship:
Maximus Hart -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Call to Worship:
The New Girl -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
Call to Worship:
Hurricane Hare Makes A Promise -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Call to Worship: In our worship today we look at promises and at a man who made a
Puzzle Corner -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Call to Worship:
Maths! -- John 21:1-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Call to worship:
The Maze -- John 14:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A
Call to Worship:
Trevor's Pets -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Call to Worship:
Magda's Trouble -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
Call to Worship:
The Little Tree -- Luke 24:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Easter Day - C
The liturgy can start with a procession in which a child carries the Easter candle from the West
The Neighbours From Hell -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Call to Worship: Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all was to love God
Lucy Leaf's Fear -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - C
Call to Worship:
The Life-Saver's Badge -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
Call to Worship:

Children's sermon

Children's Story

The Village Shepherd

Jo's New Teacher -- John 4:5-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
When Jesus meets the woman by the well, he doesn't see an enemy of the state or a glorified pros
The Tale Of A Camel -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
I was only just full-grown when we set out on the journey, but I was strong and eager for advent
Cat And Mouse Games -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Fluffy Cat was very miserable.
The Annual Nativity Play -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
Roddy was plunged into gloom.
Jenny And The Missing Calculator -- John 5:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Jenny was having fun. Her friend Martha had brought a graphical calculator into school.
The Straight Furrow -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Sam was the envy of all his friends. His dad was a farmer, so he drove a tractor.
Carnival Day At The Street -- James 2:1-10, 14-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Mr Skillett, who was as thin as two pieces of paper stuck together and as tall as a bus, always
That's Not What You Told Me! -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
Nutman the squirrel was sitting quietly at the feet of Wise Owl.
Jenni's Patrol -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Jenni was very excited. It was Guides tonight, and she was Patrol Leader.
The Spider's Web -- John 1:10-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C
When wise men from the East travelled many miles to see the new baby Jesus, they first visited K
Buzter’s Busy, Buzzy Day -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Buzter hummed to himself. He was happy in his work, and he always hummed when he was happy.
Team Spirit -- John 15:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
The football team were furious.
Jem's Baptism -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Jem was exceedingly nervous.
The Spider's Web -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
When wise men from the East travelled many miles to see the new baby Jesus, they first visited K
Bushman's Pride -- Matthew 15:21-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Bushman was busy grooming his bushy, luxuriant tail.
Terry's Dream -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Terry had a dream.
Jason's Stand -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
It wasn't until the early summer of his first year that Jason Court felt really fed up with his
The Smallest Duckling -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B
Timothy Duckling was big and strong.
Ben's Dilemma -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
"Are you coming?" shouted Tim breathlessly.
Stepping Out Into Space -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last!
Jamie's Uncle Jim -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
When Jesus walked seven miles to Emmaus with two of his friends, they failed to recognise him.
The Special Christmas Gift -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Matty was very excited.
Beatrice The Bee -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Beatrice knew she was a princess, for her mother was Queen Bee.
Stella Martin's 'second Sight' -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Stella Martin first became aware of her unusual gifts when she was quite small.
James Jacobs, Taxman -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A
James Jacobs hated the story of Matthew the tax collector.

Intercession

The Village Shepherd

Accepting And Welcoming God... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Women And Men And Children... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Forgiveness... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
All-Seeing God... -- John 1:43-51 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Vulnerable And Self-Effacing God... -- Matthew 9:35-10:8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Mystery, Long Ago The Church Said That You Are Three Persons... -- John 3:1-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God who blesses the poor... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Forever... -- John 1:10-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Vulnerable And Self-Effacing God... -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Calming And Reliable God... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Caring God, why are you asleep when the Church is tossed about by storms?... -- Luke 8:22-25 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
All-Seeing God -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of The Impossible... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Unconventional And Surprising God... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Redeemer God, Sometimes I Long For Mountaintop Experiences... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Faithful God, you never give up on human beings... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Prince Of Peace... -- Luke 2:15-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
A Prayer For The Golden Jubilee... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Unexpected God... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Janice B. Scott -- Day of Pentecost - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Giver Of Gifts, You Founded Your Church As The Body Of Christ... -- John 2:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Dear God -- John 1:6-8; 19-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Three-In-One God... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Loving God, I'm A Mere Speck Compared With You... -- John 1:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Courage And Integrity... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Mystery -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

The Transience Of Transfiguration -- Luke 9:28-36 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
When Bishop Peter visited our parish on his pilgrimage around the diocese in the winter of 1996, h
Christ The King -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
We seem to live in the Age of the Celebrity.
Angels - Messengers Of Doom? -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
I'm told that during the war the one thing everybody dreaded was the arrival of a telegram.
Health And Wholeness, Healing And Happiness -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
There have been some notable courtroom dramas on television over the years, Perry Mason, Rumpole
Was It A Birth, Or Was It Death? -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C
I've always found the final verse of T. S.
Being Authentic -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Some years ago I remember being rivetted by a film based on a true story.
Rising Above The Sea Of Life -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
One of the most memorable lines in "Jesus Christ Superstar" is by King Herod, who cuts a comic f
Heavenly Peace -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
In the film, "Big Fish", the hero Edward Bloom stumbles into a dark and terrifying swamp-like wood,
The Darkness Of Despair And Depression? -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
I remember, many years ago, attending a most extraordinary Parochial Church Council meeting.
Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Originally published in 2002.
Follow My Leader? -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
There are always difficulties in Christian ministry, at whichever level you're involved in it, f
The Role Of The Messenger -- Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
In Greek mythology, Hermes ("pile of marker stones") was the god of boundaries and of the travellers
Hope For The Future -- Isaiah 65:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When the Seniors at the local golf club arranged their summer barbeque for a Sunday afternoon, a chu
The Outrage Of Grace -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
I've recently been reading a most fascinating book,
Priorities, Energy And Work -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
When my father was dying. he started to give away all his possessions.
From Darkness To Light -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
The British weather is renowned for its diversity and therefore is always a good conversation starte
The Transfiguring Effect Of Silence -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
Some years ago I remember talking with a teacher who was responsible for religious education thr
You Ask And Do Not Receive -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B
Perhaps one of the problems of those who are on the fringes of the
A Vision For The Future -- Revelation 5:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
When we decided to form a Ministry Team in our Benefice (group of six parishes working together)
Has God Been Tamed? -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Years ago in the physiotherapy department of most hospitals, artificial sunlight was used in the tre
Water Into Wine -- John 2:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
The novelist Catherine Cookson was born in East Jarrow, Tyne and Wear (England) in 1906.
Be Sincere In Love... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Many years ago at the age of eighteen, when I started training as a physiotherapist, we had to s
Retail Therapy -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
I went to the Royal Norfolk Show this year, with my daughter.
Where Is God? -- Genesis 28:10-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
When the first astronauts went into space, they were awestruck by the strange beauty of all they saw
Indiscriminate Generosity - It's Hard To Take -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Recently I noticed in the media that the government are planning to give each teenager in Englan

Worship

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
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23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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