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Children's Activity

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Epiphany -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- B. Kathleen Fannin -- 1999
Object: An acorn which has begun to sprout and a plain-looking rock which has been split in
Risking It All -- Mark 5:25-29 -- B. Kathleen Fannin -- 1999
"What does it mean to take a risk?" I ask the assembled children.
Turning Around -- Mark 1:14-20 -- B. Kathleen Fannin -- 1999
As the children gather on the chancel steps, they sit down as usual.
The Shepherd King -- Psalm 23 -- Robert B. Lantz -- 1997
Good morning, boys and girls.
Jesus And The Ten Commandments -- Exodus 20:1-18 -- Robert B. Lantz -- 1997
Good morning, boys and girls.
Be A Doubting Thomas -- John 20:19-31 -- Erskine White -- 1997
Last week we talked about ghosts and how hard it was for even Jesus’ best friends to believe that He
Behold The Man Who Was Tempted As We Are -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1996
A man who owned a small town grocery store saw a little boy come in one afternoon.
Do The Right Thing -- James 1:17-27 -- Mark A. Hultquist -- 1996
Items necessary for the treatment of a cold or flu such as: blanket, pillow, hot water bottl
The Torn Curtain -- Matthew 27:45-54, Mark 15:33-39, Luke 23:44-49 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 1993
There is a story that says there was once a very large religious statue in a temple, but one day a m
Tell God When You Are Happy -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Erskine White -- 1993
"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.' " (v
The Misplaced Christ -- John 20:1-18 -- Elaine M. Ward -- 1993
Ty asked his father, "Why do we go to church?" When his father did not reply, Ty asked again, "Why d
God's Thermometer -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
Good morning, boys and girls.
I Am The Beginning And The End -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a stepladder
Of Backs And Cracks -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Wesley T. Runk
Good morning, boys and girls. Today I need your help. I want you to use your imagination.
Stay Close To The Vine -- John 15:1-8 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: some ivy in a pot
What belongs to God? -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Good morning. This morning I'm going to ask you some
The Shouting Stones -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Wesley T. Runk
(Appropriate for use on Palm Sunday)
God's House Is Special -- John 2:13-22 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: some items that appear to be for sale with prices marked on them
The Prize -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A
Exegetical Aim: Faithfulness to the end.
Take a number, please -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C
Good morning, boys and girls.
Learning like Jesus learned -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
Good morning! Some of you are in school, aren't you? Who here goes to school?
Counting Sand -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a handful of sand and a piece of paper
The Day The Winds Came -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Wesley T. Runk
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been caught in a big wind?
Give Your Life To The Lord -- John 10:11-18 -- Wesley T. Runk
Good morning, boys and girls.
Security blanket -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Good morning! I have an old blanket here. It doesn't look like

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Tidings Of Comfort -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
It’s been more than a week since the announcement that Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren
A Lesson in Humility -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
I learned a lesson about humility early in my ministry as a church organist. I had been
After 105 days as captive... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
After 105 days as captive of the FARC (Armed Revolutionary Forces of Columbia) in the Andes Mountain
Taking the Nature of a Servant -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
Taking the nature of a servant has never been a popular choice, especially as a career move.

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Upside-Down And Topsy-Turvy -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Thomas A. Renquist -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2000
Hierarchy is definitely out of fashion in America.
Ten Hits, One Run, Nine Errors -- Luke 17:11-19 -- John E. Berger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2000
A map of the Holy Land In Jesus' day looked like this: Galilee at the top, Judea at the bottom, and
What's For Breakfast? -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
The testimony of Easter is that Jesus joins us again, on earth, after his resurrection from the dead
A Sermon In Clay -- Genesis 2:4-7, Galatians 3:23-29 -- J. Will Ormond -- 1999
This sermon was prepared to be the last in a series of three sermons for the Columbia Forum durin
Stay In The City -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
When Jesus leaves earth, in the Ascension, he advises that we stay in the city.
The Brink Of Eternity -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
Creating a sermon is a funny thing.
The Man With Two Umbrellas -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- William L. Self -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1999
The late Dr. J.
Through the Eye of a Needle -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1999
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the k
What It Takes To Be A Winner -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- William L. Self -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1999
This text for the fifth Sunday of Epiphany is probably the most sublime passage of Scripture in the
Doing Right Because It Is Right -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1998
In a vast field that stretched as far as the eye could see, a great multitude of people milled about
In The Flesh -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 1998
"And the Word became flesh."
Spiritual Armchairs vs. Mature Discipleship -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Joseph M. Freeman -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 1998
In my divinity school days, I took a course on Søren Kierkegaard, the nineteenth century Danish theo
When Conviction And Culture Collide -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- R. Glen Miles -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1998
The climax of the entire book of Deuteronomy is found here in the conclusion of Moses' third and fin
Calibrating Importance -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... they had argued with one another who was the greatest...
Made -- Lost -- And Found -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- 1997
The most personal question anyone can ask is "Who am I?" It is the fundamental question of our huma
Adoption Into God's Family -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- 1997
Any parent who has adopted a child knows the joy of bringing a new member into the family.
Looking A Little Bit Crazy -- Mark 3:20-35 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1996
A photocopied sign was posted inside a church office.
Can Christians Dance? -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1996
A few years ago, I was asked to serve as the worship leader at a regional church conference for teen
Behold The Man Who Was Tempted As We Are -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1996
A man who owned a small town grocery store saw a little boy come in one afternoon.
What He Said! -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- George W. Hoyer -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1996
People left his presence marvelling -- this Jesus -- they left his great gatherings amazed.
Have You Heard The Good News? -- Mark 1:1-8 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
Have you heard the good news?
There's A Man Going Around Taking Names -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Thomas G. Long -- 1996
There is an old black gospel song from the American South, most often sung to the driving beat of a
No Box Seats In The Kingdom -- Mark 10:35-45 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1996
Historically speaking, the church has usually painted a pretty picture of the twelve original discip
How Costly Grace? Or Does Spelling Count? -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1995
As long as men and women and boys and girls have inhabited this planet, they have sought to control
Main Features And Coming Attractions -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1995
You go into the movie theatre, find a seat that's suitable, clamber over some poor innocent slumberi

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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Pentecost
33 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Trinity Sunday
25 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
19 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 4 | OT 9
27 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
20 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Elena Delhagen
For May 19, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world institution. Imagine a pastor who is on the denomination committee for examining pastoral candidates that are on various points along their journey toward ordination either before, during or just after completion of seminary/Bible college training. All the pastoral candidates are excited about their future of making a positive change and impression on the churches they serve.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Acts 2:1-21
Martin Luther viewed Pentecost as a day of celebration, as on a sermon in the topic he noted “it was on this present Pentecost Day that the joyful blessed and lovely kingdom of Christ was established, a kingdom filled with joy, courage, and certainty.”  Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.152) Awareness of the Holy Spirit is a big part of the joy and certainty Pentecost brings.  John Wesley, then, offers a timely warning about how not to lose a sense of the Spirit and the joy and confidence this insight offers.  He wrote:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“I’m not sure why we’re doing this,” Ollie muttered to himself as he took his place on the bandstand. He unpacked his guitar and played a few chords to make sure that it was in tune. “The acoustics are better in the church building.”

“They may be,” Todd said raising his voice over the sounds of the busy park. “Going to be a noisy afternoon from the sounds of it.”

“Huh?” Ollie looked over at his smiling friend. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“You’re just saying what we’re all thinking, isn’t he Wendy?’

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Today’s message will include a role-play. You will need one child to play the role of the shepherd and the rest of the children will be the people from town. I usually pick an outgoing child for my shepherd so they will act out a bit. Encourage everyone to have fun and ham it up a bit.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
As I recall, there was a mighty, rushing wind at the last Bank Holiday weekend. It didn't herald the coming of God quite as much as the coming of a mighty, rushing rain, and for many unfortunate people, substantial flooding. And it was accompanied by considerable power, for it uprooted and destroyed one of our laburnum trees.

SermonStudio

Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
The Holy Spirit gets around. Historically the church has also commemorated its origins on this festival. In some traditions, confirmation is celebrated.

Collect of the Day
Petitions are offered that the Spirit come and transform the faithful to give them language to proclaim the word. The Holy Spirit, Justification (by Grace), Sanctification, and Evangelism are emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
* Hymn to God the creator; praise for God's providential interventions.
James Evans
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)

Elizabeth Achtemeier
On the previous Sundays of this Eastertide, we have heard the risen Christ tell his followers to remain in Jerusalem until he sends the Holy Spirit upon them. That will enable them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Having promised that, he ascended into heaven, to rule over all at the right hand of the Father. That promise was spoken during the forty days that the Lord was with the apostles and disciples after his resurrection.
Arthur H. Kolsti
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord to the breath, prophesy mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
-- Ezekiel 37:4-10
Ron Lavin
The Holy Spirit is called "your Advocate" in the New English Bible translation of John 15:26. Other translations may be helpful in understanding the meaning of the Holy Spirit. The King James Version uses the term "The Comforter." The Revised Standard Version and the New International Version use the term "The Counselor." The Phillips translation and the Barclay translation call the Holy Spirit "The Helper." I like the title "The Advocate" best of all. This term "The Adovcate" includes comforting, counseling, and helping.

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