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The Village Shepherd

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Children's Liturgy and Story

The Village Shepherd

Sadie's Night Light -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Call to Worship:
Will My Hamster Go To Heaven? -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Call to Worship:
Grandma's Computer -- John 16:12-15 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
Call to Worship:
Jilly's Evening -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
Call to Worship: Jesus is God's beloved son. In our worship today, let us listen to
Rosie Diamond Sulks -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Call to Worship:
Wind, Clouds And Sun -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Call to Worship:
When Simon's Dad Went Away -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Call to Worship:
Grandma's Birthday Present -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Day of Pentecost - A
Call to Worship:
The Harvest Loaf -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Call to Worship: Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny
Praxis Throws A Party -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Call to Worship:
You Can Do It, Emily! -- John 5:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Call to Worship:
When Anna Died -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Call to worship:
Gordon The Groundhog -- John 10:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Call to Worship:
Praxis Gets Rich -- John 2:13-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Call to Worship: As we listen today to the story of Jesus driving people out of the
Praxis Takes Care -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Call to Worship:
Paul's Holiday -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Call to Worship: Let us join together to use this time for rest and relaxation
Tom Can't Be Bothered -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Call to Worship:
God's Son Returns -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
Call to Worship:
The Beautiful Red Balloon -- John 12:20-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Call to Worship: If we wish to see Jesus, we must be prepared to follow him so that
Praxis Receives Power -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Janice B. Scott -- Day of Pentecost - C
Call to Worship:
Gemma's Worst Day -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B
Call to Worship: Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes
Toby's Dive -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Call to worship:
God's Love -- John 14:15-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
Call to Worship:
Jesus Our King -- Mark 11:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - B
Many churches hold a Palm Sunday procession
Praxis Meets Blue Squirrel -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Call to Worship:

Children's sermon

Children's Story

The Village Shepherd

Pinning The Tail On The Donkey -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B
Those who think they can see everything are often the ones
Praxis Plays A Prank -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A
Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief.
Fluffy Cat And Toby Mouse -- John 6:56-69 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Fluffy Cat and Toby Mouse lived together in the same house.
The Fiery Princess -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
John the Baptist told his followers that the Messiah (Jesus) would baptise with fire.
Luke's Grandpa -- John 12:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
When Mary used a jar of very expensive ointment to anoint Jesus' feet, other people condemned he
Thomas And The Cave -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited.
The Search For Kingship -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Janice B. Scott -- Passion Sunday - C
This is a story about a royal prince, who was sent by
Praxis Looks For Justice -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Praxis the pixie was ordering the other pixies around.
Father Time Takes A Tumble -- John 3:14-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Old Father Time was feeling not only old, but tired and lonely and very, very cold.
The Day Of The Storm -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
The first thing Jack saw when he walked into church on the Sunday morning was a bright red o
Lone Star -- John 1:6-8; 19-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Lone Star planted his front paws firmly on the rock at the top of the hill, threw back his head,
Thomas And The Cave -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited.
Praxis In The Dark -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
Praxis the colourful pixie was feeling very blue.
Double Trouble -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Double Trouble was the smallest of the litter of puppies. He was also the most mischievous.
The Christmas Thorn Of Glastonbury -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
After baby Jesus grew up to be a man, he got into terrible trouble, and wicked people killed him.
Living Like Animals -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Timmy and Angela glared at each other.
The Worst Pixie In The World -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
In today's reading, Jesus showed that God's forgiveness is always available, although sometimes
Donovan's New Life -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Praxis Finds Himself -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Praxis had a problem. It wasn't a problem shared by any of the other pixies, it was his alone.
Dragon Fire -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Dominic Dragon lived in a cave in the Welsh hills.
The Church That Nearly Died -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
"I think," said the Archdeacon, "the time may have come to close this Church.
Lame Ducks -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Jane's mother wasn't very pleased. Jane had come home cradling a tiny kitten inside her coat.
The White Bib -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
Clarence was always very particular, even as a fledging only just out of the nest.
Praxis Brings Some Friends -- John 12:20-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Praxis the colourful pixie was a bright shining pink, with a tinge of orange around the edges.
Don’t I Know You? -- John 1:43-51 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
"Don't I know you?" asked the man. He wasn't much to look at, small and quite old.

Intercession

The Village Shepherd

God Of The Vine... -- John 15:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Creation, You Call Your Church To Take Up Their Cross... -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Humility... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Creator God... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Life, It's Difficult To Be Grateful... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Risen God, I Really Do Want To Know You In A New Sort Of Way... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
All-Seeing God, Sometimes Your Church Feels A Bit Like Those Pharisees... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Understanding God... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Immense Love... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Compassionate God... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Good Shepherd, The Image Of You With A Lamb... -- John 10:11-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Compassion... -- James 2:1-10, 14-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of The Universe... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Multi-Faceted God... -- John 1:29-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Challenging God... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Self-Giving And Self-Emptying God... -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Understanding, You Know All There Is To Know About Me... -- John 6:56-69 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God, The Center Of My Being... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
All-Knowing God... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Direct And Honest God... -- Matthew 15:21-28 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Glory... -- John 12:20-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
Believing In You Isn't Easy, Amazing God... -- John 6:51-58 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Forgiveness... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Love... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
God Of Love, You Offer Me Such Profound Love... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

God's Power -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
It sometimes seems to me that our world is based upon power.
Did The Cross Really Work? -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
In any daily newspaper there are always catalogues of horrific
The Good Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
There was a farmer living in a remote part of the Norfolk countryside who had been burgled a num
What Is Love? -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
John Humphrys, the radio and television journalist of forty years' experience, has written a boo
What's The Point? -- Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Riding a bike is a very good way of discovering the multitude of
Night Precedes Day -- Amos 5:18-24 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
One thing about live
The Risk Of Baptism In The Holy Spirit -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
Some years ago, Japanese game shows were quite popular on television.
It's All Relative -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
A group of us from South Norfolk have recently returned from pilgrimage in Greece and Turkey, follow
How Much, In The Cold Light Of Day? -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
The evangelist Billy Graham was away from home a great deal when he was in his heyday of large eva
God's Breath -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
I read an article recently about the spiritual life of people with mental health problems (The Bible
Discerning God -- Genesis 18:1-10 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
On our first visit to Malta many years ago, we stayed in the rural south of the island.
Sarah Laughed -- Genesis 18:1-15 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A
Perhaps one of the characteristics which endeared Princess Di to the nation, was her ordinariness.
Leaps Of Faith -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Janice B. Scott -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A
There seems to be something about mountains which appeals to the human imagination.
The Value Of Doubt -- John 20:19-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Several years ago, 38 members of the "Heaven's Gate" religious cult in California drank poison i
About Death -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
One of the world-wide (or at least Western world-wide) effects of the attacks on the Twin Trade To
From Warnings To Blessings -- Isaiah 66:10-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
At the 2004 Professional Golfers' Association golf competition at Wentworth in Surrey, the rather su
The End Of The World? -- Matthew 24:1-14 -- Janice B. Scott
I was visiting a 98-year-old lady recently who said to me, "I'm glad I could never see into the
Sin - What A Drag! -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Ash Wednesday - A
When children are baptised in the Church of England, their parents and godparents make three
What Is Sin? -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Samantha is married and in her early twenties, but with no children yet.
Beyond Outward Appearances -- John 4:5-42 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
The Bible doesn't have too much to say about women, and those it does mention are very often there
How Intelligent Is Intelligence? -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Janice B. Scott -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
There once was a report in "The Sunday Times" about the claims of Francis Crick to have located
Waiting -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Jane was in her sixties, looking
The Vine, The Branches And The Grapes -- John 15:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
One of the joys of moving house is making interesting discoveries in the garden.
Apocalypse Now! -- Daniel 12:1-3 -- Janice B. Scott -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
'War and Peace', Tolstoy's epic novel, covers Russian social history during the time of Napoleon.
How Does God Come To Us? -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Those words about the flood in today's gospel reading, are particularly poignant in light of thi

Worship

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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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