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Arley K. Fadness

Arley K. Fadness is a retired ELCA pastor who has served numerous Lutheran parishes in South Dakota and Minnesota. He is currently a member of Custer Lutheran Fellowship in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Pastor Fadness is a congregational consultant who coaches churches in visioning processes, and he also conducts leadership retreats and workshops on “Finding Your True Flair.” A graduate of Augustana College, Luther Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary, Fadness is the author of several CSS titles, including Blueprints For Advent and Christmas, Blueprints for Lent, Six Spiritual Needs in America Today, Holy Moses, Hey Joseph!, and Where’s Noah? He is also a contributing author to Sermons on the First Readings (Series I, Cycle A).
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Children's sermon

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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.”
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
Don’t Be Fooled! -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2019
“Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He!’”
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.
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.
About Losing and Saving -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2018
“...those who lose their life for my sake...will save it.” (v. 35b)
An A Plus Teacher -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2018
“They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not a
Listening Loudly -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2018
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (v. 7b)
Growing Up! -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2018
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.”
Great Greatness -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me...” (v.37a)
Beloved Just As You Are -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'” (
Sprinkle, Sparkle -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2018
“Salt is good; (v. 50a)Good morning boys and girls,
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)
Keeping or Giving -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sa
'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)
The Little Bible -- John 3:14-21 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
“For God so loved the world He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may n

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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.
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)
"Talk to Me" —God -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2019
“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1b)
Love Your Enemies -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you....” (v. 27)
Start Seeing Lazarus -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019
“Child, remember… Lazarus...” (v. 25a)
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)
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)
Mary's Amazing Surprise -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Easter Day - C -- 2019
“I have seen the Lord.” (v. 18)
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

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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: A rock about the size of a tennis ball, baseball, or even a softball.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
For March 30, 2025:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week? When Pastor Luke asked him, he had been all excited and enthusiastic. He knew the parable of the prodigal son inside and out having read commentaries and stories about it before. He had actually preached a sermon on the passage when Pastor Luke was away and received great feedback from the congregation.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 5:9-12
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 9:5-12

SermonStudio

Bonnie Bates
It is a well-known cliché that “God never gives us more than we can handle”, but I have sometimes found that not to be so. When my youngest brother died of brain cancer at age five, it was more than I could handle. When my first husband was emotionally and physically abusive, it was more than I could handle. When my second husband and I lost our twin sons at birth, it was more than I could handle. The COVID pandemic was more than we could handle. Wars and violence are often more than we can handle. Homelessness, poverty, grief, and loss are often more than we can handle.
John N. Brittain
I suppose we are all a little bit nervous about the prospect of a sermon on a Bible story as familiar and sometimes as overworked as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. "What can I possibly say that hasn't been said before?" And I know what's going through your minds: "Are we going to be subjected to the same old sermon yet another time?" Confronting a familiar Bible passage like this mid-Lent really serves to address the discipline of reading Scripture as part of our devotional life, particularly passages that are very familiar.
Charles D. Reeb
A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, wrote a simple, yet telling poem in his work, Now We Are Six:

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly Me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as ever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.1

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to worship:

 While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.

Invitation to confession:

 Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,

Lord, have mercy.

 Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,

Christ, have mercy.

 Jesus, when we return to you,

Lord, have mercy.

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