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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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Listen! -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Let anyone with ears listen!  (v. 9)Good morning boys and girls,
Wheat And Weeds Separated -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2017
...The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; bu
The Kingdom Of Surprises -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the
Saving Hands -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2017
“...and he cried out, “Lord save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and saved him.”
Great Faith -- Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2017
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith!
You are Jesus -- that's for sure! -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2017
Simon Peter answered, “You are Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (v.16)
Tug-O-Love -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be don
A Box Of Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
...how often should I forgive?....seventy-seven times...(v. 21b, 21b)
Math – Jesus' Style -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2017
...I chose to give to this last the same as I give to you...so the last will be first and th
The Very Best Of All -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2017
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most
All Are Welcome -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
“and gathered all whom he found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with gues
A Trick Question Exposed -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2017
“...give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things tha
The Greatest Commandment Of All -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2017
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
Always Be Prepared! -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
“Keep awake therefore...” (v. 13a)Good morning girls and boys,
Using The Jewel(s) Inside Of You -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2017
“well done, good and trustworthy slave...” (v. 23b)
Seeing Jesus Today -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2017
“...come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you...” (v.
Someone's Coming -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“The One who is more powerful than I is coming.” (v. 7a)
A Voice shouts "Straighten up" -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'made straight the way of the Lord.'” (
The Very Very Best Gift of all -- Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2017
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and laid him in a manger, because there was no roo
Growing up tall, smart and loved -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2017
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.” (v

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Tug-O-Love -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be don
A Trick Question Exposed -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2017
“...give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperors and to God the things tha
Always Be Prepared! -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
“Keep awake therefore...” (v. 13a)Good morning girls and boys,

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role play. You can do this with only two children playing the parts of the two women, but if you have more children, you could have two more playing the parts of the children, another playing the part of the synagogue leader, and another playing the part of the country’s leader. You can also add any other roles you might want to add to make it interesting. Also, I have created places for your characters to speak, but you can add more of those to make it all more fun and memorable.

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The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For August 24, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
C. Knight Aldrich, a medical doctor and the first chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago (1955-1964), was a keen analyst of the motivations for our behaviors. He worked with the social services agencies of Chicago for a time, particularly spending hours with teenagers who had been arrested for shoplifting or other theft. Aldrich interviewed them to find out how they had come to this. He also talked with the parents, attempting to discover how they had handled the problem from the first time they knew about it.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 77:1-6

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“We have questions about your conduct as our pastor,” Carl announced as soon as Pastor John sat down at the hastily called board meeting. “We have received complaints about you from the congregation.”

“Complaints?” Pastor John frowned. “From whom and about what?”

“Mrs. Finnigan saw you coming out of what she politely described as ‘A Gentleman’s Club’ last Thursday night when she was driving downtown.” Bruce scowled. “Do you deny this?”

“Not at all,” Pastor John said. “I did have to go to that place on Thursday evening.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus was aware of people's deepest needs and what prompted their actions. In our worship today let us consider how we can discover people's deepest needs and the motives for their actions.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we see only the surface and condemn without real understanding.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are afraid to get sufficiently close to other people to see their inner needs.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The old saying, "experience is the best teacher," could serve as a subtitle for this psalm. Written as a prayer for help in a time of distress or oppression, the psalm subtly hints at a recognition and awareness that only comes with time. There is a track record, so to speak, that the psalmist is aware of: God's record of dependability. Based on God's proven record of saving power and grace, the psalmist is able to pray for salvation, but at the same time celebrate the certainty of its arrival.
Lee Ann Dunlap
Carrie's1 high school guidance counselor noticed she had been acting out a bit in school recently. She had appeared depressed and had been having some authority issues over rules and such. The guidance counselor set Carrie up with a local pastor who had been volunteering a few hours each Friday after a teen suicide a few months before. Most of the other students who came to see the pastor just needed someone to listen to their usual teen issues and heartaches. But, shortly into their time together, Carrie began to open up about some real grown-up problems.
Kirk R. Webster
It's a typical Sunday morning at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. The people file in and sit down in plush pews. Their attention is drawn to the chancel where they see choir members calmly seated, robed in dark blue and white. The mahogany altar table is draped with a silk parament. Two bronze candleholders stand guard at the table edges.
R. Robert Cueni
As was his custom, Jesus went that Sabbath morning to the synagogue for worship. As he was preaching and teaching, he happened to glance toward the fringe of the crowd where he saw a very crippled woman. She was bent over and was unable to stand up straight. When he inquired, Jesus was told the woman had been that way for eighteen years.
John H. Will
Call to Worship
Indeed, this is a day of rest and gladness.
This is God's Sabbath, created for our reflection and renewal.
Let us then not profane it, but keep it holy.
We do this as we honor God and commit ourselves to the well--being of God's creation.
Each of us individually needs a personal rejuvenation of spirit.
Together we seek a strengthening of community, a community that continues to build itself in love.
So do we come as one people to worship God, our Maker and our Sustainer.

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