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Peter Andrew Smith

Peter Andrew Smith is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada currently serving St. James United Church in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He is the author of All Things are Ready (CSS) a book of lectionary based communion prayers and a number of stories and articles, which can be found listed at www.peterandrewsmith.com.
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Looking in the Right Place -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2022
Will stood in line at the cafeteria oblivious to the smells and noise and activity of the other stud
Exploring the Mystery -- John 16:12-15 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2022
Tim flopped down on the couch in the youth group room.
How Hard is It? -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2022
John sat in the front seat of his car and looked at the door of the apartment building.
Another Side of Prayer -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2022
Luke moved to one side of the walking trail without looking up.
Salt of the Earth -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2020
Maxine tapped her pen on the table as she looked at the open Bible in front of her.
Left Behind -- Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:44-53 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2020
Contents “Left Behind” by Keith Hewitt
In God's Image -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
Let us make people in our own image. Jessie narrowed her eyes and read Genesis 1:26 one mor
Welcoming -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2020
Contents “Welcoming” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Invaders -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2020
Contents "The Invaders" by Keith Hewitt
Faith In the Storm -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Luke stared at the stack of papers sitting in front of him.
Holy Ground -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2020
Charlie noticed the church a few blocks from his new apartment as he wandered toward the downtown.
Coming to Jesus -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2020
Helen’s picked up her phone to look at the new message.
Dealing With Sin -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2020
John entered the room without saying a word and took a seat at one end of the table.
Truly Exalted -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2020
“There were so many people involved in the project I’m not sure I deserve to be singled out,” Jenny
Called to Serve -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2020
Judy appeared at the door. “Your two o’clock appointment is waiting for you.”
Everything is Possible with God -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Contents “Everything is Possible with God” by Peter Andrew Smith
Make a Way Through the Desert -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "Make a Way Through the Desert" by Frank Ramirez
Listening For God -- John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Larry Winebrenner -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2012
Contents"Listening for God" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Path To Healing -- Mark 1:40-45, 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Psalm 30 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Lamar Massingill -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
Contents"The Path to Healing" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Way To God -- Matthew 5:13-20, Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Psalm 112:1-9 (10) -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2011
Contents"The Way to God" by Peter Andrew Smith
On The Lookout -- Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Contents"On the Lookout" by Keith Hewitt

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How Do You Know? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
“Hey Bill.” Jim made his way through the departing crowd and stuck out his hand.
Exploring the Mystery -- John 16:12-15 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2022
Tim flopped down on the couch in the youth group room.
In God's Image -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
Let us make people in our own image. Jessie narrowed her eyes and read Genesis 1:26 one mor
Faith In the Storm -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Luke stared at the stack of papers sitting in front of him.

Stories

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Living in Hope -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2022
“I know they’ll come.” Mary shifted in her wheelchair but kept looking out the window.
Parts of the Body -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2022
“No problem.” Carl held up his hands.
Silent Witness -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2022
Luke watched Marion as she spoke her nonsense syllables and wondered what he was doing here.
The Price of Grace -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022
Burt stood in front of the food truck and frowned.
A Mind Like Christ -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2022
John held open the main door to the office building for James.
Words from the Past -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Easter Day - C -- 2022
Joan sat in the living room sipping her coffee.
Forty Years Later -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021
Contents“Forty Years Later” by David O. Bales
Mindful of Christ -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2021
Contents“Mindful of Christ” by Peter Andrew Smith
Despite Unreliable Witnesses -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Easter Day - B -- 2021
Contents“Despite Unreliable Witnesses” by David O. Bales
Trusting in God -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, Psalm 23 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Contents“Trusting in God” by Peter Andrew Smith
Not the Hour or the Day -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2021
Contents“Not the Hour or the Day” by Peter Andrew Smith
One King Dead, Another King Eternal -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, Psalm 29 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2021
Contents“One King Dead, Another King Eternal” by David O. Bales
A David and Goliath Story -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2021
Contents “A David and Goliath Story” by Peter Andrew Smith
Through Michal's Two Windows -- Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2021
Contents“Through Michal’s Two Windows” by David O. Bales
Seeing Your Sin -- 2 Samuel 11-26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2021
Contents“Seeing Your Sin” by Peter Andrew Smith
Longing For The Smallest Hint Of God’s Presence -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 84 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2021
Contents“Longing For The Smallest Hint of God” by David O. Bales
Understanding Jesus -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2021
Contents “Understanding Jesus” by David O. Bales
Justice and Grace -- Mark 10:2-16, Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 8 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2021
Contents“Justice and Grace” by Peter Andrew Smith
Full-Throated Joy? -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126 -- David O. Bales, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2021
Contents“Full-Throated Joy?” by David O. Bales
Giving Everything -- Mark 12:38-44, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Psalm 146 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2021
Contents“Giving Everything” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Feast Awaits -- Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2021
Contents“The Feast Awaits” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Reason for the Season -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Harry looked out the window and sighed as he watched the snow falling outside.

Free Access

Exploring the Mystery -- John 16:12-15 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2022
Tim flopped down on the couch in the youth group room.
How Do You Know? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
“Hey Bill.” Jim made his way through the departing crowd and stuck out his hand.
Silent Witness -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2022
Luke watched Marion as she spoke her nonsense syllables and wondered what he was doing here.

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Epiphany 4 (OT 4)
28 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 5 (OT 5)
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 6 (OT 6)
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Two small containers or boxes and several pieces of paper. I used two shoe boxes with lids and about fifty pieces of used printer paper. Label one box “Judge”, and the other box “Not Judge”.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
For February 23, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (v. 4)

Spoiler alert!

Those two words warn us not to read, listen, or watch any further. Something crucial about a book, show, film, or fact is about to be revealed, and we’re being told if we want to be surprised when we finally get around to reading or watching we’d better stop listening right now.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Christal Berns wrote, in a May 23, 2023, article for Christian Learning, about Jacksonville, FL police officer Ike Brown. On May 27, 2002, Brown received heartbreaking news from his colleagues. His sergeant, lieutenant, chief, and chaplain came to his home and told him his son had lost his life in a shooting incident.
Wayne Brouwer
We all believe in justice; we all cry out to have our rights protected. Yet the power of revenge eventually takes us beyond where any of us truly want to go, for two reasons.

First of all, because of sin, we tend to be more zealous in our vindictiveness than we are in our love. I am much quicker to strike out at someone else and seek revenge against him for what he’s done to me, than I am to be that righteous myself.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Some years back, there was a best-selling book that got a lot of attention in the church, one written by a rabbi, Harold Kushner. The book was called When Bad Things Happen to Good People (HarperCollins, 1982). It is an honest attempt to grapple with the problem of evil. Why is it, Rabbi Kushner wants to know, that good and faithful people sometimes have to suffer?

John T. Ball
The honored dead from our fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have created a problem for Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. So many have rightly claimed burial in Arlington National Cemetery that the cemetery is running out of space. Rightful burials may soon have to be denied because there is no place for them.

Mary S. Lautensleger
Sibling rivalry. It's the pits. It has been around as long as there have been siblings around. Beginning with Cain and Abel, we see one brother disgruntled because God likes the other brother's sacrificial offering better. We remember, too, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, the prodigal son and his older brother. Life is not fair.
James T. Garrett
When a person enters into any society or any fellowship, he takes upon himself the obligations to live a certain way, by certain standards. If the person fails to live the kind of life necessary, he hinders the purpose of the society.

Once we make the claim that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true then a claim is put on our lives. In today's Scripture lesson, Jesus sets down behavior patterns for kingdom people.

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