Login / Signup

First Sunday of Advent - A

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's Activity

Commentary

Children's bulletin

Children's Liturgy and Story

Children's sermon

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

According to Jeffery L. Sheler... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
According to Jeffery L. Sheler in U.S.
Mark was out of state... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Mark was out of state for a church-related educational conference.
A small-town pastor in... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
A small-town pastor in the midwest earned a reputation for consistently visiting all his members on
In rural parts of the... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
In rural parts of the country, where farmers buy their gas in bulk, theft is always a concern.
On March 6th, 1991, a... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
On March 6th, 1991, a plane carrying country music star Reba McEntire's band and her tour manager cr
Remaining alert can keep us... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Remaining alert can keep us out of trouble, and ready for what is sure to come upon us.
The newly arrived pastor of... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The newly arrived pastor of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Winnieshiek County, Iowa, sp
Making peace between nations is... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Making peace between nations is God's priority, but mortals can do their bit for the cause. U.S.
Beating swords into plowshares has... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Beating swords into plowshares has been a difficult task in the world.
According to an article in... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
According to an article in Newsweek, the class of 2002 Marshall Scholars are finding a new wa
The armor of light! How... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The armor of light! How can light be armor?
Four and one-half years... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Four and one-half years old is a time when questions come quickly, and time passes very slowly.
One day Alfred Nobel, inventor... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
One day Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, read the morning newspaper and was shocked to see his ow
If you have ever gone... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
If you have ever gone into your child's or grandchild's room to wake him or her up some dreary morni
Can it be? November is... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Can it be? November is virtually finished and December begins on Tuesday.
The parents of children in... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The parents of children in an elementary school were glad when the administration opted for a simple
Oliver Sacks' book, Awakenings... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Oliver Sacks' book, Awakenings, tells the stories of many patients who had been struck with e
Sometimes nature reflects the unexpectedness... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Sometimes nature reflects the unexpectedness of Christ's second coming.
The idea of readiness permeates... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The idea of readiness permeates our lives.
You do not know the... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
You do not know the hour or the day. At any time a thief could break in.
God sometimes acts suddenly and... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
God sometimes acts suddenly and there seems to be little warning.
The fifth graders in Sharon's... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The fifth graders in Sharon's class had watched news reports on television telling of the end of the
The other night during the... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The other night during the national news there was a story on the commercialization, the sheer buyin

Poems

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 9
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
28 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 10
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 11
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A hard-boiled egg, a teaspoon, and a bowl. REMEMBER TO USE A HARD-BOILED EGG! If necessary, use a plastic egg. Put the bowl at the spot you want the child to carry the egg to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? Outstanding! Let's hear our story!

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 21, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Frank Ramirez
In each of these scriptures it is up to recognize who is the star of the show. We might be surprised. David thinks he is honoring God by building a temple, but isn’t he really honoring himself as the typical conqueror who builds temples to the gods as a testimony to his accomplishments as a ruler?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord... So I will attend to you for your evil doings... Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands... I will raise up shepherds over them... and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. (vv. 1-5)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Let us join together to use this time for rest and relaxation within the preence of our Lord.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are lazy and don't do what you want us to do.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are too busy and wilfully refuse to take time off.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to manage our time and our own physical and emotional needs.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Julia E. Bland
It is through Jesus, the Good Shepherd, that we become part of his flock.

Scripture: John 10:9

Background Devotions: Psalm 23

Visual Aids: Medicine, a large cup, perhaps a cane. If a cane is used, you will need to explain that the staff was shaped something like a cane but it was much longer and the rounded part was bigger.

Handouts: Activity sheets; star stickers for the color page of the activity sheet, if desired
John E. Sumwalt
Patricia M. Thaker
In February of 2000, my grandfather, Lloyd Dings, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away just twelve days later. My grandparents were married 56 years. The legacy he leaves behind is a wonderful wife and a beautiful family
Kristin Borsgard Wee
Four years ago this week, I was walking through an African village in Namibia with my friend, Solveig Kjeseth. We stopped to look at a strange tower formed out of earth. It was about five feet high, crooked in shape, wide at the bottom and coming to a point at the top. I thought it looked like the top of a giant, rumpled witch's hat, only it was gray instead of black. Solveig informed me, much to my surprise, that it was an anthill. I was even more surprised when we came across many more, some of which towered over my head. They were huge!
William J. Carl, III
Have you ever noticed how some families move a lot? Some are corporate moves, some are military, and some are United Methodist pastors. Whatever the case, every time they move they have to find new lodging. In the military, quarters are often provided. The same may be true for clergy if churches own a manse or a parsonage. But, sometimes you have to look for a new home, which means spending some time with real estate agents traveling here and there to find the perfect house. Of course, no house is ever perfect. When you own a home, no matter where you sit you see something that needs fixing.
Mark Ellingson
On this last Sunday of the Church Year (we call it Christ the King Sunday) our attention is directed to the reign of Christ -- to his glorious reign which has already begun with the resurrection on Easter. It is a Sunday to think about salvation, because where Christ reigns salvation is effected. These themes are especially evident in our First Lesson.
Mark Ellingson
On this last Sunday of the Church Year (we call it Christ the King Sunday) our attention is directed to the reign of Christ -- to his glorious reign which has already begun with the resurrection on Easter. It is a Sunday to think about salvation, because where Christ reigns salvation is effected. These themes are especially evident in our First Lesson.
Through Christ, God has solved the problem of conflict between races.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL