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Day of Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-21, Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1996
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lor
Something To Do While The World Falls Apart -- Mark 13:1-8 -- William G. Carter -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1996
A number of years ago, leaders in a church decided to track down the congregation's drop-outs.
The Strange Tactics Of God -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1996
Some of you will remember Indiana Jones And The Raiders Of The Lost Ark, a film released several ye
Liberating Truth -- John 8:31-36 -- William G. Carter -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1996
During the 1960s, Sherwood Schwartz wrote and produced a number of hit television shows.
Easter Joy -- John 15:9-17 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
A remarkable feature of Dwight D.
Epilogue: Endorsing The Future -- 1996
One of the first things you do when you move to a new place is establish a checking account with a l
How Odd Of God -- Luke 1:26-38 -- John A. Stroman -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
In every generation if we are to apprehend the abiding forces that will dominate and direct the futu
A Habitat For Humanity -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1996
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live i
Double Image -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- William G. Carter -- All Saints Day - B -- 1996
"You know why I want to join the church?" The speaker was a father in his thirties, holding an infan
Easter Consecration -- John 17:6-19 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
A. E. Hotchner has written an autobiographical account of his experience of the Great Depression.
Redrawing The Landscape -- 1996
One summer's day my wife and I journeyed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend a conference.
A Moment Of Decision -- Mark 1:4-11 -- John A. Stroman -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1996
Experiences have the effect of changing the direction of our lives.
Here Is Where It Happens -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1996
Here is where it happens. Where is here? Here is right here, among us.
Tears At The Tomb -- John 11:32-44 -- William G. Carter -- All Saints Day - B -- 1996
By all appearances, the junior high youth group at First Church was going well.
The Spice Of Death -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Good Friday - B -- 1996
Good Friday draws us to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ that we might concentrate and meditate on
Living With Limits -- 1996
One of the leaders in the world of pastoral psychology is Wayne Oates.
Pass It On -- John 1:43-51, John 1:35-42 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1996
Here we see the dynamic of witness. Look at what took place.
Saul, The Tormented King -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1996
He was like a meteor.
It Is Blessed To Receive -- Matthew 6:25-33, Luke 17:11-19 -- William G. Carter -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1996
In the small town of Mapleville, the ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service was poorly attended.
Resist Temptation -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1996
The Holy Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent is the evangelist Mark's very brief account of the tem
Illusion Or Reality? -- 1996
Back in the mid 1970s to early 1980s hypnosis was viewed as a major cure for many of society's ills.
Drop-Everything-Discipleship -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John A. Stroman -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1996
This text is a statement about a radical discipleship.
When Saints Go Marching Forth -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Arthur H. Kolsti -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1996
Sometimes when reading you come across words that just leap off the page and grab you.
Sent From The Mountain -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- William G. Carter -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1996
There is nothing like taking part in a worship service with 17,000 people.
Dim Visions And Blind Guides -- 1996
The societal limits which impinge on our world also affect our personal existence in profound ways.

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More Signs of the End of the Age -- Mark 13:24-31 -- Wayne H. Keller
Celebrating God's Presence and Power
The Death and Raising of Lazarus -- John 11:32-44, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Wayne H. Keller -- All Saints Day - B
Celebrating God's Presence And Power
Ash Wednesday -- Joann H. Hary
Order of Worship
Mark 1:40-45; 2:1-12; 2:18-22, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 2:18-22 -- Wayne H. Keller
Proper OneEpiscopal: Mark 1:40-45Proper Two
Jesus Appears to the Disciples -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Ascension of the Lord - B
An Invitation To Ascension SundayPastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
Easter Sunday -- Joann H. Hary
Easter SundayOrder of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
John the Baptist Beheaded -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
AdorationInvitation to the Celebration (Pastor and Ministers)
Ash Wednesday -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Ash Wednesday - B
After everyone leaves the sanctuary on Fat Tuesday, and before anyone enters the sanctuary on Ash We
First Sunday In Lent -- Joann H. Hary
Order of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
Jesus Feeds the 5,000 Men, Plus Women and Children -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
AdorationPastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
The Wise Men's Visit -- Matthew 2:1-12, Mark 1:4-11 -- Wayne H. Keller -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
The Ekklesia Gathers To CelebratePastoral Invitation
Second Sunday In Lent -- Joann H. Hary
Order of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand; Jesus Walks on Water. Do you see the connection? -- John 6:1-21 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
AdorationPastoral Invitation
The Week Following Easter -- Wayne H. Keller
Bright Monday
Third Sunday In Lent -- Joann H. Hary
Order of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Disciples Expectations and Demands -- John 6:24-35 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
AdorationPastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
Is Jesus our King? -- John 18:33-37, Mark 11:1-11 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Celebrating God's Presence And Power
Fourth Sunday In Lent -- Joann H. Hary
Order of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
Jesus Continues the Bread of Life Theme -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
AdorationPastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
Resurrection -- John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Easter Day - B
A Return To Good Friday, Which At The Time, Appeared Bad
Fifth Sunday In Lent -- Joann H. Hary
Order of WorshipAnnouncements, Prayer Concerns, Joys
People Argue Among Themselves -- John 6:51-58 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Note
Jesus Appears to the Disciples, and Makes a Special Appearance to Thomas -- John 20:19-31 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
An Invitation To The Easter CelebrationPastoral Invitation
Palm/Passion Sunday -- Joann H. Hary
Order of Worship
Jesus Teaches the Essence of His Being the True Bread and Cup -- John 6:56-69 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
The Community Gathers To CelebratePastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Baptism of Our Lord
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
40 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 2 | OT 2
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 3 | OT 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
For January 11, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
At Jesus' baptism God said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Let us so order our lives that God may say about us, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I fail to please you,
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm sure I have pleased you, but have got it wrong,
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I neither know nor care whether I have pleased you,
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:

StoryShare

Argile Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Welcoming Mr. Forsythe" by Argile Smith
"The Question about the Dove" by Merle Franke


What's Up This Week

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
"Jan wasn't baptized by the spirit, she was baptized by spit," went the joke. Jan had heard it all before: the taunting and teasing from her aunts and uncles. Sure, they hadn't been there at her birth, but they loved to tell the story. They were telling Jan's friends about that fateful day when Jan was born - and baptized.


Elizabeth Achtemeier
The lectionary often begins a reading at the end of one poem and includes the beginning of another. Such is the case here. Isaiah 42:1-4 forms the climactic last stanza of the long poem concerning the trial with the nations that begins in 41:1. Isaiah 42:5-9 is the opening stanza of the poem that encompasses 42:5-17. Thus, we will initially deal with 42:1-4 and then 42:5-9.

Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 42:1--9 (C, E); Isaiah 42:1--4, 6--7 (RC); Isaiah 42:1--7 (L)
Tony S. Everett
Jenny was employed as an emergency room nurse in a busy urban hospital. Often she worked many hours past the end of her shift, providing care to trauma victims and their families. Jenny was also a loving wife and mother, and an excellent cook. On the evening before starting her hectic work week, Jenny would prepare a huge pot of soup, a casserole, or stew; plentiful enough for her family to pop into the microwave or simmer on the stove in case she had to work overtime.

Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Bil Keane, the creator of the Family Circus cartoon, said he was drawing a cartoon one day when his little boy came in and asked, "Daddy, how do you know what to draw?" Keane replied, "God tells me." Then the boy asked, "Then why do you keep erasing parts of it?"1
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Being Inclusive
Message: Are you sure, God, that you show no partiality? Lauds, KDM

The haughty part of us would prefer that God be partial, that is, partial to you and to me. We want to reap the benefits of having been singled out. On the other hand, our decent side wants God to show no partiality. We do yield a little, however. It is fine for God to be impartial as long as we do not need to move over and lose our place.
William B. Kincaid, III
There are two very different ways to think about baptism. The first approach recognizes the time of baptism as a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. The person then considers herself "saved." She may grow in the faith through the years, but nothing which she will experience after her baptism will be as important as her baptism. She always will be able to recall her baptism as the time when her life changed.
R. Glen Miles
I delivered my very first sermon at the age of sixteen. It was presented to a congregation of my peers, a group of high school students. The service, specifically designed for teens, was held on a Wednesday night. There were about 125 people in attendance. I was scared to death at first, but once the sermon got started I felt okay and sort of got on a roll. My text was 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, as some refer to it. The audience that night was very responsive to the sermon. I do not know why they liked it.
Someone is trying to get through to you. Someone with an important message for you is trying to get in touch with you. It would be greatly to your advantage to make contact with the one who is trying to get through to you.
Thom M. Shuman
Call To Worship
One: When the floods and storms of the world threaten
to overwhelm us,
All: God's peace flows through us,
to calm our troubled lives.
One: When the thunder of the culture's claims on us
deafens us to hope,
All: God whispers to us
and soothes our souls.
One: When the wilderness begs us to come out and play,
All: God takes us by the hand
and we dance into the garden of grace.

Prayer Of The Day
Your voice whispers
over the waters of life,
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
A Service Of Renewal

Gathering (may also be used for Gathering on Epiphany 3)
A: Light shining in the darkness,
C: light never ending.
A: Through the mountains, beneath the sea,
C: light never ending.
A: In the stillness of our hearts,
C: light never ending.
A: In the water and the word,
C: light never ending. Amen.

Hymn Of Praise
Baptized In Water or Praise And Thanksgiving Be To God Our Maker

Prayer Of The Day

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. What am I wearing this morning? (Let them answer.) I'm wearing part of a uniform of the (name the team). Have any of you gone to a game where the (name the team) has played? (Let them answer.) I think one of the most exciting parts of a game is right before it starts. That's when all the players are introduced. Someone announces the player's name and number. That player then runs out on the court of playing field. Everyone cheers. Do you like that part of the game? (Let them answer.) Some people call that pre-game "hype." That's a funny term, isn't it?
Good morning! Let me show you this certificate. (Show the
baptism certificate.) Does anyone know what this is? (Let them
answer.) Yes, this is a baptism certificate. It shows the date
and place where a person is baptized. In addition to this
certificate, we also keep a record here at the church of all
baptisms so that if a certificate is lost we can issue a new one.
What do all of you think about baptism? Is it important? (Let
them answer.)

Let me tell you something about baptism. Before Jesus
Good morning! How many of you have played Monopoly? (Let
them answer.) In the game of Monopoly, sometimes you wind up in
jail. You can get out of jail by paying a fine or, if you have
one of these cards (show the card), you can get out free by
turning in the card.

Now, in the game of life, the real world where we all live,
we are also sometimes in jail. Most of us never have to go to a
real jail, but we are all in a kind of jail called "sin." The
Bible tells us that when we sin we become prisoners of sin, and

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