Login / Signup

SermonStudio

Advent Sale - Save $131!
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Adult study

African-American History

Bible Study

Biblical Studies

Biblical Study

Candlelighting service

Children's program

Children's Resources

Children's sermon

Christian

Christian Faith

Christian Life

Church Anniversary

Church Growth

Church Leaders

Church Programs

Death

Devotional

Drama

Easter

Faith Development

Fellowship

Funeral

Gathering Prayer

Healing

Home Blessing

Humor

Illustration

Inspirational

Intercession

Lent/Easter

Liturgy

Marriage Ceremony

Meditations

Memorial

Men's Day

Monologues

Mother's Day

Observance

Pageant

Pastoral Resources

Poems

Prayer

Preaching

SermonStudio

Proper 16 (C, E) -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 (C)
Corpus Christi -- Exodus 24:3-8, Hebrews 9:11-15, Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Exodus 24:3-8
Proper 17 (C, E) -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (C)
The Holy Trinity -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 6:1-8 (C)
The Resurrection Of Our Lord (Easter Day) -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Easter Day - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 10:34-43 (C, RC, E)
Proper 18 (C, E) -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 (C)
First Sunday After Christmas/Holy Family -- Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 61:10„62:3 (C, E)
Second Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS Lesson 1: Acts 4:32-35 (C, RC)
Proper 19 (C, E) -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Proverbs 1:20-33 (C)
Second Sunday After Christmas -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:1-18 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7-14 (C, E)
Third Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 3:12-19 (C); Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 (RC)
Proper 20 (C, E) -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Proverbs 31:10-31 (C)
Fourth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 4:5-12 (C); Acts 4:8-12 (RC)
Proper 21 (C, E) -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 (C)
Fifth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Acts 8:26-40 (C, E)
Proper 22 (C, E) -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Job 1:1; 2:1-10 (C)
Sixth Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Proper 23 (C, E) -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (C)
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Watching For The Coming Of The Lord -- Mark 13:32-37 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1999
"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Fa
Proper 24 (C, E) -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Job 38:1-7 (34-41) (C)
Second Sunday After The Epiphany -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Living For Others -- John 10:11-18 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Union With God And God's People -- John 15:1-8 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
Proper 25 (C, E) -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Job 42:1-6, 10-17 (C)

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Final Touch! -- Luke 6:20-31 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
When Sean O'Malley died in Ireland and was dutifully laid out in his casket for viewing at his wake,
In A Land Of Faithfulness -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Good Friday - C -- 2003
Good Friday is about faithfulness that happens because of forgiveness.
Never Just Words -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2003
"Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words can never harm me."
Never Limit Others, Ourselves, Or God -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2003
Once upon a time a badly deformed little girl was born to a very wealthy family.
Enlightened Eyes -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- Gary L. Carver -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
It is a matter of perspective. It is a matter of how we choose to look at things.
Need A Lift? -- Acts 9:36-43 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
Journalist Bob Garfield researched health articles in The Washington Post, USA Today, and The New Yo
Fire Falling From Heaven -- Luke 12:49-56 -- R. Robert Cueni -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2003
Jesus spends much of the twelfth chapter of Luke reassuring and encouraging his followers in the fac
Curtain Call -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2003
It was 1974 in the racially-troubled southern city of Birmingham.
"Our Father Who Art In Heaven" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
One day in India, a boy came upon a Holy Man praying by the banks of the Ganges River.
Now What? -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Frank G. Honeycutt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
The Ascension of Jesus into heaven is one of those strange Bible stories that Cecil B.
Lessons From A Dog Guide -- Robert S. Crilley -- 2003
Introduction
Calling Others In God's Name -- Steven E. Albertin, Charles D. Reeb, Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- 2003
The realization that God calls all people of faith to service and discipleship, and thereby to be a
Love Means Speaking The Truth -- Amos 7:7-17 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2003
"When Christ calls a man, he bids that man to come and die." These words were written by Dietrich Bo
Holy Collision -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
Before a dog guide and its teammate meet, an apprentice pup spends twelve months in the home of a 4-
Love Without Limits -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
The eloquent preacher Tom Long tells the story of a small church-related college that held an annual
The Bent-over Woman -- Luke 13:10-17 -- R. Robert Cueni -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2003
As was his custom, Jesus went that Sabbath morning to the synagogue for worship.
A Whole New World -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2003
I knew that it was wrong.
"Hallowed Be Thy Name" -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2003
My previous church in West Springfield - like this one - was located next to a graveyard.
Escape From The Island Of Spiritual Sloth -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Frank G. Honeycutt -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2003
I was noodling around on the internet not long ago, doing some research on the "Seven Deadly Sins,"
Incarnation With A Wagging Tail -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Once there was a dog guide named Leader Dog Dolley.
The Lord Hears The Cry Of The Poor -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2003
The year 1992 marked the quincentenary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World, an e
The Ash Connection -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2003
There is always something we cannot stand about ourselves, something that is unacceptable, something
When All Is Said And Done -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Charles D. Reeb -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2003
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments.
Knowing What IsTruly Important In Life -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2003
When she was a little girl her parents bought a cottage by the lake.
Crossing Borders And Breaking Down Boundaries -- Acts 8:14-17 -- Robert S. Crilley -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2003
Luke reports this story in such an understated and matter-of-fact style that one could easily miss t

Spirituality

Stories

SermonStudio

Hope -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present." Those words come from a m
Caesar -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In Las Vegas there was an old Christian saint, named Sam, who was approaching his eightieth birthday
Tradition -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
When Bismarck was the Prussian ambassador to the court of Alexander II, in the early 1860's, he look
Misunderstood -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Three children begged for a pet hamster.
Idolatry -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
After Moses and the people of Israel escaped from Egypt, they wandered for many years in the Sinai p
Alone -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"No man is an island," wrote the seventeenth century Anglican priest, John Donne.
Translate -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
A carpenter worked for a lumber company for forty years.
Motive -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
A wealthy man had seven married children. He waited for years, but there was never a grandchild.
Inadequate -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Two cows were grazing alongside I-95 in Bucks County when a tank truck of milk, on its way to the di
Ancestors -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Unless some things are carried from the past into the future, there will be no future worth having.
Unjust Suffering -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"If the Lord is really with us, why has all this happened to us?" asked Gideon in the Old Testament.
Music -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor.
Interruption -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Jack lived on an island in the middle of a river.
Atonement -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Atonement is the word Christians use to sum up what Jesus' death means to them.
Untoward -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, the central character is Willy Loman, a traveling sales
Mystery -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
A certain magician worked on a cruise ship between New York City and Bermuda.
Jesus -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"The consciousness of the presence of God has come to millions of men and women through Jesus," wrot
Authority -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"By what authority are you acting like this?" was the question posed to Jesus by the religious leade
Narcissism -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
According to Ovid's version of an old Greek legend, a nymph named Liriope was ravaged by a river-god
Jesus' Name -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
The miracle and mystery of Christmas is summed up in the name of that baby born in Bethlehem so long
Babies -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In the early 1830's, in France, a schoolmaster wrote these words in his rollbook, after the name of
Ostracize -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
In ancient Greece, a method was developed to handle a dangerous or unpopular citizen considered to b
Park -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Common words have an uncommon history. Take the word park, for example.
Jesus' Popularity -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It is the first day of Holy Week.
Carpenter -- Edward Chinn -- 1987
"I can't figure this out," complained a little boy.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

Worship

SermonStudio

Where On Earth Are You? -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1999
Call To WorshipLeader: Where are you when we need you, God?
Upon All -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
god or God? -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1999
Theme: god or God?Call To Worship
You Upstart! -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Replacement -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
What Makes You Change? -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1999
Theme: What Makes You Change?Call To WorshipLeader: What changes us?
Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1999
First Lesson: Job 42:1-6, 10-17 Theme: Seeing For Ourselves
The Prophetic Word -- And The Living Word -- Isaiah 40:1-5, John 1:1-14 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim, Lisa Johnson Wrote The Beholders -- 1999
First Sunday In Advent Isaiah 40:1-5; John 1:1-14
Both Ears Tingling -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1999
Call To WorshipLeader: We listen for the way God calls to us.
God's Kids Hope -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Secure -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
The Hope Of A Girl -- And The Hope Of The World -- Isaiah 7:10-14, Luke 1:26-38 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim, Lisa Johnson Wrote The Beholders -- 1999
Second Sunday In Advent Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38
Get Up -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
A Show of Hands -- John 20:24-29 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Alive, I Say -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Strategy -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
The Expectant Parents -- And An Unexpected Baby -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 2:1-5 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim, Lisa Johnson Wrote The Beholders -- 1999
Third Sunday In Advent Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 2:1-5
Words In Your Mouth -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Waiting For God -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
Refreshing Christians -- 2 Timothy 1:8-18 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
A Reason -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship Leader: Is it possible that human weaknesses are for a reason?
A Sad Heart -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
The Song Of Angels -- And The Son Of God -- Isaiah 9:2-6 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim, Lisa Johnson Wrote The Beholders -- 1999
Fourth Sunday In Advent Isaiah 9:2-6; Luke 2:6-14
If Only ... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
When Life Breaks Your Heart -- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – 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
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For November 30, 2025:
  • Time Change by Chris Keating. The First Sunday of Advent invites God’s people to tell time differently. While the secular Christmas machine keeps rolling, the church is called to a time of waiting and remaining alert.
  • Second Thoughts: What Time Is It? by Tom Willadsen based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
According to Martin Luther our thanksgiving is brought about only by justification by grace:

But bringing of tithes denotes that we are wholly given to the service of the neighbor through love…  This, however, does not happen unless, being first justified by faith. (Luther’s Works, Vol.9, p.255)

The Reformer also wants us to be happy, what with all the generous gifts we have been given.  He wrote:
Wayne Brouwer
A schoolteacher asked her students to make a list of the things for which they were thankful. Right at the top of Chad’s list was the word “glasses.” Some children resent having to wear glasses, but evidently not Chad! She asked him about it. Why was he thankful that he wore glasses?

“Well,” he said, “my glasses keep the boys from hitting me and the girls from kissing me.”

The philosopher Eric Hoffer says, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings!” That’s true, isn’t it?
William H. Shepherd
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly. The lesson plans interact creatively with other aspects of faith: worship is vain if not grounded in truth, while service is misguided if based on faulty premises. While faith certainly cannot be reduced to knowledge, it cannot be divorced from it, either.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (v. 6)

We just received word about the passing of our friend, Rosmarie Trapp. We had lost touch with her in recent years, so I was shocked when I stumbled onto her obituary in The New York Times from May 18, 2022.
David E. Leininger
John Jamison
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
"Time's Up" by John Jamison


What's Up This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The activity for this message is the Be Thank You! game.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Rosemary was 33 years old. She'd been married to James for four years and they had two children, Sam who was two and the baby, Elizabeth, who was just three weeks old. Apart from the baby blues and extreme fatigue, both of which got her down a bit when James was at work, Rosemary was happy. They had recently moved to the London suburbs and James commuted each day by train.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
This brief psalm is among the most familiar in the psalter, but that is primarily because its verses have been excerpted in so many hymns and liturgical texts. There is something to be gained from looking at Psalm 100 in its entirety, and trying to recover its ancient liturgical context.

James Evans
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (v. 6). What better way could there be for us to begin the Advent season than by focusing our prayers on peace? The word, shalom, translated "peace," means much more than the mere absence of conflict. And of course, it is not only Jerusalem that is in need of peace; the whole world needs the shalom that the psalmist dreams about. So perhaps we should expand the breadth of this prayer, and deepen it with our awareness of the various meanings of the Hebrew idea of peace.

John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:1--5 (C, RC, E)
Tony S. Everett
A popular skit at church camps involves about a dozen folks lined up side-by-side, looking anxious and frustrated facing the audience. Each person rests a left elbow on the right shoulder of their neighbor. Then, from left to right, each member asks, "Is it time yet?" When the question arrives at the end of the line, the last person looks at his/her wristwatch and responds, "No." This reply is passed, one-by-one each with bored sighs, back to the first questioner. After a few moments, the same question is passed down the line (left elbows remaining on the right shoulders).
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Just a few days before writing this message, I conducted a memorial service for a 60-year-old man who was the picture of health until three months before his death. He was active, vibrant, only recently retired, and looking forward to years of good life with his wife and family and friends. Nonetheless, pancreatic cancer had done its work, and quickly, and he was gone. It was the general consensus that it was too soon for his life to end; he was too young to die.
John W. Clarke
In this the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus begins to withdraw to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. He has fed the 5,000, and he has walked on water. The press of the crowds had become all consuming and he needs some solitude to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Considering that the crowds that followed him more than likely knew of the feeding of the 5,000, and some may even have heard of the miraculous walking on water, it is difficult to explain why in these verses, they would doubt anything he had to say -- but they do.
Robert R. Kopp
My favorite eighth grader just confessed his aspiration for becoming President of the United States.

When I foolishly asked the inspiration of his lofty goal, he replied, "Bill Clinton." Then my hormone-raging adolescent proceeded to list perceived presidential perks that have nothing to do with God or country.

My prayer list has been altered.

And my attitude about prayer in public schools has changed too.

I used to be against prayer in public schools.
John E. Berger
Thanksgiving, according to one newspaper columnist, has kept its original meaning better than any other holiday. That original meaning, he wrote, was family reunions around large dinner tables.

In contrast, Christmas has changed into Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Easter has come to emphasize new spring clothes and the Easter bunny. Even our national holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day -- have become cook-outs and summer travel get-aways.
Mark Ellingson
Thanksgiving: How do we say thanks authentically and not lapse into the platitudes so often associated with this holiday? There are several dangers associated with the holiday. Ever since it was instituted as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln, and even before when various state governors instituted it in their states, Thanksgiving has not been a strictly Christian holiday. There has been a lot of nationalism and self-congratulations associated with this day. What is the distinctively Christian way to give thanks to God for all the good things that we have?

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL