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Children's Activity

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Living water -- John 4:5-26 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers or Parents: Read the story of the Woman of Samaria
Stained-Glass Windows -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Teachers: The dove is a familiar Christian symbol. One of its
Scars tell a story -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
Materials:Oven or toaster oven Rolls of sugar cookie dough
Who is the Spirit? -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Teachers or Parents: The "Trinity" will always be a mystery,
"How many coats?" -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers or Parents: Today is the traditional "Joy" Sunday
Correcting our vision -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Teachers: The children's message was about Jesus coming to correct our vision.
Holy Spirit cards -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers: Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them the
Parable in drama -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Teachers: The parable of the three servants can be retold with
Listen, think, and learn -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Many times Jesus told stories to illustrate a point.
The sin-disease connection -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B
Teachers or Parents: The theme of healing continues this
Thanks to God -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Teachers or Parents: Ask about birthday and Christmas gifts.
A drama on water -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
Parents and Teachers: The disciples thought they saw a ghost!
Jesus the teacher -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
Teachers or Parents: Have the children sit on the floor and
Hen and chicks -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: We live in a time when children are
Open up! -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Play a game of "Ephphatha! Open up!" with the children.
Spread the news -- John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 -- Easter Day - C
Alleluia! He is risen! Sometimes it seems like Lent will
Come to me! -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A
Teachers or Parents: The invitation of Jesus to come to him
Acting Out Opposites -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Parents or Teachers: Today's message was the story of the rich man and
Huge! -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Teachers or Parents: We can all feel so insignificant at
Do unto others cards -- Luke 6:27-38 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C
Teachers: Give each student a set of index cards. Each student
Traveling light -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
Materials A sturdy stick for each child, long enough to reach shoulder height
God is with us -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Materials Gelatin powder, blue and yellow Water Fingers or paintbrushes
How good are you? -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A
Teachers and Parents: The most common false doctrine, even
"Beating the devil" -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: Fighting temptation is a lifelong battle
Jesus feeds us all! -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Materials: Colored paper Crayons, markers Glitter, stickers

Children's sermon

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Beggars And Braggers -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2019
“...all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v.14b)
The Parade That Fizzled -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (19:38a)
Bullies Begone! -- Luke 6:20-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- All Saints Day - C -- 2019
“Love your enemies...pray for them...do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Beautiful Feet -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2019
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anoth
Jesus Finds Shorty -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2019
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (v. 10)
'I'm Hungry' -- Jesus -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- New Year's Day - C -- 2019
“...Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
The Day Jesus Died -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - C -- 2019
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said,'it is finished,' then he bowed his head and
We Are Children Of The Resurrection -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2019
“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
Discovering Jesus: Eee - pif - on - eee -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2019
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and
Mary's Amazing Surprise -- John 20:1-18 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Easter Day - C -- 2019
“I have seen the Lord.” (v. 18)
Don’t Be Fooled! -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2019
“Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He!’”
You Are the Treasure -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Arley K. Fadness -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
“You are my Son, The Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (v. 22)
Wonderful, Weird Things To Believe -- John 20:19-31 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“Thomas answered Him, 'my Lord and my God!'”
A Different Kind Of King -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
“Then he (thief on the cross) said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
A Surprising First Sign! -- John 2:1-11 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2019
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory...”
Breakfast At The Beach -- John 21:1-19 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“It is the Lord!”
Forever Bread -- John 6:25-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2019
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life.
You're Safe! -- John 10:22-30 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”
Planning For The Surprise -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
There are probably two kinds of kids listening to these verses.
Loving Arms -- John 13:31-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Unexpected Teacher -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
Matthew introduces John the Baptist, the person who God has sent to prepare the people for Jesus.
You've Got A Friend -- John 14:23-29 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
Mission Accomplished! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2019
While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
Oooo That Makes Me Sooo… Mad? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
John the Baptist asked Jesus, through his own followers, if he really was the “expected one.” Jesus’
Together We Love -- John 17:20-26 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
“I ask...that they may be one, as we are one...so that the world may know that you have

Sermon

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In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
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180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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36 – Sermons
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32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
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3 – Pastor's Devotions
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100+ – Illustrations / Stories
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (vv. 13-14)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Isaiah 62:6-12
Isaiah proclaims, “Look, your savior comes.” We celebrate on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day the coming of our savior into the world – not as one full of power, but as a babe, vulnerable and human, as one born among us. Yes, God has great things in store for this babe, great lessons to teach us and for us to absorb as we watch this babe become a child and then a man. But in this quiet moment, this moment in a stable, born of indigent, immigrant parents, we see our own vulnerability portrayed in the Christ child.
Wayne Brouwer
There is a powerful scene in Herman Melville’s great epic, Moby Dick, where Captain Ahab stands peg-legged on the deck of the Pequod during a violent storm (chapter 119). His obsession with the White Whale has carried the craft and crew to exotic and frightening locales, and now it seems as if divine providence might be unleashing furious anger against this ill-fated quest.

SermonStudio

Derl G. Keefer
I read an old legend about a Christmas party that Satan and his pack of demons were having in hell. As the demonic guests were departing, one laughed and grinned and sarcastically said to Satan, “Merry Christmas your majesty!” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Today the focus is all about the Messiah and we need to be serious about it. It is the birth of the baby Jesus, the Messiah. It is the coming of God…the doctrine of incarnation. It is the intervention of God’s presence among humanity.
Stephen P. McCutchan
... He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
-- Psalm 96:13

Gregory L. Tolle
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
James Evans
This psalm gives us the proper theme for a Christmas Day celebration: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises" (v. 4).

Carlos Wilton
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Christmas Day, Cycle A; see also Easter 7, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The lectionary includes two sets of readings for Christmas Day: those appointed for dawn services, and those appointed for services that take place later in the day. Psalm 97 is designated as one of these early-morning readings.

William Powell Tuck
Christmas is usually associated in our memory as a time of great joy. But for many it is also a time for cynicism. There are some people for whom Christmas is difficult. It is a time of struggle, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. There are more suicides during the holiday season than at any other time of the year. A comment by a woman in a nursing home indicates the feeling of some: "No one really cares. No one cares about me now.
Mark Wm. Radecke
Because Jesus was Mary's firstborn, there were four words that she and Joseph did not have to hear as they made the arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Four words that make long journeys longer. Four words that strike terror in the hearts of parents of every time and every place. Four words from which even the youngest child seems to be able to craft a sentence: Are we there yet?

I am struck this year by the number of journeys the narratives of Jesus' birth and infancy entail:

* Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem;
Julia Ross Strope
Gathering music
Christmas medley

(Light the Christ candle.)

(Invite adults, children, and youth ahead of time to bring a favorite gift for a one-sentence show and tell.)

Greeting
Leader: Merry Christmas!

People: Merry Christmas!

Leader: Settle your Christmas gifts on the pew beside you and find the space within your minds and hearts to sing, pray, listen, and talk.
James R. Wilson


Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us celebrate, for Christ our savior has been born!
People: Is our Messiah, the promised one, among us this day?
Leader: Surely I say unto you, Christ the Lord is with us even as we speak.
People: Are even sinners such as we welcome in Christ's kingdom?
Leader: Praise to the Lord God Almighty, for in Christ we are all welcome!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
After baby Jesus grew up to be a man, he got into terrible trouble, and wicked people killed him. But a good man called Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus's body gently in his own grave, which he'd made ready for when he should die. After that the wicked people searched for Joseph of Arimathea, and so he ran away from Jerusalem carrying with him a special cup like this one, which contained some of Jesus's holy blood.

Special Occasion

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