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Children's Activity

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Sign of the cross -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Teachers: This week's story tells of Jesus driving people from
Great faith! -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Teachers or Parents: The theme of trusting in Jesus is most
Earning Respect -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Parents or Teachers: In today's lesson the word "respect" was explored.
You can tell -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: Children don't need to learn the truth of
Appreciating our baptism -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
Teachers or Parents: Generally, not much thought is given to
A special honor -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Materials Craft foam (pre-cut into angel wings to save time if needed)
Humility -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Teachers or Parents: The Christian view of God's concern for
"Let the children ..." -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
Teachers or Parents: The children are important -- to Jesus
"Use it or lose it" -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Teachers or Parents: How early can we begin to teach
"Forgiveness is great!" -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Teachers or Parents: The story Jesus told about the son who
Dove of the Holy Spirit -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
Teachers: Today's lesson tells about a dove descending from
Sometimes it's hard to be strong! -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
To illustrate today's Gospel reading, discuss with the
Another miracle -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Today's gospel lesson tells the story of another of Jesus' miracles.
The Lord is risen indeed -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A
Materials:Oven or toaster oven Refrigerator biscuits (one per child)
The Bread of Life -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Teachers or Parents: Children especially comprehend the
The true light -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A
Teachers and Parents: Jesus is the Light of the World. He is
"Angry!" -- Matthew 2:13-18
Teachers or Parents: Anger is an emotion that can and does
Protects and beautifies -- John 17:1-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: Spend time beautifying something in your
Jesus is coming back -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers or Parents: In this Gospel reading, we hear the Good
Ready and waiting -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
When Advent begins, everybody starts talking about Christmas and getting ready.
Names and titles -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C
Materials:White potatoesAcrylic paint or stamp pads
Believers are blessed -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: Following the great resurrection event of
A Real Temptation -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Teachers: Today you may teach your students about dealing with
A grand opening -- Luke 24:44-54 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Materials Craft foam or heavy paper cut into the shape of a door hanger Markers
Father, Son, Holy Spirit -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
Parents and Teachers: This is Trinity Sunday, the Sunday that

Children's sermon

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Time For Some Weeding -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2017
It may surprise you that I have my gardening gloves on today as it isn't the time of year for growin
Great Faith -- Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2017
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith!
Tight Fisted -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2017
Who thinks they can open up my tight fist? Anyone want to try?
You are Jesus -- that's for sure! -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2017
Simon Peter answered, “You are Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (v.16)
A Peep Hole -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2017
I have something to show you today BUT...
How Much is Your Soul Worth? -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2017
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Secretly -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2017
What do you think of when you see a beautiful present (let kids respond) Maybe birthdays...
Tug-O-Love -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be don
Is It Raining? -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
I have an umbrella with me today, not because it is raining outside (or maybe it is!) but I want to
Goals For Jesus -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
How many of you like to play soccer?  How many of you like to be on the winning team?  Our lives are
A Box Of Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
...how often should I forgive?....seventy-seven times...(v. 21b, 21b)
I Want My Mommy -- John 10:1-10 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Today I would like you to think of a time when you saw a little toddler crying -- sort of like my pi
Pictures To Show You -- John 3:1-17 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Isn't it fun to share pictures with each other, particularly if you have just visited a new place an
Math – Jesus' Style -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2017
...I chose to give to this last the same as I give to you...so the last will be first and th
Focus On The Arrow -- John 14:1-14 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
The first words that are in our Bible reading today are, "Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Dying Of Thirst -- John 4:5-42 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
We are going to go back in time for our story today.
Who's In Charge? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the e
Excuses, Excuses -- John 14:15-21 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
I have some mail today! Who would like to open it? Please read what it says.
Worth Waiting For! -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2017
Can anyone tell me what all of these items have in common?
Mean Lies -- John 9:1-41 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Let's imagine that there is a new student that comes to your school.
The Very Best Of All -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2017
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most
Looking For The Holy Spirit -- John 20:19-23 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2017
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'receive the Holy Spirit.' (v.
The Big Little Word -- John 11:1-45 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Have you ever played a word game called Scrabble? The bigger the word the more points that you get.
All Are Welcome -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
“and gathered all whom he found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with gues
Stickers Anyone? -- John 17:1-11 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
What do you think of  ______________(child with stickers all over them)?

Sermon

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Advent 3
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180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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