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Children's Activity

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Ever ready -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
Teachers or Parents: Both of today's lessons have to do with
God Is Over All -- Luke 20:27;38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Parents or Teachers: The lesson today was about the Sadducees trying to
The Census Bureau -- Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A
Teachers: Today's Bible lesson tells about a decree that "all
In all the world -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A
Materials:Paper (one per child, with Bible verse listed below printed at the top)
"Obedience" -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: Jesus says, "If anyone loves me, he will
Casting out demons -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B
Materials Air popcorn popper Popcorn (some unpopped and some popped)
The wind of the Spirit -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A
We can feel it when someone breathes on us. This is especially true when the person is nearby.
Up, up and away! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Teachers: Today's lesson states that "Jesus was carried up
Tie a yellow ribbon -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Materials:12 inches of yellow lanyard per child
Wind and flame -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Teachers: The Holy Spirit came to the disciples on Pentecost
Serving only one master -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Materials:Large sheets of paper
"Have the right answer" -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Teachers or Parents: The simple Gospel truth that we are
The kingdom of heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus used many similes -- especially
John 6:35, 41-51 -- Drawn by the Father -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Teachers or Parents: The central doctrine of Christianity is
"Listen up!" -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Teachers or Parents: This last Sunday before Lent is
At a distance -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
Teachers: This is by far one of the longest readings of the lectionary.
God of the living -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Teachers or Parents: The worship of idols is foreign to many
God watches over us -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A
Today's lesson has some difficult things to share with children.
I grow up -- Luke 2:22-40 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Teachers: This week's theme centers on Jesus' parents taking
Finding God Through Jesus -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers: If your students like puzzle mazes this verse offers
Blessed are the persecuted -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
Teachers and Parents: A little-known fact about Christian
What grade? -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus was perfect. He did things not
What does a disciple look like? -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
In the Gospel Lesson this week, Jesus gives his disciples "a
Have No Fear -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C
Teachers or Parents: The theme in both lessons this week is
The warmth of God's power -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Materials First Aid kit Crutches A sling An empty pill bottle

Children's sermon

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See How Great I Am! -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2016
Look at my trophy/certificate! Isn't it great?! And it's all for my outstanding performance!
God Gathers His Children -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
The Point: God gathers us in his grace to protect us
Follow The Leader -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2016
Let's play a game together today.
Repent And Trust In God's Grace -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
The Point: Bad things happen in life. Look to God and trust in his grace.
Where's That Missing Piece? -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2016
How many of you like to play with Legos? Do you have any special Legos that you would hate to lose?
God Is Our Loving Father -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
The Point: Jesus wants us to know about God our Father
A Gift To Be Shared -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2016
I don't know what your favorite kind of gum is but I love "Juicy Fruit".
Jesus, Ruler Of The Universe -- John 12:1-8 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
The Point: this miracle reveals that Jesus has authority over the material world
Time to Prepare! -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
The Point: The decorations of Christmas remind us to make room for Jesus in our liv
Pray Daily -- John 17:6-19 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
The Point:  Jesus models a life of prayer for us to follow.
Prepare in a Loving Faith -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
The Point: We prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth not out of fear but out of a loving
One God in Three -- John 3:1-17 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2015
The Point: One God revealed in three ways.
Mary, Jesus' Mother -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
The Point: We are blessed when we believe that God has made us his children
Forgiveness builds God's Kingdom -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2015
The Point:  Jesus gives us a forgiveness that builds God's Kingdom.
Jesus Came to All -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2015
The Point: You are invited to the greatest moment in history ? Jesus’ birth
God's Kingdom Grows in Little Acts of Faith -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2015
Object: An acorn (or a small seed of a tree that the children know)
Grow in the Lord -- Luke 2:41-52 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2015
The Point: You can grow in many ways, but the most important is to grow in the Lord
Fear Turns to Faith in Jesus -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2015
The Point: In the midst of storms let your fear become faith in Jesus.
Put Your Faith Into Action -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2015
The Point: Real faith will be put into action.
Telling About Jesus -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2015
The Point: Tell others about what has brought great joy to your life.
Who Is Jesus? -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2015
The Point:  Who do you think Jesus is? Your answer can be life transforming.
Jesus Is our Shepherd in Life -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2015
The Point: Like sheep we all need a shepherd to guide our life.
Save your life for eternity -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
The Point:  Save your life in Jesus, and you shall have your life for eternity.
Offerings in the Hands of Jesus -- John 6:1-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2015
The Point: When you offer your life to Jesus he can do wonderful things with it.
Jesus is the Bread of Eternal Life -- John 6:24-35 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2015
The Point:  Bread is important for daily life, but Jesus alone is the bread that gi

Sermon

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2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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