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Children's Activity

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The Bread And The Cup -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
Teachers: The Passion narrative reading for this Sunday is
Don't worry! -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B
Teachers or Parents: Worry is something that permeates our
Liar's memory -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A
Teachers or Parents: Lying is a sin and sin is a lie. Both
A great man -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Certainly a primary message Jesus gave
The first miracle -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Teachers or Parents: In this modern era when there are many in
Fishing for people -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Today's gospel lesson is a fun one to share with children.
"Remember to say thanks" -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Teachers or Parents: We live in what is rapidly becoming a
No illusion here! -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: Optical illusions are used in today's
Stuck together by love -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Materials Several colors of sturdy yarn, cut in 8-inch lengths
What Jesus left his friends -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: The Holy Spirit is promised to Jesus' friends in our lesson today.
"Things don't last" -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Teachers or Parents: It is very easy for children to
Eye of the needle -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Teachers: Jesus tells a rich man that it is easier for a camel
The joy of our favorite room -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Anyone who loves God -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Teachers: There are two phrases in this lesson worth having
The parable of the weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Teachers or Parents: Here again we see a parable that shows
Three, yet One -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: Today's object lesson will stay with the
Tell God your troubles -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Have you ever been pestered? It's annoying, isn't it?
The same in any language -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A
Teachers: (This activity is based in the Second Lesson, not
What makes a king a king? -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Teachers or Parents: On this last Sunday in the church year, we
Getting in God's way -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Teachers or Parents: It is a fact of church life that some
O come, O come, Emmanuel -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the words to the
God's prophets tell the truth -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Teachers or Parents: God makes it clear in the Bible that His
So much from so little -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Ah ... the feeding of the 5,000. Today's story is a classic.
"Keep on asking" -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Teachers or Parents: We can never overemphasize the power of
Touch and see! -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: We perceive what is true and what is

Children's sermon

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Raising the Temple -- John 2:13-22 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In order to teach this passage to our children, we need to discern the differ
Giving with Nothing Gained -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: As we revisit this story about Jesus welcoming children, we can spend some ti
Learning to Swim -- John 3:14-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The gospel of John is a difficult treatise even for scholars to understand.
Salted with Fire -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In this passage it becomes clear that Jesus' main concern isn't what we call
The 'Lost' Fruit -- John 12:20-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In just another two weeks we will be encountering the sorrow and loss of the
Enough Room? -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we look at the entire passage here we see questions about the nature of re
A Waste of Time? -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Anna Shirey -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The assigned lectionary reading for Passion Sunday is very long and full of p
Leaving It All Behind -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Here we read Jesus' teachings on radical discipleship.
Becoming a Servant -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: How can we help our children encounter this Holy Week in a new way?
A Servant to All -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is another of Jesus' teachings designed to help the disciples understand
Sharing Your Need -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This passage about Bartimaeus invites some interesting questions about our re
When Friends Betray Us -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Anna Shirey -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is probably one of the darkest lessons we will have to teach our childre
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Ghoul? -- John 11:32-44 -- Anna Shirey -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Children are likely to have mixed feelings about Halloween.
The Most Important Thing -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: It all comes down to love, doesn't it?
A Surprise Ending -- John 20:1-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This story is so familiar to us we might not recognize the resurrection as a
We Are God's Hands -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We are all pretty familiar with the story of the widow's mite, how Jesus comm
The Proof Is in the Touching! -- John 20:19-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Too often, I think, we have held up the story of Thomas as an example of the
Listen Closely! -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We don't want to use this passage in Mark as a way of frightening the childre
Dinner with Jesus -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Here we have another one of these miraculous revelation stories, where Jesus
Seek Ye First -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is a very familiar verse to most of us and a good reminder for Thanksgiv
A True Friend -- John 10:11-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we've lived long enough, most of us have had the experience of friends we
A Different Kind of King -- John 18:33-37 -- Anna Shirey -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The last Sunday before we begin the season of Advent, this Sunday is called C
Abiding in God -- John 15:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: During these spring months, one descriptor of God comes clear -- creativity.
Be the Clay! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
First Thoughts
I Have Chosen You -- John 15:9-17 -- Anna Shirey -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In many church doctrines, the power and responsibility of choice seems to res

Sermon

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
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Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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