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Are We There Yet? -- James 5:7-10, Luke 1:46b-55 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramierz -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
Contents “Are We There Yet?” by C. David McKirachan
The Gift of Grace -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Gift of Grace” by Keith Wagner
Perspective -- Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2019
Contents “Perspective” by C. David McKirachan
The Lord Will Give You A Sign -- Isaiah 7:10-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
Contents"The Lord Will Give You A Sign" by Peter Andrew Smith
Self-Serving -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Psalm 112 -- David O. Bales -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2019
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Self-Serving" by David O. Bales
A Messianic Message? -- Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- David O. Bales -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2019
Contents “A Messianic Message?” by David O. Bales
The Darkness -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2019
Contents “The Darkness” by Keith Hewitt
Is There Hope? -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Psalm 1 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2019
Contents “Is There Hope?” by C. David McKirachan
A Life-Saving Monkey -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Frank Ramirez -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2019
"Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; fo
In Our Hearts -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2019
Contents “In Our Hearts” by Peter Andrew Smith
Shining with Jesus -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a), Exodus 34:29-35 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2019
Contents “Shining with Jesus” by C. David McKirachan
The Prisoner’s Houseboat Habits -- Luke 16:1-13, 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- David O. Bales -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Prisoner’s Houseboat Habits” by David O. Bales
Holy Self-Defense -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51:1-17 -- Keith Wagner -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2019
Contents “Holy Self-Defense” by Keith Wagner
Burying Hope -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Keith Hewitt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2019
Contents "Burying Hope" by Keith HewittBurying Hope
Great-Grandma Hazel -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- David O. Bales -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Contents “Great-Grandma Hazel” by David O. Bales
A Complaint Not A Lament -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2019
Contents “A Complaint Not A Lament” by Frank Ramirez
Founded on a Dream -- Luke 13:31-35, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Psalm 27 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Contents “Founded on a Dream” by C. David McKirachan
Letting Go -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, Psalm 111 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019
Contents “Letting Go” by Keith Wagner
Something Worthy -- Luke 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Contents “Something Worthy” by Peter Andrew Smith
Written On Our Hearts -- Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2019
Contents “Written On Our Hearts” by Peter Andrew Smith
Second Cutting -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32 -- David O. Bales -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Contents “Second Cutting” by David O. Bales
In The Heart Of The Sea -- Psalm 46, Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- David O. Bales -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2019
Contents “In The Heart Of The Sea” by David O. Bales
The River -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Keith Hewitt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
“Have you thought about what pose you’d like?”
Act of Prayer -- Psalm 84:1-7 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2019
The sanctuary was built in 1830.
Filled with Passion -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019
Contents “Filled with Passion” by Peter Andrew Smith
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John Jamison
Object: I had the youngest children in the group participate. When I came to the part of the story where Jesus asked the little children to come to him, I had the youngest come and sit closest to me. If you think it is possible with your group, when you ask how little children act when they receive a gift, actually ask your youngest children what they think the answer is. Do the same with the older children when you ask about how older people act.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For October 6, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I heard a sad story today about a pastor whose church essentially had to close as a result of a scandal surrounding his associate. The pastor himself knew nothing about his associate’s behavior, he was as blindsided by it as the rest of the church family was. But it led to such disruption and division in the church, that they shuttered their doors. And now, a friend told me, that innocent pastor is looking for a new ministry, but he carries with him this black mark that he doesn’t deserve.
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Job 1:1; 2:1-10

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.  But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are humans that you are mindful of them or mortals that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor’ (vv. 5-7)

Angels are popular in American culture.

SermonStudio

Christopher Keating
Copied on the front of the bulletin were verses from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, “Charged with Grandeur.” A globe was placed on a table near the front, emphasizing human’s place in the world. Video footage from NASA accompanied the sermon in order to reinforce how we are called to claim our vocation as stewards of creation. Images of an old car and glimpses of the Earth from space were also used as visuals.
Robert G. Beckstrand
Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me,
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
-- Psalm 26:1-3

Theme: A pledge of, and a plea for, loyalty

Outline
1-3 -- He pleads for God to give recognition to his integrity and single-hearted devotion.
4-8 -- Evidence of this is in his past conduct and his present joy in worship.
Wesley T. Runk
Object: a clock

Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
Reflections on the love of God.

Collect of the Day
Addressing the sovereign God who created us to live in loving community, petitions are raised by the faithful to be formed in faith to trust like children and so reflect Christ's image. Justification and Sanctification are again emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 26
* A prayer for deliverance from personal enemies; a lament traditionally attributed to David.
Donna E. Schaper
We find Job on the edge of town, his money gone, his children dead, picking at his innumerable sores and scabs. In the Joni Mitchell version of his sorrow, Job speaks of how the children of the wicked frisk like deer while his are dead and gone. In her version, we are also told that Job sees the diggers waiting, leaning on their spades, at the site of his grave. Job's three friends, Eliphas, Bildad, and Zophar show up to comfort him but they do so in a way that only pours iodine on his wounds. God is just, they say, therefore, Job must have done something wrong.
John R. Brokhoff
Robert W. Stackel
When William Jennings Bryan went to the father of the young woman whom he loved to ask her hand in marriage, he remembered that the father was a strong religious believer, so he quoted a proverb of Solomon from the Bible: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing." But the father surprised him by responding with a quote from St.
William G. Carter
We have a problem today. Here we are, gathered at worship as the household of God. Through baptism we belong to a worldwide community of faith. Each time we gather, we have an opportunity to pray together and recommit ourselves to peace. Now that we are here, we have to deal with a troublesome and potentially divisive text from the Gospel of Mark. Some Pharisees put Jesus to the test by asking him what he thought about divorce. His response, in turn, has always put a peace-loving church to the test.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What God has joined together, let no one separate." In our service today, let us consider our responsibilities to the whole of creation.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we have not always cared about our environment.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we have not always taken our responsibilities to animals seriously.
Christ, have mercy.

Special Occasion

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