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Reason For Hope -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- John Fitzgerald -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Reason for Hope" by John Fitzgerald
Building A Better Beehive -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Frank Ramirez -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2017
Contents "Building a Better Beehive" by Frank Ramirez
No Longer a Slave -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Frank Ramirez -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2017
Contents"No Longer a Slave" by Frank Ramirez
Intimacy -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Intimacy" by C. David McKirachan
The Conversation -- John 1:1-14, Psalm 98, Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2017
Contents "The Conversation" by Keith Hewitt
Living Outside The Box -- Matthew 20:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Keith Wagner -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2017
Contents "Living Outside the Box" by Keith Wagner
Most Improved -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Psalm 100, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- David O. Bales, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2017
Contents "Most Improved" by David O. Bales
Going Native -- Matthew 10:24-39, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2017
Contents "Going Native" by C. David McKirachan
Prophets For Peace -- Jeremiah 28:5-9 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2017
Contents "Prophets For Peace" by Frank Ramirez
Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Zechariah 9:9-12 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2017
Contents "Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls" by David O. Bales
The Sower -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 119:105-112 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Contents "The Sower" by Peter Andrew Smith "Big Rocks" by John Fitzgerald
Thoughtful Action -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2016
Contents "Thoughtful Action" by Peter Andrew Smith
Call For Unity -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Psalm 85 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2016
Contents "Call for Unity" by Keith Wagner
Paul And Silas, Bound In Jail -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Sandra Herrmann, Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents "Paul and Silas, Bound in Jail" by Sandra Herrmann
The Rich Fool -- Luke 12:13-21, Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- John Fitzgerald -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2016
Contents "The Rich Fool" by John FitzgeraldThe Rich Fool
Repentance -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
Contents "Repentance" by Peter Andrew Smith Repentance
Think And Let Think -- Luke 12:32-40, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2016
Contents "Think and Let Think" by John Sumwalt
Lincoln And Lent -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Psalm 51:1-17 -- John Fitzgerald -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2016
Contents "Lincoln and Lent" by John Fitzgerald
The Reassuring Word -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2016
Contents "The Reassuring Word" by Keith Wagner
What More Could I Have Done? -- Luke 12:49-56, Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 -- Sandra Herrmann, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2016
Contents "What More Could I Have Done?" by Sandra Herrmann
Making The Choice -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Sandra Herrmann -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2016
Contents "Making the Choice" by Sandra Herrmann
Moving Forward -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2016
Contents "Moving Forward" by Keith Wagner "Living Unafraid" by Keith Wagner
Second Opinion -- John 2:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Psalm 36:5-10 -- Keith Hewitt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2016
Contents "Second Opinion" by Keith HewittSecond Opinion
A Question Of Hospitality -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2016
Contents "A Question of Hospitality" by Keith Hewitt
Sign Me Up! -- Luke 4:14-21, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Psalm 19 -- Frank Ramirez, Keith Hewitt -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2016
Contents "Second Opinion" by Keith Hewitt "Sign Me Up!" by Frank Ramirez
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CSSPlus

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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