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The Great Aim Of Virgil -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Psalm 96 -- Frank Ramirez -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2015
Contents "The Great Aim of Virgil" by Frank Ramirez
When We Cannot Pray -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
Contents"When We Cannot Pray" by Sandra Herrmann* * * * * * *
The Power Of Passover -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149 -- John Fitzgerald, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2014
Contents"The Power of Passover" by John Fitzgerald
Getting It Done -- John 4:5-42, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, Psalm 95 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Contents"Getting It Done" by C. David McKirachan* * * * * * *
The Love Ethic -- Matthew 5:38-48, Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Psalm 119:33-40 -- Keith Wagner, Keith Hewitt -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2014
Contents"The Love Ethic" by Keith Wagner
Who Me? -- Matthew 23:1-12, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
Contents"Who Me?" by C. David McKirachan
Ordinary Time -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2014
Contents"Ordinary Time" by C. David McKirachan
Finding Your Way -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:47-55 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Contents"Finding Your Way" by Peter Andrew Smith* * * * * * *
Make It A Rule -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126 -- Frank Ramirez, Sandra Herrmann -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Contents"Make It a Rule" by Frank Ramirez
The Man With The Power -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Keith Hewitt, John Fitzgerald -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
Contents"The Man with the Power" by Keith Hewitt
The Long Wait -- Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Keith Hewitt, Keith Wagner -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Contents"The Long Wait" by Keith Hewitt
Hope For The New Year -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 147:12-20 -- Keith Wagner, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
Contents"Hope for the New Year" by Keith Wagner
Rules Fer Wrasslin' -- Matthew 14:13-21, Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Psalm 17:1-7, 15 -- Frank Ramirez, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Contents"Rules fer Wrasslin' " by Frank Ramirez
Seeing Angels At Work -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Contents"Seeing Angels at Work" by Peter Andrew Smith
Endings And Beginnings -- Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2014
Contents"Endings and Beginnings" by Peter Andrew Smith
My Sisters Were Saints -- Matthew 14:22-33, Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2014
Contents"My Sisters Were Saints" by C. David McKirachan
Not Easy To Let Go -- Matthew 10:24-39, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2014
Contents"Not Easy to Let Go" by Keith Wagner
Growing Up Adams -- Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2014
Contents"Growing Up Adams" by Frank Ramirez
To Any Of These Little Ones -- Matthew 10:40-42, Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Psalm 13 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2014
Contents"To Any of These Little Ones" by Sandra Herrmann
Two Brothers -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Psalm 133 -- Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2014
Contents"Two Brothers" by Keith Hewitt
The Critic -- Matthew 20:16-20, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Psalm 8 -- Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2014
Contents"The Critic" by Keith Hewitt
Take Off Your Shoes -- Matthew 16:21-28, Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Contents"Take Off Your Shoes" by C. David McKirachan
Doing Justice -- Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29 -- John Fitzgerald, Frank Ramirez -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2014
Contents"Doing Justice" by John Fitzgerald
In The Zone -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Psalm 114 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Contents"In the Zone" by C. David McKirachan
Called To Serve -- John 1:29-42, Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Psalm 40:1-11 -- Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2014
Contents"Called to Serve" by Keith Wagner "Using Our Gifts" by Keith Wagner
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 19
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21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 20
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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2 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

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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