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Do This Remembering Me... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez, Bryan Meadows -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
Throwing The Thompson's -- Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, Psalm 8 -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
All Along The Watchtower -- Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Keith Hewitt, Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "All Along the Watchtower" by Keith Hewitt
God Time -- Matthew 4:12-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "God Time" by Keith Hewitt
A Light In The Darkness -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2008
What's Up This Week "A Light In The Darkness" by Alex Gondola
The Unsecret Weapon -- Matthew 18:21-35, Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
Hope On A Stick -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Romans 5:1-8, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Hope on a Stick" by Keith Hewitt
Welcoming Mr. Forsythe -- Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29 -- Argile Smith -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Welcoming Mr. Forsythe" by Argile Smith
A Lot Of Bull -- Matthew 22:1-14, Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Craig Kelly, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "A Lot of Bull" by Alex Gondola
Reading Past The Semicolon -- John 1:29-42, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, John T. Ball -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Reading Past the Semicolon" by John Ball
Not A Cup But A Cow -- Matthew 14:13-21, Romans 9:1-5, Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 15 -- Frank Ramirez, Argile Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Not a Cup but a Cow" by Frank Ramirez
Glenda's Surprise -- Matthew 17:1-9, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Argile Smith, Keith Hewitt, Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Glenda's Surprise" by Argile Smith
Where's Your Jesus Now? -- Matthew 14:22-33, Romans 10:5-15, Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Sandra Herrmann, Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Where's Your Jesus Now?" by Sandra Herrmann
The Terrible Dark Day -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51:1-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith, David O. Bales, Argile Smith, Keith Hewitt -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Glenda's Surprise" by Argile Smith
It's Not My Fault -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- C. David Mckirachan, Charles D. Reeb -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "It's Not My Fault" by C. David McKirachan
Stories/illustrations For February 6Th & 10Th, 2008 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Rosmarie Trapp -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
The Terrible Dark Day by Peter Andrew SmithJoel 2:1-2, 12-17
Get Up And Go -- John 3:1-17, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121 -- Frank Ramirez, John S. Smylie -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Get Up and Go" by Frank Ramirez
Testing One, Two, Three... -- John 4:5-42, Romans 5:1-11, Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95 -- Keith Hewitt, Timothy Smith -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
The Disturbing Witness Of Grace -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, Psalm 23 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Hewitt -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Tarawa" by Keith Hewitt
Bones -- John 11:1-45, Romans 8:6-11, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130 -- John S. Smylie, Argile Smith, Keith Hewitt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Bones" by John Smylie
Upwards Motion -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Bryan Meadows, David O. Bales -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Upwards Motion" by Bryan Meadows
Do This Remembering Me... -- John 18:1--19:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bryan Meadows, Frank Ramirez, C. David Mckirachan -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week
When Through Fiery Trials -- John 20:1-18, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, Psalm 16 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Keith Hewitt -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "When through Fiery Trials" by Alex Gondola
Speak The Truth In Love -- Luke 24:13-35, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- John S. Smylie, Sandra Herrmann -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Speak the Truth in Love" by John Smylie
The Jigsaw Puzzle -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:47-55 -- Argile Smith, Craig Kelly, Sandra Herrmann, Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B, The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "The Jigsaw Puzzle" by Argile Smith
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 19
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

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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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