Janice Scott ... The Village Shepherd

After being ordained in 1994 with the first wave of women priests, Janice became curate in a large city centre parish in Norwich and from there, moved to South Norfolk in 1999 as Rector of a rural benefice of six parishes. After completing her MA in Pastoral Theology with the Cambridge Theological Foundation in 2008 she was appointed Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. Janice now lives with her husband Ian just outside Norwich. In addition to her diocesan work and writing "The Village Shepherd," she is a freelance writer for Redemptorist Publications in the UK. She has also written and broadcasts "Pause For Thought" on a local radio station and has written several novels, all with a church background.
Second Sunday of Easter - C
Children's Liturgy and Story
John 20:19-31
Janice B. Scott
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." We can no longer see Jesus with our eyes, so let us ask him to help us to believe.
Invitation to confession:
Jesus, sometimes we keep our eyes tightly closed because we don't want to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes our eyes are open but we fail to look in the right direction.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we focus only on our own concerns and desires.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
Children's Story
John 20:19-31
Janice B. Scott
Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.
The other two dismissed his reservations with some impatience. "Come and see! When you've seen it for yourself, you'll know!"
Intercession
John 20:19-31
Janice B. Scott
The Church of Christ
Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
The local community
Those who suffer
The communion of saints
These responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Sermon
Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Janice B. Scott
In those books or films where the hero finds himself in a tight corner from which there appears to be no escape, it can be very interesting trying to work out just what he will do. And in the top rate novels, the hero's actions are always ingenious and usually a surprise.
Sermon
Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8
Janice B. Scott
Nelson Mandela emerged straight and upright and somehow whole, and with great dignity and courtesy addressed the world. Perhaps what impressed me most was his apparent total forgiveness of his captors and his wish not to concentrate on the evil done to him, but on the hope that his release heralded for the future for all people, and especially for South Africa.
Sermon
John 20:19-31
Janice B. Scott
The world was shocked and horrified by their actions. Many people must wonder how they could have been so stupid. How they could have been so gullible.
What is The Village Shepherd?
The Village Shepherd offers sermons, bible stories, children's stories and prayers based on the Revised Common Lectionary. These inspirational sermons, stories, and prayers are sure to touch your heart, because they reflect the simple virtues and tranquil serenity that characterize Reverend Scott's English countryside pastorate. The questions "Where is God in this particular situation?" and "Where does the Gospel story cross our own human story?" are always at the heart of these meditations -- but rather than finding overt answers, instead you will be gently led to make your own connections and discover the powerful ways in which God works. Janice Scott has the unique ability to find interesting details in ordinary life that illuminate scripture, while still challenging even the most intellectual reader. And that gift is precisely what also makes her an outstanding communicator with children.
Most weeks include:
- Sermon based on the Gospel reading
- Sermon based on the Epistle reading
- Sermon based on the First reading
- Children's stories linked with the Gospel readings
- Children's liturgy and story (a different story than mentioned above)
- An intercessory prayer