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Village

▶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.

Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A

Children's Liturgy and Story

Matthew 16:21-28

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

When Peter tried to interfere with his dangerous choice, Jesus spoke harshly to him. In our worship today, let us explore those times when we try to interfere with other people's choices, because we believe that we are acting in their best interests.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I try to stop other people because I'm anxious for myself.
Lord, have mercy.

Children's Story

Matthew 16:21-28

Janice B. Scott
Tim was never allowed to go anywhere with his big brother, Fred. Fred had no time for little kids, so although he was mostly quite kind to Tim, when he was with his own friends he never wanted Tim around.

Tim understood Fred's feelings and mostly kept out of the way, although he longed to be part of Fred's gang and to be included in Fred's activities. There was something exciting about Fred, something which often led him into trouble with Mum and Dad, but which made him seem grown-up and sophisticated to his young brother. Tim idolised Fred, and would do anything for him.

Intercession

Matthew 16:21-28

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

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 3:1-15

Janice B. Scott
According to personality indicators such as Myers-Briggs, there are a number of different personality types amongst human beings. One major difference in character traits between different human beings is that some people notice things but others don't.

Some people can drive once to a new destination and thereafter always find their way. Others can drive to the same destination ten times before they're sure of the way, because they're incapable of really noticing the landmarks.

Sermon

Matthew 16:21-28

Janice B. Scott
It was while we were in a calm, relaxed, happy period in our lives, when everything was flowing really smoothly, that one member of our family was hit by serious illness. Instantly everything changed. The relaxed family happiness was replaced by intense anxiety and sleepless nights, and it felt like nothing would ever be the same again.

Sermon

Romans 12:9-21

Janice B. Scott
Many years ago at the age of eighteen, when I started training as a physiotherapist, we had to spend the first six months in academic learning in college. We weren't allowed near a patient and barely even saw the physiotherapy department. Of course at eighteen, all of us students were desperately impatient to begin the real work, the job for which we were training, and that first six months seemed to go on for ever. We wanted to learn our skills on real people, not just in the classroom. Looking back, from the point of view of the patients, it was mercy we were restrained!

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

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
For August 30, 2026:

StoryShare

David O. Bales
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"Moses: Prepared" by David O. Bales
"Re-call" by David O. Bales
"The Goose Story" by John Fitzgerald

Moses: Prepared
by David O. Bales
Exodus 3:1-15
C. David Mckirachan
Larry Winebrenner
Keith Hewitt
Contents
"Verbs and Nouns" by C. David McKirachan
"The Hospitality Committee" by C. David McKirachan
"The Bush that Was Burned to Set a Heart Ablaze" by Larry Winebrenner
"Overcome Evil with Good" by Larry Winebrenner
"The Cross" by Keith Hewitt


* * * * * * * *


Verbs and Nouns
by C. David McKirachan
Exodus 3:1-15

CSSPlus

Wesley T. Runk
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Cynthia E. Cowen
The Point: Jesus wants us to follow him and not just say we believe.

The Lesson: Welcome boys and girls. Thank you for coming to share this special time together.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
In this week’s three scriptures we encounter the holy in different yet related ways, a reminder that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand even if it is not fully visible or realized in history.

Moses retired from leadership, having failed to inspire his people to rise up against their Egyptian masters -- but God speaks from an ordinary bush to someone engaged in the ordinary profession of shepherding. That place is holy!
In the 1980s, Nike challenged athletes (and would-be athletes) with this straightforward motto: Just do it. The phrase -- and the surrounding advertising campaign -- caught fire with the public. Nike put distance between itself and its competitors, and a new generation of can-do attitudes was born.
R. Craig Maccreary
Weapon: "1) something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy; 2) a means of contending against another." Now this seems to be something where Christian people ought to put a lot of distance between themselves and the whole idea of clubs, knives, or guns. Yet Paul reminds us that we are to fight the good fight, "Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Tim was never allowed to go anywhere with his big brother, Fred. Fred had no time for little kids, so although he was mostly quite kind to Tim, when he was with his own friends he never wanted Tim around.

SermonStudio

Elizabeth Achtemeier
Moses, who was raised in the palace of the Pharaoh, has had to flee Egypt, because it has become known that he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. He takes flight to Midianite territory in the northwestern section of the Arabian peninsula and takes up residence there with the family of Jethro, a priest of Midian. Content to remain in Jethro's camp, he marries Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, and has a son by her (2:11-22). And he becomes one of the herdsmen of that nomadic tribe, pasturing the flocks near the site of Mount Horeb or Sinai. It is a very ordinary peaceful existence.
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.

Theme For The Day
Our call from God to take up our cross and be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 3:1-15
The Call And Commission Of Moses
Larry Lange
The blizzard was kind enough to have shown up on Friday evening, so that when it had finished rattling our windows and dumping about ten inches of perfectly packable snow, we were not in school and had an entire day to enjoy it.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
In contemporary society, where self-fulfillment, accomplishment, personal enrichment, and enjoyment are the goals sought by the majority, it seems inconceivable that people would willingly sacrifice, suffer, and be humiliated so that others would benefit. Yet, in the twentieth century alone there have been many people whose unselfish example and willingness to subjugate self for the needs of the whole have transformed individuals and nations.
Richard Carl Hoefler
Every evening the six o'clock news reminds us of the crime, the corruption, and the catastrophies of the world in which we live. It was in such troubled times and in such hopeless circumstances that a young Hebrew mother placed her baby in a basket and set it afloat among the reeds of the river Nile. Even if the baby were to live, she could only see an intolerable existence for him as he would groan under the burden of hard labor and be driven to the point of daily exhaustion by the sting of the slavemaster's whip.
Marilyn Saure Breckenridge
Introduction

A while ago, a pastor friend was in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, officiating at a wedding of her nephew. Eureka Springs is like Las Vegas. You can get married with no waiting period, no blood tests, and no witnesses. Just about every motel or bed and breakfast has a sign on it that advertises "Weddings, No Waiting, Anytime."
Arley K. Fadness
A cell phone commercial asks, "Can you hear me now?" The assumption is that one can hear any place, any time, in any situation through this miraculous technology - the latest cell phone device and service.
Jeff Wedge
A French writer and historian once wrote, "We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity -- romantic love and gunpowder." While many people might be tempted to agree that gunpowder has been an invention which has caused many problems for humanity, it is the other item which is surprising to find on a list of the worst inventions of humanity, particularly on the very short list.
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
When Israel Was In Egypt's Land (NCH572, UM448, CBH164, PH334)
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, UM116, CBH162, PH488)
Go Down, Moses (NCH572, PH334)
We Shall Overcome (NCH570, UM533)
Nearer, My God, To Thee (NCH606, UM528)
Take Up Thy Cross (UM415, CBH536, PH393)
Here I Am, Lord (CBH395, UM593, PH525)
God Of Many Names (CBH77, UM105)
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (CBH577, CBH480, NCH485, PH384)
Come Sing, O Church, In Joy (PH430)

Anthems

Special Occasion

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Proper 15 (OT 20, Pent 12)
28 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
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19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 16 (OT 21, Pent 13)
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 (OT 22, Pent 14)
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