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▶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 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A

Children's Liturgy and Story

Matthew 9:9-13; 18-26

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." In our worship today let us examine ourselves to discover whether we are the righteous, or sinners who need to repent.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, I'm probably no worse than anyone else and perhaps better than some.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, I see other people who regularly flout your laws and I think that is terrible.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, help me to see a true picture of myself, that I may receive your forgiveness.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:
Matthew 9:9-13 and 18-26 (NRSV)

Children's Story

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Janice B. Scott
James Jacobs hated the story of Matthew the tax collector. James was convinced that story was responsible for at least half the problems he experienced today. Whenever people asked him what his work was, James would mutter "I work for the government," and try to look mysterious so that folk would think he was in Intelligence and bound by the Official Secrets Act.

Intercession

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

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

Romans 4:13-25

Janice B. Scott
A little boy was visiting his grandparents on their farm, and was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods but no matter how hard he tried, he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to notice his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

Sermon

Genesis 12:1-9

Janice B. Scott
Our churches have been on a number of pilgrimages. They have all been great fun and very exciting, but most have had one or two scary moments.

Sermon

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Janice B. Scott
We have a number of woodland visitors to our lovely garden. Among the most unexpected is a green woodpecker. He's a handsome bird with beautiful green wing feathers, a few yellow tail feathers, and a bright red head.

We often look out for him, but he never appears while we watch. He seems to appear suddenly when we least expect him. And his actions are unexpected too. I have never yet seen him anywhere near a tree, but he seems to delight in pecking our lawn.

What with the mole burrowing up from underneath, the squirrel digging down for its hoard of nuts, and now the woodpecker, we're never going to win the best kept lawn competition! But I much prefer the wildlife, who give us endless pleasure.

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

CSSPlus

Good morning! Have you ever seen one of these? (Let them
answer.) Yes, this is a container of medicine. There are probably
some in the medicine cabinet at your home. Have your parents ever
told you anything about this kind of medicine? (Let them answer.)
Yes, I'm sure they have told you never to open one of these
vials, and, for sure, not to eat any. Why do you think they tell
you that? (Let them answer.) Yes, this medicine is for a
particular sickness, and if you take it when you don't need it or
Who can tell me what this compass does? (Let them answer.) A compass always points north. It always knows which way is north. Sometimes I get mixed up. If I'm in a strange place and get turned around, I might think that south is north or east is north. If I have a compass, then I can always tell which way is north. It always points in the same direction. Does anyone know which direction a compass will point? (Let them answer.) It will always point north. Some cars even have a compass built in the dash so that the driver can always tell which way is north.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

R. Craig Maccreary
If you want to know how to get me to sing, though of course I am not sure that anyone would want me to be singing, just get out one of the old favorite hymns like "Standing On The Promises."

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
When I sit down to plan the worship services for this Sunday, I will start by penciling in John H. Sammis' hymn, "Trust And Obey." If Sammis had chosen to devote individual verses in his hymn to biblical characters, he could easily have included some that we will read about this week.

SermonStudio

Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less (UM368, PH379, NCH403, CBH343)
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, PH488)
For The Beauty Of The Earth (CBH89, UM92, PH473)
Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (CBH491, UM348)
Heal Us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer (UM266)
This Is A Story Full Of Love (CHB315)
When In Our Music God Is Glorified (PH264)
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (LBW499, NCH459, PH356)

Anthems
God Of The Promise, Richard Hillart, Augsburg, SATB
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9
Theme: Go, Come, Be A Blessing

Call To Worship
Leader: Go!
People: Come!
All: Be a blessing!
Leader: We hear the word "blessing," and know it as a special word for someone else, certainly not for us. Then a person whom we respect tells us, "You are a blessing," and we ponder those words. Turn now to someone near you. Quietly say to each other, "You are a blessing." During this time of worship consider how, indeed, you are a blessing.

Collect
James L. Killen, Jr.
Down through the centuries, philosophers and theologians have come up with a number of classical "proofs for the existence of God." The truth is that these "proofs" are not likely to convince anyone who is determined not to believe in God. But they can be helpful guides to experiencing God for people who want to believe. Most of the proofs for the existence of God focus attention on the things that exist and the things that happen in the world around us and reason that there must be someone who is making those things happen.
Gary L. Carver
In his stimulating book, The Dynamics Of Belief, the beloved former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Don Harbuck, tells the story of a thirteen--year--old boy. Life for this young lad had been difficult. He and his younger brother had not only suffered through the loss of their mother, but they had borne the burden of an alcoholic father and his abject irresponsibility. In fact, the two boys often had nothing to eat. They lived on the berries they picked and the rabbits they killed and cooked over an open fire. Life for them was difficult, at best.
Schuyler Rhodes
There's an old rock and roll song titled, "I Don't Need No Doctor." The song, like so many of the era, is a song of unrequited love. The lyric, screamed out by a number of rock bands over the years, says, "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." And what's ailing the singer, of course, is the deprivation of the object of his affection. He is smitten, out of control in the painful, bittersweet carnival ride of adolescent love. "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." I remember many years ago swaying to the sounds of this song at a very loud outdoor concert.
Larry M. Goodpaster
Whenever the "new" bumps up against the "old" there is bound to be friction. It happens within the community where we live. Someone -- an elected leader or would-be community change agent -- comes along with a new idea, seeing new possibilities for the future, and there is a vocal hesitation. "Why should we change?" the long-time residents complain.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 12:1--9 (C)
God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and go to the country that God had promised him. God pledged Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Abraham obeys God by setting out with his aged, barren wife and his nephew, Lot.

Lesson 1: Hosea 6:3--6 (RC); Hosea 5:15-6:6 (E, L)

StoryShare

Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Called not From but To the Tax Office" by Alex Gondola
"Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him" by Alex Gondola
"Not My Home" by Craig Kelly


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." In our worship today let us examine ourselves to discover whether we are the righteous, or sinners who need to repent.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, I'm probably no worse than anyone else and perhaps better than some.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, I see other people who regularly flout your laws and I think that is terrible.
Christ, have mercy.

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
For June 7, 2026:

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