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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 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A

Children's Liturgy and Story

Matthew 18:15-20

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said that if two of us agree on earth about anything we ask, it will be done for us by God. In our worship today, let us consider what we would like God to do for us.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes my demands are utterly selfish.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm angry because it seems that my demands aren't met.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I fail to understand what is best for me.
Lord, have mercy.

Reading:
Matthew 18:15-20

Children's Story

Matthew 18:15-20

Janice B. Scott
They were huddled together leaning against straw stacks in a corner of the old barn, where they wouldn't be disturbed. They each had their eyes tightly shut, and were keeping their hands held firmly together.

"Please, God," prayed Ruth, "give us a dog of our very own."

Her sister and brother nodded in fervent agreement. "Yes, God, please," added Tim, for good measure.

Amanda thought she'd better say something too, in case God thought she wasn't part of it. "I want one too, God," she said.

Then they opened their eyes and looked at one another.

Tim glanced around the barn. "I can't see one yet," he said.

Intercession

Matthew 18:15-20

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 12:1-14

Janice B. Scott
At the moment it is a difficult time for young people to get work. It seems especially difficult for those who have gone on to further education at university but who have taken a general degree and who haven't trained for any specific job. They are often considered to be too qualified for some work but insufficiently qualified for other work, since many businesses now want experienced personnel, thus effectively cutting out newcomers.

Those who do land the jobs are usually those who do well at interviews. Others, who might have sterling qualities but who fail to shine at interviews, are often passed over and this can lead to feelings of hopelessness and resentment.

Sermon

Matthew 18:15-20

Janice B. Scott
Here in England, despite being constantly told of the drop in church attendance, the Church continues to be headline news whenever there's the slightest hint of anything going wrong. So there are unedifying stories of vicars who have affairs with parishioners, or vicars embroiled in rows which split the church, or vicars acting so insensitively that the rest of the world gasps in horror.

It doesn't really matter what the story is, if there's the slightest hint of any scandal whatsoever in the Church, it seems people want to read about it.

Sermon

Romans 13:8-14

Janice B. Scott
Over the sombre weeks of this recent summer in which two little girls were murdered in a quiet Cambridgeshire village, we've been shocked into thinking about our children and their safety. Suddenly the safety rules for children which we thought would protect them, have been shown to be a false security, for Holly and Jessica followed those rules - they kept together, they didn't speak to strangers, they took a mobile phone with them, and as far as we know at the moment, they didn't use the Internet to arrange to meet anyone. Yet they still died. And part of our national outpouring of grief may well be something to do with feelings of helplessness and rage because we are seemingly unable to guarantee our children's safety.

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

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
For September 6, 2026:
  • WTH, God? by Mary Austin based on Exodus 12:1-14. Are there rituals that can really keep us safe?

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Contents
"Before You Judge" by David O. Bales
"Christ, Paul, And The Law" by David O. Bales


Before You Judge
by David O. Bales
Matthew 18:15-20

The seven members of the presbytery’s judicial commission were ministers and elders, all over 50, chosen for their stability of life and faith and their ability to be fair. They were experienced enough not to be awed by anyone. However, when Daniel Newton stepped into the room too much space here
C. David Mckirachan
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
"Teeth" by C. David McKirachan
"Being Ready" by Peter Andrew Smith

Teeth
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 18:15-20

Confrontation is one of my least favorite things. Because of that I have a staff, about six feet of cedar, knarled by age and elements leaning in a corner of my study. It’s to remind me that as a shepherd, I’ve got to remember that not all the people who come through the door are sheep. Some of them have sharp teeth.

CSSPlus

Arley K. Fadness
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done....” (v. 19)

Good morning boys and girls,

Have you ever played tug-o-war?  Goes like this: two sides pull on the rope against each other. Each of the two sides tries to pull the other over a designated line. The group that is pulled over the line loses. The other side wins. So let's pretend we are playing tug-o-war.
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you ever get into arguments? (Let them answer.) Sometimes arguments are fought over the strangest things, aren't they? In our house (list your own things here) I've heard an argument start over who would get to read the cereal box during breakfast. Has that ever happened to you? (Let them answer.) It happened like this. Someone was eating breakfast. This box of cereal (hold up the box) was in front of that person. Someone else in the family started to eat. That person grabbed the box and started to read it.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you take your lunch to school or to your day care center? (Let them answer.) When you take your lunch do you carry it in a bag or in a pail? (Let them answer.) I brought a lunch pail from my house today to show you. Do any of you have a pail like this one? (Let them answer.) This lunch pail makes me think of this morning's lesson. In the lesson we are told to love our neighbor like we love ourselves. When you love your neighbor you are doing the right thing.
Good morning! This morning I'm going to ask you to fill this glass full. (Let the children put the stones in the glass container. When they appear to have the glass full ask:) Is the glass full? (Let them answer.)

I brought this glass to show you something about how God's kingdom works. God asks us to do good and treat people kindly, with respect, and with politeness. God wants us to be good to people. God wants us to be good people. We call this "the law" because God's law is that we do good to others.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
They were huddled together leaning against straw stacks in a corner of the old barn, where they wouldn't be disturbed. They each had their eyes tightly shut, and were keeping their hands held firmly together.

"Please, God," prayed Ruth, "give us a dog of our very own."

Her sister and brother nodded in fervent agreement. "Yes, God, please," added Tim, for good measure.

Amanda thought she'd better say something too, in case God thought she wasn't part of it. "I want one too, God," she said.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
In the Passover and in the Lord's Supper, eating is remembering.

Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 12:1-14
The Institution Of The Passover
Larry Lange
Characters

Harry Christian

Margaret Christian (Harry's wife)

Fed-Up Express Man

Accompanist (nonspeaking)

Props

Stuffed chair

Newspaper

Table

Lamp

Bible

Dressing mirror

Large box (containing the following items)


Silver shirt


Silver gloves


Silver sunglasses


Silver light saber


Silver-wrapped instruction book
Wayne Brouwer
Thomas Browne said that "the vices we scoff at in others laugh at us from within ourselves." More than any other relational failure this is true of hurt and vengeance.

When the great nineteenth-century Spanish General, Ramon Narvaez, lay dying in Madrid, a priest was called in to give him last rites. "Have you forgiven your enemies?" the padre asked.

"Father," confessed Narvaez, "I have no enemies. I shot them all."
Douglas B. Bailey
Many times, especially during Lent, we hear that Jesus is the Lamb of God who shed his blood on the cross for our sins. But how do you feel when the doorbell rings, and you open the door, and there is someone holding a Bible who starts up a conversation leading up to questions such as, "Have you been saved? Have you been saved through the blood of the Lamb?" Or how do you feel when you turn on your television and an evangelist pleads with you to accept "the salvation that comes only through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God"?
Marilyn Saure Breckenridge
Introduction

A popular television show in 2000 was the CBS program, Big Brother. It was a reality--based show that allowed the viewers to watch and then vote on who should get booted out of the house. The first contestant to be expelled by the viewers was a man by the name of William, a 27--year--old youth counselor from Philadelphia. He got the boot because he had spent his first two weeks fighting with fellow housemates.
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Exodus 12:1-14
Theme: Together

Call To Worship

Like Hebrews of Aaron's and Moses' time, called at the first Passover to gather as families and share the sacrificed lamb of a goat or sheep, this congregation also is called to worship together as a family. Come, let us worship our sustaining God with praise and thanksgiving.

Collect
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying (UM720, NCH112, PH17)
Draw Us In The Spirit's Tether (UM632, NCH337, PH504)
Spirit Of Jesus, If I Love My Neighbor (NCH590)
Savior God Above (NCH602)
God is Here! (NCH70, UM660, PH461)
Where Charity And Love Prevail (NCH396, UM549, CBH305)
Give Praise To The Lord (PH257)
The Day Of Resurrection (LBW141, NCH245, PH118, UM303)

Anthems
Cantate Domino, Pitoni, GIA, SATB

Emphasis Preaching Journal

William H. Shepherd
Good old golden rule days. The children will be going back to school this week, if they aren't there already. Yellow school buses reemerge from their hidden garages; crossing guards don their white shoulder belts and pick up their stop signs. Parents stock up on spiral notebooks and highlighter pens, while teachers give themselves bouquets of freshly sharpened No. 2 pencils. You can just smell the chalk in the air.
Last week we suggested that if Genesis is the account of God's election, then Exodus is the story of God's redemption. Today we take the next step in the unfolding drama: If Moses is the person God uses to redeem, then the sacrifice is the means.

Special Occasion

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 17 (OT 22, Pent 14)
28 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
21 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
23 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 (OT 23, Pent 15)
28 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
23 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 19 (OT 24, Pent 16)
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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