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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 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A

Children's Liturgy and Story

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that the kingdom of God would be given to those who produced the fruits of the kingdom. In our worship today let us explore what the "fruits of the kingdom" might be.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I care more about my own comfort than about your fruits.
Lord, have mercy.

Children's Story

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief. Praxis was a very rare pixie whose skin changed colour according to his mood, and just now he was bright purple with excitement. Mr Grump the goblin teacher had been called away by an urgent message, leaving the pixies to get on with learning their spellings.

Intercession

Matthew 21:33-46

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 20.1-4,7-9,12-20

Janice B. Scott
The psychologist Scott Peck begins his famous best-seller, "The Road Less Travelled" with the immortal words, "Life is difficult." That simple statement has been a revelation to many of Scott Peck's readers, for it has brought them a sense of freedom. They no longer have to struggle with feelings of guilt and inadequacy just because nothing in their lives runs smoothly. Once they can accept that life is difficult, they are free to make of it the best that they can without worrying too much about how awful their life is.

Sermon

Matthew 21:33-46

Janice B. Scott
In my spare time I enjoy a thriller, either on the screen or in book form. I discovered Patricia Cornwell on holiday, and have enjoyed reading about the exploits of her heroine Dr Kay Scarpetta, forensic pathologist.

Like all heroes and heroines of thrillers, Dr Scarpetta often walks into danger. As I sit in my armchair reading about a solo midnight assignation in a cold and lonely place, I find myself willing Dr Scarpetta not to go, for I know she's going to end up in trouble!

It's always obvious to the reader or the viewer that dark and lonely places, where the hero or heroine is instructed to go alone, are fraught with hazard and much better avoided.

Sermon

Philippians 3.4b-14

Janice B. Scott
When my children were small, they watched all the Superman films. They were devoted to the character, and hung on every word and every twist of the plot, waiting with bated breath for the outcome, where we all knew good would conquer evil.

Perhaps Superman represents the sort of person that many human beings would like to be. Someone who has enormous strength, unflagging energy and who never wavers in the face of danger, but flies straight into it. And despite taking terrible beatings from time to time (especially when Kryptonite is involved!) always wins through in the end.

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
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For October 4, 2026:
  • Kingdom, Power, Glory by Dean Feldmeyer. White Christian nationalism (WCN) is a dangerous perversion of the Christian gospel, and it is growing in popularity in the US.

StoryShare

C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Confronting Injustice” by C. David McKirachan
“Get Back!” by Frank Ramirez

Confronting Injustice
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 21:33-46
Frank Ramirez
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"Spilled Milk" by Frank Ramirez
"God's Silent Witness" by John Fitzgerald


* * * * * * *


Spilled Milk
by Frank Ramirez
Philippians 3:4b-14

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…
-- Philippians 3:8, KJV

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Praxis the colourful pixie was up to mischief. Praxis was a very rare pixie whose skin changed colour according to his mood, and just now he was bright purple with excitement. Mr Grump the goblin teacher had been called away by an urgent message, leaving the pixies to get on with learning their spellings.

SermonStudio

Richard E. Gribble, CSC
"Use it or lose it." We have all heard this expression, said it ourselves, and applied it more than once. The words tell us that it is necessary to use rightly and completely the gifts given us by God. We are challenged to use God's gifts for the betterment of all and for our own growth in the Spirit. If we fail to use properly and completely or if we abuse the gifts of God, they will be taken away.
William A. Jones
No other God, no graven images, no taking of the name of the Lord in vain, no work on the Sabbath, no dishonoring of father and mother, no killing, no adultery, no stealing, no bearing false witness, no coveting. That's a rather lengthy string of nays from the eternal God.
Marilyn Saure Breckenridge
Introduction
Arley K. Fadness
"One day last spring, something memorable happened at Carleton University (in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, not to be confused with Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota). Thirty--one students in the same class turned in identical research papers. It was determined that the students had all accessed the same Internet website. If only one student had done it, the ruse might not have caught the professor's attention. But here's what else opened the instructor's eyes: the research paper's topic was 'ethics.' The unethical ethics 'research' caper suggests an opportunity.
Stan Purdum
There have been many who have sought to write a history of the world. Cavemen painted the story of their civilization on the walls of their home. Around 70 A.D., a Hebrew soldier named Josephus surrendered to the Roman army rather than die. Dead men tell no tales, and he said he wanted to live to tell the story of the fall of Jerusalem. Today, his history of the Jewish wars is an invaluable tool to historians.
Jeff Wedge
A mouse was once riding on the back of an elephant, and the pair went across a rickety bridge. As might be expected, the bridge shook and rattled. When the duo had successfully navigated the bridge, the mouse exclaimed, "My, oh my, we certainly made that bridge shake, didn't we?"

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
On Beyond Zebra! Remember the book by Dr. Seuss? Some people learn the alphabet, starting out at "A is for apple," and when they get all the way through to "Z is for zebra," they think they are done. But not Dr. Seuss! Twenty-six letters might be good enough for most people, but it's only the beginning for Dr. Seuss. One of his great "little people" takes us on a tour of life On Beyond Zebra! -- a whole new world of creatures most of us have never seen before.
David Kalas
From time to time we come across things that are meant to sound or look like something they are not. Perhaps the most positive version is the generic or store brand medications that boast the same active ingredients as better-known products, but for considerably less money. At the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, we find counterfeit currency or art - - worthless fakes that pose as articles of real value.

CSSPlus

Teachers: Paul writes about "pressing on toward the goal." He presses on so that he may win the prize, which God has for him. The prize is the "heavenly call of God in Jesus."

Explain that Paul says that none of us is perfect. None of us have learned all that we should. However, as Christians, we work at living a "Christ-like" life.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat grapes? (Let them answer.) Do any of you have grape vines growing at your home? (Let them answer.) If you have grape vines at home, have you gone to them and picked grapes right off the vine and eaten them? (Let them answer.) This morning's Bible story is a story about a vineyard. That is a farm with many grape vines. It is a story that Jesus told. Jesus and God are characters in this story. As I tell it, see if you can decide which character is Jesus and which is God.
Materials
Fun foam
Pinking shears (decorative-edge scissors)
Craft paint
Small paintbrushes
Plastic bottle caps from soda bottles
Markers
Safety pins
Glue
Hot glue gun, for instructor to use

Instructions
1. Jesus likes it when we choose to be disciples for him; it makes him happy. Wear this pin to remind you to be a good disciple for Jesus.

2. Cut circles out of fun foam using decorative-edge scissors.

3. Paint plastic tops from soda bottles the color you desire.

Special Occasion

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 21 (OT 26, Pent 18)
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 22 (OT 27, Pent 19)
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1210+ – Illustrations / Stories
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 23 (OT 28, Pent 20)
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120+ – Illustrations / Stories
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