Easter
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Pause : Spending Lent With The Psalms
$17.00Add to cartLent is an ideal time to step back and reflect on the deeper movements of the spirit, and Elizabeth Caldwell helps readers do this through a simple but profound approach. Pause: Spending Lent with the Psalms invites us to take up the spiritual practice of encountering, sinking into, and deeply engaging with one psalm each week during Lent and Holy Week.
Lent is an ideal time to step back and reflect on the deeper movements of the spirit, and Elizabeth Caldwell helps readers do this through a simple but profound approach. Pause: Spending Lent with the Psalms invites us to take up the spiritual practice of encountering, sinking into, and deeply engaging with one psalm each week during Lent and Holy Week.
The season of Lent encourages Christians to consider a different pace-one of slowing down, noticing, pausing-than what our dominant culture values. The invitation to pause with the Psalms begins on Ash Wednesday, starting with a mark of ashes on our foreheads that reminds us that in spite of our failures-things we have done or failed to do-we belong to God. Readers are then guided into an exploration of Psalm 51 and the theme of a clean heart. Each chapter helps readers to connect an image drawn from that psalm, such as paths, faces, blessing, tables, waiting, thanksgiving, listening, being alone or abandoned, and hands, with their own lives. At the close of each chapter, readers are invited to try a different prayer practice to help them continue to reflect on the theme and psalm each day. This intentional engagement-without feeling burdensome-opens just enough space and time for a creative spiritual practice to flourish, sustaining the life of faith during the Lenten season in ways that can make a difference in God’s world.
Reflection and discussion questions are included with each chapter The book includes a leader’s guide at the end for study groups.
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Hard And Holy Work
$17.00Add to cartMary Alice Birdwhistell and Tyler Mayfield reflect on the brave action of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah and other faithful women in Exodus, Moses’ awakening to the plight of the Hebrew people, Moses’ life-changing encounter with the burning bush, the Israelites taking the risk of crossing the Red Sea, and more-alongside numerous contemporary stories-to help readers to see anew and contemplate how God is calling them to respond to what is not right in the world: racial injustice, especially borne by women of color, houselessness, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities.
Are we paying attention to the holy ground beneath our feet? Where do we see burning bushes in our world today, and what are they calling us to do? Do spiritual encounters in our lives have holy consequences in the world around us? Many of us want to understand how to integrate our personal spiritual lives more actively with our engagement in working for justice and the liberation of the oppressed and marginalized. Hard and Holy Work provides a space for just that, helping readers participate in Lent in a new way by becoming attuned to God’s boundless presence in our world and waking up to and taking action for God’s justice through exploring stories from the book of Exodus that have inspired the work of liberation for centuries.
Pastor Mary Alice Birdwhistell and Hebrew Bible scholar Tyler Mayfield reflect on the brave action of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah and other faithful women in Exodus, Moses’ awakening to the plight of the Hebrew people, Moses’ life-changing encounter with the burning bush, the Israelites taking the risk of crossing the Red Sea, and more-alongside numerous contemporary stories-to help readers to see anew and contemplate how God is calling them to respond to what is not right in the world: racial injustice, especially borne by women of color, houselessness, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities.
Lent is traditionally a time of self-reflection and action that prepares followers of Christ to walk more intentionally in the way of God. Hard and Holy Work takes readers through a unique Lenten journey, encouraging us to see those who are marginalized or suffering as God sees them; contemplate how privilege, fear, risk, and feelings of uncertainty can cloud our attention; and practice endurance for the messy middle of justice work, leaning on God’s provision and rest when the way forward is
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Where We Meet
$16.99Add to cartJesus devoted himself to uplifting the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, and fearlessly challenging systems of oppression. His message resounded with the promise of liberation, equality, and inclusion for all, and he implored his followers to pursue the same. However, the church has often struggled to reflect this good news in its own actions.
In Where We Meet, four members of the Intersect network invite you to immerse yourself in the stories of Jesus and the early church. Together, they also explore their own stories, examine past shortcomings of the church, address difficult questions, and envision a brighter future that better reflects the good news of Jesus.
Throughout the Lenten season, Rachel Gilmore, Tyler Sit, Matt Temple, and Candace Lewis guide you through a series of daily reflections, exploring a spectrum of critical themes-from diversity and equity to the challenges of the post-colonial church. They will also delve into the vital need for innovation and contextualization in doing the work Jesus had called us to do.
Prepare to tackle challenging questions and be emboldened to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, pursuing justice and love for all.
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Creed : What Christians Believe And Why
$18.99Add to cartExplores what Christians believe, why they believe, and why it matters through the Apostles Creed. We’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this book, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters.
Chapters include:
God Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Church at the Communion of Saints
The Forgiveness of Sins
The Resurrection of the BodyCreed: What Christians Believe and Why is also part of a six-week church-wide program that includes a Leader Guide, DVD, and youth and children resources.
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Art Of Holy Week And Easter
$17.99Add to cartBrimming with Sister Wendy Beckett’s’s irrepressible wisdom and enthusiasm, this little book explores the spiritual riches to be found in some of the world’s greatest paintings of the Passion and resurrection of Jesus.
Illustrated in full color with thirty famous and lesser-known masterpieces of Western art, The Art of Holy Week and Easter is a chance to hear again the voice of Sister Wendy as she leads you gently into a deep appreciation of all that these paintings convey to the discerning eye.
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Time To Grow
$17.00Add to cartThis Lenten study explores the thematic elements of gardening and eating (such as soil, water, light, time, fasting, and feasting) to connect faith to food as we slow down, grow, and celebrate with feasting on Easter Sunday. Additional elements include sermon prompts, liturgies, altar art ideas, and prompts for children’s time during worship.
From Eden to Gethsemane to the garden in which Jesus was buried and raised, our story of faith wanders through much fertile soil. But in our current world of fast food and to-go meals, we often do not make time to explore where our food comes from and how we break bread together. Journeying through the season of Lent with this in mind, A Time to Grow encourages readers to slow down, move through the painstaking process of growth, and end together with great feasting and celebration of the resurrection. Themes of soil, water, light, time, fasting, feasting, and more guide the way from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Readers will explore the intricacies of how faith is required to produce food and how that faith can lead us all to feast at the table on Easter morning.
Additional elements are included to enhance communal spiritual practice for small groups or the entire congregation during Lent. These elements include sermon prompts, liturgies with communal responses, altar art ideas for decorating worship spaces, and prompts for children’s time in worship.
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Essential Easter Prayers
$10.99Add to cartA companion book for anyone celebrating the season of Easter, with prayers and practices from a variety of denominations and traditions. Sections include It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming; Easter Vigil Prayers; Pascha-themed Prayers; He Is Risen; and Prayers for Eastertide.
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Great Easter Egg Hunt
$7.99Add to cartJoin the Veggies as they hunt for eggs and discover the true meaning of Easter in this fun and exciting board book.
The Great Easter Egg Hunt is finally here! The Veggies can’t wait to see what’s inside their eggs. Petunia wants an egg with something sparkly and pretty, Laura and Junior are hoping for candy, and Larry is searching for silliness, as usual. But when Junior finds his egg empty, he soon discovers that it is the best egg of all, because it represents the empty tomb and Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter. Perfect for little ones embarking on Easter egg hunts of their own, this sturdy board book teaches children the true reason for Easter in a fun and engaging way.
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Lent Of Liberation
$17.00Add to cartEach of these forty devotions for Lent includes the testimony of a person who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, a Scripture passage, and a reflection connecting biblical and historical themes to challenge modern readers to work for liberation.
This Lenten devotional invites readers to learn more about the brutal institution of slavery and its impact on Black people in America and discover how its evolution and legacy continue to harm their descendants in the United States today. Each of the forty devotions includes the testimony of a person who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, a Scripture passage, and a reflection connecting biblical and historical themes to challenge modern readers to work for liberation. Reflecting on Lenten themes of exodus, redemption, discipline, and repentance, readers, both Black and white, will be empowered for the work of racial justice.
This Lenten devotional invites readers to learn more about the brutal institution of slavery and its impact on Black people in America and discover how its evolution and legacy continue to harm their descendants in the United States today. Each of the forty devotions includes the testimony of a person who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, a Scripture passage, and a reflection connecting biblical and historical themes to challenge modern readers to work for liberation. Reflecting on Lenten themes of exodus, redemption, discipline, and repentance, readers, both Black and white, will be empowered for the work of racial justice.
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Rooted In Love
$18.99Add to cartDrawing on the collective wisdom of all the area bishops in the Diocese of London. each reflection includes a Bible reading, a prayer and a suggestion for action based on the reading.
Who is the Christ we serve? What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? How can we live more Christ-centred lives? Introduced and edited by Bishop Sarah Mullally, here are forty reflections that lead us deeper into the meaning and practice of life in Christ today. Drawing on the collective wisdom of all the area bishops in the Diocese of London. each reflection includes a Bible reading, a prayer and a suggestion for action based on the reading. The result is an exceptionally helpful Lent book, offering a rich array of biblical insight and spiritual guidance that Christians of all traditions will warmly welcome and appreciate.
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Sacred Invitation : Lenten Devotions Inspired By The Book Of Common Prayer
$11.99Add to cartThe purpose of the season of Lent in the Christian calendar is to help us orient our lives toward the central celebration of the Christian faith: the resurrection from the dead of Jesus the Messiah. Easter is so much more than just another religious observance. It is the recognition that the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. God has issued us the Sacred Invitation to join Jesus on the journey toward the cross. Dr. Jesse C Middendorf and Rev. Stephanie Dyrness Lobdell have co-authored this daily devotional, using scriptures from the Book of Common Prayer, to prepare the church to grasp the life-changing reality of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As we journey through Lent, may we find our place in that grand story.
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I Was There
$11.99Add to cartWhilst it is recognised that the death of Jesus has worldwide implications, this book is an attempt to put these events into a more personal context, hence the title “I Was There”.
It is so easy to externalise the events leading up to and including the death and resurrection of Jesus but fail to internalise them by seeing ourselves as part of the story.
These Easter Reflections are intended to help the reader see something of himself/herself through some of the characters present in the events of Palm Sunday leading up to Easter Day.
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My Easter Bible NLT
$1.99Add to cartYoung children will love reading the Easter story from their own Bible! My Easter Bible shares the traditional Easter Story of Jesus’ death and resurrection through beautiful illiustrations paired with Scripture verses.
All verses are New Living Translation -NLT. The whole book is the Easter Story told in Bible verses.
Book measures 6″ x 4″
Recommended ages 3+
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Jesus Calling For Easter
$17.99Add to cartTake a few moments to focus on the hope we have because of Easter in Jesus Calling(R) for Easter, a beautiful compilation that includes 50 Jesus Calling devotions and Scripture, alongside breathtaking imagery and design.
Jesus Calling(R) for Easter is a meaningful and beautiful compilation of devotions from Sarah Young’s bestselling brand. With 50 themed selections for the Lent and Easter season, as well as high design and exquisite imagery, Jesus Calling(R) for Easter makes a stunning addition for those who love Jesus Calling(R) and would like a new way to observe the Easter season. You’ll enjoy devotions with select Scriptures about the story of Easter and the hope it brings alongside lovely images with overlaid script.
Whether a self-purchase to enhance your observation of Easter and the death and resurrection of Christ or a gift for friends and loved ones, Jesus Calling(R) for Easter will be a central part of your Easter experience for years to come.
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Good News Its Easter
$11.99Add to cartWritten by best-selling and award-winning author Glenys Nellist, Good News! It’s Easter! is a playful and joyful introduction to the gift of new life through Jesus. With its vivid imagery and stories of both nature and Jesus coming to life, this book will surely delight young readers and intrigue them to learn more about the salvation message.
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Easter Egg Hunt For Jesus
$10.99Add to cartA quiet forest wakes up from its winter sleep. Buds blossom and trees stretch their branches–spring is here! All the animals are excited for the season of rebirth, because it means Easter is soon to come! Little Bunny and his friends get ready for the special and important day with an Easter egg hunt. But when Little Bunny makes a mistake that makes him think he’s ruined all the fun, his friends and family come together to help him understand the meaning of Easter–a celebration of Jesus’s resurrection and the new life He offers us.
An Easter Egg Hunt for Jesus features the same adorable forest creatures met in the heartwarming Christmas storybooks, A Birthday Party for Jesus and Everyone Is Invited to Christmas. Beautifully illustrated by Lee Holland, this picture book will offer young children a fun, relatable story of a little rabbit who makes a mistake and learns how disappointment can transform into hope.
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Easter Code Booklet
$2.99Add to cartThe Easter Code, by bestselling author O. S. Hawkins, is a meaningful devotional booklet for the Lent season. This $2.99 value is an ideal gift to purchase in bulk for friends and family, pastoral staff, Bible study groups, and church congregations. Each day includes Scripture, a devotion, a Code Word to think on and make the message memorable, and a prayer.Spend meaningful time with Jesus this Lenten season as you read through 40 days of devotions. The Easter Code offers a seasonal devotion for each day from Ash Wednesday to Easter. At only $2.99, The Easter Code will serve as an excellent self-purchase or outreach gift. Every day, you’ll read an important Code Word to think on during the season. This unique element will create a profound experience as you prepare your heart and mind for the Easter Sunday.Follow the journey of Christ through the places, people, and events in His life all the way to His resurrection.
The Easter Code is a meaningful way to celebrate and share God’s love at Easter. The author royalties from the book are donated to Mission:Dignity, a ministry that helps men and women who have faithfully served God’s people for modest pay retire with well-deserved dignity, independence, and often the ability to continue serving.
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Entering The Passion Of Jesus Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$12.99Add to cart1. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
2. The Temple Incident
3. The Anointing Of Jesus And The Role Of Women
4. Jesus’ Teachings In The Temple
5. The Last Supper Traditions
6. GethsemaneAdditional Info
Author, professor, and Jewish scholar, Amy-Jill Levine dives deep into the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story in Entering the Passion of Jesus. Levine looks into characters such as Judas, Pilate, Caiaphas, the disciples, and the women around Jesus to understand their relationships and roles in the Passion story. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options. -
Entering The Passion Of Jesus Large Print (Large Type)
$17.99Add to cart1. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
2. The Temple Incident
3. The Anointing Of Jesus And The Role Of Women
4. Jesus’ Teachings In The Temple
5. The Last Supper Traditions
6. GethsemaneAdditional Info
Author, professor, and Jewish scholar, Amy-Jill Levine dives deep into the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story in Entering the Passion of Jesus. Levine looks into characters such as Judas, Pilate, Caiaphas, the disciples, and the women around Jesus to understand their relationships and roles in the Passion story. Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring the engaging teaching style of Dr. Levine building on the topics and themes found in the book and a comprehensive Leader Guide. -
Entering The Passion Of Jesus
$16.99Add to cart1. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
2. The Temple Incident
3. The Anointing Of Jesus And The Role Of Women
4. Jesus’ Teachings In The Temple
5. The Last Supper Traditions
6. GethsemaneAdditional Info
Author, professor, and Jewish scholar, Amy-Jill Levine dives deep into the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story in Entering the Passion of Jesus. Levine looks into characters such as Judas, Pilate, Caiaphas, the disciples, and the women around Jesus to understand their relationships and roles in the Passion story.
Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring the engaging teaching style of Dr. Levine building on the topics and themes found in the book and a comprehensive Leader Guide. -
Alleluia Is Our Song
$20.99Add to cartAlleluia is our Song draws together a collection of profound and beautiful seasonal reflections for the great fifty days from Easter Day to Pentecost, arguably the greatest season of the Church’s year.
Michael Mayne was one of Anglicanism’s most compelling and attractive voices, a gifted preacher and writer whose works have remained popular.
These unpublished writings come from a large archive and are offered as an inspirational resource for preaching at a time of the year when many preachers seek fresh ways of opening up familiar texts, and also for individual devotional reading.
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Strange Kingdom : Meditations On The Cross To Transform Your Day To Day Lif
$16.99Add to cartExperience how the power of the cross unleashes meaning and purpose in the midst of your daily life.
This meditative and spiritual reflection by Ken Costa considers the cross and the king who died upon it. Christ’s work on the cross established a kingdom that is strange indeed, if a king died on the cross in order to establish it. It is a kingdom where suffering and abandonment are transformed into the power of presence and live, a kingdom where a King exchanges gifts of great value for worthless dross, where a robber becomes righteous, and a criminal becomes the first citizen of heaven. Spend some time as Easter draws near considering the strange, upside-down kingdom, where broken things are made whole.
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Great Lent And Me (Large Type)
$14.00Add to cartGreat Lent is the spiritual springtime of the year. Every week of lent the church teaches us a lesson about a certain aspect of our spiritual life. Great Lent and me will help the reader go through this journey week by week. Fr Bishoy Kamel explains and contemplates on these Bible stories and how they can transform our lives.
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Messy Easter : Three Complete Sessions And A Treasure Trove Of Ideas For Le
$25.99Add to cartChocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, colored eggs, and baskets are a lot of fun, but is that all this season is about?
The new resource Messy Easter offers your church a tool to bring together people of all ages and all stages of faith for a unique come-as-you-are experience of
creativity-allowing space for all to play and create
celebration-worshiping God for his redeeming work in Jesus
hospitality-sharing a meal where all are welcomeThese three once-a-month sessions help us learn more about Lent, Holy Week, and Easter in an excitedly messy way!
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Easter Earthquake : How Resurrection Shakes Our World
$14.99Add to cartLike a news reporter announcing breaking news, Matthew reports that on the first Easter morning, a great earthquake shook the earth. An angel descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the entrance to Jesus’ tomb, and sat on the stone. This is the second earthquake recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The first one took place on Friday, when the noonday sky turned black and Jesus died. Matthew says, “The earth shook, and the rocks were split.” In Easter Earthquake, James Harnish invites us to place Easter at the center of our Lenten journey. This study explores how Christ’s resurrection shakes some of our most basic assumptions about ourselves and God. Harnish reverses the usual focus of Lenten studies by starting at the empty tomb and seeing the entire journey in light of the resurrection. This different perspective on the passion can bring fresh energy into our lives as followers of Christ.
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Imagining The Gospels Cycle B
$13.95Add to cartImagining the Gospels: Cycle B Sermons for Lent and Easter Based on the Gospel Texts is the latest from Rev. Timothy W. Ayers. As a pastor who writes his messages while also writing novels, children’s books, and short dramas, Rev. Ayers found himself working hard to visually create the picture of what was hap-pening in the gospel accounts. Why? These were people lis-tening to Jesus. They would have had emotions about the topics. They would have had little things they recognized when Jesus spoke about lambs, shepherds, and vines. Much like our congregants, there would be nods of recognition toward experiences in their lives. His goal was to get the listener to imagine themselves, with their feelings, and their rea-sons for being in church, to better use their cognitive skills, inside the stories.
At other times, Ayers sought to take them on a week by week journey through the Easter season. He didn’t assume they have a relationship with Christ. He didn’t assume they are vibrant, serving members of the congregation. He only assumed that the listener is seeking something they do not have. He was attempting to take them one step further on a journey from week to week.
At times Rev. Ayers brings humor to the scene in order to lighten the mood of the listener. The body relaxes when we laugh and that helps us to hear the message. Imagining the Gospels hopefully will achieve this.
This book will make life easier for any busy pastor during the Lent and Easter season, by providing a sermon for each and every Sunday, when attendance is likely to be at its highest.
This book has several intended uses:
Sermon ideas
Inspirational reading
Bible study with individuals or groupsSome Sermon Titles Include:
Beginning The Lenten Journey (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)
Tearing The Sky To Get To You (Mark 1:9-15)
Did I Say That Out Loud? (Mark 8:31-38, Mark 9:2-9)
The Road To The Passover (John 2:13-22)
A Nod Of Recognition (John 3:14-21) -
Redemption To Transformation The Journey Of Lent And Easter Cycle B
$13.95Add to cartIf the Lenten journey is traversed successfully, then we can fully enter into the celebratory time of Easter. Yet, even as we observe these events we must acknowledge that the challenges of the Christian life are ever present. We should never forget British writer G.K. Chesterton’s admonition in What’s Wrong with the World (1910), “The Christian life has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” The Easter season reminds us that despite the triumph of Christ there will always be challenges to our belief. We seemingly cannot believe unless we see; yet we know that faith often is beyond proof and, thus, beyond sight as well. We are also challenged to discover ways of transforming problematic situations and what appears to be defeat into triumph through the grace of God. Additionally, this great season of grace teaches us that we must continually evaluate what we do and keep our eyes fixed on Christ and his mission and message. Finally, as Jesus ascends to the Father, we come to realize that the Lord’s work in not complete and, therefore, each day presents us with the opportunity to do something to complete the master’s work.
The cycle B second lesson sermons of Reverend Richard Gribble’s Redemption to Transformation: The Journey of Lent and Easter represent an understanding of the challenges presented us through this highly significant and very special journey. The church in its wisdom gives us this opportunity annually to review where we are and, after ascertaining our present position, the challenge to move to higher realms that are more consistent with our common Christian call to holiness. It is hoped that these reflections will be helpful to you as together we travel the path from Lent to Easter, and eventually to Christ and eternal life.
Redemption to Transformation: The Journey of Lent and Easter provides a second lesson sermon for every Sunday of cycle B, which will provide the following advantages:To give busy pastors ideas for their sermon creation
To make the day-to-day life of being a pastor easier
To free up time for counseling, visitation, or just your own leisureSome Sermon Titles Include:
Suffering Leads to Victory (1 Peter 3:18-21)
Enduring the Trails of Faith (Romans 4:13-25)
The Cost of Discipleship (Philippians 2:5-11)
Sacrifice Leads to Life (Hebrews 10:16-25)
Rising to New Life (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) -
To The Cross (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartPreface
1. The Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-30
2. Peter’?s Denial: Matthew 26:69-75
3. Insults And Paradise: Luke 23:26-43
4. From Darkness To Light: Mark 15:33-39
5. It Is Finished: John 19:28-37
Appendix: Preparing To ProclaimAdditional Info
The cross is good news for us today. With the expertise of a veteran biblical scholar and the wisdom of a seasoned pastor, Christopher Wright skillfully guides us on Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper to the cross. Through the lens of the Old Testament, Wright navigates the Gospel accounts of events that include the meal in the upper room, Peter’s denials, the taunts and jeers of soldiers and bystanders, and the anguish of crucifixion, inviting us to meditate on their significance for us. Jesus’ death on the cross offers us the forgiveness that Jesus prayed for, and through his resurrection we can know redemption. This is good news! Adapted from sermons Wright preached at All Souls Church in London, these chapters are perfect for personal study and reflection. The book includes an appendix for pastors preparing to teach and preach on these passages, offering insight on sermon preparation as well as helpful commentary. -
On The Road To The Cross (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartThe Easter drama plays out on history’s stage with magnificent and larger-than-life characters. Yet some of the most important lessons of Easter come from those whose names you may not recognize: Simon the Leper, Malchus, the Centurion at the cross, Cleopas, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, and Mary Magdalene offer a unique perspective on one of the greatest events in human history. And yet their stories are often overlooked. On the Road to the Cross allows you to experience Easter through the eyes of the everyday people who witnessed the triumphal entry, saw Jesus drag his cross to Calvary, and cried through Christ’s last words. Each new perspective opens the door to a fresh consideration of Easter and its impact on their lives and ours. Leader guide also available.
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Creed Youth Study Book (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartWe’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this six-week study for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters. This Youth Study Book takes the ideas presented in Adam Hamilton’s book and interprets them for young people grades 6-12. Can be used with the adult-level DVD.
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Creed Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$12.99Add to cartWe’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this six-week study for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the 6-week study for Lent and Easter, including session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.
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Creed : What Christians Believe And Why (Large Type)
$20.99Add to cartWe’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this book for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters. Chapters include: Is There a God? Jesus: More Than a Rabbi? The Holy Spirit: A Rushing Mighty Wind Death’s Funeral Holy? Catholic? Church? The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body Creed: What Christians Believe and Why is also part of a six-week church-wide program that includes a Leader Guide, DVD, and youth and children resources.
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Creed Childrens Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$18.99Add to cartWe’re all searching. Sometimes the search is easy: simply type a question and the answer pops up. But sometimes our questions are complicated, and the answers are difficult to see and harder to articulate. How do we discover and examine the truths that give meaning and purpose to life? Adam Hamilton believes that some powerful answers are contained in the Apostles’ Creed, an early statement of foundational Christian beliefs. In this six-week study for Lent, Easter, and beyond, Hamilton considers important questions of life, reality, and truth. He explores not only what Christians believe, but also why they believe it and why it matters. The Children’s Leader Guide contains session ideas for younger and older children, including games, activities, craft ideas, and reproducible handouts. Children are forming their own faith, and we can help shape it by looking at the beliefs contained in the Apostles’ Creed and presenting them in a way children can follow and enjoy.
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Sign And The Sacrifice
$18.00Add to cartRowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, presents the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection as viewed through the eyes of those who witnessed them. The Sign and the Sacrifice explores the meaning of the cross and the significance of Christ’s resurrection, discussing what these events meant to Jesus’ followers in the early years and what they can say to us today.
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Grace And Hope
$17.99Add to cartPrepare yourself to remember the meaning of Lent and celebrate Easter this season: grace for our past and present, hope for our future!
Beginning with Ash Wednesday, Grace & Hope: A 40-Day Devotional for Lent and Easter will guide you through this holy season of self-reflection, prayer, fasting, and remembrance-all to prepare you for the hopeful words “It is finished!” and even more wondrous words, “He is risen!”
Each short, engaging devotional will focus your heart and prepare your soul to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, using a faithful and relevant new translation of the Bible, The Passion Translation. It is an ideal devotional for your own personal, family, or small-group use. And daily Bible readings from The Passion Translation will deepen your understanding of God’s Word as you journey toward the cross.
We trust this devotional and version of Scripture will kindle in you a burning, passionate desire for the One who bore our pain and shame, and give you a greater measure of grace and hope!
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Make Room : A Child’s Guide To Lent And Easter
$16.99Add to cartEncourage your children to learn the importance of Lent and Easter with Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary, and illustrated by Ann Boyajian. Make Room presents Lent as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God. Episodes from the life of Jesus are woven together with a child’s wondering and reflections on how these stories might shape our own choices and actions throughout the season. Lent can be a difficult for season for children, unlike advent, which is filled with delightful anticipation and growing light, Lent is a journey through dark and frightening places. This book offers suggestions on simple and practical activities like cleaning a room, making bread and soup, turning off the television, clearing clutter, or inviting a neighbor for supper, that encourage kids to learn how to live like Jesus.
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Easter Programs Dramas And Skits For Youth
$8.99Add to cartA compilation of programs written for youth 10-16. A new author collection writing in contemporary and tradition formats and style for churches of all sizes and selected small groups. This program book also contains poems, quotes and reading to add to the enjoyment and inspiration during this special time in the church.
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God For Us Readers Edition
$21.99Add to cartGod For Us explores the meaning of Lent, its importance in spiritual formation, its significance in preparation for Easter, and the holy season of Easter itself.
God For Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter features reflections by Scott Cairns, Kathleen Norris, Richard Rohr, Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, James Schaap, Luci Shaw, Beth Bevis, and Lauren F. Winner. By delving deeply into the Christian tradition they reveal what one theologian has called the “bright sadness” of Lent-that it is not about becoming lost in feelings of brokenness, but about cleansing the palate so that we can taste life more fully. Lent and Easter reveal the God who is for us in all of life-for our liberation, for our healing, for our wholeness. Lent and Easter remind us that even in death there can be found resurrection.
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Day I Was Crucified
$15.99Add to cart“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29)No work of modern literature can usher you so powerfully and intimately into the Savior’s heart like The Day I Was Crucified.
Master storyteller, Gene Edwards (author of Divine Romance) recounts the harrowing scene of Calvary as if the crucifixion narrative was being told by Jesus Himself.
In this book, you will…
*Encounter the depths of God’s unfathomable love as you walk side by side with Jesus during His final moments on Earth.
*Live in new levels of thankfulness as you come face to face with the full measure of what Jesus carried to the Cross on your behalf.
*Take an unforgettable journey, where the heartache of the Cross and victory of the Resurrection have never been more real to you.Step into history’s most powerful and defining moment as you gaze upon the Lamb of God with new eyes.
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Resurrecting Easter : Meditations For The Great 50 Days
$18.95Add to cartEstablished author provides devotional resources for the forgotten post-
Easter season* Short daily readings offer more seasonally-appropriate material for those
accustomed to a Lenten practiceAmerican Christians have forgotten the Easter season. We celebrate the Resurrection of
Jesus on one day and then return to ordinary time. But Christ appeared over and over
again for forty days in resurrected form. We cannot sustain this resurrection season
because that kind of sustained joy overwhelms us. This book is designed to help us
sustain Easter. -
Jiffy For Eternity Cycle A
$17.95Add to cartDr. Leslie Holmes is one of America’s finest scholar preachers, an impelling communicator in both the spoken and, as you will witness, the written word. He writes as he speaks — with conviction, warmth, and insight.
Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie
Former Chaplain, United States SenateDr. Leslie Holmes has a keen mind coupled with a heart that burns with passion for evangelism.
Dr. R.C. Sproul
Author and TheologianDr. Holmes’s belief in the eternal verities of the Christian faith is exciting. His ability to take those truths and apply them in a practical, life-changing way is refreshing.
Dr. Steve Brown
Author, Professor of Preaching, and Founder of Key Life MinistriesRobert Leslie Holmes provides a refreshing look at the message of the cross in his sermons for Cycle A Lent and Easter seasons, A Jiffy for Eternity. Written for preachers by a preacher, A Jiffy for Eternity provides deep, exegetical analysis to each sermon and delivers truths in a way that are stunningly relevant to today’s reader.
Rich with both authority and passion for exploring the word of God, A Jiffy for Eternity carefully balances scriptural and historical investigations to consistently lead the reader toward compelling insights and biblically anchored understandings. Holmes’ love for the word of God is starkly evident throughout each sermon, and his deep knowledge of biblical history and interpretation remind the reader of the timeless truths of God’s word.
“In his name, God has entrusted us with an ‘obligation’ about the message that supersedes every other message in the world. In his name, God gives us the Holy Spirit who makes the message we preach new for every generation.” Holmes does not declare this pastoral obligation easily, for he has experienced firsthand the difficult task of delivering fresh life into ancient words. But the word of God is an “immoveable rock of trust,” and in that conviction, Robert Leslie Holmes presents a series of sermons that seek to transform the hearts and lives of the church with well-worn truths that remain ever-fresh and ever-new.
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Easter Prayer
$8.99Add to cartLittle ones learn they have much to thank God for when spring arrives – bunnies, flowers, and Easter eggs are fun, but the best of all is Jesus! Preschoolers can’t help but notice all the new wonders of springtime, and An Easter Prayer emphasizes that God is the One to thank! Sweet rhymes and adorable art are perfect for young listeners, who will ask to read this colorful, die-cut board book even when spring is long past. Families will want to collect all the titles in the Time to Pray series, including A Pumpkin Prayer and An “I Love You” Prayer.
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Once A Day 40 Days To Easter Devotional
$4.99Add to cartAs you read this powerful booklet during the Lenten season, you will experience spiritual growth through interaction with Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. The readings culminate in the Passion Week and Easter Sunday, and you will gain a greater understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as you examine critical passion narratives in the Gospels. Through your interaction with these Lenten readings, you will be a joyful witness of God’s carefully orchestrated plan to redeem the world through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. These 40 devotions will allow you to gain a more complete perspective on your personal relationship with Jesus and the power of his work in your life today. Written by Dr. Kenneth Boa, president of Reflections Ministries, each devotion provides thoughts for meditation along with a prayer for each day, making this the perfect devotional for personal, family or small-group use.
Features:
* 40 daily devotions with multiple Scripture readings
* A meditation that amplifies the Scripture passages
* Each daily reading ends with a prayer
* Scripture text from the clear, accessible New International Version (NIV) Bible -
God Is On The Cross
$17.00Add to cartWhen people suggest in their letters . . . that I’m ‘suffering’ here, I reject the thought. It seems to me a profanation. These things mustn’t be dramatized. I doubt very much whether I’m ‘suffering’ any more than you, or most people, are suffering today. Of course, a great deal here is horrible, but where isn’t it? . . . No, suffering must be something quite different, and have a quite different dimension, from what I’ve so far experienced.”
-from Letter to Eberhard Bethge from Tegel prison, 9 MarchThese forty-seven stirring devotions will guide and inspire readers as they move thematically through the weeks of Lent and Easter, encountering themes of prayerful reflection, self-denial, temptation, suffering, and the meaning of the cross. Passages from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s letters and sermons provide special encouragement as readers prepare themselves spiritually for Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Supplemented by an informative introduction to Bonhoeffer’s life and a Scripture passage for each day of the season, these daily devotions are moving reminders of the true gift of Christ on the cross.
Also available: God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas.
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Easter : What The Bible Tells Us About The Easter Story (Reprinted)
$14.00Add to cartPeople know the often-told story of Easter so well that it is hard to hear or feel afresh the deep spiritual meaning of what Easter really means. William Barclay goes right back to the original Biblical texts and translates them, providing surprising and fascinating insights along the way. Readers are guaranteed to find new insight and a fresh understanding of a story that they thought they knew. This book is one of a series and each title will have an introduction by one of today’s most valued writers.The Foreword to Insights Easter is written by Diane Louise Jordan.
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Spiritual Plays For Christmas Easter And Other Occasions
$29.49Add to cartA compilation of 22 Spiritual plays for Christmas, Easter, and Other Occasions, written by a Black Christian Woman. The plays are practical lessons from God’s Word in a simplified format injected with humor for the edification, inspiration and enjoyment to Christians and non-Christians alike. Working as scriptwriter, producer and director for the performance of these plays in her church for thirteen years provided the writer an additional way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, enhancing Biblical knowledge to the writer, reader, play performer and viewing audience.
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Week That Changed The World
$17.95Add to cartThis devotional for Lenten and Easter meditations is a synthesis of the four gospel accounts of the eight days of Jesus’ passion and resurrection.
Uses the popular and contemporary TNIV translation
Includes maps, notes, and user guide
Preface by Robert Webber, noted evangelical scholarBeginning with Palm Sunday, the gospels record every day of Jesus’ life up to the time of his death and resurrection. These eight days are unparalleled in the canon of Scripture for their narrative power, their detail, and their focus. A unique synthesis of the four gospel accounts of the passion and resurrection of Christ is provided in this seamless and elegant narrative account of the Easter events, including every detail mentioned in all four Gospels, but without any unnecessary repetition or distracting references.
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Easter From The Back Side
$12.99Add to cartUsing an approach similar to the one he took in Parables from the Back Side and other books in the popular Back Side series, author J. Ellsworth Kalas opens up new possibilities of insight into the biblical Easter story. The author looks beyond the traditional gospel scriptures to connect the story of Christ’s resurrection with other stories and scriptures throughout the Bible, including both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Kalas’s creative approach both clarifies basic teachings and introduces new possibilities of meaning, even for those who are most familiar with the Easter story. Enriched with contemporary illustrations and personal experiences, this volume will provide new perspectives on Easter.
Chapter titles and Scriptures include: “Why We Need Easter” (Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24); “Easter from an Ash Heap” (Job 19:13-27); “Easter for the Disillusioned” (Ecclesiastes 2:14-26); “Ezekiel Celebrates Easter” (Ezekiel 37:1-10); “Easter Is a Love Story” (John 20:1-18); “Late for Easter” (1 Corinthians 15:1-11); and “Forever Easter” (Revelation 21:1-4).
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Cry From The Cross
$8.95Add to cartChristianity is a faith centered around an instrument of suffering and death — a cross. The hope of every believer is rooted in it. Over the centuries, the cross has become a universal symbol of both suffering and redemption.
On Good Friday, the cross takes center stage in our worship. Passages from the gospels retelling the agonizing tale of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death are recited to the point where the words may become commonplace for some Christians. We may know the words, but have we explored their meaning?
A Cry from the Cross, a series of seven sermons, explores each of the last seven statements given by Jesus as recorded in the gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. As each statement is explored — statements like “Father, Forgive Them” or “Woman, Here Is Your Son” — Robert Cornwall offers deeper insights into the meaning and significance of the cross as it relates to the Christian faith.
This is a useful resource for pastors and lay ministers, one that can be used as an inspiration for Good Friday sermons, a Lenten study series, or simply a window to greater personal insight into that day on a hill outside Jerusalem so many years ago — a day that shaped the future of the entire world.
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Easter Services Sermons And Prayers
$14.99Add to cartProvides help in planning for Easter, which includes inviting the public, understanding those who will attend, including children in the services, and suggestions for using visuals.
Creative liturgies, sermon helps, and prayers for Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, and the 50 days of Easter -
True Story About The Sign Of Jonah
$21.99Add to cartThis book shows that the traditional view of Easter (Palm Sunday, Friday crucifixion, and Sunday morning resurrection) is not scriptural. To grasp what really happened to Jesus requires an understanding of the Hebrew calendar, derived from the book of Exodus. Jesus was crucified on the Preparation Day and was entombed during the Passover, on the spices and perfume Preparation Day and during the regular Jewish Sabbath. This is three days and three nights just as Jesus prophesied numerous times. The Easter festival was established with a Greek calendar much later and can never explain the sign of Jonah.
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True Story About The Sign Of Jonah
$13.49Add to cartThis book shows that the traditional view of Easter (Palm Sunday, Friday crucifixion, and Sunday morning resurrection) is not scriptural. To grasp what really happened to Jesus requires an understanding of the Hebrew calendar, derived from the book of Exodus. Jesus was crucified on the Preparation Day and was entombed during the Passover, on the spices and perfume Preparation Day and during the regular Jewish Sabbath. This is three days and three nights just as Jesus prophesied numerous times. The Easter festival was established with a Greek calendar much later and can never explain the sign of Jonah.
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Road To Victory
$12.95Add to cartFor the Lenten season, here are seven lessons designed to help Christians walk a road that will draw them closer to Jesus — at the time of year when his walk on the Via Dolorosa was fast approaching.
Each lesson can be taught to a group or studied individually. Included with the study are suggested songs, thought questions, and more — the reader can pick and choose which elements of each study they wish to use. The Road to Victory will help study participants apply Jesus’ example to our lives. The lessons include:
Handling Temptation
Noted By Compassion
Being Radical
The Patient Teacher
The Miraculous
A Small Visit Along The Way
The Sacrifice -
Traveling Calvarys Road
$21.95Add to cartThis anthology provides an abundance of services, dramas, monologues, and sermons for use from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Using such things as newspapers and candles, these services will leave a lasting impression. Easy to stage and perform, these programs use varying numbers of people, and flexible hymns. Copy privileges are granted.
Traveling Calvary’s Road includes:
Ash Wednesday Services:
Into The Wilderness by Anne W. Anderson
We Are But Ashes by William LuomaPalm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion Services:
Your King Comes by Janice Bennett Wyatt
Crown Him Lord of All! by William LuomaMaundy Thursday Services:
Like a Rose by Lynne Cragg
A Table, A Garden, And A Courtroom by Leonard V. KalkwarfGood Friday Services:
It Seems Like Just Yesterday! by Pamela D. Williams
Faces by Michelle Griep
Extinguished A Tenebrae Service by Anne W. AndersonEaster Sunrise Services:
Sing To The Lord A New Song by Howard Eshbaugh
He Is Risen Indeed! by William LuomaEaster Monologue
The Big Secret by Michelle Griep -
Thank God Its Friday
$18.99Add to cartChrist’s seven last words from the cross have long been a source of reflection, challenge, and soul-searching. These simple phrases contain the full range of human emotions and divine self-revelation – grief, compassion, despair, forgiveness, physical need, the promise of redemption. Written with the clarity, depth, and insight that are Willimon’s trademark, this book offers readers a chance to encounter, in compelling new ways, the words that contain the core of the gospel.
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Palm Sunday And Holy Week Services
$13.99Add to cartReady-to-use lectionary-based worship and preaching resources for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Includes three options for Palm Sunday services including procession suggestions with special emphasis on participation by children. Also includes two suggested services for each lectionary year (A, B, and C), six services for Holy Thursday and three services for Good Friday.
Includes ready-to-use Palm Sunday and Holy Week services for worship with multiple worship options for each lectionary year scripture. Gives suggested liturgies for each services including those related to Taize.
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From A Soldier Of Rome To A Soldier For Christ
$8.95Add to cartGive your congregation a new perspective on the Easter story with this chancel drama that depicts the familiar events of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the viewpoint of a Roman soldier. A series of brief vignettes portrays the soldier’s transformation into a follower of Christ, and the drama climaxes as the soldier announces his new identity while the setting is altered. Congregational participation is encouraged through the singing of hymns between each scene. This adaptable piece is easy to stage and can be presented by any number of youth or adults (or a combination of age groups); most of the speaking is done by a narrator who speaks from the pulpit, so there’s no need to memorize extensive dialogue. A list of props and costumes is included, along with simple instructions for the setting. Performance time is approximately 30 minutes.
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People Who Met Jesus
$14.95Add to cartIn the latest installment of his popular series examining the basics of the Christian faith, Ron Lavin takes another look at the final days of Jesus’ life on earth through the eyes of the people whose lives were changed by their encounters with the Lord. Lavin examines their stories, both familiar and little-known, and highlights how their experiences intersect our lives. By telling the story of Jesus, they point us toward God.
People Who Met Jesus is an ideal Lenten group study resource — each chapter includes questions for stimulating discussion. It’s also excellent for adult Sunday school or new member classes throughout the year, as well as for sermon preparation or personal meditation.
Other titles in the Another Look series:
* I Believe; Help My Unbelief (on the Apostles’ Creed)
* Stories To Remember (on the Parables of Jesus)
* Abba (on the Lord’s Prayer)
* Saving Grace (on the Word and Sacraments)
* The Big Ten (on the Ten Commandments) -
Sharing The Easter Faith With Children
$25.99Add to cartIt is easy to share the Christmas story and faith with children. The story lends itself well to pageants and other celebratory events for children. It is not as easy to share the Easter story and faith with children because the messages and images are complex. In many congregations, children are featured in palm parades on Palm Sunday but not specifically planned for at other holy week services. This book explores what the Easter message can mean for children as they grow up. Brown helps congregations and families share the Easter message with children and include the children meaningfully in Lent, Holy Week, and Easter observances. The volume includes a reproducible booklet for parents.
This carefully researched and well-grounded, practical resource from a respected Christian educator will strengthen a congregation’s educational ministry with children and support parents as they shape the faith of their children.
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Celebrating Holy Week In A Post Holocaust World
$28.00Add to cartAn ongoing issue for clergy as well as Christians in general is how to approach New Testament narratives about the crucifixion of Jesus in relation to Jews, Judaism, and the horrific events of the Holocaust. The popular movie “The Passion of the Christ” has brought one aspect of this problem into widespread public attention. The events of Holy Week pose particular challenges for clergy and congregations. In this book Henry Knight helps us deal with Holy Week texts in light of our post-Holocaust world and provides practical examples of prayers, liturgies, and resource material to help pastors prepare for and lead worship and teach during this important time in the life of a congregation.
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Why Did Jesus Die
$8.95Add to cartWhat really motivated the main characters in the events surrounding Jesus’ death? Was Judas merely a pragmatic man dealing with the unpleasant realities of everyday life in an occupied land? Was Herod an honorable leader of the Hebrew people who was concerned with saving lives? Was Pontius Pilate a talented and efficient representative of Rome who was simply trying to keep the peace? Or did they all intentionally participate in the wrongful execution of an innocent man?
Written in an easy-to-present format, this fascinating drama series will have your congregation pondering how they would answer these and many other questions. Six biblical characters come to life in new and revealing ways as they take the witness stand in a contemporary grand jury inquiry into the meaning of Jesus’ death. While attempting to explain their thoughts and actions, Judas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, Mary Magdalene, and Peter face intense questioning by a state’s attorney. The innovative grand jury approach makes audiences active participants in the drama, as they are challenged to determine the true significance of the crucifixion.
Why Did Jesus Die? is an enlightening six-part resource that’s perfect for weekly Lenten worship, but it can also be easily used as a single dramatic production. Several thought-provoking questions relating to each witness’s testimony are provided to spark follow-up discussion, and a closing argument by the state’s attorney summarizes the evidence pointing to Jesus’ innocence ? and our sinful guilt.
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Worship Innovations 3
$17.95Add to cartDedicated to providing fresh ideas for busy ministers and worship planners in a variety of settings, the Worship Innovations series offers practical resources that will bring the Bible to life and brighten your worship services. The easy-to-produce dramas and programs can be used in any size church, yet are flexible enough to fit almost any worship style. And each user-friendly resource comes with detailed instructions, including a complete list of everything you need to prepare for.
In this Worship Innovations volume, the focus is on the Lent and Easter season. Like the first two books, this is a rich storehouse that will supply you with many seasons worth of compelling, scripturally authentic material. Included are:
* The Paths to Calvary — a series of six short dramatic monologues for the weeks leading up to Easter in which biblical characters tell of their encounters with Jesus
* Our Place at the Table — a dramatic re-enactment of the events preceding the Last Supper, culminating in a congregational communion service
* A Passover to Remember — a complete Maundy Thursday service with a modified Passover seder as the centerpiece
* A Growing Darkness — a Good Friday tenebrae service featuring seven readings about the day’s events, brought to life with several costumed monologues
* Seven Words to Die By — based on Christ’s seven last words, this tenebrae service finds meaningful truths in the somber events of the crucifixion through monologues, scripture readings, music, and prayers
* Surprise at Sunrise — an Easter sunrise service depicting the resurrection discovery in four vignettes using child actors
* The Week of Weeks — a set of interactive scripture readings for each of the Sundays between Easter and PentecostOther titles in the Worship Innovations series:
Hanging The Greens For Christmas
Easy Bible Drama -
Season Of Ash And Fire
$20.99Add to cartIn addition to prayers and liturgies for Ash Wednesday through Ascension Day, this book includes suggested themes and symbols for the Sundays of Lent, daily Scripture readings for Lent and the fifty Days of Easter, household prayers for Lent and Easter, and an order for Lenten study groups. A Selected Scripture Index is included. This book has been designed for ease of use in both thematic and lectionary-based worship services.
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Walking The Way Of Sorrows
$14.95Add to cartEach year on Good Friday and throughout Lent, Christian congregations all over the world walk the Stations of the Cross, a commemoration of Jesus’ walk to Calvary. In Walking the Way of Sorrows, artist Noyes Capehart and writer/journalist Katerina Whitley provide a fresh resource for congregations and individuals who want to explore the meaning of these Stations more deeply. Capehart’s stark and powerful blockcuts of the fourteen Stations are accompanied by monologues from the point of view of someone at each station. These monologues, along with biblical references and a brief liturgy, are excellent for individual devotion, but can also be used by groups who walk the Stations together.
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Lessons From A Dog Guide Cycle C
$10.95Add to cartDee Brauninger has a way with words that makes one’s heart sing and be open to learn andhear more. Gentle phrases leap out and make one think and wrestle with God and one’s self.(from the introduction)Margaret Slater, Inclusive Ministry CoordinatorLocal Church Ministries, United Church of ChristIn these meditations on the love and trust of the relationship between guide dog and person, readersfind themselves learning to love and to trust in other important ways. Brauninger speaksfrom experience, yet with care and respect for the reader’s own journey and conclusions about life.Mary Avidano, PastorAlbion United Church of ChristAlbion, NebraskaBrauninger has a gift for writing words that are truly inspired and inspiring. Her workwith guide dogs has given her a unique insight into spiritual life, and a very understandableway of presenting God’s message.Judy Campbell, Director of TrainingLeader Dogs for the BlindRochester, MichiganTheses superbly crafted meditations, focusing on messages of hope and the reality of God’spresence, introduce insights that speak to the heart. The meditations bear reading severaltimes, allowing one to savor the words and explore the meanings for one’s own life.Martha D. Walker, Counselor and Christian EducatorPottstown, PennsylvaniaUsing her own experiences with leader dogs as a metaphor for our dependence upon a caringGod, Brauninger creatively weaves together personal stories, fresh insights into biblical passages, and implications for people in the pews.Dosia Carlson, Pastor EmeritusChurch of the BeatitudesPhoenix, ArizonaThese messages are a real treasure! Told in a setting that includes a dog guide namedTreasure, the stories help relate our faith to our own daily situations. Treasure helps us gainsome insight and understanding into both our faith and our life.Bob Loffer, Associate Conference MinisterNebraska Conference, United Church of ChristThe images of our faith strengthen our spiritual growth. Dee Brauninger weaves the attributesof the divine so well as she captures the person with a disability living in unity with adog, or is it with God?David Denham, ConsultantUnited Church of Christ Disabilities MinistriesDallas A. Brauninger is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ andfull-time writer who has served churches in Colorado and Nebraska. She has been honoredby her denomination for outstanding ministry to persons with disabilities and theirfamilies, and she is the editor of That All May Worship And Serve, the
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If A Sermon Falls In The Forest
$23.95Add to cartThis fascinating volume looks at the scriptural texts concerning a pivotal New Testament theme — the resurrection of Jesus — and examines how they may be read in various interpretive communities. Shepherd analyzes each of the major New Testament writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul — and places their distinctive accounts of Jesus’ resurrection in the broader context of their entire output. Through a careful study of the literary, historical, theological, anthropological, and sociological dimensions that color each writer’s picture of the resurrection, Shepherd helps readers understand the unique view each brought to bear on the life of Jesus and the faith of his followers.
But that is not all this book has to offer. Each section also includes one or more sample sermons illustrating how a preacher might treat these texts for an actual congregation. Each message is introduced with a description of its original setting and the homiletical and interpretive issues involved — so this is an excellent resource for pastors looking for stimulating Easter material or instructive preaching models.
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Alleluia : Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
$12.95Add to cartElaine Ward passionately believes that it is vital for children to hear the good news of God’s love through the Lenten stories of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In this companion volume to An Idle Tale Becomes Good News (also available from CSS Publishing Company), Ward shares her gift for communicating with young people through twenty stories based on specific phrases or objects related to Jesus’ ministry in his final days or in his resurrection appearances. Each message tells a captivating tale in easily understood language, then invites children to enter the sacred story by connecting it with the scriptural narrative. Brief talking points and questions are included to help presenters clearly make the link for their young listeners.
Stories include:
* The Wasted Ointment
* The Warning Dream
* The Misdirected Tears
* The Torn Curtain
* The Idle Tale
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Idle Tale Becomes Good News
$15.95Add to cartEach chapter in this collection of twenty meditations considers a specific phrase or object related to Jesus’ ministry in his final days or in his resurrection appearances. In several cases, this is something intangible yet very distinct, such as Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, Pilate’s wife’s dream, or the astounding news of the resurrection which seemed like an “idle tale.” Other messages address objects that could have been seen and touched: the torn curtain in the Temple, ropes, scars, or the burial spices the women brought to the empty tomb. But whether tangible or intangible, each symbol reflects a significant event in the biblical narrative which Sheets explores to see what lessons can be drawn for today’s Christian living. This volume is excellent for adult Sunday school classes or other study groups, devotional reading during Lent and Easter, and as background for sermon preparation. A companion book of children’s sermons based on the same texts (Alleluia! by Elaine M. Ward) is also available from CSS Publishing Company.
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Journey Of Stones
$7.95Add to cartDrawing on the rich imagery of rocks and stones in scripture, these powerful messages center around the compelling metaphor of stones (and our willingness to throw them) as representative of our sins. As worshipers enter the sanctuary they are invited to pick up stones as a concrete symbol of each sermon’s theme; then as the message concludes the stones are placed at the foot of the cross. When the stones disappear on Easter (just like the stone sealing Jesus’ tomb), it’s a vivid illustration of how the Lord also removes our stones of sin. Each chapter includes several thought-provoking discussion questions to spur further reflection. With messages for Ash Wednesday, five weeks of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, this is an excellent resource for Lenten midweek programming.
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Getting Our Feet Wet
$12.95Add to cartLent is a great time to work dramatic presentations into your congregation’s programming — and Getting Our Feet Wet, a collection of 14 thoughtful sketches depicting Lenten themes, is a great resource for communicating the Gospel in fresh and exciting ways. Written with grace and style, the scenes probe common assumptions about faith, making a vivid impression on audiences while stretching their theological imagination. Most of the dramas explore familiar biblical events from novel vantage points: the proprietor of the upper room, two anonymous women at the crucifixion, wine-weary disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some of the stories bring out the humor and theological edge in scripture, while others leave readers yearning for the Good News of Easter. Appropriate for intimate gatherings or large worship services (particularly during Holy Week), many of the scenes require only one or two characters, and each comes with specific directions for props, sound, and lighting. Performance time of the scenes varies from approximately 5 to 12 minutes.
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Come In And Worship
$12.95Add to cartCome In And Worship offers a complete worship resource for your Holy Week needs, including a festival celebration for Palm Sunday, a Holy Communion service for Maundy Thursday, and a tenebrae service for Good Friday. Each features lengthy scriptural readings supplemented with stirring messages that place worshipers in the emotional turmoil of the passion events. The Palm Sunday ceremony includes a charming children’s story, “The Donkey’s Tale.”
Anyone who has to plan or lead worship will find these services to be a wonderful way of bringing Holy Week to life for congregations. Use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated seasonal program.
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Gathering At Golgotha
$7.95Add to cartGathering At Golgotha provides a simple yet dramatic way for a group of readers to present the human drama at the heart of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion by focusing on the emotions of those with whom Jesus was most intimate. Including an original song, the script gives fresh voice to the feelings of Jesus’ close companions on that black night. This easy-to-produce piece uses very few props and needs minimal rehearsal time to create a lasting effect.
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Were You There
$7.95Add to cartThe story of Good Friday and Easter Day is dramatized through the device of “man-on-the-street” interviews. As a radio reporter tries to obtain details of the crucifixion, we hear the viewpoints of many people who witnessed the events, from children to a Roman soldier to a rabbi to some of the disciples. Then we hear radio announcers “on the scene” reporting the astounding good news of the resurrection. With parts for 6 men, 2 women, and 3 children, Were You There? is an excellent way to bring the Passion story to life while involving many members of your congregation.
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At The Foot Of The Cross
$10.95Add to cartSeven figures who were at the foot of the cross (or might have been there) pour their hearts out to Jesus in these dramatic conversations. Judas opens the series, spiritually wrestling with himself at the cross before taking his own life, pondering what he had done to Jesus. Other characters include the Centurion, Simon of Cyrene, the disciples John and Peter, as well as Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus. An additional monologue for Easter sunrise worship dramatizes the angel at the empty tomb waiting for the women to arrive, reflecting on the week’s events.
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Tenebrae For Modern Times
$7.95Add to cartTenebrae For Modern Times combines scripture, contemporary language, and prose poetry in an innovative setting. Within the framework of a standard worship service, short reflections by six apostles are echoed by the musings of six contemporary people with similar concerns. This juxtaposition reveals that little has changed in almost 2000 years – there are still taxes to pay and family situations to deal with. Questions central to our lives are addressed: “How do I find time for my family?” “How can I find time for church work?” and “How can I bring God into my life?” The service does not require a sermon, and there are suggested hymns and choral anthems for the church musician. The format allows for participation by many readers, yet the service is very adaptable for use by small congregations. No props or costumes are required, though the service may be performed in costume if desired. This truly distinctive Good Friday resource combines the past, present, and future into a poignant worship experience. Good Friday is an important day in the lives of Christians, and Marie Asner’s Tenebrae For Modern Times is a powerful way to make that day significant and meaningful in our lives. She causes us to think deeply about our own relationship with the Lord with her references to Jesus’ disciples as well as modern people who struggle. Each of us will be touched and changed by her inspired writings.
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Last Supper : A Maundy Thursday Portrayal
$7.95Add to cartWith The Last Supper, you won’t just hear about this familiar story, you’ll see it and feel it! It’s an insightful look at one of the most poignant moments in the life of Jesus. Glimpses into the personalities and backgrounds of the disciples emphasize the human qualities that we share with them. It’s also a visual portrayal of the sacrament of Holy Communion. This is a dramatic way to celebrate Maundy Thursday, as the program deftly combines a depiction of the Last Supper with a tenebrae service conclusion. In addition to the pastor, there are parts for 14 men and one woman. Character synopses and a seating chart for the portrayal are included.
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Prelude To Black Saturday
$7.95Add to cartThis liturgical drama provides a stark contrast to the joy and celebration of Easter morning. This service captures the reality of that Friday when our Lord was crucified. The cast includes people who were present on that final Friday – each sharing their emotions, from the sneering soldiers, to the heart-wrenching sobs and pleas of his mother, to Christ himself.
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Trials Of Christ
$7.95Add to cartThe Trials Of Christ is a readers’ theater presentation involving six people. It requires little rehearsal and no memorization.
The narrative is biblically based and provides a captivating message for Good Friday or Easter Sunday.
The Trials Of Christ attempts to demand a stand for truth from its audience, whether that stand be a theological position for Christ or a stand for truth in general. It challenges a congregation to consider the difficulty of taking a position that is totally unpopular or detrimental to the person taking that stand. The message helps direct listeners to live for eternal values.
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2 Good Friday Tenebrae Services
$9.95Add to cartThese services can be used by any number of participants, and include an order of service. Paradoxes Of The Passion examines the circumstances leading up to the crucifixion of an itinerant preacher from Galilee. What Shall I Do, Then, With Jesus Who Is Called Christ? brings us face to face with Pilate’s question that has echoed down the centuries.
Each of the Tenebrae services in this booklet can be used by any number of participants. An order of service for your bulletin preparations is also included.
Paradoxes Of The Passion brings to the worshiping congregation the circumstances leading up to the crucifixion of an itinerant preacher from Galilee who was no less than the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. The seven paradoxes are interspersed with hymns and prayers.
What Shall I Do, Then, With Jesus Who Is Called Christ? To Pilate’s surprise the crowd sought freedom for the murderer Barabbas rather than for Jesus. Pilate then asked the question that has echoed down the centuries to every man, woman, and child who has ever heard the Gospel: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” In this thought-provoking Good Friday Tenebrae service, Douglas Meyer explores how various key characters in the Passion story answered that question. Then he considers how The person in the pew answers that question today.
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2 Tenebrae Readings And Services
$7.95Add to cartTwo Tenebrae Readings And Services provides pastors and congregations with dramatic ways to remember the Passion of the Lord.
Tenebrae I – 9 reading parts
Tenebrae II – 12 reading partsParts are simple enough for both young people and adults. They are creatively drawn from the Bible narratives and present realistic human responses from those who would be his disciples.
These resources require very little preparation. They were conducted in the author’s congregation by calling the readers together an hour before the service.
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Meditations For The Six Days Of Holy Week
$7.95Add to cartThese six meditations offer a time and a place, suggested scripture readings from the Gospel texts, and provocative meditations. Participants will experience and share the commitment of fellowship in the days leading up to the surprise and joy of Easter.
Suggested uses:
Men’s prayer breakfast
Women’s breakfast or luncheon during Holy Week
Youth meetingsEach day offers suggested scripture readings and a provocative meditation that enables the participant to experience the pathos of the days leading up to the surprise and joy of Easter.
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Speaking With Signs
$7.95Add to cartSpeaking With Signs is a unique series of six object lessons for children during the Lenten season … making worship more meaningful for them (and for adults). Each lesson brings them a story from scripture by focusing upon a symbol related to the Easter story. Lessons are based on texts from Matthew and John.
Objects include:
a lantern
a rope
a crown of thorns
dice and a robe
a stepladder and sponge
a spear
a picture of an empty tomb -
3 For The Third Day
$12.95Add to cartBrevity and flexibility are the strengths of this volume. Each of these three drama-based Sunrise services takes only about 30 minutes to perform. The maximum number of participants required is nine and the minimum is four. Ages of the participants can range from adults to older elementary children.
The first service is titled We Were There and features an all female cast. It is the story of the women who were waiting for the sunrise trip to the tomb. The second is titled A Night Of Memories. It has Mary, the mother of Jesus, remembering the life of her son. As she recalls highlights of his life, corresponding scenes from the past become visible. The third service is called The Dream. It is the story of two young friends — a believer and a non-believer. One appears in the other’s dream as an angel and leads him through the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Hymn, costume and scenery suggestions are included with each service. Scriptural references are also cited.
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Resurrection Rain : Meditations For Holy Week
$21.00Add to cartWith thoughtful and engaging style, Arthur Fogartie brings us this insightful collection of meditations for the Easter season. Presented in a story sermon format, each tale is designed to stir the soul and offer pause for daily reflection during Holy Week.
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7 Last Words Of Jesus Christ
$7.95Add to cartFor centuries, the cross has been the central symbol of Christianity — and the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus have been indelibly etched into the Christian conscience as these words remind us of the pain and torture that Jesus faced on our behalf. But despite our ongoing struggle with evil and death, we can find faith and courage in the noble example that Jesus set on the cross. Maurice Fetty reminds of this in practical, down-to-earth sermons on each of these famous utterances. The messages of this outstanding preacher are sure to provide great material for a Good Friday worship experience.
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Access To High Hope Cycle A
$15.95Add to cartHarry Huxhold’s excellent sermons build on the epistle texts from the lectionary to express and explain the meaning of the Lord’s passion and resurrection. His messages interpret the events of Jesus’ life in the light of God’s revelation to us through the scriptures. By sharpening our focus on the access we have to hope through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he helps readers find the true significance in the events of his earthly life. Harry Huxhold currently serves as pastoral associate at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Carmel Indiana.
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Tears Of Sadness Tears Of Gladness Cycle A
$13.95Add to cartAlbert Butzer believes that “sermons should speak to the real and immediate lives of the listeners and be grounded in the everyday events of their lives.” This collection of sermons for Lent and Easter based on gospel texts definitely achieved that goal: Butzer’s messages consistently and creatively deliver a ringing proclamation of the good news. They are outstanding examples of the homiletical art that bring together several elements of the classic sermon: biblical text, theological tradition, life of the world, life and experience of a particular congregation, and faith and experience of the preacher.
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Passion For Pilgrimage
$23.95Add to cartUsing literature, art, and biblical texts as illustrations, Jones explores our search for light and love, repentance, and forgiveness in the context of the Passion and Easter stories. Includes study questions at the end of each chapter and makes an excellent group study during Lent or Easter as well as for individuals who would like to understand the Christian journey more deeply.
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Martin Luthers Easter Book
$11.99Add to cartThe late Roland Bainton, author of the much-respected Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, has translated excerpts from Luther’s Easter sermons and included 18 handsome engravings from Luther’s 1562 Bible, depicting real human beings agonizing and exulting over the mysteries of faith.
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Last Covenant
$7.95Add to cartThese two dramatic choral readings will place a permanent imprint on the conscience of all who speak and hear them. They won’t be heard as much as they will be felt. The pain and the anguish, the emptiness and hatred of that Friday long ago will fill the senses with such powerful rage that anyone in attendance will be transformed from passive bystanders to active participants in the quest for life as the glorious news of the risen Christ is known on Sunday.
Both choral readings involve five voices, which may be chosen from the congregation or can be performed as a choir litany. The combination of these voices will convey the strong emotions and images of the drama of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Both can be substituted for the sermon. No costumes or props are required.
With an order of worship, Easter Day’s reading includes congregational singing of nine hymns with the choral reading. The Last Covenant is a wonderfully effective way to involve the entire congregation in “”The Greatest Story Ever Told.””
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And Him Crucified
$7.95Add to cartCrowd: (Each person selects a phrase and repeats at random) Let him be crucified! Death! Crucify him! Let him die! Away with him!
Pilate: Why. What evil has he done?
Crowd: (At random) Let him be crucified! Away with him! Crucify him! Let him die!
Narrator 1: So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd.
Based on Matthew’s Gospel, And Him Crucified is a complete worship service in readers’ theater format. It brings the events of Jesus’ last days into the lives of your congregation. It needs few rehearsals and no costumes or experienced actors. A vivid and powerful picture of the crucifixion of Jesus is drawn from these pages. Six readers and two narrators are recommended, however you may use nearly 25 different speaking parts. The theater is part of the complete order of service, lasting about one hour.
The service includes suggested choir anthems.
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Living The Easter Faith
$12.95Add to cartLiving The Easter Faith is a series of Easter season sermons based on themes from Jesus’ parables. The parables demonstrate in a concrete and specific way the very heart and mind of the God revealed in Jesus.
“The Resurrection Age invites a new way of thinking and living in God’s world,” writes Donald William Dotterer. “Being Christian means that we adopt an alternative lifestyle. The parables of Jesus provide us with direction and insight for living the Easter faith.”
Sermons cover Easter Sunday through Easter 7. Texts are from Matthew, Luke and John. Sermon titles include “The Return Of The Lost,” “Counting The Cost,” and “Surprised By Grace.”
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Kneeling In Jerusalem (Large Type)
$20.00Add to cartIn a powerful and creative way, renowned author and speaker Ann Weems brings new insights into the Lenten season by providing seventy-one poems of inspiration. With her intutive and heartening poems, Weems takes the reader on a pensive journey through Lent and Easter.
