Author: John Stevens

Grateful for You

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Greetings Saints of God,

As 2020 comes to an end, and 2021 can be seen in the distance, I wanted to say, “Thank you.”

Thank you for all the ways you have supported this ministry over the last year. Thank you for all the ways you keep showing up for your congregations and for yourselves. Thank you!

This year has been a challenging year of pivots as we figured out how to do all the things that fell under, “Things they didn’t teach me!” From online church services, to reaching your kids via zoom, recorded children’s sermons, and the likes. I hope that my spring boards have been as helpful to you as they have been for me in making them.

And mostly, Thank You for your financial donations to this ministry. They have meant quite a bit, and I am grateful for each one of them.

I hope 2021 finds you healthy, and know that I am keeping you in my prayers.

Living in and through God’s Amazing Grace,

John

 

January 10th, 2021 – Baptism of the Lord Sunday

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Sunday: Baptism of the Lord Sunday

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Mark 1:4-11, Acts 19:1-7, Genesis 1:1-5

Dollar Store Item: Electric Fan, Someone in your bubble who can fan you, lemon juice, paper and a candle, a scratch pad and crayon/pencil you can do a rubbing with.

The Take Away: In Jesus’ baptism, we are introduced to the Holy Spirit, and to who Jesus’s identity!

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Luke 3:1-22

Dollar Store Item: Two items that are similar but different.

The Take Away: The Baptism of Jesus is similar to John’s Baptism but with the Holy Spirit, it is different.

Video:

January 3rd, 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Christmas/Epiphany Sunday

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Sunday: 2nd Sunday after Christmas

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: John 1:10-18

Dollar Store Item: Thread and needle

The Take Away: Like the string that keeps coming and coming, God pours out Grace upon Grace!!

Video:

Epiphany Sunday
Here is a link for an Epiphany Message:
https://dskidsermons.com/2018/12/27/january-6th-2019-epiphany-sunday/

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Luke 2:41-52

Dollar Store Item: Where is Waldo book, or Word Search.

The Take Away: Jesus acts surprised that his parents don’t know he would be in the temple. We are surprised in the places we find Jesus.

Video:

You’ve got this!

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Greetings Saints of God,
As Christmas Eve draws closer, and we push to get things ready for livestream, or recorded, or some hybrid of the two, or perhaps you are in a place where you can gather in some limited capacity, I wanted to take a moment to tell you this: You’ve got this! Truly. I mean it with all my heart.

Thank You!

I have been saying this at the end of each DSCS video, but I wanted to write it out because I have been feeling it deeply. I am so grateful for you all, and how you have risen to the occasion. Your congregations are grieving for sure, and the byproduct of that is they can forget to express their gratitude. Many have. Others haven’t. And it all makes sense. Because this is a heavy time in a season that is also supposed to be full of joy.

I appreciate you. Your congregation appreciates you. Close your eyes, and hear my words in their voice.

Thank you so very much! And may you feel the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the glow of this holy time.

John


December 27th, 2020 – 1st Sunday after Christmas

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Sunday: First Sunday after Christmas

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Luke 2:22-40

Dollar Store Item: A Pot of Water, or a wrapped gift.

The Take Away: Simeon and Anna have been waiting for this moment! Like these two, Christ comes to us as well.

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Luke 2:22-40

Dollar Store Item: A Pot of Water, or a wrapped gift.

The Take Away: Simeon and Anna have been waiting for this moment! Like these two, Christ comes to us as well.

Video:

December 24th, 2020 – Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day

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Sunday: Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Luke 2:1-20

Dollar Store Item: A bunch of normal stuff.

The Take Away: In the midst of all that is going on, God arrives on the scene!

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Luke 2:1-20

Dollar Store Item: A bunch of normal stuff.

The Take Away: In the midst of all that is going on, God arrives on the scene!

Video:

December 20th, 2020 – 4th Sunday of Advent

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Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:26-38

Dollar Store Item: Printout with the Address of the Church, maybe a return address off an envelope.

The Take Away: God promises to tent among us with Jesus Christ, and that God has never needed an address or a house.

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Luke 1:26-45 [46-56]

Dollar Store Item: Birth Announcement Cards

The Take Away: The Birth Announcement comes to the mother, and then to the World. And Mary answers, “Here I am!”

Video:

December 13th, 2020 – 3rd Sunday of Advent

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Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Dollar Store Item: Mirror

The Take Away: We are called to reflect the light into the world.

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Isaiah 61:1-11, Luke 4:16-21

Dollar Store Item: Picture of a Christmas Cactus

The Take Away: God promises will come up like a Christmas Cactus, surprising and amazing.

Video:

December 6th, 2020 – 2nd Sunday of Advent

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Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11

Dollar Store Item: Stuffed animal, blanket, Cup of Tea, something that comforts, and has a story attached to it.

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29, Luke 11:13

Dollar Store Item: Gift Box

The Take Away: God promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, which calls us again and again.

Video:

November 29th, 2020 – 1st Sunday of Advent

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Sunday: First Sunday of Advent

Revised Common Lectionary – Year B

Text: Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Dollar Store Item: Gift Tag labeled, “Don’t open till Christmas.”

The Take Away: We are in a time of waiting for Jesus, both for Christmas, and for Christ to come again. Even as we wait, we know the gift that has been given through Grace – Jesus Christ.

Video:

Narrative Lectionary

Text: Daniel 6:6-27

Dollar Store Item: Footprints that show you were to stand.

The Take Away: We are called to stand for the Lord, and stand for the oppressed.

Video: