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C. David Mckirachan

C. David McKirachan is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury in central New Jersey. He also teaches at Monmouth University. Two of his books, I Happened Upon a Miracle and A Year of Wonder, have been published by Westminster John Knox Press. McKirachan was raised in a pastor's home and he is the brother of a pastor, and he has discovered his name indicates that he has druid roots. Storytelling seems to be a congenital disorder. He lives with his 21-year-old son Ben and his dog Sam.
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Hoisted On Their Own Petard -- James 5:13-20, Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, Mark 9:38-50 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2018
Contents “Hoisted On Their Own Petard” by C. David McKirachan
These People Marvel at the Star / It's a Sure Thing -- Luke 21:25-36, Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Frank Ramirez, C. David Mckirachan -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Contents “These People Marvel at the Star” by Frank Ramirez
Hook and Line -- Mark 1:14-20, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2018
Contents "Hook and Line" by C. David McKirachan
Teeth -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Contents "Teeth" by C. David McKirachan "Being Ready" by Peter Andrew Smith
Watch -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
Contents "Watch" by C. David McKirachan

StoryShare

A Pile Of Camels -- Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2017
Contents "A Pile of Camels" by C. David McKirachan
Resolutions -- Matthew 5:13-20, Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Psalm 112:1-9 (10) -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2017
Contents "Resolutions" by C. David McKirachan
Life From Death -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Psalm 51:1-17 -- Frank Ramirez, C. David Mckirachan -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2017
Contents "Life from Death" by Frank Ramirez
Witness In The Wilderness -- John 4:5-42, Exodus 17:1-7 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Contents "Witness in the Wilderness" by Peter Andrew Smith
Your Staff Comforts Me -- Psalm 23, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Contents "Your Staff Comforts Me" by C. David McKirachan
Tidal Surge -- Matthew 21:1-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2017
Contents "Tidal Surge" by C. David McKirachan
Light For The Darkness -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2017
Contents "Light for the Darkness" by Keith Wagner
Lousy Way To Run A Business -- John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Psalm 23 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Lousy Way to Run a Business" by C. David McKirachan
Intimacy -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Intimacy" by C. David McKirachan
Going Native -- Matthew 10:24-39, Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2017
Contents "Going Native" by C. David McKirachan
The Pillow -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2017
Contents "The Pillow" by C. David McKirachan
Jesus Is Coming, Look Busy -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 -- C. David Mckirachan, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2017
Contents "Jesus Is Coming, Look Busy" by C. David McKirachan
Teeth -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Contents "Teeth" by C. David McKirachan "Being Ready" by Peter Andrew Smith
Wild Oats -- Psalm 25:1-9, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 -- C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
Contents "Wild Oats" by C. David McKirachan
Watch -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- C. David Mckirachan, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
Contents "Watch" by C. David McKirachan
Watch for What? -- Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- C. David Mckirachan -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "Watch for What?" by C. David McKirachan
Living Outside The Box -- John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, Psalm 148 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents "Living Outside the Box" by Keith Wagner
The Church Finally Got It -- John 14:8-17 (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2016
Contents "The Church Finally Got It" by Keith Wagner
Just A Small Town Girl... -- Luke 7:36--8:3, 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Psalm 5:1-8 -- Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2016
Contents "Just a Small Town Girl..." by Keith Hewitt
Thoughtful Action -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- Peter Andrew Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2016
Contents "Thoughtful Action" by Peter Andrew Smith
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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