Christopher Keating

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Brave Thomas? -- John 11:1-45, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, Psalm 130 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 26, 2023:

A Tale of Two Kings -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16, Matthew 27:11-54, Matthew 21:1-11 -- Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2023

For April 2, 2023:

Resurrection Tears -- John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Colossians 3:1-4, Acts 10:34-43, Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Easter Day - A -- 2023

For April 9, 2023:

The Antidote to Fear -- John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 16 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 16, 2023:

Walking with Hope In Your Heart -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 23, 2023:

Will the Good Shepherd be Stopping By Soon? -- John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Psalm 23 -- Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For April 30, 2023:

The Spirit of Mothering -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Psalm 66:8-20 -- Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For May 14, 2023:

Telling Our Stories -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19, Isaiah 12, Malachi 4:1-2a, Psalm 98 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2022

For November 13, 2022:

Is Anyone Listening? -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43, Luke 1:68-79, Psalm 46 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2022

For November 20, 2022:

Abandon Your Calendars -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022

For November 27, 2022:

God Calls Back -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For March 13, 2022:

Let Us Go Forth and Not Be Offended -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022

For December 11, 2022:

Hungering and Thirsting for God's Peace -- Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For March 20, 2022:

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We Are the Holders of Hands -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22, Psalm 9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2023

For October 22, 2023:

Three Is a Magic Number -- Matthew 28:16-20, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Psalm 8 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2023

For June 4, 2023:

Jesus Hits Pause -- Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2023

For June 11, 2023:

Awakened by Hope -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 3, 2023:

Mea Culpa -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 10, 2023:

Volunteer Corn -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25, Genesis 28:10-19a, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24, Isaiah 44:6-8 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2023

For July 23, 2023:

The Kingdom of Heaven is Hot -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 119:129-136, 1 Kings 3:5-12 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023

For July 30, 2023:

At Home in Capernaum -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023

For January 22, 2023:

Beyond the Rule -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023

For January 29, 2023:

God Makes Room For Us -- Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Psalm 2, Psalm 99 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2023

For February 19, 2023:

Lead Us Not into Relevance -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 32 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

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Illustration

The Immediate Word

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For May 14, 2023:

Jesus' Thoughts and Prayers -- John 17:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023

For May 21, 2023:

An Alternative Language -- John 20:19-23, John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Numbers 11:24-30, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2023

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For December 11, 2022:

Joy In the Midst of Sadness -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For April 3, 2022:

Missile Gap -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022

For December 18, 2022:

Palm Sunday Surprise -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Luke 19:28-40, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 -- Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2022

For April 10, 2022:

My Resurrection -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Luke 24:1-12 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Easter Day - C -- 2022

For April 17, 2022:

No Room? No Way! -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Psalm 96, Psalm 98, John 1:1-14 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2022

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Preaching

The Immediate Word

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Sermon

The Immediate Word

Tapping Into Unlimited (Living) Water -- John 4:5-42, Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 12, 2023:

Who Can See? -- John 9:1-41, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, Psalm 23 -- Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

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Life is a Participation Trophy -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Psalm 65 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2022

For October 23, 2022:

Questions That Really Don't Matter -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C, All Saints Day - C -- 2022

For November 6, 2022:

For November 13, 2022:

Herders Of Ducks -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The God of Fruition

David Kalas

In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.

Sermon Illustrations for the Fifth Sunday after Easter (2024)

Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas

Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Abiding in Jesus

Peter Andrew Smith

“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

“I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

Branches!

John Jamison

Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

On the Way to Gaza

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll

For April 28, 2024:

On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Ant-Ipathy Leaves The Column

Janice B. Scott

Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Easter 5

Stan Purdum

We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

Weed And Feed

John S. Smylie

I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.

Yesterday, Today, And Forever

Ron Lavin

A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Easy To Say; Hard To Do

Paul E. Robinson

"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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David Kalas

Mark EllingsenFrank RamirezBonnie BatesBill Thomas

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Christopher KeatingKaty StentaThomas WilladsenMary AustinElena DelhagenDean FeldmeyerQuantisha Mason-Doll

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Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll