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Christopher Keating

Chris Keating is the pastor of Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. He is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Chris is a regular contributor to the Belief St. Louis blog for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and his articles have also appeared in the Church of the Brethren's monthly magazine, Messenger.
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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Biggest Christmas Gift -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year -- but since this Sunday is s
Advance To The Rear -- Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13, Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The Isaiah passage appointed by the lectionary for this coming Sunday tells us that “A shoot shal
’tis The Season... -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In last week’s lectionary gospel reading John the Baptist talked about preparing the way of the L
Longing For Peace -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2013
In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is described as “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s
Fleeing Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
The gospel text for the First Sunday after Christmas tells of Jesus and his family’s flight to Eg
Longing For Peace -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Because of the close proximity this year of the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day --
Not Too Quickly Shaken Or Alarmed -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
This week’s lectionary epistle passage from Second Thessalonians counsels us to “let no one dece
Free-Riders, Nominals, And Nones -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The lectionary readings appointed for Proper 28 provide us with powerful messages about the futu
Insert The Other Candidate's Name Here -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage Paul warns the Thessalonian congregation against being swa
What's Next? -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the wake of a contentious election campaign that has been fraught with anxiety, many people will

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Fleeing Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
The gospel text for the First Sunday after Christmas tells of Jesus and his family’s flight to Eg
Longing For Peace -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Because of the close proximity this year of the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day --
Not Too Quickly Shaken Or Alarmed -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
This week’s lectionary epistle passage from Second Thessalonians counsels us to “let no one dece
Free-Riders, Nominals, And Nones -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The lectionary readings appointed for Proper 28 provide us with powerful messages about the futu
Insert The Other Candidate's Name Here -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage Paul warns the Thessalonian congregation against being swa
What's Next? -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the wake of a contentious election campaign that has been fraught with anxiety, many people will

Liturgy

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Advance To The Rear -- Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13, Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The Isaiah passage appointed by the lectionary for this coming Sunday tells us that “A shoot shal
’tis The Season... -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In last week’s lectionary gospel reading John the Baptist talked about preparing the way of the L
Longing For Peace -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2013
In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is described as “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s
Fleeing Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
The gospel text for the First Sunday after Christmas tells of Jesus and his family’s flight to Eg
Longing For Peace -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Because of the close proximity this year of the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day --
Not Too Quickly Shaken Or Alarmed -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
This week’s lectionary epistle passage from Second Thessalonians counsels us to “let no one dece
Free-Riders, Nominals, And Nones -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The lectionary readings appointed for Proper 28 provide us with powerful messages about the futu
Insert The Other Candidate's Name Here -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage Paul warns the Thessalonian congregation against being swa
What's Next? -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the wake of a contentious election campaign that has been fraught with anxiety, many people will

Sermon

The Immediate Word

Prior To Destruction -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
The passage from Second Kings appointed by the lectionary for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Pr
When The Waters Roar And Foam -- Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 1:68-79, Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
The typhoon that recently devastated the Philippines -- what some climate scientists are suggesti
The Biggest Christmas Gift -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year -- but since this Sunday is s
Advance To The Rear -- Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13, Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The Isaiah passage appointed by the lectionary for this coming Sunday tells us that “A shoot shal
’tis The Season... -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In last week’s lectionary gospel reading John the Baptist talked about preparing the way of the L
Longing For Peace -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2013
In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is described as “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s
Fleeing Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
The gospel text for the First Sunday after Christmas tells of Jesus and his family’s flight to Eg
Longing For Peace -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Because of the close proximity this year of the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day --
Not Too Quickly Shaken Or Alarmed -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
This week’s lectionary epistle passage from Second Thessalonians counsels us to “let no one dece
Free-Riders, Nominals, And Nones -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The lectionary readings appointed for Proper 28 provide us with powerful messages about the futu
Insert The Other Candidate's Name Here -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage Paul warns the Thessalonian congregation against being swa
What's Next? -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the wake of a contentious election campaign that has been fraught with anxiety, many people will

Worship

The Immediate Word

The Biggest Christmas Gift -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new church year -- but since this Sunday is s
Advance To The Rear -- Matthew 3:1-12, Romans 15:4-13, Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The Isaiah passage appointed by the lectionary for this coming Sunday tells us that “A shoot shal
’tis The Season... -- Matthew 11:2-11, James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In last week’s lectionary gospel reading John the Baptist talked about preparing the way of the L
Longing For Peace -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2013
In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is described as “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s
Fleeing Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
The gospel text for the First Sunday after Christmas tells of Jesus and his family’s flight to Eg
Longing For Peace -- Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Because of the close proximity this year of the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve/Day --
Not Too Quickly Shaken Or Alarmed -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
This week’s lectionary epistle passage from Second Thessalonians counsels us to “let no one dece
Free-Riders, Nominals, And Nones -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The lectionary readings appointed for Proper 28 provide us with powerful messages about the futu
Insert The Other Candidate's Name Here -- Luke 20:27-38, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Psalm 145 -- Mary Austin, George Reed, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage Paul warns the Thessalonian congregation against being swa
What's Next? -- Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the wake of a contentious election campaign that has been fraught with anxiety, many people will
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: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

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