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Children's sermon

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:

All Means All -- Psalm 96, Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B, The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2023

For December 24/25, 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

For March 19, 2023:

You Want Me to Do What? -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11, Psalm 138 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2022

For February 6, 2022:

Faith is a Verb -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23, Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 33:12-22 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2022

For August 7, 2022:

To Judge Is Human, To Forgive Divine -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38, Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2022

For February 20, 2022:

Holy Heart Burn -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19, Jeremiah 23:23-29, Psalm 82 -- Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2022

For August 14, 2022:

Mountaintop Metamorphosis -- Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a), Psalm 99 -- Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2022

For February 27, 2022:

4,000 Beagles and A Boy -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14, Psalm 103:1-8 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2022

For August 21, 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

For March 6, 2022:

Gatekeepers and Humility -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14, Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Proverbs 25:6-7, Psalm 112 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2022

For August 28, 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:

But What About Meeeee? -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2022

For September 4, 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:

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:

Should We Let Jesus Off the Hook Here? -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13, Psalm 85, Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2022

For July 24, 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:

Somehow It All Works Out -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2022

For September 18, 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:

Haunted by Haughtiness -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16, Amos 6:1a, 4-7, Psalm 146 -- Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2022

For September 25, 2022:

Model for Discipleship -- Acts 5:27-32, John 20:19-31, Psalm 118:14-29, Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022

For April 24, 2022:

Mustard Seeds and Mulberry Trees -- Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, Psalm 37:1-9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2022

For October 2, 2022:

Paul Gets a New Prescription for Glasses -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19, Psalm 30 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022

For May 1, 2022:

Water is Life -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, Psalm 111 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2022

For October 9, 2022:

Hungry for More Justice -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35, Psalm 148 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022

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Illustration

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Nag, Nag, Nag -- Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 119:97-104, Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 121 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2022

For October 16, 2022:

Life In The Big City -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29, John 5:1-9, Psalm 67 -- Christopher Keating, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022

For May 22, 2022:

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:

Last Words -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26, Psalm 97 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022

For May 29, 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:

Do We Really Want to be United in Christ? -- Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27), Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2022

For June 5, 2022:

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 Paul Crazy? -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15, Psalm 8 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2022

For June 12, 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:

Liturgy

Preaching

The Immediate Word

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For March 19, 2023:

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

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Sermon

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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

CSSPlus

Little Piggies

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

The Terrifying Sound of Broken Chains

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed

For June 22, 2025:

The Terrifying Sound of Broken Chains by Chris Keating based on Luke 8:26-39. Though Jesus’ healing of the Gerasene Demoniac produces more fear than calm among the people he had terrorized, it is a reminder of God’s triumph over the powers of fear and all that threatens to dominate us.
Second Thoughts: Caring People Are Desperately Needed by Tom Willadsen based on 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43.

StoryShare

I Need Jesus People

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

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12 (2025)

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:

Longing To Be Free

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

James' Trumpet

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

Don't Thank Me, Thank God!

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.

As Seen From The Solitary Broom Tree

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.

Thicker Than Blood

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.

Proper 7 / Ordinary Time 12 / Pentecost 2

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.

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John Jamison

Christopher KeatingThomas WilladsenKaty StentaMary AustinNazish NaseemDean FeldmeyerGeorge Reed

John E. Sumwalt

Bill ThomasFrank RamirezMark Ellingsen

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Janice B. Scott

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This Week’s Scriptures

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen