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So … does God send disasters to punish people? Here’s what Jesus had to say about that … Who Is to Blame? Psalm 63:1-8; Luke 13:1-9 Jesus is asked a great many questions in the book of Luke. Most of the time he answers with a story or a parable or another [...] When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he didn’t seem to agonize over what to do. I wonder what we can learn from his encounter with these temptations … Tempted … Again … Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Luke 4: 1-13 The devil asked Jesus the question we would like to ask him: Who [...] The story of Jesus’ transfiguration has a lot to teach us, even if we are discomforted by the mysterious details. (The original title of this sermon was “Optical Illuminations,” but you’ll see why I changed it.) Optical Illuminations Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-36 I thought a lot about the title of this sermon. Early this [...] What do these things have in common: Church camp, Muir Woods, and Jesus helping the disciples fish? Find out here <grin>! Deep Water Isaiah 6:1-8; Luke 5:1-11 About two weeks before my friend Katherine Mulhern and I left for seminary – she to Eden Seminary in St. Louis and I to Pacific School [...] I don’t usually think of St. Paul as a funny guy, but he makes some broad jokes while trying to persuade the Christians in Corinth to honor the gifts of all of their members. Let’s laugh with him, and then listen again to that important message … A Thousand Body Parts 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 [...] There are no words of scripture that I quote more often than these from 1 Corinthians 12: “There are varieties of gifts.” Here is why I think it is so important …. (after I say a few words about my June 30 retirement that I announced earlier this week) … 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11 [...] Have you ever noticed that it is harder to receive words of love and affirmation than it is to offer them to others? That is true even when the words come from God … I Have Called You by Name Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 There’s a wonderful scene in Barbara Robinson’s The Best [...] Today’s service was much quieter than usual — silence replaced many of the words. So if you are reading this “sermon,” I hope you will sit quietly and pause for a long time where it is indicated. In the Beginning Psalm 147:12-20; John 1:1-15 It is after a thing happens that we think about it. [...] Several folks have asked about the two stories I read in church on December 27. Here they are — I’ve given you the links to amazon.com because they have full publication information. Snowmen at Christmas, by Caralyn Buehner, pictures by Mark Buehner Great Joy by Kate Dicamillo, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline One of the blessings of the Christmas Eve service is the singing of carols by so many voices. But in another way, too, it takes a lot of voices to celebrate Christmas … Many Voices Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-12 If we opened up my family’s mental scrapbook of memories and looked at the pages [...] The ancients debated whether Mary was Christotokos — the Mother of Christ — or Theotokos — the Mother of God. But I wonder about the ways that we are all Mothers of God … Mothers of God Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:39-45;46-55 Many centuries ago, in the 14th century, Meister Eckhart, a German priest and [...] Our guest preacher on November 22 was the Rev. Elena Larssen, one of the Associate Conference Ministers here in Minnesota. Her sermon includes both population statistics and fatty acids … read on! Life Over Death Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 Welcome and Greetings~ I heard some amazing news from The Rev. Wade Schemmel, Conference Minister [...] This fall we have heard the story of several extraordinary women from the Bible, and today we add Hannah (and in anticipation of Advent, Mary) to that list … Hannah, Mary, and You 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Perhaps you wonder how I choose the Bible passages for sermons each week. Sometimes, like [...] Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people. Your God, my God. In the Lap of a Widow by Ruth MacKenzie Psalm 146; Ruth 1:1-18 I must say, it is rather ironic that the first time I stand before this faith community, I preach on the book of Ruth, my [...] Most faith communities listen for God’s voice, but in the UCC, we listen in distinctive and particular ways. And the conviction that “God Is Still Speaking” is more than just an advertising slogan for us … What Matters: Part Six — We Listen for the Still-Speaking God Psalm 46:1-11; 2 Kings 19:9-12; [Acts 2:5-8] [...] |
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