(Sermon for Ash Wednesday A, March 1, 2017, based Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21) Some of you know I had a birthday last week, and I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I see birthdays as kind of a “mixed blessing.” On the one hand, it’s always nice to be the center … More Birthdays, Baptism, and Our Heart’s True Treasure
(Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord A, Feb. 26, 2017, based on Matthew 17:1-9) I’m glad you’ve come to worship today, sisters and brothers, because God has something to say to us, and we all need to hear it…. As incredible as it sounds, words that were spoken to Jesus’ friends on a mountaintop … More God’s Portable Gift
(Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany A, based on Matthew 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Micah 6:6-8) I’ll never forget the day about twenty years ago, when I was on my seminary internship, and my supervisor said to me, “For every pastor there comes a time when you have to decide, ‘What … More The Power of the Cross
(Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany A 2017; Matthew 4:12-23 and Isaiah 9:1-4) In every age, God’s people have lived through dark times, and in every age God has sent messengers to bear the light of God’s Word into their darkness. Today you and I are the ones called to carry the … More Learning to See with Eyes of Love
(Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany A, January 15, 2017 + Commemoration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on John 1:29-42 and Isaiah 49:1-7 ) Our sons, Peter and David, just moved into their dorm room yesterday afternoon. Of course, we’ll miss having them at home, but since they’re right here … More Called to Be Light in the Darkness
(Sermon for The Baptism of Our Lord A 2017, based on Matthew 3:13-17)
On Tuesday evening I was in the grocery store when my phone rang. I looked down at the screen to see who was calling and saw that it was Kim, Creator’s bookkeeper. I thought maybe she was calling to let me know when she would be in the office … More The One Thing That Can Never Be Taken From Us
(Sermon for Sunday, January 1, 2017, “The Name of Jesus,” based on Luke 2:15-21) It’s been kind of a rough week for our family. My 93-year-old mother went into the hospital Monday afternoon and ended up spending two days there. She was unable to eat or drink anything, because her esophagus had constricted and … More Unwrapping God’s Gift
The Fourth Sunday in Advent A 2016 Matthew 1:18-25 In Matthew’s story of Jesus’ birth, we don’t find the old familiar, cozy Christmas stable scene with angels and shepherds and animals. And I have to say I’m glad about that! On this fourth Sunday in Advent, with less than a week left to … More Just Say “Yes” to Jesus!
O God, our Good Shepherd,
Stir up your might and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your love-light shine on us,
so that we may be saved … More Psalm for the Vinedresser
Rose City Ramblin' 