Sermons

“born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God …”We don’t choose to be loved. We just are! Last Tuesday was the thirty-eighth anniversary of my ordination. It happened…
Read more

topical: the Wall of SeparationWe are citizens both of America and of the kingdom of god. Back at the beginning of summer, I preached the first of what I imagined would be three sermons on the separation of church and…
Read more

smallCatechism, the First CommandmentWe fear, love, and trust, not because we must,but because god is god! This year, August 29 is a Sunday. Here in the church, it’s the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. But it, also, happens to be the…
Read more

John 6. 56-69It’s god’s love – not our energy and effort – that changes the world! We seem so surprised, nowadays! Shocked, actually! At what a divided country we’ve become! Two groups, constantly at odds with each other. Speaking only…
Read more

reflecting on the journeyGod, always, loves first! Eleven thousand athletes, give or take! Two hundred six countries! Three hundred thirty-nine events! Thirty-three different sports! And, of course, the U.S.A. is first in the medal count! Thirty-nine gold! Forty-one silver! Thirty-three…
Read more

John 6. 35, 41-51It’s not our coming or our believing;it’s Jesus! Assumptions. That’s what Luther calls them. They’re the things we think are true. The things we’d swear are true. But then again, might not be. In Luther’s case, he…
Read more

John 6. 24-35Everything is because god first loved us! Since March-a-year-ago, this is the fifth or sixth time we’ve been together. Side by side. Face to face. And the way it looks, at this moment, things will remain, for a…
Read more

John 6:1-21Jesus isn’t held hostage in holy places,but fills the world! John 6. 1 – “Jesus went to the other side of the sea ….” John 6. 3 – “Jesus went up the mountain ….” John 6. 14 – “The…
Read more

reflecting on the journeyChurch isn’t a business, but a gift. Two-and-a-half years ago, we signed papers finalizing the sale of what had been our home for sixty years. And with the scratch of a pen, we started over. The goals,…
Read more

Mark 6. 14-29Church – like Christ – is called to speak truthto those who don’t matter! Speaking truth to power! That’s a phrase everybody’s using, nowadays! Especially here in the church! Speaking truth to power! Standing up for what’s right!…
Read more