

The Path of Repentance from Hopelessness
A sermon on Mark 12:1–12 [For an audio recording of this sermon, click here . Photo by Logan Fischer on Unsplash.] Like many of you, I woke up yesterday morning to the news of American bombs falling in Iran. And my heart sank at the loss of civilian lives (including at least 85 students at a girl’s school in Tehran). And my heart clenched with fear at how this violence could (some might say will, inevitably) escalate. And my blood boiled with frustrated anger at the unilatera


Called to Foolishness
A sermon on Matthew 4:12-23 and 1 Corinthians 1:10-18. [ Photo by Sven Pieren on Unsplash ] In our denomination (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), the process for becoming a pastor is called Candidacy. It involves a variety of requirements, including both formal schooling and practical training, psychological testing, a number of writing submissions, and three separate meetings in which the candidate sits in a room full of more experienced pastors and synod leade


Expecting a Healing Repentance
A sermon on Matthew 3:1-12 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by SOULSANA on Unsplash.] I had a conversation earlier this week with a member of our congregation in which we shared that we had similar feelings about one of the words from today’s gospel. This made me wonder if this is a more widely shared phenomenon in our particular community. If you’re willing, please raise your hand if you generally have a bit of flinch or cringe or otherwise negative


Repentance Has a Purpose
A sermon for Ash Wednesday on Isaiah 58:1-12 [photo by Annika Gordon on Unsplash.com ] Those of you who are used to hearing me in the...


The Hope in Repentance
Sermon on Luke 3:1-6 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash.] One of the commentaries I read...


Where It All Begins
A sermon on Mark 1:4-14, Photo: "The Spirit Descending Like a Dove," fused glass art by Serena Rice, used by permission. Our altar...


Repentance and Holy Disruption
A sermon on Matthew 3:1-12 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Brandon Hoogenboom on Unsplash.] I have never...


Baptism of Christ - What Do You Expect?
A sermon on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 and Isaiah 43:1-7 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here.) In the past couple of weeks, how...


The Good News of Change and Trust
A Sermon on Mark 1:9-15 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Jared Verdi on Unsplash.) Is anyone else exhausted...


Why Repentance is Good News
A sermon on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Annika Gordon on...




