Sermon Archives
« previous pagenext page »A Radical Welcome ~ Luke 1:39-56
We just returned from traveling in Europe and in each airport we landed there was a sign that said: Welcome. In Frankfurt, “Willkommen”; in the U.K., “Welcome”; in France, “Bienvenue.” And when we arrived back onto U.S. soil, each customs officer said, “Welcome home.” read more »
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A Comforting Thought ~ Isaiah 40:1-11
The first words of the passage from Isaiah riveted my attention: “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.” That word “comfort” - it’s hard to describe my reaction. It was a deep, gut, internal response of “YES, that is read more »
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In the Clouds ~ Exodus 40:34-40
We come to the end of the congregational study of Exodus. I believe over 70 of our congregation participated in this Kerygma series. I tip my stole to Clover and to the read more »
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Idolness ~ Exodus 32:1-14
The first line of the Scripture for today is “When the people saw that Moses was delayed….” Isn’t this true for all of us: when we are feeling idle, we have a tendency to lean toward our idols. When we drift into idleness, we tend towards “idolness” - grasping at read more »
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The Power of Presence ~ Exodus 24: 12-18
I learned the most valuable lesson in my Christian faith in one conversation. It wasn’t in seminary. It wasn’t in the last 19 years serving as a pastor. It was a conversation I had with an extraordinary Swedish Lutheran woman when I was a junior in college. read more »
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Liberating Boundaries ~ Exodus 20: 1-21
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment “honor your father and your mother,” she asked, “Is there any commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat a little girl said: “Yes, Thou shall not kill!” read more »
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An Omer is a Tenth of an Ephah ~ Exodus 16
We have a lot going on in this morning’s service. We are joining Protestant churches all over the world in singing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” You and I today are part of larger tribe - connected in history to reformers, rabble rousers, and radicals. I like that in a church! read more »
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Marked for Life ~ Exodus 12:1-14
Isn’t Chloe adorable? Just like all the infants and little children who get baptized. What a remarkable sacrament baptism is: little innocent children, eager young people, more introspective adults, all come to the font to be marked for life. read more »
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Plaguing Mysteries ~ Exodus 6: 1-2, 12: 29-32
We really bump up against it today - the great plaguing mysteries of God. The Scripture readings for today are really bookend readings. In the first one YHWH tells Moses “just watch what I am about to do to read more »
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