It's a New Day

2010-04-11 02 Easter C

On the Day of the Resurrection Jesus greets fearful disciples, gives gifts to them, welcoming them to a New Day--the 8th Day of Creation--Life in the kingdom of God.

John 20:19-31

Remember When

2010-04-04 The Resurrection of Our Lord C

Preached on the Sunday of Resurrection for Our Lord 2010; proclaiming that the living Lord is present where he has promised to be found--at the pulpit, the font, and the altar--where his command "Remember!" is fulfilled.

Tell Me Your Secret

2010-04-03

The funeral sermon for Ada Murie who, at age 93, had been the keeper of the community's memory and memorabilia for 75 years or so. No one will know how many quilts she made but she usually had four going at the same time: blocking, stitching, tying, and hemming. Thanks be to God for the life of this woman!

The Day the Mighty Maker Died

2010-04-02 Good Friday C
When Jesus gave up his spirit, the Word of God fell silent. Without the one through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together, creation itself began to be overrun by chaos. Jesus went to his grave not just concerned for his own resurrection but risking the dissolution of the entire creation which had been made through him. I'd say it was a close run thing.

The "New" Commandment

2010-04-01 Maundy Thursday C

What's "new" in the new commandment Jesus gives? It's the "as I have loved you." How did Jesus love? Watch and hear.

Jesus Died for You

2010-03-28 Palm/Passion Sunday C, part 1 What you will hear today is a sermon written by Gerhardt Forde—a preacher, and a professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary—a favorite professor of mine who understood the radical nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Presenting this sermon continues in the tradition established by Luther in which preachers accomplished in theology circulated sermons called "postiles" for less accomplished parish pastors to use. This was published in 2004 and contained in the "The More Radical Gospel." Transcribed from A More Radical Gospel: Essays on Eschatology, Authority, Atonement, and Ecumenism by Gerhard O. Forde; edited by Mark C. Mattes and Steven D. Paulson 2004 Lutheran Quarterly Books Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 255 Jefferson Ave. S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

The Space between "From" and "To"

Arthur A. "Art" Link was committed to the ground from which he came on June 6th, 2010 in the Alexander Cemetery. The landscape was lush from the rain; the sun warmed us gently; and friends and family supported one another. The Word of God from Genesis 3 was declared: "You are dust and to dust you shall return." Into that little space between "from" and "to" God sows the the seed of his Word--Jesus Christ.