Psalm 80 reads, “Stir up your power, and come!” And Isaiah writes, “Tear open the heavens and come down” – themes reminding us of God’s advent in Jesus Christ. On this first Sunday of a new church year, Jesus call us to keep awake as we anticipate God’s in-breaking into human history with restoration and […]
View the Sermon (PDF)Christ the King
On the final Sunday of the church year, we hear the gospel of Christ the King who will judge the nations. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to the poor, hungry, and thirsty; by welcoming the stranger; and by clothing the naked and visiting the sick and the imprisoned. […]
Thanksgiving Eve
At harvest time we join the Psalmist in offering thanksgiving to God: “You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.” We are grateful for the abundance of the good things of God’s creation. Paul reminds us that our thanksgiving overflows into generosity. As the body of Christ in the world, […]
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the Lord will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use […]
View the Sermon (PDF)Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters, and Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, encouraging us to remain awake for the in-breaking of the kingdom of heaven. Daily, may we be prepared […]
All Saints Sunday
All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ, the church on earth and in heaven. Today’s readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ, whom God calls blessed children in Holy Baptism; and like them, calls us to follow Christ, sharing […]
Reformation Sunday
Sola scriptura – Word alone – reminds us that it is God’s living Word, Jesus Christ who continues to recreate and reform us into his body, the church. Sola fide – Faith alone – reminds us that it is by faith and not works that we are justified. Sola gratia – Grace alone – reminds […]
View the Sermon (PDF)Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus by questioning him, Jesus tells them to give the emperor what belongs to the emperor and to God what belongs to God. We give to God our works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope by living as examples of Christ so that in everyplace God’s […]
View the Sermon (PDF)Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Jesus’ eschatological parable contains frightening realism; that though people are all invited into God’s kingdom, they instead go their own way, eventually finding judgment. Yet the prophet Isaiah also writes that we are to be a refuge for the poor and the needy in distress, promising that God will remove the shroud of death that […]
View the Sermon (PDF)Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a vineyard parable, which serves as an image of our ongoing stewardship of and participation in God’s mission in this world. Paul encourages us to press on to make the goal of God’s heavenly call our own, because Christ has made us his own. We know the power of his […]
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