All Things Hold Together

This sermon was preached at Ossian Lutheran Church on November 20, 2022, using the assigned texts for Christ the King Sunday. Jeremiah 23:1-6 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore……

Give Us a Blessing!

This sermon was preached at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa on October 16, 2022. It’s based on the assigned readings for this day: Genesis 32:22-31 The same night [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids,……

Blessed Are We

This sermon for Holy Trinity Sunday was inspired by a beautiful blessing in Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie and draws on the following lectionary texts for this day:   Proverbs 8:1-4,……

It All Adds Up

Dear friends, It is a strange thing–after 18 years of parish ministry–to not be leading a community through Holy Week this year. I did, however, have the opportunity to preach during chapel at Wartburg Seminary yesterday. I offered what was……

Christmas Day: Worship

Today’s word is WORSHIP.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 100   Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;     come into God’s presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God.     It is God……

Hear Our Hearts, O God of Promise

I composed this hymn line by line, throughout the season of Advent, using the featured daily words from Rethink Church’s Advent 2021 Photo-a-Day Challenge. I could not have imagined the the heartbreak that these Advent days would hold for so……

Advent Day 27: Seen

Today’s word is SEEN.   Scripture Reading: Luke 2:20   The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.           Jesus meets us where we……

Advent Day 26: Treasured

Today’s word is TREASURED.   Scripture Reading: Luke 2:19   But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.            Mary’s baby bears God’s favor. Treasure how this world is saved.    ……

Advent Day 25: Amazed

Today’s word is AMAZED.   Scripture Reading: Luke 2:15-18   When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,……

Advent Day 24: Awe

Today’s word is AWE.   Scripture Reading: Psalm 5:7   But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,     will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple     in awe of you.          ……