searching for space, grounded in grace
This sermon was preached at Glenwood and Canoe Ridge Lutheran Churches, Decorah, Iowa on December 1, 2019. For those following the lectionary, you’ll notice this sermon is actually based on the Advent 2 texts: Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12. If……
Listen to this song at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson. This was the week that winter got the best of me. Nothing seemed to be working. Nothing felt right. I reached out to a new friend, lamenting to her that what I most want……
Listen to this song at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson.
Wounded Clay
Sun-draped trees stretch toward your hand.
The river knows its way to you.
The bluffs rise up to frame your sky.
The wind proclaims your love is true.
Refrain
You sustain the weary with a word,
climb beside us on the uphill way,
speak peace into our anxious hearts,
breathe life into this wounded clay.
Sorrow softens at your voice.
Anger’s held in your embrace.
Fear’s frightful grip loses its strength.
Shame falters in the light of grace. Refrain
Raise us up to bring your life.
Lift us up to share your peace.
On this winding trail we trust
you will make war and worry cease. Refrain
This sermon was preached at Glenwood and Canoe Ridge Lutheran Churches, Decorah, Iowa on December 24, 2018. It’s based on Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14 and Luke 2:1-20. If you’d prefer to listen to it, find it at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson. Isaiah……
Isaiah 40:9-11 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is……
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. I wasn’t walking through the darkest valley. I was driving on the darkest……
Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down……
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ To be honest, I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired by……
