Interrupting the Silence

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  • Our Jerusalem Road – A Palm Sunday Sermon On Luke 19:28-40

    I have a lot of ambivalence and hesitancy about today. It’s one thing to hear the story of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem knowing what will happen to him. It’s another thing when we realize it is our story too – and it always is. Let me give you a few examples, some modern…

  • Loving Each Other Into The Future – A Sermon On John 12:1-8

    By now many of you have heard that Tom died Wednesday afternoon. He was one of the great men in this parish and town. His wife and children were with him the last few days as he was crossing over. Grandchildren and other family members spoke to him by phone or video call.  I got…

  • No More Write Offs – A Sermon On Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

    Last week I received an email from a woman who said she was unable to keep our appointment. It was the second time that had happened. I know from our first meeting a couple of months ago that she’s having a difficult time in her life. She ended her email by saying, “I hope you…

  • Asking A Better Question – A Sermon On Luke 13:1-19 And Exodus 3:1-15

    The Why Question Years ago I was talking with John, one of my best friends. I was telling him about something that had happened to me. I no longer remember what it was but I vividly remember wanting to know why it had happened. I wanted an explanation, a sense of security, maybe even a…

  • The Clarity To Be All In – A Sermon On Luke 13:31-35

    Last Sunday I spoke about the decisive moments in our lives. You may remember that I distinguished them from the routine and ordinary decisions we make every day. They are the kind of decisions that reveal who we are and what it means to be uniquely us, decisions that ask something of us, decisions that…

  • The Decisive Moments – A Sermon On Luke 4:1-13

    Decisive Moments When you look back on your life what have been some of the decisive moments?  I’m not asking about the routine decisions and choices we make every day. I’m asking about those decisions that have profound and lasting consequences. They are the decisions that reveal who we are and what it means to…

  • Rethinking Ash Wednesday And Lent – A Sermon On Isaiah 58:1-12

    Years ago I heard a story about a priest who went to a new parish. I don’t know if it really happened; it probably didn’t, but I think there’s some truth in the story.  Anyway, the priest was meeting and getting to know the people and would ask about their relationship with God. Most responded…

  • Life Transfigured, Life Disfigured – A Sermon On Luke 9:28-43

    “Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard.” That’s a phrase the author Kate Bowler often uses. It’s a reality we’ve all experienced. It’s a truth today’s gospel (Luke 9:28-43) holds before us.  It’s not an easy truth to accept or live. I’d much rather stand on the Mount of Transfiguration than beg in the…

  • Taking The Gospel To Heart – A Sermon On Luke 6:27-38

    Today’s gospel (Luke 6:27-38) is one of those texts that some say preaches itself. The text itself is the sermon. It’s even called the Sermon on the Plain in recognition that Jesus “stood on a level place” while preaching. I spoke about that level place in last Sunday’s sermon about blessings and woes. Jesus continues…