Down By the Riverside

January 12, 2020
Our gospel reading this morning is Matthew, chapter 3, verses 13 through 17. This is Baptism of the Lord Sunday, and appropriately, we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism from…

The Word Became Flesh

January 5, 2020
For our gospel reading this morning, we hear the prologue to the Gospel According to John. The very beginning of the gospel account, but in these poetic verses we are…

Baby Steps

December 22, 2019
The Gospel of Matthew begins with a bold statement about Jesus: “An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” From the…

Sorry, Not Yet

December 15, 2019
This is the third Sunday of Advent, and all I have been talking about for the past two weeks, is how this is the time each year when we prepare…

Wilderness Spaces

December 8, 2019
Our gospel reading for today is Matthew, chapter 3, verses 1 through 12. Matthew gives us this story of a familiar and perhaps troubling figure, John the Baptist. You remember…

Between the Times

December 1, 2019
It happens every year, on this First Sunday of Advent. The world around us is already in full holiday mode. Everything seems to be pushing us toward Christmas. The ads,…

All Saints Homily

November 3, 2019
While there are exceptions, most of us have fond memories of days gone by. In fact, I believe that for many people when they think of the “Good Old Days”…

Worry, Pain and Pearls

October 27, 2019
As we drive along several roads of northeastern Iowa, some in south Wisconsin, or in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern U. S. we may see signs along the road that…

Justice, Prayer, & Faith

October 20, 2019
In our gospel reading this morning, we hear another parable from Jesus. Luke is the only gospel writer to include this parable. Luke tells us in the beginning that this…

Who Among You?

October 6, 2019
Our gospel reading this morning is Luke, chapter 17, verses 5 through 10. Leading up to our reading, Jesus has been teaching to his disciples. First, he cautions them against…

Stewardship Model, Part 2

September 29, 2019
Last week, we heard Jesus tell the parable of the dishonest manager. A steward of his master’s interests who was accused of squandering his master’s property. The manager then went…

Lost & Found

September 15, 2019
Our Gospel Reading for today comes to us from The Gospel of Luke chapter 15, verses 1 through 10. Jesus, again, comes under the criticism of religious leaders: Pharisees and…