-
The Two Ways
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 5, 2010. + + + Readings Deuteronomy 30:15–20 Psalm 1 Philemon 1–21 Luke 14:25–33 + + + Prayer Each day, gracious Father, we face the choice between life and death. Stir up in us the…
-
Pleasing Sacrifices
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 29, 2010. + + + Readings Proverbs 25:6–7 Psalm 112 (antiphon v. 4) Hebrews 13:1–8, 15–16 Luke 14:1, 7–14 + + + Prayer Receive into Your hands, O Father, the sacrifice of our lives. We…
-
Most Holy Father…
Introduction Bishop Carol Hendrix invited me to introduce a hymn, “My Life Flows On in Endless Song,” and to lead the 2010 Lutheran CORE Convocation in prayer to begin its session on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, the session in which the delegates voted to establish the North American Lutheran Church. Prayer Most holy Father, You…
-
In the Meantime: The Holy Cross
Introduction This article is the September 2010 installment of my monthly message in the parish newsletter for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. Message The Holy Cross One of the handy features on the ELCA’s Web site is a “Find a Congregation” page. A little searching there led me to know that within the ELCA,…
-
Question Box: Abortion and Responsibility
Introduction Holy Cross Lutheran Church offers individuals the chance to ask questions about the Church, faith, theology, and the Bible by putting their queries into a Question Box. A question and answer appears in each month’s newsletter. This is the September 2010 installment. Question The ELCA has a provision in its employee health plan that…
-
Rescue! Deliver!
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the August 2010 meeting. The Psalm is the one appointed for the seventh Sunday after Pentecost. The council read it in choirs—men and women. Invocation In…
-
The Third Word
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 22, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 58:9b–14 Psalm 103:1–8 (antiphon v. 4) Hebrews 12:18–29 Luke 13:10–17 + + + Prayer Father in heaven, by your Spirit turn us to you and fill us with…
-
Blade and Oil and Stone
The Lincoln Chapter of Benedictine Oblates has launched a Facebook page: Nebraska Oblates. Here is my offering for the page’s new discussion section. Blade and Oil and Stone “Are you hastening toward your heavenly home? Then with Christ’s help, keep this little rule that we have written for beginners” (The Rule of St. Benedict, 73:8).…
-
Spiritual Balance
I posted the following comment in response to a message, “Be Wise,” by Bishop David deFreese, Nebraska Synod, ELCA, on one of its Web sites in August 2010. Several years ago I spent a weekend at the Benedictine Mission House in Schuyler on a retreat entitled, “Experience the Life of a Monk for a Weekend.”…
-
Interpreting the Present Time
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 15, 2010. + + + Readings Jeremiah 23:23–29 Psalm 82 (antiphon v.8) Hebrews 11:29–12:2 Luke 12:49–56 + + + Prayer Lord Jesus, restore in us the vision granted by your Holy Spirit, so that we…