Category: Homilies

  • Commemoration of St. Francis Xavier

    Introduction This is the homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, the Commemoration of St. Francis Xavier, when the Homestead Cluster gathered for the Eucharist. + + + Readings Isaiah 62:1-7 Psalm 48 Romans 10:11-17 Luke 24:44-53 + + + Message Sometimes the commemoration of a saint…

  • Stand Up

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28-29, 2009, the weekend of the First Sunday of Advent. + + + Readings Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 + + + Prayer As we hear and heed your Word, O God,…

  • “Remember the Long Way”

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, for the congregation’s annual Thanksgiving Eve service. + + + Readings Deuteronomy 8:1-10 Psalm 65 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Matthew 6:25-33 + + + Prayer Long ago, O God, you spoke to our ancestors in many and…

  • “More Precious Than Jewels”

    Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Readings Proverbs 3:13-18 Psalm 23 Revelation 21:1-4, 9-11 John 14:1-7 Message Only a day—and yet a lifetime— separated the fifteenth day of November in 1920 when Dorothy Mae, a child of God, was born in…

  • Heaven’s Hospitality

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14-15, 2009, the weekend of the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. The lessons reflect the theme of the holding the annual Thankoffering Service of the Women of the ELCA. + + + Readings Exodus 1:15-2:10 Psalm 138…

  • Out of Poverty

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, 2009, the weekend of the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. + + + Readings 1 Kings 17:8-16 Psalm 146 (8) Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 + + + Prayer Long ago, O God, you spoke to our…

  • Concerning Last Things

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2009, the weekend of the Solemnity of All Saints’ Day. + + + Readings Isaiah 25:6-9 or Wisdom 3:1-9 Psalm 24 (5) Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44 + + + Prayer Long ago,…

  • “The Days are Surely Coming”

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 2009, the weekend of the Festival of the Reformation in the churches of the Augsburg Confession. + + + Readings Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36 + + + Prayer Long ago, O…

  • Servant and Slave

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, the Saturday of the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. + + + Readings Isaiah 53:4-12 Psalm 91:9-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45 + + + Prayer Long ago, O God, you spoke to our ancestors in many and…

  • Loved, Yet Lacking

    Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, 2009, the weekend of the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. + + + Readings Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 Psalm 90:12-17 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 + + + Prayer Long ago, O God, you spoke to our ancestors…