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Words of Spirit and Life
Introduction This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23, 2009, the weekend of the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 Psalm 34:15-22 (15) Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 + + + Prayer “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our]…
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God Builds Our House
Introduction This is a memorial service homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009. Readings 1 Chronicles 17:10b-15 Psalm 121 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 John 14:1-6 Message From the stories Loren’s family shares, it is clear that he had a calling to build. Across the nation, communities benefit from…
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Fed for the Journey
Introduction I preached this sermon the weekend of Aug. 16, 2009, the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. Readings Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 34:9-14 (10) Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 Prayer Let us pray… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our] heart[s] be acceptable to you, O LORD,…
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Two Birth Days
Introduction This is a homily I preached on Aug. 11, 2009, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the funeral of a charter member. Readings Job 19:23-27a Psalm 121 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 11:21-27 Message One of the curious traditions in the history of the Church is to recall to memory our forbearers in…
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Second Birth
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. Readings Job 19:23-27a Psalm 121 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 11:21-27 Message One of the curious traditions in the history of the Church is to recall to memory our forbearers in the faith on the day…
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Living Bread, Eternal Life
Introduction This is the homily I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, based upon the Gospel. Readings 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:1-8 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35-51 Prayer Let us pray… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our] heart[s] be acceptable to you, O LORD,…
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A Stronger Alloy
Introduction This is a homily I prepared for a wedding held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. Readings Proverbs 3:3-6 Psalm 128 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Matthew 5:14-16 Message The kind of love that St. Paul praises in the famous passage he wrote to the Corinthians is like an alloy…
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The Story of Yarn
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at a graveside service in Beatrice, Neb. Readings Psalm 121 Philippians 3:20-21 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 Psalm 23 Message Alice’s family likes to tell stories, stories about Alice, stories that show their love for her and her love for them and for the…
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The Bread of Life
“Jesus said to [the crowd], ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35, NRSV) He is bread for the living, the loaf that gives us life, the bread broken in death so that we may live, the loaf…
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Lord of Loaves and Fishes
Occasion This is a homily for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 2009, based upon the day’s gospel, John 6:1-21. Prayer Let us pray… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation[s] of [our] heart[s] be acceptable to you, O LORD, [our] rock and [our] redeemer.” Amen. (Psalm 19:14, NRSV) Homily John’s gospel…