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A Word for These Last Days
Introduction This is the sermon I had planned to preach at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009, for Christmas Day. A blizzard forced cancellation of worship. So the congregation will celebrate its Christmas Day service on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. + + + Readings Isaiah 52:7–10 Psalm 98 (antiphon v.…
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“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…
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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,…
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“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…
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Heaven’s Bread
“This is the bread come down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:59, LH)
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In God’s Time
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. Readings Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Psalm 31:1-5 1 Timothy 6:11-16 John 14:1-7 Message It’s hard to listen to the words of the Philosopher, telling us about the times and seasons for the passages we face in life,…
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Flocking to God
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Fox Funeral Home, Beatrice, Neb., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Readings Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 121 Hebrews 12:1-2 John 3:13-17 Message It doesn’t matter whether you see them perched upon a bare twig on a grey day when snow covers the ground in winter, or you rest…
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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,…