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Baptized with Spirit and Fire
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated the Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 5, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 11:1–10 Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19 (antiphon v.7) Romans 15:4–13 Matthew 3:1–12 + + + Prayer Cleanse us with your fire, O Lord, and stir up your Holy Spirit in us, so that we may abandon the…
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The Day is Coming
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., marked the beginning of the Church year on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 28, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 2:1–5 Psalm 122 (antiphon v. 1) Romans 13:11–14 Matthew 24:36–44 + + + Prayer Prepare us, heavenly Father, for the day that is coming, so that we may…
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Question Box: What About Bullies?
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 November 2010 installment. Question How should a Christian respond to a bully? Answer That’s a…
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So Great a Cloud
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010. Readings Revelation 7:9–17 Psalm 34:1–10 1 John 3:1–3 Matthew 6:25–34 Message They are here. They are all around us. Alvina and Fred, husband and wife. Clara Bell, Freida, and Evelyn, her sisters. Ernest and Arnold,…
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“What I Have is Yours”
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 18, 2010. + + + Readings Genesis 18:1–10a Psalm 15 (antiphon v.1) Colossians 1:15–28 Luke 10:38–42 + + + Prayer Loving Father, lead us by your Holy Spirit to welcome your Son, our Lord Jesus…
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Healing and Forgiveness
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for a Service of the Word for Healing on Thursday, April 22, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 35:1–10 Psalm 103 Acts 3:1–10 Matthew 9:2–8 + + + Prayer Send your Holy Spirit upon us, Father in heaven, so that we may…
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Living as Christians: Prayer
This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Midweek services from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday will explore the theme, “Living as Christians.” + + + Readings 1 Kings 8:22–30 Psalm 28 Ephesians 3:16–19 Matthew 6:5–8 + + + Prayer You call us to return…
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Between Bride and Bridegroom
This is a homily I prepared for a wedding at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 13, 2010. + + + Readings Genesis 1:26–31 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13 Matthew 19:3–6 + + + Message If the word “love” were a set of tires, the tread on them would be worn smooth. We have put so…
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Living as Christians: Church
This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. Midweek services from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday will explore the theme, “Living as Christians.” + + + Readings Exodus 19:16–25 Psalm 100 Ephesians 2:19–22 Matthew 28:16–20 + + + Prayer You call us to return to…
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Living as Christians: Justice
This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Midweek services from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday will explore the theme, “Living as Christians.” + + + Readings Micah 6:6–8 Psalm 82 Romans 7:15–19 Matthew 22:34–40 + + + Prayer You call us to return to…