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Living as Christians: Evil
This is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Midweek services from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday will explore the theme, “Living as Christians.” + + + Readings Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 Psalm 51:1–17 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10 Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 + + + Prayer You call…
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“Arise, shine…”
Introduction This is the sermon I had planned to preach at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, as part of Vespers on the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord. The service was cancelled due to another snowstorm. + + + Readings Isaiah 60:1–6 Psalm 72 (antiphon v. 11) Ephesians…
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“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…
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Blessing of the Animals
Welcome We are glad you have come to Holy Cross Lutheran Church this evening to give God thanks for the gift of the companionship and service of our fellow creatures, to renew your commitment to care for them, and to ask God to bless our animals to his glory. Around the world, Christians gather in…
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All Creatures Lift Their Voices
Introduction Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., held a “Blessing of the Animals” service for the community at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. This is the meditation from that service. Readings Genesis 1:24-31 Psalm 104:10-24 Matthew 6:25-33 Message St. Francis is beloved throughout the whole Church for his generous and selfless concern for others,…
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Gospel, Church & Kingdom
Introduction I wrote this review of James A. Scherer’s Gospel, Church & Kingdom, Chapter 2, for a class at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, some time between 1985 and 1989. The printed copy is undated. Paper Lutheran Mission in Historical Perspective Scherer surveys the contributions of Lutheranism, as a “confessing movement” within the church…
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A Look at The Didache
Introduction Based on the contents of this paper, I must have written it for a class entitled, “The Early Church and its Creeds.” This was a first-semester class I took at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in the fall 1985 semester. Paper Once the early church received the charge from Christ to “…go therefore…
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We Make Disciples…
Introduction In 1991, while serving as the pastor of First Lutheran Church, Potter, Neb., and Grace Lutheran Church, Gurley, Neb., I prepared a second series of six daily devotions, calling the collection “Baptized in the Name: Devotions for the Harvest.” This is the fifth in the collection. Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 “In obedience to his command,…
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The Dilemma of Humanity and Divinity
Introduction This paper is one I wrote in college. Dated Sept. 25, 1981, it was submitted to Drs. Agnes B. O’Donnell and Donald E. Byrne for Honors HCC-201. Paper The Bible records and interprets the development of Judaism and Christianity, two faiths under one God. Christendom’s Bible contains two testaments under one cover. The Old…
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God’s Valuable People
Introduction In 1990, while serving as the pastor of First Lutheran Church, Potter, Neb., and Grace Lutheran Church, Gurley, Neb., I prepared a series of six daily devotions, calling the collection “All Good Gifts: Devotions for the Harvest.” This is the fourth in the collection. Reading: Matthew 6:25-34 “‘Look at the birds of the air;…