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Blessed and in the Book
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. Readings Isaiah 66:10–14 Psalm 61 Revelation 21:22–27 Luke 6:17–21 Message Every nurse knows that each patient is a whole person, with a history and a story, with unique needs and joys and fears. And the…
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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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Under the Hands of God
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Festival of the Reformation with the Rite of Confirmation, Oct. 31, 2010. + + + Readings Jeremiah 31:31–34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19–28 John 8:31–36 + + + Prayer Place the hands of your Holy Spirit upon us, O Father, and…
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Reversals
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 24, 2010. + + + Readings Jeremiah 14:7–10, 19–22 Psalm 84:1–7 (antiphon v. 5) 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18 Luke 18:9–14 + + + Prayer Hear us, O Father, as we pray to you. By your…
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There Is Our Help
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the October 2010 meeting. The Psalm is the one appointed for Sunday, Oct. 17, the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost. The council reads it antiphonally in choirs.…
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When Gratitude is Only Skin-Deep
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 10, 2010. + + + Readings 2 Kings 5:1–3, 7–15c Psalm 111 (antiphon v.1) 2 Timothy 2:8–15 Luke 17:11–19 + + + Prayer Father in heaven, open our hearts to embrace your grace shown to…
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Living by Faith
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 3, 2010. + + + Readings Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4 Psalm 37:1–9 2 Timothy 1:1–14 Luke 17:5–10 + + + Prayer Almighty Father, by your Holy Spirit you bless us with faith in your Son, Jesus…
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A Good Four-Letter Word
Introduction This is a funeral homily I preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, for the husband of the woman whose funeral I conducted a little over a year ago. Her funeral homily was entitled Second Birth. Readings Ezekiel 37:1–14 Psalm 23 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 John 14:18–24 Message One…
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Ruin and Righteousness
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 26, 2010. + + + Readings Amos 6:1a, 4–7 Psalm 146 (antiphon v. 7) 1 Timothy 6:6–19 Luke 16:19–31 + + + Prayer Gracious Father, by your Holy Spirit open our ears to hear your…
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One Mediator, One People
This is the sermon I prepared for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 19, 2010. + + + Readings Amos 8:4–7 Psalm 113 (antiphon v. 7) 1 Timothy 2:1–7 Luke 16:1–13 + + + Prayer Gracious Father, we thank you for sending your only Son, Jesus Christ, to…