Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Sermon Audio 8/18/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

13th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 12:49-56

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America held our biennial (becoming triennial) Churchwide Assembly last week, in which 1000 voting members from all over the country came together in Pittsburgh, PA to do the work of the church. Today I provided a summary of the work we did at CWA (as it is known to insiders), including electing a new Presiding Bishop, approving a new Social Statement on Criminal Justice, resolutions on various public issues, and an effort to increase the church's commitment to youth and young adults. The Gospel lesson for today is a frightening one, Jesus bringing fire and division instead of the oft-expected hugs and kumbayas. It's still the Good News for us, if you know what to listen for.

Below the sermon audio I'll include a summary and links to the major work done at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, much of which I described in this sermon.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sermon Audio 8/11/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

12th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C
 
Genesis 15:1-6

At our annual outdoor worship service, we talked about how God called Abram outside to count the stars, so that Abram would believe and understand God's promise. How much does it matter where we hear God's word for us? And will you be watching the Perseid meteor shower tonight?

Sermon Audio 7/28/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Genesis 18:20-32

This one is up a bit late, as I went on vacation after worship that day for over a week. I don't remember what this sermon was about. Something about Abraham arguing with God's decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, which is a funnier scene than you might expect when the context is the height of God's judge-y / smite-y phase. Anyway, I recall that people liked this sermon, for whatever that's worth.