Monday, December 12, 2016

Sermon Audio 12/11/2016, Third Sunday of Advent A


Third Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A


Today's guest preacher is Rev. Sarah Friesen-Carper, Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational and Leadership Excellence of the North West Lower Michigan Synod of the ELCA. The sermon ends with the preacher's rendition of Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus," with the preacher's father on piano and her husband on percussion and backing vocals. 

Apologies for the poor quality of the music recording; it was just my phone on my music stand, which is why the drum is entirely too loud in the mix. And the viola is mostly lost. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, December 5, 2016

Sermon Audio 12/4/2016, Second Sunday of Advent A


Second Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A


John the Baptist helps us see how repentance leads to Advent hope, and Isaiah shows us just what it is we are hoping for. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, November 28, 2016

Sermon Audio 11/27/2016 First Sunday of Advent A


First Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A


As we begin a new year in the church, we await Jesus' return. How do we wait? More specifically, how do we follow Jesus while we wait? 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Sermon Audio 11/23/2016, Thanksgiving C


Thanksgiving, Lectionary Year C


Our annual Thanksgiving Eve worship is an opportunity to reflect on what God has done for us and on how we live out our thanks to God. This lesson from Deuteronomy offers a ritual and a profession of faith to use when God's people give thanks for all God has done for us.


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, November 21, 2016

Sermon Audio 11/20/2016, Christ the King C


Christ the King Sunday, Lectionary Year C


A Christ the King sermon on Christians choosing earthly power over Jesus on the cross, with a special bonus discussion of racism and anti-Semitism in Lutheran history. There are ample biblical, theological, and historical reasons for current-day Lutherans to take responsibility in the public square and call a thing what it is. 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, November 14, 2016

Sermon Audio 11/13/2016,Guest Preacher C.J. Clark, 26th Sunday after Pentecost C


26th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Today's guest preacher is C.J. Clark, executive director of Living Water Ministries, our outdoor ministry partner. Today's powerful sermon combined camp stories, this week's election results, and Jesus' strong words to bring a message of hope in a world of challenge. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, November 7, 2016

Sermon Audio 11/6/2016, All Saints Sunday C


All Saints Sunday, Lectionary Year C


Why do we celebrate All Saints Sunday? How does it help us follow Jesus together? The two baptisms we celebrated to begin our worship today offer an excellent point of entry to answer these questions. 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."



Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Sermon Audio 10/30/2016, Reformation Sunday


Reformation Sunday


The 500 year celebration of the German Lutheran Reformation begins with questions about Lutheran history and God's promise in Jesus that is the heart of that history.

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Sermon Audio 10/16/2016, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost C


Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Our stewardship season ends with a bang, as expected. Paul's letter to the Philippians, the most generous church in the Bible, is a fitting place to learn how we too can be generous. 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, October 10, 2016

Sermon Audio 10/9/2016, 21st Sunday after Pentecost C


21st Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

2 Kings 5:1-3, 5-15c

The third week of our stewardship season brings us the story of the prophet Elisha healing Naaman the Syrian of his leprosy. But it's an unexpected third character who best shows us how (not) to respond to what God has given us. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, October 3, 2016

Sermon Audio 10/2/2016, 20th Sunday after Pentecost C


Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Our stewardship season continues with Jesus' story of Lazarus and the rich man, as we talk about the role of trust in deciding how to share what God has given us. 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, September 26, 2016

Sermon Audio 9/25/2016, 19th Sunday after Pentecost C


19th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Our season of stewardship begins with thankfulness for what we have, rather than with worry about what we lack. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sermon Audio 9/18/2016, Guest Preacher Rev. Louis Tillman, Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost C


Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Our guest preacher today, Rev. Louis Tillman, is a candidate for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently completing his theological studies at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He brings a powerful Word reminding us that two is not better than one. Have you ever been to Jackson, MI? 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, September 12, 2016

Sermon Audio 9/11/2016, Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost C


Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Jesus tells his parables about a lost sheep and a lost coin in the midst of two audiences: the tax collectors and sinners with whom he eats, and the grumbling Pharisees and scribes. With which of these audiences do you identify, and how does that change how you hear the parables? 

As a bonus I talk about how "All lives matter" in response to "Black lives matter" is merely the grumbling of jealous Pharisees. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Sermon Audio 9/4/2016, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost C


Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C



What does it mean to carry your cross? Why does Jesus have such harsh words for the crowds of people who want to follow him? 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Friday, September 2, 2016

Why Stewardship is the Way I Follow Jesus

This week my family has much to celebrate. Today is our fifth wedding anniversary, and the tenth anniversary of our first date (give or take a day). Monday is my 38th birthday. Our son had his first day of preschool. We announced a new pregnancy, to the joy of apparently all our Facebook friends.

In fact, so many people have shared in our joy that we wanted to give an opportunity to celebrate with us. Instead of hosting a party, we created a Facebook event and offered our loved ones an opportunity to support a cause we believe in.

What? Why in the world do we think asking our friends to give money to something they may never have heard of counts as celebrating with us?

If you are reading this, you probably know how much I love generosity, fundraising, and giving money. It brings me joy to live out my values by giving material support to things I say I believe in. Ever since we paid off all our debt last year, we have had the opportunity to give more and think more about what giving means in our lives.


Last September I introduced our annual stewardship campaign with a newsletter article that does a good job of explaining why stewardship is my basic framework for following Jesus.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Sermon Audio 8/28/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week 13


Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Thirteen


As we conclude our Summer Sermon Series on the book of Acts, we hear Paul proclaim the risen Christ to the people of Jerusalem. How does the Holy Spirit work through him? 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Actual Blog Post*: What Does It Mean to Be "Religious" in America?

With regard to religion, my cousin and dear friend is a devoutly skeptical and endlessly curious, a combination I hold in high esteem. He posted this article, entitled "Religious Diversity May Be Making America Less Religious," by Daniel Cox for fivethirtyeight.com.

I found this article extremely interesting. Upon reflection, the question that emerged for me was what it means to be "religious." This article points me toward a potential change in what it means to be religious. Is "religious" about belief, as Protestants tend to think? Is it about practice, as Catholic and (more clearly) Buddhist traditions suggest? I think in the US, "religious" has actually tended to mean something else.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Sermon Audio 8/21/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Twelve


Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Twelve


Our Acts sermon series continues with Paul re-telling the story of his conversion. This story has much to teach us about the baptism we celebrated today, and both the story and the baptism have much to teach the rest of us about how we follow Jesus. 


Monday, August 15, 2016

Sermon Audio 8/14/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Eleven

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Eleven

Luke 12:49-56, Acts 20:17-24

Our annual outdoor worship event brought fair weather and a Gospel lesson so challenging that I could not ignore it. Our Acts reading was similar, with Paul uncertain about his future in Jerusalem. Jesus says he came to bring fire and division to the earth. What does this mean?

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, August 8, 2016

Sermon Audio 8/7/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Ten


Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Ten


How does the gospel transform us? As individuals? As the church? How does it transform the communities around us? Paul's experience in Ephesus can tell us a lot about what the gospel looks like in the world


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sermon Audio 7/31/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week 9


Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Nine


The Holy Spirit is active in our church and in our world, and it's ok if we admit that we don't always recognize the Spirit's work. But when we do see the Spirit moving among us, we have a chance to be a part of God's work.


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, July 25, 2016

Sermon Audio 7/24/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Eight

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Eight

Acts 18:1-11
Our Acts sermon series continues with Paul in Corinth, struggling to share the good news about Jesus until he receives a gospel message himself. I spent this week at Living Water Ministries camp for the first time with LCS kids. A challenging week of camp is the perfect opportunity for the Holy Spirit to transform lives and institutions to share the gospel and direct us toward God's reign on earth.

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sermon Audio 7/17/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Seven


Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Seven

Acts 17:16, 22-31 [Link to Oremus]

This week we dive deeply into Acts, to talk idolatry in ancient Athens and in our lives today. With all the troubles in our world today, we sometimes overlook idolatry, but watch out. Idolatry lies at the heart of many of our concerns. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Sermon Audio 7/10/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week 6


Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Six




I was gone for two weeks on vacation. I returned to find that violence and division still rule our nation. Who is our neighbor? And how does Jesus turn the world upside down? 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Sermon Audio 6/19/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week 3


Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Three


Our Acts series continues with a serious discussion of idolatry, our practice of placing our ultimate trust in that which is not God. As the horrific mass shooting in Orlando reminds us, murder is always idolatrous, and tragedies often drive us to other idolatrous responses. 

In worship during our Rite of Healing we read aloud the names of the 49 victims of the shooting at Pulse in Orlando. We handed out the names and went around the room, almost the entire congregation participating in this ritual of lament. Then we prayed for survivors, families of the deceased, their communities and our entire nation as we struggle to respond to hate and violence. It was  a powerful ritual, each of us holding one victim close and publicly voicing their name. 


To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Sermon Audio 6/12/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week Two


Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Two


Already the Holy Spirit is messing with us this summer, as I've decided to forgo this week's Acts reading in favor of talking about rape culture. From the time David "took" Bathsheba, to the time an unnamed "sinful" woman washed Jesus' feet, and even until this very day, men have systemically treated women as less than fully human. There is good news in this sermon, but not before a long and difficult talk on sexism and sexual assault. 


To hear this podcast, listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall." 

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Sermon Audio 6/5/2016, Acts Sermon Series Week One


Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week One


Thus begins a second summer of Acts readings, in which we see how the Holy Spirit transformed the early church. The Holy Spirit does amazing things, even miraculous things, but we don't always notice. What keeps us from recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit around us?

A new way of listening to this podcast this week: Google Play Music. Search "Tengwall" in their Podcast section and subscribe, or listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Sermon Audio 5/29/2016 2nd Sunday after Pentecost C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo [Link to ]

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 7:1-10 [Link to Oremus]

Jesus and the centurion in Capernaum: when even Jesus is surprised, we ought to pay attention. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, May 23, 2016

Sermon Audio 5/22/2016 Holy Trinity C


Holy Trinity Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

A baptism on Holy Trinity provides the opportunity to think about God not in lofty theological terms, but in how God relates to us. An alternate translation of our Proverbs lesson, along with an assist from the repeated refrain of our Psalm (8), helps show us what God does for us in baptism.

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, May 16, 2016

Sermon Audio 5/15/2016, Day of Pentecost C


Day of Pentecost, Lectionary Year C



Pentecost may be the most exciting day of the church year. It's the day the Holy Spirit transforms the church, expanding the boundaries of what is possible and who is welcome. Today Lutheran Church of the Savior receives our Reconciling in Christ certificate, a proud moment that signals a challenging future. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, May 9, 2016

Sermon Audio 5/8/2016, Seventh Sunday of Easter C


Seventh Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C


The Tree of Life is a powerful biblical image of God's healing presence among God's people. How can this image shape our own congregation's ministry? 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, May 2, 2016

Sermon Audio for Sunday 5/1/2016, Sixth Sunday of Easter C


John 14:23-29

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." Special guest preacher Rev. Sarah Friesen-Carper, Assistant the the Bishop for Congregational and Leadership Excellence of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is ideally suited to bring us  Good News from Jesus' declaration in today's reading from John's Gospel. And as ever, she does bring it.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Sermon Audio 4/24/2016, Fifth Sunday of Easter


Fifth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C


"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life." Faithful and confounding and enormously talented, Prince has a lot to teach us about my very favorite thing in the Bible, the vision of the Holy City in Revelation. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Sermon Audio 4/17/2016, Fourth Sunday of Easter C


Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C


Tabitha, AKA Dorcas, is the only woman in the New Testament to explicitly be called a disciple." This got me thinking about all the faithful women who follow Jesus at Lutheran Church of the Savior. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Sermon Audio 4/10/2016, Third Sunday of Easter C


Third Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C


"Follow me." With these words, Jesus invites Peter - and all of us - into new life. It may not be the life we expected. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Sermon Audio 4/6/2016, Commemoration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (transferred)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo MI

Commemoration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (April 9, transferred)

Romans 6:3-11

Bonus sermon: Today I was blessed with the opportunity to preach and preside at midweek Eucharist at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Always a wonderful worship experience, whether I am leading or sitting in the back row. 

Not a lot of original thought from me in this sermon, instead favoring heavy quotations from the apostle Paul, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rev. Dr. Robert Saler, all of whom know better than me how to talk about following Jesus in this world. 

Monday, April 4, 2016

Sermon Audio 4/3/2016, Easter 2C


Second Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C

Revelation 1:4-8

God's love is more powerful than human kings or human cultures or even that most human thing of all, death. Revelation draws us to that love as God's future for us.

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Sermon 3/26/2016 Vigil of Easter


Resurrection of Our Lord: Vigil of Easter


On this night of fire and water, Word and sacrament, sacred story and ridiculous tale, we heard the Good News of God's love for us in Jesus Christ. And we saw the Good News, and tasted it, and smelled it, and touched it. 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Friday, March 25, 2016

Sermon Audio 3/24/2016 Maundy Thursday


Day of Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Foot-washing is divisive because it asks us to make ourselves vulnerable to one another. 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, March 21, 2016

Sermon Audio 3/20/2016, Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday C


Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Psalm 31:9-16 [Link to Oremus]

A brief reflection on the crucifixion and death of our Lord through the lens of our Psalm for today: "For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around." Recent sermons have discussed our current election season and the mass shooting here in Kalamazoo, and those sources of fear again bubble up today. But at this beginning of Holy Week, even as we see Jesus die we know fear will not be the end of our story. 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, March 14, 2016

Sermon Audio 3/13/2016

This week I "swapped pulpits" with Rev. Christin Fawcett of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Holland, MI. It was a fun experience, and I'm wondering why I haven't done this sort of thing more often over the years.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Holland MI

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C


This famous story sets up a stark contrast between Judas and Mary, with much more at stake than a question of how to spend money to follow Jesus. The nature of the Good News itself is in question here, and true to form, Jesus surprises everyone. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." 

Monday, March 7, 2016

Sermon Audio 3/6/2016, Fourth Sunday of Lent C


Day of Pentecost, Lectionary Year C


Forgiveness. It's a central part of our faith. We talk about it all the time in church. Still, it can be incredibly difficult to actually forgive. And our society offers a tempting alternative to forgiveness. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Newsletter Article March 2016

March 2016 Newsletter Article
See how its branches
reach to us in welcome;
Hear what the Voice says,
“Come to me, ye weary!
Give me your sickness,
give me all your sorrow,
I will give blessing.”
-  Király Imre von Pécselyi; tr. Erik Routley, “There in God’s Garden,” ELW 342

Monday, February 29, 2016

Sermon Audio 2/28/2016, Third Sunday of Lent C


Third Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C


Jesus used current events to talk about sin and repentance. When we underestimate repentance, we fail to recognize the power of God to transform our lives and our world. 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Sermon Audio 2/21/2016, Lent 2C


Second Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C 

Acts 2:1-21 [Link to Oremus]


Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Last night there was a mass shooting here in Kalamazoo. It began less than a mile up the road from our church building. To paraphrase Jesus: “America, America, the country that shoots its own people and shouts down those who ask why so many are shot!”

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Sermon Audio 2/14/2016, First Sunday of Lent C


First Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C


Today's lesson from Deuteronomy is basically "How to Be God's People 101," and provides a good basis for how to be the church even today. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Sermon Audio 2/10/2016 Ash Wednesday

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo [Link to https://www.facebook.com/LutheranChurchOfTheSavior]

Ash Wednesday


On fasting, sin, and the size of grocery stores nowadays. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Monday, February 8, 2016

Sermon Audio 2/7/2016, Transfiguration of Our Lord C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo [Link to https://www.facebook.com/LutheranChurchOfTheSavior]

Transfiguration of Our Lord, Lectionary Year C


Paul accuses his opponents in Corinth of wearing a veil to keep themselves from being transformed by an encounter with Jesus. What can we learn from this critique? Are we open to having our lives transformed by Jesus? 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

February 2016 Newsletter Article: Welcoming Syrian Refugees


The life-blood of the world
is shed in mindless war;
and fam’lies desire a home
where conflicts cease.
With all the world we lift our hands
in hope to you, O God of peace.

-  Juan A. Espinosa; tr. Martin A. Seltz, “The People Walk,” ELW 706

Syria, the war-torn nation and its eight million refugees, have been all over the news in recent months. The plight of millions of families caught between warring factions, between a bomb and a gun, has captured hearts and news cycles.

Surprisingly – or maybe not, if we consider the power of the Holy Spirit – our lectionary readings have also featured Syria during that same time. My sermon on Christmas Eve, of all times, focused on the fact that Jesus grew up in the Roman province of Syria. (You can listen to it on the web.) When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt on the run from Herod, they were literally Syrian refugees. In the Gospel lesson on a recent Sunday, Jesus himself references Naaman the Syrian, the foreign military leader whom the prophet Elisha had healed of leprosy. Jesus reminds the people of Nazareth, only 50 miles from the Syrian capital of Damascus, that sometimes God favors these Syrian “foreigners” over the people who know themselves to be God’s own.

In 2016, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan will be among the organizations resettling Syrian refugees in Kalamazoo. Though it has been decades since Lutheran Church of the Savior has helped settle a refugee family, it seems the time has come for us once again to engage in this vital Spirit-led work. We have many partners already engaged in this work, including the aforementioned LSSM, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), and local congregations and organizations.
On Tuesday February 16th, the normal 1:00 pm meeting of the Kalamazoo Conference of ELCA clergy will modify our usual structure to welcome ecumenical partners and lay people to Lutheran Church of the Savior for an informational meeting on resettling Syrian refugees. Our special guests that day will be LSSM’s Chris Cavanaugh, director of refugee resettlement for western Michigan, and Rev. Nik Schillack, LSSM’s church relations director. You are welcome to attend this meeting, and to bring your friends.

Our Lent Wednesday education hour (6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, preceded by a light dinner and followed by Holden Evening Prayer) will focus on the refugee situation using Bible study and informational materials from LIRS. We may have the opportunity to welcome LSSM’s Rev. Schillack and other staff back for another information session on one of our Wednesday evenings, which should be especially valuable as many of us will be unable to attend the previous daytime meeting.

Then in March Kalamazoo will really get the ball rolling. On the evening of Sunday March 13th Interfaith Peace and Justice will be hosting their annual interfaith worship service at First Congregational UCC downtown. The keynote speaker will be Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, talking about Islamophobia and the Syrian refugee crisis. Following the service, a reception will feature representatives of LSSM and Bethany Christian Services, two of the organizations bringing Syrian refugees to Kalamazoo in 2016. This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about refugees and our partners in the ministry of refugee resettlement.

Additionally, a group of area Christian clergy recently wrote a letter to the Mayor and City Commission encouraging Kalamazoo to formally resolve to be a welcoming community for immigrants and refugees. Watch for the letter in the Kalamazoo Gazette and on MLive.com. The Kalamazoo City Commission meeting on Monday March 7th offers an opportunity for Kalamazoo to take this public step even beyond our religious communities.

Syrian refugees are coming to Kalamazoo, and we have the opportunity to use our resources for the gospel work of partnering to resettle families looking for a new beginning. In the coming months, we will have many opportunities to learn about the situation and how we can follow Jesus by becoming involved.

Thanks,

Pastor Andrew 

Monday, February 1, 2016

Sermon Audio 1/31/2016 4th Sunday after Epiphany C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo [Link to https://www.facebook.com/LutheranChurchOfTheSavior]

4th Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C


Presidential election season is upon us. Lord have mercy! In some ways this process brings out the worst in us, so we turn to Jesus (and Jeremiah, and Paul) to help us figure out how to engage in a helpful way. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Sermon Audio 1/24/2016, Third Sunday after Epiphany C


Third Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C


The Holy Spirit drives Jesus to publicly introduce his entire ministry as grounded in Isaiah's words of good news to the poor and release to the captives. For those of us who claim to follow Jesus, this is a powerful example. 

As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Sermon Audio 1/17/2016, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany C


Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C


Jesus' first miracle of turning water to wine is a powerful display of God's grace poured out for all people. What about the people who would rather just have the water? 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Sermon Audio 1/10/2016, Baptism of Our Lord C


Baptism of Our Lord, Lectionary Year C


In preparation for our annual Congregational Meeting today, we remember how the Holy Spirit consistently surprises the church. 


As always, listen here, use this link, or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."