Sermon Audio 10/16/2022, 19th Sunday after Pentecost C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul (in person and live on Zoom)

 

Lectionary 29 / 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Revised Common Lectionary Year C

 

Luke 18:1-8

 Jesus' reassurance to his followers to not lose heart can be as helpful to us today as it was when he first told them this parable about the persistent woman. 

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Sermon Audio 10/11/2020, 19th Sunday after Pentecost A

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

 

Mark 4:26-34

One of Jesus' most frightening parables, paired with one of Isaiah's most beautiful visions for the Reign of God: somehow this helps me understand why people in power may need not be afraid of those they oppress. 

 

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Sermon Audio 6/23/2019, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 8:26-39

The United States government is keeping children in cages at our Southern border, tearing families apart and inflicting untold horror on children as a coercive deterrent to convince other Central American families not to seek asylum here. The gospel of Jesus Christ stands in opposition to this normalized, rationalized cruelty and evil.

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

Sermon Audio 4/28/2019, Second Sunday of Easter C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Second Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C

John 20:19-31

Anti-Semitism has a long history among white Christians, as white Christians we must do more to stop anti-Semitism long before it leads to violence and death, as it did near San Diego on Saturday. What can our Gospel story of Jesus' appearances to the disciples tell us about how to face this situation?

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

Sermon Audio 4/21/2019, Easter Sunday

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day, Lectionary Year C

Luke 24:1-12

Jesus is risen! The women and other disciples who first heard this good news did not react with the same enthusiasm we express today. What can we learn from their response on that first Easter morning?

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

Sermon Audio 1/6/2019, Epiphany of Our Lord

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Epiphany of Our Lord

Matthew 2:1-15

The magi came to worship Jesus under the most unexpected circumstances. Their search for a true king, and the political backlash it inspired, had life-or-death consequences. What God experienced in Jesus during and after this time can have profound meaning for our faith. 

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

Sermon Audio 12/2/2018, First Sunday of Advent C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Luke 21:25-36

A new church year, and it's time for me to resume posting audio of my sermons. I've been recording them, just not posting, so I may also add some from previous weeks, out of chronological order.

This week's sermon begins a new church year with an introduction to Advent and the idea that in the coming church year we will look ahead to what God is about to do.

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

Sermon Audio 6/24/2018, 5th Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 4:35-41 

This was a special day: Lutheran Church of the Savior and African Christian Fellowship worshiped together! As such, this sermon was translated to French in real time. It's about Jesus. 

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

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Acts Sermon Series 2016, Week Three

Acts 15:12-21

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."

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

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

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."

Sermon Audio 2/21/2016, Lent 2C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo  

Second Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C 

Acts 2:1-21 [Link to Oremus]

Luke 13:31-35

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."

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

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 

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."

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

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30 

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."

Sermon Audio 11/15/2015, 25th Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

25th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 13:1-8 

"Do not be afraid!" In various forms, this good news permeates the entire Bible, spoken by so many voices to so many people. In light of this week's Gospel lesson on the fall of the temple, combined with recent terrorist attacks, the simple message to not be afraid sounds more radical than one might think at first. 

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

Sermon Audio 4/5/2015, Easter Sunday B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Mark 16:1-8

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Mark's maybe-abbreviated story of Jesus' resurrection may be my favorite version of the story, showing how God's love for us in Jesus transcends the power of sin and death, yes, and also the power of fear. As usual, "Do not be afraid" is the beginning of the Good News.

Listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." 

Sermon Audio 11/19/2014, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Matthew 25:14-30

In Jesus' parable, the master gives unbelievable sums of money to his servants and asks them to take care of the master's property. What do we do with all that God has given us? 

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Sermon Audio 11/2/2014 All Saints A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation has become my favorite book in the Bible. Hear why in this sermon for All Saints. 

As always, listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. 

Sermon Audio 6/22/2014 2nd Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

Matthew 10:24-39

We begin the "ordinary" time after Pentecost by diving into the deep end of some of Jesus' most challenging words: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." He also tells his disciples they are unworthy unless they love Jesus more than their own parents and children, and tells them they will probably be killed. The gospel, the good news of God's love for us in Jesus, is not for the faint of heart.


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