Sermon Text May 17th 2015

I was away on May 10th, so no sermon audio for that day. Then May 17th my phone (recording device) completely malfunctioned and my sermon audio did not record. This is the second time that a sermon did not record, and the second time it was a roller derby-themed sermon that I thought people would want to listen to. Oh well. Instead I will post the text from which I preached that sermon. It contains much of what I said, though as always the audio is the real sermon and the text is merely my guide. In particular, I suspect there was more to points 3 and 4 below, but oh well.

Sermon Sunday May 17th, Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Acts 8:26-40

1.    It’s still the season of Easter, so one more time I’ll begin my sermon with the Good News: Jesus died and rose again for us, to forgive our sin and set us free to love God and love one another.

2.    Our first lesson from Acts today is one of my all-time favorite examples of the freedom we have in Christ, freedom to love God and love one another. The Ethiopian eunuch is the most outside of outsiders – foreign, dark-skinned, fabulously wealthy and powerful (which wouldn’t make him an outsider except that by that time Jesus’ followers had all given their money and possessions to the church and become poor), and a eunuch, a sexual minority explicitly excluded from worshiping God by the Law of Moses.

Sermon Audio 5/3/2015 Fifth Sunday after Easter B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

1 John 4:7-21

After celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus over Holy Week and Easter, and after recent events in Baltimore sparked by the death of Freddie Gray, we remember this important fact. We don't get to talk about Jesus without talking about state-sponsored violence.

Based on responses from the congregation, as well as my own impressions, I think this sermon was important enough that I will also share my prepared text below. Of course, the actual sermon as preached varied from the text, and each is its own entity. Unlike most of my sermons I believe there is value in sharing this text alongside the audio of the preached sermon. 

I'd also like to link to an important source for my reflections, as I quoted two of the essays at this link in the sermon. Preaching Reflections of Freddie Gray and Baltimore

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

Sermon Audio 4/26/2015 Fourth Sunday of Easter B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

1st John 3:16-24

Love one another. The First Letter of John (not to be confused with the Gospel of John, similar though they are) is a great resource for understanding this phrase, so central to what it means for us to follow Jesus. 

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

May 2015 Newsletter Article: Let's Go for a Walk!

We are marching in the light of God,

We are marching in the light of God.

We are marching in the light of God,

We are marching in the light of God.

We are marching, marching

We are marching, marching

We are marching in the light of God.

-  South African Traditional, “We Are Marching in the Light,” ELW 866

Let’s go for a walk.

This year, as I try to visit as many LCS folks as possible, I would like to invite you to take me outside on a walk to your favorite walking place. For all the years I’ve been here, I haven’t actually been to many of the most popular walking places in Kalamazoo. I haven’t been to the Nature Center or the Bird Sanctuary or the River Trail, or probably your favorite park or path. I think getting outdoors and getting some exercise would be a great time to catch up with you and see how things are going. I just don’t get out and walk much.

Sermon Audio 4/12/2015, Second Sunday of Easter B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Acts 4:32-35

How did the first apostles live together, and how can they inspire us to live more fully for God in the light of the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Listen here 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 4/2/2015 Maundy Thursday

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

"Love one another" is Jesus' most powerful, challenging command to his disciples. He gives this new commandment during his final meal with them. How can we follow such a simple, complicated commandment? In this meal Jesus shows us how to love one another. 

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