Sermon Audio 1/20/2019, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C

John 2:1-11

In which we talk about the abundant grace of God, in Jesus' miracle of wine at Cana and in our practice of the Eucharist. This sermon also features a shoutout to the Minnesota Rollergirls, and to the group from Hope Church who had attended the MNRG bout the night before. 

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 1/13/2019, Baptism of Our Lord C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Baptism of Our Lord, Lectionary Year C

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Jesus' baptism teaches us about the grace of God in our own baptisms and throughout our lives.

This sermon features a baptismal song by Paul Friesen-Carper. 

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 from Christmas Eve 2018

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Nativity of Our Lord I: Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-20

Better late than never? On a bustling Christmas Eve, we heard how the birth of Jesus shows us that God is truly with us.

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 10/28/2018, Reformation Sunday

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36

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

Hello! I haven't been posting my sermons - or anything else - since I came to Saint Paul. I will probably start to do so again soon. Right now I'm still trying to figure out how best to balance my time between pastoring Hope, starting a new congregation, and keeping my home and family life together. Pro tip: don't move across the country, start new jobs, buy a house and two cars, and start new schools and daycares all at the same time unless you really, really need to do so.

Anyway, on to this week's sermon. Other pastors - even Lutheran ones - undoubtedly preached better sermons against Christian anti-Semitism this weekend in response to the murders of eleven people at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Still, this is my sermon attempting to grapple with Lutheran history and biblical interpretation in light of the current moment. The congregation seemed to appreciate it (if not exactly "like" it), and a number inquired about the book I recommended, Mary Solberg's A Church Undone.

For what has God in Christ set us free? This is the question we followers of Jesus wrestle with on days like this, when we are keenly aware of our Lutheran heritage and the effects of bad theology and biblical interpretation upon innocent people in today's world.

 

Changes

News! After nearly nine years in Kalamazoo, I am now the pastor and mission developer with Hope Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

I have a lot of questions. What will a faithful, committed, aging, low-numbers congregation become as they continue to follow the Holy Spirit? How will our partnership with Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, a Hmong-American ELCA congregation that shares our space, shape our shared ministry by responding to the needs of the neighborhood? What might God do next in the northeast corner of Saint Paul? 

I will try again to post audio of my sermons online, and possibly to write more in this space again - but no promises. Between moving, buying a house, getting a kid into school, starting two new jobs, and enjoying Lake Phalen just a couple of blocks a way, its' been a busy month around here. Hopefully things will settle down enough that I can find some kind of balance between family, house, health, and the various aspects of church present in my call to Hope.