December 2013 Newsletter Article

My LCS newsletter article for December 2013. I think it's fair so say in this article I've bitten off more than I can chew, and I hope that's a good thing.

Come Now, O Prince of Peace,

make us one body.

Come, O Lord Jesus,

Reconcile your people.

-          Geonyong Lee, tr. Marion Pope, “Come Now, O Prince of Peace,” ELW 247

Bodies. Everybody’s got one, or maybe everybody is one? Our bodies grow old and fall ill; they limit us physically as well as bringing us joy in work and in play.  The human body is vastly complex, yet so often simple and beautiful in its function and movement. I don’t exercise enough, I eat more junk food than I should, and my sleep habits are irregular at best – like some of you, I’m not always a good steward of my body, which is to say, of myself.

The church, widely speaking, has generally been bad at making sense of human bodies.

Sermon Audio 11/24/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Reign of Christ Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Luke 23:33-43

Doctor Who, Thor, and Jesus. What does it look like when Jesus is king? Hint: he's not saving the world by being clever or wielding a hammer.


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 11/17/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

26th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 21:5-19

It's stewardship season, and what better way to recognize that than by hearing Jesus talk about the end of the world? Seriously, though I love stewardship, and even though Jesus is talking about some scary things in this lesson, I find his words comforting. We know the world will be a mess, but in every challenge we face, we have the opportunity to testify that God's love is for us and for all.


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 11/3/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo MI

All Saints Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Luke 6:20-31

Blessings and woes and some of Jesus' most famous words on how people ought to get along, plus the dedication of Lutheran Church of the Savior's new Memorial Recognition Tree. Do you know that you are blessed?


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." I know the embedded link below does not work on iPhones, so iTunes is the way to go for that.

Sermon Audio 10/27/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Reformation Sunday

Romans 3:19-28

Reformation Sunday is less about what the church did that one time than it is about turning back, again and again, to knowing what God did that one time.


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." I know the embedded link below does not work on iPhones, so iTunes is the way to go for that.

Sermon Audio 10/20/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

This line from today's lesson, "All scripture is inspired by God," has vexed me for years. How do we read the Bible, and why does the Bible have authority in our lives and in the church? These questions may be easier to address in a Bible study than in a sermon, but we took a shot at it, anyway.

As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." I know the embedded link below does not work on iPhones, so iTunes is the way to go for that.

Sermon Audio 10/13/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

21st Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 17:11-19

Today's Gospel lesson about the Samaritan leper is a wonderful story of praise and thankfulness by the unlikeliest messenger of God's love. It got me thinking about how unlikely it is that I find myself as a Lutheran pastor, and the unlikely friends who guided me in this direction. This sermon contains a description of a set of circumstances vital to my faith and call as a pastor, including the role of LGBT friends therein. Oh, and hHappy National Coming Out Day this past Friday 10/11/13.



Edit: As always, you can listen to this sermon and subscribe to the podcast of my sermons at iTunes by searching my name, "Tengwall." It has come to my attention that the embedded link on this page does not work on iPhones, and my solution to that dilemma it to recommend iTunes to those people. Other suggestions are welcome, and thanks to folks who care enough about listening to my sermons that you'll tell me what doesn't and does work.