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. 

Sermon Audio 7/8/2018, 7th Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

This is my last sermon as pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior. I decided to avoid my feelings by talking about spreadsheets, before coming back around to talk about Jesus. 

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

If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

Sermon Audio 7/1/2018, Day Camp Week!

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Day camp week! 

Luke 10:1-9

This week we hosted Day Camp with Living Water Ministries, so our Gospel lesson came from the camp program rather than from the lectionary. In today's sermon we get to hear from a set of kids who attended day camp this week. What did they enjoy? What did they learn? Is this what the reign of God looks like?

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

If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

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. 

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

If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

Sermon Audio 6/17/2018, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 4:26-34 

The reign of God - or kingdom of God - grows out of the ruins of our efforts to build a world of human justice. Will we allow the reign of God to grow in us, transforming our lives to radical care for one another?

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

If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!