Author Archives: jabbokdawn

God Tearing Open the Heavens

The texts for Sunday, November 30, 2014 (Advent 1B): Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; and Mark 13:24–37 Audio of sermon:  Sermon Advent 1B … In the demonstrations and riots and commentaries in the articles about systemic racism and the militarization of the police Even in the heart-touching stories of those who do care and rise up toContinueContinue reading “God Tearing Open the Heavens”

The homeless King

The texts for Sunday, November 23, 2014 (Christ the King):  Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24; Psalm 95:1–7a; Ephesians 1:15–23; and Matthew 25:31–46. The audio of the sermon: Sermon for Christ the King … when we separate ourselves from others when we refuse to acknowledge, as Dorothy Day said, our own soul’s hunger and our own homelessness, we separate ourselves from a GodContinueContinue reading “The homeless King”

Who is this master?

The texts for Sunday, November 16, 2014 (23rd Sunday after Pentecost): Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; Psalm 90:1–8[9–11] 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; and Matthew 25:14–30. Link to the audio file of the sermon:  Sermon on the Master and three slaves **Most of the sermon was preached without manuscript.  In this sermon, I compare Mary’s Magnificat and the God that she describes there withContinueContinue reading “Who is this master?”

Bridesmaids Deconstructed

The texts for Sunday, November 9, 2014 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost):  Amos 5:18–24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; and Matthew 25:1–13. Link to the audio file:  Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost … Our faith is a faith of waiting of deep, hopeful longing of knowing, somehow that life and creation could be better could be more just couldContinueContinue reading “Bridesmaids Deconstructed”

The Challenge of New Things

The texts for Sunday, October 26, 2014 (Reformation Sunday):  Jeremiah 31:31–34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19–28 and John 8:31–36 I didn’t record the sermon this week, but I sang the gospel using Luther’s rules for the chanting of the Gospel.  A practice run before worship is below.   The sermon is roughly transcribed following. Audio of Gospel:  Chanted GospelContinueContinue reading “The Challenge of New Things”

Why Christianity? And Why Lutheranism in Particular?

  The confirmation project for our last year confirmation student(s) is to work with a mentor to answer and present their own personal answer to one of several proposed questions as they and the mentor talk about life and faith and being church together. In a series of newsletter articles, I’m inviting the congregation toContinueContinue reading “Why Christianity? And Why Lutheranism in Particular?”

The great grace of work

The texts for Sunday 21, 2014 (Pentecost 14A): Jonah 3:10–4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; and Matthew 20:1-16. ” And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go intoContinueContinue reading “The great grace of work”

Believing

The texts for Sunday, September 14, 2014 (Holy Cross Day):  Numbers 21:4b–9; Psalm 98:1–4; 1 Corinthians 1:18–24; and John 3:13–17 . “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” – John 3:16 What does belief mean? I think that we, inContinueContinue reading “Believing”

What does it mean to be a person of faith?

The confirmation project for our last year confirmation student(s) is to work with a mentor to answer and present their own personal answer to one of several proposed questions as they and the mentor talk about life and faith and being church together.   In a series of newsletter articles, I’m inviting the congregation to also consider the questionsContinueContinue reading “What does it mean to be a person of faith?”

Speaking Love

The texts for Sunday, September 7th, 2014:  Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; and Matthew 18:15-20 . “So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” – Ezekiel 33:7 What does it mean to love?  I ask thisContinueContinue reading “Speaking Love”

A Blessing for the New Year

This was sent to my congregation in our “weekly-ish” e-newsletter, but I wish these blessings to all of you as well. I was looking for a graphic for the background of the above header image. There are a whole lot of beautiful pictures out there to celebrate the New Year: lots of fireworks, gold, champagneContinueContinue reading “A Blessing for the New Year”

Wait … what?

I kind of missed Advent this year.  There was no Advent wreath at my house, no Advent calendar to mark the days.  I did not even get to center my days around the Sundays of Advent: watching the acolyte struggle to light the next candle and sing all the beautiful hymns of longing for light,ContinueContinue reading “Wait … what?”

Every Common Bush

Text for this reflection (second in an Advent series called “Revive”): Exodus 3:1-12 “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning What does it take to see the presence of God inContinueContinue reading “Every Common Bush”

Beloved child, get up.

Text for this reflection (in an Advent series entitled “Revive”): Mark 5:21–43 “Talitha cum,” Little Girl, get up. This text is not one that we normally hear this time of year, in the season of Advent. Normally, we get lots of texts from the old testament prophets or the beginning of the Gospels where weContinueContinue reading “Beloved child, get up.”

The Fullness of God

The texts for Sunday, November 24, 2013 (Christ the King Sunday or the Reign of Christ):  Jeremiah 23:1–6; Psalm 46 (though, we’re using the semi-continuous option for the psalm: Luke 1:68–79); Colossians 1:11–20; and Luke 23:33–43.”For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” – Colossians 1:19I think I’ve probably written and preached about this before,ContinueContinue reading “The Fullness of God”

We (Will) Rise

The texts for Sunday, November 10, 2013 (Lectionary 32): Job 19:23–27a; Psalm 17:1–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17; and Luke 20:27–38. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God” – Job 19: 25-26 This is a textContinueContinue reading “We (Will) Rise”

Blessed is the dust…

The texts for Sunday, November 3, 2013 (All Saints, Year C): Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11–23; and Luke 6:20–31 . “Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'” – Luke 6:20 Too often, I think, we are quick to turn things like blessing and sainthoodContinueContinue reading “Blessed is the dust…”