Author Archive
December 22, 2013 Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 1:18-25 Jesus: God is in Common with Us Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 22, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Okay: I’m driving down Portage Avenue and I pass by Elim Chapel. And there they are advertising their Christmas Eve service with a catchy slogan. And the catchy slogan is: Back […]
December 8, 2013 (Advent 2) – Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 3:1-12 Everyone Lives Second Sunday of Advent – December 8, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Every time we get introduced to John again on the Second Sunday of Advent, don’t you just want him to take a valium? Offer him a massage? Maybe some aromatherapy? Scented bath oil? The thing […]
December 1, 2013 (Advent 1) – Psalm 122
Psalm 122 I Was Glad First Sunday of Advent – December 1, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Many of you are familiar with the note cards that have been in use for many many years at First Lutheran Church. Many of you have received them for one thing or another, […]
November 24, 2013 – Luke 23:33-43
Luke 23:33-43 The Earth We Carry Around for a While Christ the King [Lectionary 34] – November 24, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB This congregation, this community, this place we call First Lutheran Church is a place that is unlike any other place for one reason and for one reason only: […]
November 17, 2013 – Luke 21:5-19
Luke 21:5-19 A House of Living Stones and Living Gifts 26th Sunday after Pentecost [Lectionary 33C] – November 17, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Before I was called to First Lutheran Church, another pastor was asked if he’d be interested in the call. He drove past the building and drove around the […]
November 10, 2013 – Haggai 1:15b-2:9
Haggai 1:15b-2:9 Encouragement in a Time of Rebuilding 15th Sunday after Pentecost [Lectionary 32C] – November 10, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB The story of God’s people is the story of building a place that is unlike any other place. In a world filled with tribal and ethnic warfare, God invited […]
November 3, 2013 (All Saints’ Sunday) – Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus: Sinner – and Saint All Saints Sunday [Lectionary 31C] – November 3, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Okay: Zacchaeus is not a good man. Tax collectors were not good people in the ancient world – whether they are or not today I won’t venture to say. Really, though, what […]
October 27, 2013 (Reformation Sunday) – Luke 18:9-14
Luke 18:9-14 Re-formed by Grace Reformation Sunday [Lectionary 30] – October 27, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Okay: the Pharisee is a swell guy. And let’s face it: we’d love our churches to be filled with Pharisees. The guy goes above and beyond: he fasts more, he prays more, and he gives […]
October 20, 2013 – Jeremiah 31:27-34
Jeremiah 31:27-34 The Writing on the Heart 22nd Day after Pentecost [Lectionary 29C] – October 20, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Complete and utter failures. Broken. Hopeless. Isolated. Useless. Destroyed. Homeless. Without a cent to their names. Losers. That pretty much sums up where the people of Judah are at this morning. […]
October 13, 2013 – Luke 17:11-19
Luke 17:11-19 Ten Cured but only One Healed 21st Sunday after Pentecost [Lectionary 28] – October 13, 2013 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB This could be the shortest Thanksgiving Sunday sermon ever: the moral of the story about Jesus and the ten lepers seems to be: Don’t be a schmuck! Be […]
