2005

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-10 What does it mean to bless and to be blessed? That may not be a question that everyone woke up this morning asking themselves. Standing there brushing your teeth, trying to get your eyes all the way open, in a state of general stupor (which is how I at least wake up) … Read more

Scripture: Mark 13: 24-37 I guess if you didn’t know it already, you’ve figured out by now that this is the first Sunday in Advent, which in the church is a time of year with its own particular themes and purposes, not just the Christmas season. I need to ask you to be patient with … Read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8 Peace—or shalom, which is a much richer word than our English word peace the way we use it—is my connecting theme for my preaching during Advent this year. Not terribly original, I admit, but appropriate, I think you will admit. Last week I began by talking about the effort of … Read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 I have to be honest with you, that my heart is not much into preaching this morning. When the bulletin was printed I couldn’t even think about what I might say this morning, what title to give the sermon, or whether it would even be a sermon. I haven’t been able to … Read more

Scriptures: Micah 4:1-4; Luke 1:68-79 The first Christmas Eve service I ever took part in as an ordained minister was in 1969. That was a year you may recognize as being in the heart of the Vietnam War era, and all was not well at First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Naperville, Illinois, … Read more