Acts 2:1-11  1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at … Continue reading Pentecost Sermon 2020: “Pentecost: The Conspiracy of Breathing”

Gospel Reading- Luke 24: 44-53              24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you–that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 24:46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name … Continue reading Sermon from Quarantine for Ascension Sunday

Scripture for May 17th, 2020 Sixth Sunday of Easter Psalm 66:8-20 8 Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs; 12 you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place. 13 I will come into your … Continue reading Sermons from Quarantine: “Searching for…”

Gospel Reading- John 14: 1-14 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we … Continue reading Sermon from Quarantine: “With God, Now”

It was a warm and sunny July morning as I drove west on Colfax.  It was my first day as Senior Pastor of First Church in downtown South Bend. I stopped briefly at a red light getting ready to turn onto Main Street, I saw a man dart out from the sidewalk onto the road. He approached my car as he yelled obscenities and gave me and everyone around him the middle finger. Welcome to downtown South Bend, my new context for ministry. My previous four years were spent being in ministry in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in … Continue reading From Meridian to Main

Gospel Reading- Luke 24: 13-35 Message- “On the Road: Already a Blessing” Did you do your homework this week? If you remember, I offered to you this spiritual reflection exercise called mapping your spiritual journey. So class, disciples, students, did you do your homework? I worked on mine with our young adults several weeks ago when we met, then I brought it home and it disappeared after my 4-year-old colored all over it. I know that’s the equivalent of “my dog ate my homework,” but it’s true. Did you do your homework? If not, I ask that you complete your … Continue reading Message from Quarantine: “On the Road: Already a Blessing”

Gospel Reading- John 20: 19-31 “God Shows Up” I was really pleased with Easter worship last week! I really appreciated the wonderful music and spirit of Easter. We even had a new high for Zoom connections last week. It kind of felt like Easter as we proclaimed, “Christ is risen.” It just wasn’t the same and it didn’t help that we had snow on the ground this week, certainly not a sign of new life and spring. I’m still lingering in the dark of winter in multiple ways. Even so, we are challenged during this time to proclaim the resurrection … Continue reading Sermon from Quarantine- Easter Week 2