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  • We Wait with Patience

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 12, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 35:1–10 Luke 1:46b–55 (antiphon v. 47) James 5:7–10 Matthew 11:2–11 + + + Prayer Lord God, from your servant, Mary, we learn how to wait and to watch and listen…

  • Mary’s Song of Reversals

    Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the December 2010 meeting. The Magnificat is the Psalmody appointed for the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 12, 2010. The council…

  • Navel and Nails

    He hangs from a cross, itself hanging on a nail on the wall by my desk. This hand-carved olive wood crucifix is souvenir, decoration, sermon, icon. There are days, maybe weeks when it blends into the décor. Or rather, I turn my gaze to other objects. Then it—he!—hangs and waits.…

  • In the Meantime: For Now

    Introduction This article is the December 2010 installment of my monthly message in the parish newsletter for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. Message For Now Words have a funny way of sharing just a bit of themselves now…and then waiting for the right time…and then revealing a little more…

  • Baptized with Spirit and Fire

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated the Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 5, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 11:1–10 Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19 (antiphon v.7) Romans 15:4–13 Matthew 3:1–12 + + + Prayer Cleanse us with your fire, O Lord, and stir up your Holy Spirit in us, so…

  • The Day is Coming

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., marked the beginning of the Church year on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 28, 2010. + + + Readings Isaiah 2:1–5 Psalm 122 (antiphon v. 1) Romans 13:11–14 Matthew 24:36–44 + + + Prayer Prepare us, heavenly Father, for the day that is…

  • The First of the Fruit

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated our nation’s Day of Thanksgiving on Wednesday evening, November 24, 2010. + + + Readings Deuteronomy 26:1–11 Psalm 100 Philippians 4:4–9 John 6:25–35 + + + Prayer We come to you, Holy God, and give to you what you have first given us:…

  • Rescued, Transferred, Redeemed

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., marked the end of the Church year on Christ the King Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. + + + Readings Jeremiah 23:1–6 Psalm 46 (antiphon v.10) Colossians 1:11–20 Luke 23:33–43 + + + Prayer Gracious Father, you sacrificed your Son to cleanse the world of…

  • We Are God’s Servants

    Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., celebrated its Mission Festival and its Thankoffering for the Women of the ELCA on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13–14, 2010, the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost. I prepared this homily for the Saturday evening service. The readings are selected from the options for the Thankoffering…

  • Praising, Proclaiming, and Pondering the Lord

    Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the November 2010 meeting. The Psalm is the one appointed for the Thankoffering Service of the Women of the ELCA, which…