All Saints

November 1 or November 3, 2024

CALL TO WORSHIP
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it— 

The world, and those who live in it. 

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place? 

Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who do not embrace falsehood 

They will receive blessing from the Lord,

Semper Reformanda

Sermon for Reformation Sunday
October 27, 2024

There are a lot of small churches like ours: historic churches in the middle of town, churches that were once bigger than we are now. Already struggling, when covid hit four years ago, they just weren’t prepared. My home church was one such church. When I was in high school, it had over 800 members. It had dwindled quite a bit over the years and was just barely hanging on in 2020.

Reformation Sunday

October 27, 2024

CALL TO WORSHIP

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore we will not fear.

Though the earth should quake and the mountains shake and topple into the depths of the sea.

There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God.

God is in the midst of the city;

Melchizedek

Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
October 20, 2024

Let’s let our minds wander a bit. Near the beginning of the Bible, Genesis tells the stories of a man who lived nearly four thousand years ago. He’s definitely one of the most important people who ever lived—the most important by some measures. His name was Abram and he was from what was at that time considered to be a big city. Like everybody else in that day and age,

22nd Sunday after Pentecost

October 20, 2024

CALL TO WORSHIP
How dear to us is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts!
Our souls long for your courts; our hearts rejoice in the living God!
Happy are those who dwell in your house, always singing your praises.
Happy the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on the pilgrim way.
For the Lord blesses us with grace and glory.

Crisis of Faith

Sermon for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost
October 13, 2024

Remember Monty Python? I remember in high school one of my favorite lines was, “And now for something completely different.” I want to open this sermon in a way that’s very different from my usual way of beginning. Please turn to page 747 in the back of your hymnals, and let’s read Psalm 95:1-7 responsively. (You may remain seated):