+ A homily for Ash Wednesday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Bellevue, WA on March 2, 2022 + Text: Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Audio: I must admit some trepidation this year as we enter the season of Lent. I must admit that I feel some reluctance to commemorate Ash Wednesday. After two years of a global …
Category: Lent
The Unexpected Reply to Hosanna
+ A Palm Sunday (Year B) sermon preached for preaching class at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, IL on March 18, 2015 + Text: Mark 11:1-11 Grace and peace to you from God our Creator and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. When he entered in the city, crowds surrounded the procession. They clamored …
The Cure for the Snakes in our World
+ A sermon preached for Lent 4B at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL on March 15, 2015 + Texts: Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21 Audio Grace and peace to you from God our Creator and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. This was a big week for technology lovers. In case you missed it, …
The Healing Power of Touch
+ A short sermon preached for a midweek Lenten healing worship service at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL on March 4, 2015 + Text: Matthew 9:18-25 Grace and peace to you from God our Creator and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. We live in what has been called a “touch-phobic society.” Whether we are crammed on …
Take Me As I Am, For I Was Born This Way
+ A Lenten reflection preached at University Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA on March 13, 2013 + Text: Take, O Take Me As I Am, Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24 How many of us have faced hardship for being who we are? Have you been ridiculed or laughed at? Who among us has lamented that they were a certain, different way? …
Pastor Paul Eldred 