Sermons
The Polk County Wilderness
A sermon preached at Ankeny UCC on December 8, 2013 John the Baptist’s life in the margins, among a marginal people, and their vision for the future calls us to wonder where the unheard voices in our own lives might be. What drives people to the wilderness, and how can we bring them back in? […]
Come, Let us Walk in the Light of the Lord
A new church year, a new lectionary cycle, Advent 1 of Year A, and I start my call in my new church, Ankeny UCC. Here we listen to the words of Isaiah 2:1-5 that reminds us we have the opportunity to walk in the Light. But what does that mean in the church life? It […]
What Are You Waiting For?
This was, again, a bit different. We were off the lectionary for the day as I collaborated with an old friend and mentor, Pete Knapp. Pete had been my confirmation mentor, and had an amazing career doing research into Agricultural safety issues that led to much safer working conditions all over the world. In retirement, […]
The Return of the Lost Sheep
A bit of a different sermon from my for September 15; I delivered this as my candidate sermon at Ankeny United Church of Christ. And so it is much more about me, and about what kind of a church we can be together, than it is about anything in particular in the scripture. Sermon Text […]
A Slave to Love
The central facts of Philemon cannot be avoided: Paul is returning a runaway slave. But within those facts lie myriad choices facing Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon. Each of those choices tests what it means to be a Christian and feel the love of Jesus Christ. Each one carries the very real risk of hurt, pain, […]