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LCH Sermons—Easter 2012
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Pentecost—May 27, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Phyllis Hormann
Lessons: Acts 2:1–21 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | Romans 8:22–27 | John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15
Summary: Pentecost reminds me how the Spirit makes it possible for us to stand by others in the face of injustice and to communicate when words are not enough. We may not always have the courage to stand up for others or the right words on our own, but we are gifted by the Spirit with strength, and the words can come later.
No recording for technical reasons
Ascension (transferred)—May 20, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Phyllis Hormann
Lessons: Acts 1:1–11 | Psalm 47 | Ephesians 1:15–23 | Luke 24:44–53
Summary: Today we celebrate the Ascension with joy, but it is quite possible that, rather than joy, the disciples were left wondering when Jesus would return. Acts continues with the two men asking why the disciples were gazing up and telling them to return to Jerusalem, witness to what had happened, and wait for the Holy Spirit. In the same way, we should not be gazing up in the sky but looking at world around us, seeing our neighbors as they face life’s challenges, and being the body of Christ in the world. We are called to give witness to God’s story as it continues to be written.
Easter VI—May 13, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:44–48 | Psalm 98 | 1 John 5:1–6 | John 15:9–17
Summary: Because today is Mothers Day, yesterday the radio was full of sappy songs about love. But the love Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel is very different—unconditional, unexpected agape love. In Acts, Peter and his friends are surprised when the Spirit comes on Gentiles. We often live as if God’s grace came from doing what we are supposed to do, but there are times when we are surprised by God’s love. We have been given a wonderful tool kit of love, and we are called to share it and to make the world beautiful with love.
Easter V—May 6, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 8:26–40 | Psalm 22:25–31 | 1 John 4:7–21 | John 15:1–8
Summary: There is a vine that grows from the stream by house and wraps around everything. I try to cut it back and stop it, but it just keeps growing. I call it “Satan,” but maybe I should call it “Jesus” because it shows how tenacious the love of God is. Like that vine, the love of God is deeply rooted in the world, and no matter what we do, it wraps around us. The Gospel tells us that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, and I John tells us that the fruit of this vine is love. It is not our fruit but God’s fruit of love, and nothing we do can mess it up. God loves us not matter what, and God sends us out in mission to be God’s love in the world.
Easter IV—April 29, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 4:5–12 | Psalm 23 | 1 John 3:16–24 | John 10:11–18
Summary: Today’s Gospel for Good Shepherd Sunday is from early in John’s Gospel, but in the lectionary it comes after three weeks looking at post-resurrection events. This text brings us back from the confusion of those stories to Jesus’ promise to be with us always. Jesus is not like the hired hand who runs away. To really understand this image, we must see ourselves as sheep—smelly, stupid, and ugly. In spite of all this, Jesus chooses to love us in our brokenness and to lay down his life for us. Jesus takes up the shepherd’s staff of the cross and leads us into the world to proclaim the good news.
Easter III—April 22, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 3:12–19 | Psalm 4 | 1 John 3:1–7 | Luke 24:36b–48
Summary: Today’s Gospel is a ghost story unlike any other. Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection, and they think he is a ghost. But Jesus tells them not to be afraid, eats some broiled fish to prove he is not a ghost, and sends them out to tell the world. This story tells us that God’s presence in the world is real and not a metaphor or fantasm. Jesus makes the disciples stewards of the faith and sends them out. We often worry about the church or the world in the hands of the next generation, but it is not our church or our world. The church and the world belong to God. And we know God will bring joy, love and peace to both the church and the world.
Easter II—April 15, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Phyllis Hormann
Lessons: Acts 4:32–35 | Psalm 133 | 1 John 1:1—2:2 | John 20:19–31
Summary: Every church is different. Some are vibrant communities that live the resurrection; others are like the disciples huddling with fear behind locked doors. In Acts we hear about the early church living with one mind and caring for everyone. I think LCH is frequently like this, but in my job at the State Hospital, I meet many who struggle to survive. Jesus told the disciples to receive the spirit and God’s peace. Jesus gives us the same spirit and sends us out in peace to help heal the wounds of this world.
No recording for technical reasons
Easter Sunday—April 8, 2012
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 | Mark 16:1–8
Summary: Why do we all gather together on this day? In today’s Gospel we hear how the women went to the tomb expecting to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, but they found an empty tomb. We also come filled with our expectations about God and our relationship with God, but the empty tomb dashes those expectations. The empty tomb is filled with the Spirit of God, who fills our emptiness and swallows up our fears in grace. And like the women, you are all sent to tell everyone about the love of God.
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