Sermons on Diligent Mary:

Only Believe

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jun 28, 2021

A sermon for the Sundays after Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 13

June 27, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 5:21-43 Only Believe Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Time is a relative phenomenon. As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. But there are other times ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Lutheran

Surprised By Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Sep 7, 2021

A sermon for the Sundays following Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 23

Sept. 5, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 7:24-37 Surprised by Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. There’s an old saying: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” In order for a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Follow The Leader

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Sep 13, 2021

A sermon for the Sundays following Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 24

September 12, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Isaiah 50:4-9a; Mark 8:27-38 Follow the Leader Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Vacations often involve long road trips. Those journeys can be filled with road games ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38, Isaiah 50:4-9

Denomination: Lutheran

The Bottom Of The Totem Pole

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Sep 21, 2021

A sermon for the Sundays after Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 25

January 17, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 9:30-37 The Bottom of the Totem Pole Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. There’s a phrase: the bottom of the totem pole. Totem poles are wooden monuments made by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Prayer: The Channel To Abundant Life Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Sep 29, 2021

Stewardship Series: Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity - Week One, Giving God Our Day

September 26, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Stewardship Series: Abundant Joy Overflowing Generosity Mark 1:35-39 Prayer: The Channel to Abundant Life Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Every day, rivers carry tons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39

Denomination: Lutheran

The Dazzling Gemstones In God's Jewelry Case Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Oct 11, 2021

A sermon on using our time and talents towards the goals of God's kingdom.

October 10, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Stewardship Series: Abundant Joy Overflowing Generosity Exodus 35:30-35; Matthew 5:13-16 The Dazzling Gemstones in God’s Jewelry Case Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 35:30-35, Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Impossible

Contributed by Mari Larson on Mar 27, 2016

Throughout history, many people have had doubts about many things. It is no wonder there were doubts about the resurrection.

Throughout history, some very smart people have said some not-so-smart things, and thanks to the internet, they will never be forgotten. For example, Thomas Watson, the Chairman of IBM said in 1943, “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” When something new comes ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Spirit-Filled

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jul 25, 2015

An invitation to be Spirit-filled rather than just Spirit-marked.

A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day when the local law enforcement officer walked in to get a haircut. And the barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the cop, "Since you do such a good job protecting us, and watching over us, today’s haircut is free." ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Healing For The Soul

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jul 25, 2015

Like Elijah, sometimes we feel utterly defeated (as I did by the shootings in Charleston and Chattanooga) but God remains with us through these times.

When I left on Sabbatical, I had Charleston on my mind. As I drove to North Carolina, it was on my mind. I tried to avoid newspapers and newscasts, but it was still on my mind. Through much of the Wild Goose Festival, we talked openly about violence and “isms.” I wasn’t home ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Holy Armor

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jul 27, 2015

This sermon (preached the Sunday after the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly) illustrates the Ephesians "Armor of God" imagery with the actions of the ELCA.

Several weeks ago, when I chose today’s Ephesians text to be my preaching text, I didn’t realize that the text corresponded with the weekend after our ChurchWide Assembly and how absolutely appropriate it would be today to talk about Holy Armor. Many of you have noticed that our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Where True Blessedness Is Found Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 18, 2019

Those who trust in the Lord are blessed

February 17, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Jer. 17:5-10; Ps. 1; Lk. 6:17-26 Where True Blessedness Is Found Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Blessedness. That’s the common word in all of our readings today. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Agents Of Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 25, 2019

The Bible directs us on how to respond to our anger as agents of grace.

February 24, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Luke 6:27-38 Agents of Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. What do we do with anger? Anger is an emotion. It’s an emotional response to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-11, Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Mountain Tops And Plains

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 4, 2019

Our mountain-top experiences strengthen and shape our lives on the plain

March 3, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 9:28-36 Mountain Tops and Plains Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. This week we’ll enter Lent with Ash Wednesday. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope Among The Ashes

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 7, 2019

God's hope emerges through the reality of death

March 6, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Ash Wednesday Psalm 51:1-17; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Hope among the Ashes Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. This year marks the 75th anniversary of our congregation. Lent provides us with a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Are You Ordinary.....? Series

Contributed by Mary Buelah on Mar 11, 2019

We often keep limitations to ourselves by our thoughts Actions, Talents and Identity...it’s time to recognize what we are in Christ and what HE is in our lives....

The world is full of ordinary people who go about their daily living by working 8 hours a day, paying the bills at the end of the month, cooking for the family, getting the groceries from the shop, without accomplishing anything substantial.... Christian life is far beyond that in the eyes of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13, John 15:4