Sermons on Marys Pregnancy:

Two Are Better

Contributed by Mari Larson on Nov 12, 2018

Sermon for Ecumenical Worship Service

Perhaps it’s because my childhood was spent on a small farm just outside a small town. My family belonged to a small church in a sea of small churches, 12 of them as I recall, half of which were Lutheran. And so, in my neighborhood, Kevin, Brian, and Karla, across the street, were Methodist. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Free Indeed

Contributed by Mari Larson on Nov 12, 2018

Reformation Sunday and also Stewardship Commitment Sunday

We’ve been hearing a lot about freedom lately, and it’s clear from advertisements that there are different ways to define and prioritize our freedoms. Jesus wasn’t a politician, but he was and is accused of being very, even too political. But when he spoke of freedom, he was transcending politics ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36, 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Radical Hospitality

Contributed by Mari Larson on Feb 19, 2017

Launching from Jesus' call to love our enemies and be perfect, this sermon speaks of love and welcoming.

In 1979, Tim Hansel published a book entitled "When I Relax I feel Guilty". Included in the book is this raw and provocative tidbit. "I would like to buy three dollars’ worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Lutheran

More Than A Slogan

Contributed by Mari Larson on Feb 19, 2017

We all know Micah 6:8, but there's a lot more to the message than just a T-shirt slogan.

In the marathon subculture, T-shirts are everything. As a runner, you become a billboard for 26 miles, or 13, or 6, or in my case 3 miles. When I participated in my first 5K, I had to wear the shirt provided by my gym (since they paid the registration fee), but most of the time, each runner ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

The Royal Entry

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 15, 2019

Jesus' Palm Sunday entry is completed on Good Friday

April 14, 2019 – Palm Sunday Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Luke 19:28-40; Luke 23:1-49 The Royal Entry Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40, Luke 23:1-49

Denomination: Lutheran

The Royal Entry

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 16, 2019

Jesus' Palm Sunday entry is completed on Good Friday

April 14, 2019 – Palm Sunday Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Luke 19:28-40; Luke 23:1-49 The Royal Entry Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40, Luke 23:1-49

Denomination: Lutheran

As Often As You Eat This Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 19, 2019

Holy Communion is Jesus' meal of divine love

March 27, 2019 - Maundy Thursday Service Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 As Often as You Eat This Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Traditions. Traditions have a comfort all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Easter: The Reason For Our Hope Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 24, 2019

Easter is the reason for our hope

April 21, 2019 – Easter Sunday Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Luke 24:1-12 Easter: The Reason for Our Hope It’s always a joy to gather on Easter. We come together to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord! Easter is a homecoming. Many people have come back to Eau Claire to be with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In Despair Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 24, 2019

Even in death, we have hope in Christ

March 27, 2019 - Good Friday Service Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson John 18:1-19:42 Hope in Despair Brother Charles de Foucauld wrote what he entitled The Prayer of Abandonment. He imagined that it was Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. It seems appropriate to read on Good ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Holy Disturbances And Easter Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 7, 2019

Jesus' grace transforms us

May 5, 2019 Pastor Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Acts 9:1-6; John 21:1-19 Holy Disturbances and Easter Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. If you head down Highway 93 south of Eleva, you’ll run into the town of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-6, John 21:1-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Stitched Together By God's Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 18, 2019

The Joy of Service

May 12, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Acts 9:36-43 Stitched Together by God’s Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. When I was a young girl, we visited my Grandma Jorgensen. Grandma lived in a small, white house ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:36-43

Denomination: Lutheran

Imagine

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 28, 2019

St. John writes of the peace from heaven

May 26, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Rev. 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29 Imagine Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. John Lennon wrote a song that has come to be one of the most recognized and acclaimed songs of the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-29, Revelation 22:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

I In Them And You In Me

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jun 3, 2019

The unity of spirit between Jesus and God the Father knits the church into one

June 2, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson John 17:20-26 I in Them and You in Me Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lakota Sioux have a simple prayer: Mitakuye Oyasin. It means “all my relatives.” The prayer conveys ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Lutheran

For The Things We Cannot Bear

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jun 17, 2019

The Holy Spirit edifies us to grow in faith and strength.

June 16, 2019 - Holy Trinity Sunday Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15 For the Things We Cannot Bear Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. For a long time, I’ve entertained a whimsical image of what ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Beyond Us And Them

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jun 24, 2019

We are united in Christ.

June 23, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Galatians 3:23-29 Beyond Us and Them Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The poet Allan Ahlberg wrote a poem called “Picking Teams.” Here it is: When we pick teams in the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29

Denomination: Lutheran