Sermons on Marys Pregnancy:

Good Things Happen On The Sabbath

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 3, 2018

While we can agree with Jesus that "the sabbath is made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath," we are wrong to disregard it.

In 1986, the good people of Bismarck, North Dakota, thought it was time to overturn or at least soften the blue laws which closed businesses on Sundays. Amid great controversy, Dayton’s Department Store, Target, and many stores and restaurants were to open at noon. Dayton’s and Target were both ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Denomination: Lutheran

A Little Faith And A Breath

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 3, 2018

With A Little Faith and A Breath, God Reaches Everyone (This was preached the weekend after the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas -- that is mentioned near the end of the sermon)

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Creator, Jesus our Savior, and from the Unpredictable and Unquenchable Holy Spirit whose presence we celebrate this day. Amen Imagine yourself in the time of Ezekiel. It is about 600 BC. Nebuchadnezzar was about to destroy what ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 2:1-21

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

Tried By Temptation

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 11, 2019

Jesus confronts temptation before he begins his ministry

March 10, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 4:1-13 Tried by Temptation Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. A husband and wife both found themselves unemployed. Day after day they pounded the pavement to look for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope Among The Ashes Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 11, 2019

Hope is a powerful blessing

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, Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In Weakness Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 14, 2019

God's power is made perfect in weakness

March 13, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Lenten Service Psalm 91; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Hope in Weakness Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “For whenever I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Corinthians 2:10). St. Paul was no stranger ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Hold On!

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 18, 2019

We keep our eyes on the promise of God's "third day"

March 17, 2016 (St. Patrick's Day) Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 Hold On! Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. One of the great songs from the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope For Remorse Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 21, 2019

God's forgiveness provides hope in the face of our sin

March 20, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Lenten Service Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Hope for Remorse Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The movie Winchester came out last year. Helen Mirren played the real-life Sarah Winchester. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In Uncertainty Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 28, 2019

God's promises give us hope for the future

March 27, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Lenten Service Psalm 42; Philippians 1:12-26 Hope in Uncertainty Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. A great temptation when reading a novel is to peek ahead to the end. Some books are more ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Lutheran

The Measure Of A Father's Love

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 1, 2019

The parable of the prodigal son demonstrates the nature of grace

March 31, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church - Pastor Mary Erickson 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The Measure of a Father’s Love Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. There a lot of people who have taken advantage of DNA ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, Luke 15:11-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In The Face Of Injustice Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 4, 2019

Despite injustice, we have hope that God's intentions for justice will be fulfilled

April 3, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Lenten Service Psalm 10; Romans 12:9-21 Hope in the Face of Injustice Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. God has blessed us with the commandments. They teach us right pathways. God’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Lutheran