Sermons on Typhoid Mary:

The Meal, The Message, And The Miracle

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jul 28, 2014

The Feeding of the 5,000 is a great miracle story, but it wasn't the only miracle that happened that day.

The Meal, the Message, and the Miracle Proper 13A – Matthew 14:13-21 -- August 3, 2014 Food! Be it blessed or tempting, it is filled with meaning that may not have anything to do with the food itself. Kringla, with its subtle hint of nutmeg, reminds me of grandma, who not only made these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Handing Over The Keys

Contributed by Mari Larson on Sep 7, 2014

The authority to forgive (The Office of the Keys) has been given to us, but we don't use it.

Church life on the prairies of the Midwest is often quite different from church life here (in Arizona). Small congregations of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and German origins are slowly dying out, and since we no longer preach in the languages of our mother-lands (Thank God!), and because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

The Road To Easter Runs Through A Cemetery

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

Good Friday was a necessary part of the Easter journey. The sermon shares a Leonard Sweet story about bell-ringing. (Each person who came to worship received a bell as they entered.)

They thought it was over. Jesus was dead and buried. The religious folks sighed with satisfaction. His followers wept in grief. But they were wrong! They were all wrong! From this side of Easter, we can call Friday “Good” because we know that it was not over, all had not been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Resurrection Adrenaline

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

Easter was a time of Adrenaline for the disciples, but the two walking to Emmaus missed it... until Jesus became known to them.

When I told people about my family’s plans to spend a day at the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course last month, some nodded, others gave a look of questioning, and a few responded with one word, “WHY?!” Researchers tell us that younger generations are drawn more than ever to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Because He First Loved Me

Contributed by Mari Larson on Apr 23, 2014

No matter the circumstances of baptism, it is God who does the work because God loves us before we love God.

We may not know the nine verses of Frederick Whitfield’s 1855 hymn, “O How I love Jesus,” but I’m guessing most of us know the refrain: O, how I love Jesus; O, how I love Jesus; O, how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. Because he first loved me. Before I could do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Are All Sparrows Equal?

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 15, 2014

Bad things do happen to good people. In Matthew 10, Jesus warns the disciples what will happen to them on their mission and then he reminds them that they were, are, and will be precious to God!

It is clearly in our nature to rate and rank others. When Jesus tells us today that we are of more value than sparrows, we’re probably not surprised, but we may wonder about the hierarchy of creation. We’re worth more than sparrows, and sparrows are certainly worth more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:29-31

Denomination: Lutheran

A Wet Promise Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 13, 2019

The Blessings in Baptism

January 13, 2019 Baptism of Our Lord Rev. Mary Erickson Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 A Wet Promise Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7, Luke 3:15-22

Denomination: Lutheran

The Greatest Of These Is Love Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 4, 2019

In baptism we have been called as agents of God's love

February 3, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The Greatest of These Is Love Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today is Super Bowl Sunday. Two weeks ago, I was rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

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

Preparing For Christmas, John's Style

Contributed by Mari Larson on Dec 17, 2018

Preparing for Christmas beyond decorating trees and writing cards.

I have done it, and I cannot undo it. I have equated social media with that/this wild-eyed picture of John the Baptist. “You brood of vipers.” Polarizing. Negative. Scary, even. I hear some of you giggling, and I see you smiling. You know what I’m talking about. There’s a lot of speaking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Preparations

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 20, 2018

At Christmas, our most significant preparations occur in our hearts and souls

Christmas Preparations Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today is December 16th. There are nine days before Christmas. As a child, that countdown to Christmas fanned such anticipation and excitement! With each passing day, my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7

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