Sermons by Lori Leopold (Page 13)
The Economy of Grace
We continue this week in Jesus’ sermon on the plain. Last week we contemplated what Jesus’ “blessings and woes” told us about God. This week we dive into what that might look like, in practical terms, for each one of us.
A Level Place
Come with us as we challenge our mainstream understanding of the word “blessed” and expand our thinking, seeing and understanding beyond “me” to embrace a divine sense of “we.”
Catch
After a demoralizing night of attempted fishing, Jesus instructs Simon to go back out into the deep waters and drop his nets for a catch. Miraculously, Simon pulls in such an abundance of fish that other boats and fisherfolks come to his aid.
Anointed
Today we look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry from Luke’s perspective. In Luke, Jesus’ ministry starts in the middle of a worship service. Jesus stands in the synagogue, reading scripture in his faith community. But the ordinary turns extraordinary when Jesus makes an astonishing claim!
Revelation
Today we spend time in the Gospel of John with the first of seven “signs” that Jesus performs or offers, each one giving us a glimpse into his true identity and mission. This first sign is the account of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
My Father’s House
The Bible says very little about the childhood of Jesus but today we spend time with the one and only passage that provides a window into Jesus’ boyhood.
2021 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
This evening we share in a traditional service of Lessons and Carols which includes the reading of the Christmas story, inspiring music and a Christmas message.
Safe Havens
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we take a step closer to the manger, spending time with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Our text returns us to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah where Mary finds refuge in the early days of her pregnancy. What did it mean for her to find safe space in the midst of that uncertain time? How did that safe haven impact her capacity to be “Theotokos,” or “God-Bearer”—the one who provided the first home and safe space for God incarnate?
A Home for All
Last week we spent time with Zechariah’s beautiful blessing for his newborn son, John, and this week we meet John, fully grown and in the wilderness, as he calls others to repentance in order to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. What does that mean and how does it get expressed in the real lives of listeners of that day and listeners today? Join us this Sunday as we continue our journey in and through Advent and as we light the third Advent candle, the candle of JOY!
The Power of Blessing
Because God is a God of relationships and stories, the birth of Christ is not a solitary, disconnected event. The birth of Christ is woven into the fabric of relationships and the stories of others. This week we begin to explore the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist with a specific focus on John’s father, Zechariah.
