Author: LAMPomrenke

A sermon preached on July 28, 2024 at Community of Christ Lutheran, based on John 6:1-21. What do we imagine it feels like to be in the middle of a miracle? Being in the middle of a miracle might be like… A test Doing the work, or  Having your needs met, being satisfied? As Ted… Continue reading

Sermon on Matthew 18: 21-35 preached at Community of Christ in Whitehouse, Ohio on September 17, 2023 Whoa. There’s nothing like Sunday morning threats. This parable did not end well for the main character (and we always think of ourselves as the main character, right?)! OK Jesus, honestly, how can the kingdom of heaven be… Continue reading No “cheap grace”

Sermon on Matthew 16:21-28 preached at Community of Christ Lutheran Church on September 3, 2023 Peter loves Jesus. Peter’s got his flaws, sure, but he loves Jesus like a brother, like a father, like a mentor who shapes his entire world. Peter is ready to die for Jesus, he claims. No one can say that… Continue reading Loving Letting Go

Sermon preached at Community of Christ Lutheran Church on August 20, 2023, based on Matthew 15: 21-28. This is a story only a mother can love.  At its center is a mother, a Canaanite (so, not a Jew, as Jesus is) but she shows a kind of desperation that translates across ethnic lines, economic lines,… Continue reading In the Pause

Sermon based on Matthew 4:13-21 preached at Community of Christ in Whitehouse, OH on August 6, 2023. The disciples’ impulse in this story is 100 % relatable: “Jesus, we really feel you should send the people away to take care of themselves. We have nothing for them here.” It sounds like the tapes that replay… Continue reading We’re in the Middle of the Story

Sermon based on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 preached July 9, 2023 at Community of Christ in Whitehouse, OH Jesus invites, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” And just about all of us can raise our hands and say, “Me, he’s talking to me!”… Continue reading Carry It Together

Sermon based on Genesis 21:8-21 at Community of Christ, Whitehouse, OH on June 25, 2023 In pre-marital counseling, one common exercise has each person naming some patterns of behavior they want to bring with them from their family of origin into the marriage, and some that they know they want to leave behind. We name… Continue reading Choosing What to Bring With Us

Preaching text: Genesis 12: 1-9 Preached at Community of Christ Lutheran Church on June 11, 2023 A clear word from God sounds awfully good right now. If God would just speak clearly and undoubtedly to the next pastor for Community of Christ, to the call committee, to the synod office, to the person who knows… Continue reading Blessed to be a Blessing

Based on Acts 2:1-21 for Pentecost The pouring out of the Holy Spirit sounds like chaos to me. Tongues of fire, wind blowing things everywhere, people speaking in languages that are new to them—that is a lot. When a story includes people of different mother tongues all in one place, we know that it means… Continue reading “I’m trying…” to speak your language