Pr. Cheryl Walenta Gorvie Sermon - blog

Have you ever had a conversation with the devil?  Apparently that’s a thing that can happen, according to the Scripture lessons we’ve read for this morning.  Maybe you haven’t argued with the actual devil, but have you ever felt like  you did?    In the Gospel lesson from Matthew, we learn that Satan knows Scripture.  When tempting Jesus to jump from the top of the Temple, Satan suggests this is a reasonable idea since “He will command his angels concerning you” and “on their

Ash Wednesday is not just about you.  Don’t get me wrong—Ash Wednesday does involve you, as the sooty ashes are maybe tickling your forehead right now.  But we don’t get together to observe Ash Wednesday solely for the purpose of purifying our own individual selves through acts of penitence, like smearing our foreheads with ashes.    We’re not here to flog ourselves out of guilt for our sin, mercilessly punishing the flesh that has been created in the image of God.  We’re de

(Sitting with the children) Since Jesus talked about salt, I thought today would be a good day to do some baking.  Okay, we’re not going to really bake anything, but I have all these baking ingredients in jars.  Some of these ingredients look the same as others—which of these is flour?  Baking powder?  Baking soda?  Sugar and salt?  But how can you tell which ingredient is which?  By the box it comes in.  But if it’s out of the box, how do you know?  Maybe you gotta taste it?

I’m gonna be honest with y’all: there are some texts in the Scriptures that I get tired of preaching about because I’ve read and studied them so many times, and the Beatitudes are one of these.  I barely pay attention because I think I already know all there is to know—“Blessed are the poor, blah blah blah.”    But if I have learned anything about the commitment to wisdom, it’s this: the very moment that I feel the boredom rising is a signal to pay even closer  attention.  Be

Downtown Minneapolis skyline It’s hard for me to imagine what it’s like to live in an occupied territory, where I hardly feel safe leaving my house, where neighbors occasionally go missing.  But I’ve been told this is what it’s like to live under an occupation in Minneapolis right now, with the occupying force known as ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) roaming the streets.    One of our neighbors, Pastor Meagan McLaughlin from Christ Lutheran Church in W

What are you looking for?  If you came here looking for God, you picked a good place.  And a good time: this liturgical season of Sundays after Epiphany is all about the revealing of God, exploring who Jesus is and how Jesus reveals to humanity the attributes of God.    If you’re looking for clear proof of who Jesus is, well, that depends on who you’re willing to listen to.  What we have are testimonies from the Gospels—the four Gospels in our Bible (what are they named?  Mat

John the Baptist promised fire—remember what he was preaching in the wilderness?  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” [1]   He tells people that the one coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  John is looking for a flamethrower, and what he gets is Jesus.    Is John surprised by Jesus?  Was Jesus not what he expected?  Jesus didn’t show up with any of the fire that John had promised!  Jesus simply shows up, demonstrating the humble si

News flash: sometimes people travel.  Maybe even you have traveled recently, to visit friends or family or explore something new during some holiday time.  And if you did travel, did you have to carry a passport with you, or proof that you are a citizen of some country?  Were you allowed to bring luggage with you, or were you forced to leave it behind?  Were your bags searched, or were you asked to provide an inventory of what was inside?  Did your luggage get lost along the