Dressed in layers of flannel and wool to ward off the autumn night’s chill, the grieving faithful gathered along the riverbank for a farewell ritual that bore trappings of a good, old-fashioned Irish wake. They bowed their heads as a clergywoman offered prayer. They raised bubbling flutes of champagne in tribute to auld lang syneContinue reading “A Bridge to Somewhere”
Category Archives: Sermons
Places in the Heart
Thankfully, mercifully, at long last – after much painful labor, after heartbreaking loss and hardship, all signs finally point toward a happy ending. Or at least a next chapter that’s not quite so bad. To eke out a meager existence, they battled unfair circumstance and, on the frontlines of combat, forged a camaraderie of deep,Continue reading “Places in the Heart”
A Psalm 34 Morning
As we ready to listen for the Word of the Lord in Psalm 34, let us again be together in a place of prayer – Startle us, O God, with your truth, and open our hearts and minds to your wondrous love.Speak your word to us; silence in us any voice but your own. AndContinue reading “A Psalm 34 Morning”
Psalm 90
Pastor Grant M. VanderVelden shared this message on Thursday, September 25, 2025, during the funeral service for Jean E. Hagen. Martin Funeral Home recorded a full video of the service. Psalm 90 is an intriguing poem. Its Old Testament verses open with lyric thought and fond reflection on home, sweet home: How, for time immemorial,Continue reading “Psalm 90”
Raw Power
Like the familiar tales of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, preachers like me sometimes wonder what else is left to say about the Bible’s other well-known and beloved stories – like this morning’s Scripture lesson: the parable of the prodigal son, his jealous and resentful older brother, and their graciously forgiving father. This classic narrative ratherContinue reading “Raw Power”
For the Love of God
The apostle Paul was a prolific letter-writer. But he doesn’t merely scribble informal notes to friends and family in faraway places. Paul’s letters – at least the ones that ended up in the Bible’s New Testament – are situational documents that speak to problems he thinks need prompt attention in a particular community of believers.Continue reading “For the Love of God”
You Never Know
People of good conscience and well-grounded faith can engage in respectful debate over the merits of public food programs like last month’s ecumenical Feed the Kids summer nutrition program. On one hand, struggling to put healthy food on the table is a daily challenge for many, and the faith community’s efforts to address those needsContinue reading “You Never Know”
Saved by Angels
Words like “neat” and “clean,” “heartwarming” and “lovely,” fit this morning’s Scripture lesson to a tee. This Word of the Lord from the prophet Isaiah is a delightful snippet of Old Testament poetry that commemorates what the Lord has done to save and sustain his people. Problem is, its context is anything but a sceneContinue reading “Saved by Angels”
Rise, Be Fed, and Go
The saying is true and worthy of acceptance: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When problems demand solutions, when dire circumstances require commanding response, the spiritually strong step in to fill the void. But human energy and creativity are finite resources, and doing the work that God calls you to do canContinue reading “Rise, Be Fed, and Go”
The Wisdom Pyramid
Sober judgment, fueled by a healthy mind: That’s what lies near the core of this morning’s Scripture lesson. In the apostle Paul’s estimation, our minds need changing, refreshment; in some cases, wholescale transformation that leads to behavior modification. This epic renewal rises from the grace of God’s Holy Spirit, and given that heavenly gift ofContinue reading “The Wisdom Pyramid”