Lutherans believe that God’s Word is alive and active in the world, and that one way it comes to us is through the preaching of sermons.
A sermon is more than a “message,” more than advice. In preaching, God speaks to us. The sermon is an integral part of the liturgy, and, within that context, conveys God’s grace. Included here are print, audio and video files of recent and past sermons preached at Mount Olive.
- “Unbind him, and let him go.” Sunday, March 26, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman Fifth Sunday in Lent A Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Take off your clothes.” Sources as reliable as Hippolytus of Rome and Cyril of Jerusalem attest to this shocking rubric, with […]
- All in this Baptismal Promise Wednesday, March 22, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman Lenten Midweek, Fourth Lent A Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It’s really the all in this baptismal promise that hangs us up, isn’t it? Do you promise to serve all people, […]
- Surely We Are Not Blind, Are We? Sunday, March 19, 2023 - How do we hear our call, recognize it, and live it out when we are not able to see past challenges ahead of us? Vicar Mollie Hamre4th Sunday in Lent, Year ATexts: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, […]
- Wrestling and Dreaming Sunday, March 12, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman Third Sunday in Lent A Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. John sets this up as an engagement story. In Israel’s history, the well was the place where marriages were arranged. At […]
- Sent Out and Called Back. Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - God calls us to share the word of God and the Lord’s Supper together to help one another grow–not just for when we start our baptismal journeys, but for our whole lives. Vicar Mollie HamreMidweek Lent Service, Week 2, Year ATexts: Isaiah 55:6-13, Psalm 121, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Matthew 15:29-39 Beloved in Christ, grace and […]
- Part of the Story. Wednesday, March 1, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman Midweek Lenten Eucharist, Lent 1 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the hallway by the main office, there is a piece of art, a gift from the estate of Paul and […]
- Messy and Loved. Sunday, February 26, 2023 - We will not be perfect in the face of temptation and we will mess up–yet we will continue to be loved, and chosen by God. Vicar Mollie Hamre1st Sunday in Lent, Year ATexts: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the […]
- Picture this: Sunday, February 19, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Transfiguration of Our Lord Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In her novel, St. Maybe, Anne Tyler paints with words a tender scene between a brother and sister in which they long to […]
- First, Be Reconciled. Sunday, February 12, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; […]
- Godly Salt. Godly Light. Sunday, February 5, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Claudio was an anxious Eucharistic minister. And he wore his anxiety on his sleeve, so much so that one day I […]
- You are mine. You are beloved. Sunday, January 29, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Before we go charging head-long into Matthew 5, let’s review. To this point in his Gospel, Matthew has told us, among […]
- Called to More Sunday, January 22, 2023 - Jesus calls the disciples, and us, to consider what vocation means for our lives and the ways that God calls us. Vicar Mollie Hamre3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year ATexts: Matthew 4:12-23 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. […]
- What are you Looking For? Sunday, January 15, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Second Sunday after Epiphany Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, and John 1:29-42 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. What are you looking for? It is a common occurrence […]
- Water and Word Sunday, January 8, 2023 - Pastor Paul E. Hoffman The Baptism of Our Lord, Year ATexts: Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Luther so beautifully teaches us, baptism is not water only, […]
- Follow the Stars Friday, January 6, 2023 - God calls us to be open to the world before us and the ways that God reaches out to teach, even through people we might not expect. Vicar Mollie HamreEpiphany of Our Lord, Year ATexts: Matthew 2:1-12 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the + […]
- Taking Our Part Sunday, January 1, 2023 - The Rev. Arthur HalbardierThe Name of JesusText: Luke 2:15-21 We heard Luke’s familiar Christmas story again, as we did on Christmas Eve, but today verse 21 is added: “After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was […]
- What Difference Does it Make? Sunday, December 25, 2022 - We celebrate the birth of Jesus each year to remember that Jesus, God with us, came into the world as we all do, giving us purpose and a future. Vicar Mollie HamreThe Nativity of Our Lord, Advent ATexts: Isaiah 52:7-10 and John 1:1-14 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the name of […]
- Who Could Be the Same? Saturday, December 24, 2022 - Christmas isn’t the same as when we were little. And that’s a blessing, a joy, as we grow ever more deeply aware of and living in God’s coming into our broken world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Eve of the Nativity of Our LordText: Luke 2:1-20 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the […]
- Do You Want God With You? Sunday, December 18, 2022 - When the Triune God enters the world to bring healing and life, it’s inconvenient, it’s unexpected, it looks foolishly weak, it stirs up our lives. But it is still God with us, and it is our life. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fourth Sunday of Advent, year AText: Matthew 1:18-25 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, […]
- What are you Seeking? Sunday, December 11, 2022 - Jesus and John come to us today saying that the advent of God’s reign is here, but John questions alongside us, about what we assume God’s reign to be. Vicar Mollie HamreThird Sunday of Advent, Year ATexts: Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in the […]
