Hope Is Alive!

26th Sunday after PentecostText: Mark 13:1-8Pastor Jean M. Hansen       While driving to St. Louis recently, I listened to an interesting book titled, Subpar Planet by Amber…

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Tears and Hope

All Saints’ SundayText: John 11:32-44Pastor Jean M. Hansen     Today I’m remembering, and you may be too, the story by Annie Dillard about a family that gathered at a cemetery to…

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Overflowing Thanksgiving

22nd Sunday after PentecostCommitment SundayText: 2 Corinthians 9:7,10-12Pastor Jean M. HansenWe are gardeners for God: growing together. We receive the seed of faith, a gift from God, plant and tend…

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Growing Faith and Growing in Faith Together

21st Sunday after Pentecost Stewardship Emphasis Texts: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, Mark 10:17-31 Pastor Jean M. Hansen      I like to think of us all as Gardeners for God, growing…

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We are Among the Fallen and the Blessed

20th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 10:2-16 Pastor Jean M. Hansen      Last week, I began my sermon by saying that both the hearing and preaching of the Gospel in recent weeks…

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Words of Challenge and Grace

19th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 9:38-50 Pastor Jean M. Hansen      It’s been a challenging few weeks for the hearers of and preacher of God’s word here at Faith Lutheran…

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The Counter Cultural Goal of Striving to be First by Being Last

18th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 9:30-37 Pastor Jean M. Hansen         A few weeks ago, we sang the hymn, “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant”; the lyrics may seem a…

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Words that Help and Heal or Hurt and Destroy?

17th Sunday of Pentecost Text: James 3:1-12 Pastor Jean M. Hansen      It is a bit inconsistent, I’ll admit, that just a few weeks into the school year, as part of our focus is…

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