Author: ddowd88

This sermon was first preached at an online service for St. John’s Wilmette on April 18, 2021. Relevant lectionary readings can be found here. It had only been about three days since they arrested Jesus. At least I think it was three days. Four? Time moves so differently now. And these last few days…they were […]

This sermon was first preached for an online service of New Life on April 11, 2020. Relevant lectionary readings here. I invite you to take a deep breath. (breathe) Feel the air coming in through your nose. Feel your lungs expand. Notice the rising of your chest or belly and the way it softens as […]

This sermon was first preached at an online service of Kindred+ on March 14, 2021. Relevant lectionary texts can be found here. If Jesus had a Twitter account, these verses might count as some of his spiciest subtweets. In the midst of several parables and direct teachings regarding money, Jesus was getting major heat from […]

This sermon was originally preached for an online service of American Lutheran Church Burbank on February 28, 2021. Relevant lectionary readings can be found here. On April 3rd, 1968, in Memphis, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said:Like anybody, I would like to live a long life – longevity has its place. But I’m […]

This sermon was first preached for an online service of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on February 7, 2021. Relevant lectionary texts here. The woman in this story doesn’t have a name. This isn’t uncommon, unfortunately, with scripture. Women in the Bible are often erased from the narrative entirely or else left unnamed. When […]

This sermon was first written for an online service of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 31, 2021. Relevant lectionary readings can be found here. Buckle up everybody because today we are talking about demons. Reading stories in scripture about unclean spirits or demons can make some of us a little […]

This sermon was originally delivered via online services for Scarsdale Community Church and Spirit of Grace for MLK weekend on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. Relevant lectionary readings here. Samuel is curled up in the temple, blanketed in the warm glow of the flames still dancing atop of the oil lamp whose quiet light reflected […]

This sermon was first preached on January 3, 2021, for an online service of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN. Relevant lectionary readings can be found here. Merry Christmas! Even though I am guessing that most of your gifts are unwrapped and only a few festive leftovers are left in your fridge, we are […]

This sermon was first preached for an online service with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Northwest Arkansas. Relevant lectionary readings can be found here. In 2018 I was a part of a direct action at the Cook County Courthouse titled, “Free the Captives.” It was a direct allusion to the verses from Isaiah we are […]

This sermon was first preached via a virtual service on Zoom for The Park Church Coop. Relevant lectionary texts can be found here. Just before my 16th birthday, I got the horrible news that a close family member of mine had died tragically. After a pretty sleepless night, I traveled with my mom to Illinois […]