Sermons From Upper Dublin Lutheran Church

Pastor Lawlor finishes off their 3- week series on the Sermon on the Mount-- "An eye for an eye..." and "be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect". The Law is black and white and cold with no transforming of the heart-- grace and love are the tools needed for that!

Pastor Dyan considers Jesus' call to the Church to be 'salt' and 'light' in these contentious , divisive times in our nation and world... preserving the taste of acceptance and grace with our communities!!

Pastor Keith Anderson preaches

Pastor Dyan discusses Joseph's dilemma when his fiance is pregnant by "the Holy Spirit"! His dream guides his response...

Drawing on his experience of coaching basketball his son's basketball team, Pastor Keith Anderson preaches about how Advent gets us ready to recognize Jesus when he breaks into our lives and our world. When Jesus shows up the blind see, the deaf hear, the poor hear the good news, and the dead are raised; community and connection happen, reconciliation and forgiveness happen. Hope happens. Beauty happens. (Matthew 11:2-11 and Isaiah 35:1-10).

Pastor Dyan shares her vulnerability about working with very little children--until, ironically, a little gal, barely 2yrs. fixates on her...So Isaiah's reading today(chapter 11:1-10) ...is the prophecy that a new is coming when 'a little child shall lead them"...into a peaceable kingdom and God's favor. Reference to baby Jesus?

Seminarian Eric Schwirian preaches that readiness is not found in waiting for the exact moment of Christ’s return but by living faithful lives.

Pastor Lawlor emphasizes that great generosity to others is a hallmark of our family name, "Christian"...and that thankful people are happy people!

This week begins reflections on "Live Simply- Take hold of life that really is life"! Pastor Dyan's sermon describes the high stress many teens and adults experience constantly at work or excelling at school . Sharing close relationships and discovering a sense of awe in nature or the heavens are healing practices!

Pastor Dyan uses her insistent neighbor dog, Casey's begging for a treat, as an illustration of persistence in prayer...We should be just as persistent in our prayers, trusting God wants to hear and respond as well!

Pastor Keith reflects on the role of gratitude in our spiritual lives, and how expressing gratitude like the healed leper in Luke 17:11-19 can make us happier and draw us closer to God.

Pastor Keith preaches for our healing service that in the healing love and light of God your secrets cannot imprison you, your suffering does not define you, your brokenness is the place God meets you. (Mark 1:29-39).

Pastor Lawlor celebrates the memories of Roland Hare, for whom our outdoor worship spot was named 35 years ago! He modeled servanthood in colorful ways and Christ calls us all to do the same!

Pastor Keith tells a story about his visit with his daughter to Fenway Park, and how the way we instill a love of our favorite teams is not unlike the sacred trust we have to pass on the faith to future generations. For each of us, Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" is something to be constantly revisited throughout the life of faith. Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Mark 8:27-38.