Author: Reed Fowler

feast of the transfiguration the gospel of matthew 17:1-9preached at Holy Trinity Loop, Feb. 22, 2020(also published on Holy Trinity's Sermon Blog) ----- “Jesus was transfigured in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzlingly bright.” Jesus is fully himself in this moment, on the mountaintop, and it is … Continue reading Transfigured + Glorious →

second sunday of adventthe gospel of matthew 3:1-12isaiah 11:1-10preached at Holy Trinity Loop, Chicago, Dec. 7, 2019(also published on Holy Trinity's Sermon Blog) ----- When I hear John’s call to repentance, when I taste the threat of rotten fruit, when I see visions of fire, my heart is uneasy. The language of repentance has come … Continue reading Fires + Repentance →

season of creation: faunapsalm 104:14-23the gospel of luke 12:22-31for chapel at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, September 16, 2019 ----- “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out” “Stop worrying” “It’ll be okay in the end” “You’ll be fine – don’t worry” “Worrying doesn’t make a difference, so why are you doing it?” Where do … Continue reading A Sermon on Worry, Cats, and Grace →

seventh sunday after pentecostthe gospel of luke 11:1-13for St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, July 28, 2019 ----- My night prayer growing up was a list of my entire family and close community, as far as I knew them, memorized, and I prayed for them to be well and wake up safe in the … Continue reading A Sermon on Prayer →

third sunday after pentecostthe gospel of luke 9:51-62for St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, June 30, 2019 ----- We are in the midst of what the church calls “ordinary time”, marked by the color green in our worship space, and a focus on the everyday work of faith in our texts. We have moved … Continue reading A Sermon for Pride →

a sermon on AmosAmos 5:6-15for 'Prophetic Books: Amos' at Garrett-Evangelical ----- The book of Amos is a book of prophetic oracles primarily collected from the 8th century BCE. Amos was from the southern kingdom of Judah, and preached in the northern kingdom of Israel. We don’t know much about him outside of where he is … Continue reading “Seek God and Live” →

holy trinity sundaythe gospel of john 16:12-15for St. Paul's House, a Lutheran Life Community, June 16, 2019 ----- Beloveds, grace and peace to you from God the Creator, Jesus the Liberator, and the Holy Spirit, who is breath. Amen. Nearly every week, Pr. Jenna opens her sermon with a similar prayer blessing to the one … Continue reading A Sermon on the Trinity →

pentecostacts 2:1-21the gospel of john 14:8-17for St. John's Christopher Street, June 9, 2019 ----- The Holy Spirit is fire. She is wind. She is power, and movement, and energy. She is the breath that moves between our bodies and the trees. She is the thread of possibility between relationships. She is called the Companion, the … Continue reading A Sermon for Pentecost →

maundy thursdaythe gospel of john 13:1-17, 31b-35for St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, April 18, 2019 - - - - - Tonight, Jesus shares a meal with his friends and washes their feet. These are some of his final acts of ministry, before he is handed over to Roman and religious authorities. After being … Continue reading A Sermon on Grief and Care →

lent 1the gospel of luke 4:1-13for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, March 11, 2019 - - - - - This sermon was originally preached at St. Paul’s House, a Lutheran Life community on March 10, 2019, and was adapted for the LSTC community. Yesterday was the first Sunday in Lent, a season in … Continue reading A Sermon on Wilderness and Honest Spaces →