Sermons
Second Sunday in Lent
Wicker Park Lutheran Church Vicar Kornelius Koppel March 16, 2025 “Spread both your wings, / O Jesus, my joy, / and take your chick. / If Satan wants to devour me, / let the angels sing: / This child shall be unharmed.” These words come from an evening hymn by Paul Gerhardt. Paul Gerhardt was a Protestant-Lutheran theologian and is considered one of the most important German-language hymn writers, during the Thirty Years’ War. His songs bear witness to deep…
First Sunday in Lent
Every first Sunday in Lent we always here the story of Jesus’ temptation from the viewpoint of a synoptic gospel (that is Matthew, Mark, or Luke). Compared to last year’s version from Mark, we have a lot more to work with here. In Luke, we see three distinct scenes where Jesus was tempted by the “devil.” And the devil doesn’t have a tail and a pitchfork, but in Greek, it is term for an “accuser” or “slanderer.”…
Transfiguration Sunday
One of my special moments was always when we stood on top of a mountain very early in the morning. But even after a long hike, reaching the top is something special. At this moment, everything was made up for. For getting up early and for the strenuous ascent. You were simply happy. And I was simply in awe of God’s creation. Intoxicated by the magnificent view. The valleys and plains lie very small at your feet. Everyday life and daily worries are far away. I could stay up there for hours and just enjoy the view…