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David Coffin

David Coffin is pastor of Elgin/Highland Lutheran Parish in Elgin, Iowa. David is a graduate of Ferris State University with a BS degree in printing. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Ohio) and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Winebrenner Seminary. He enjoys bike riding and working with small group ministries. He also eats lots of pizza, so he needs to ride the bike.
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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

A Season for Everything -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- David Coffin -- New Year's Day - B -- 2024
After ten years of employment at a certain company, a mid-level manager is called into a special mee
Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
Faith Stretching Exercises -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
It is the second week into the Lenten season.
Good Friday Gifts -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
All of today’s texts have a gift for our spiritual journey on this day.
Is it Good Enough? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Pastor Morgan was shocked!
Spirit Movement -- Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world insti
Getting the Job Done -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- David Coffin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2024
An older person walks across the stage of a smaller state university to receive a hard-earned advanc
Wilderness Provisions -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2024
Regardless of who we are and where we live, we will all one day face some form a wilderness.
Embodied Faith -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- David Coffin -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2024
In many church circles, the cry goes out for, “We need good leadership!” Growing pressure is placed
Faith in God's Word -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- David Coffin -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2023
A person is a sincere Christian who prays for God’s will in their life at a young age.
Belonging Grace -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- David Coffin -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2023
At first glance, one common thread that ties all three of these texts together is that of God’s grac
Community Memories -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- David Coffin -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2023
At first glance all three of today’s texts can seem intimidating for preachers who seek to be cultur
Hopeful Voices -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Amidst this season of Advent, where can mainline church leaders find hope amidst headlines in many c
Epiphany Attraction -- Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2023
“Epiphany” describes the manifestation or self-revelation of God as an ordinary invisible power.
Fulfillment in Darkness -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Relationships Tested -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Imagine a young couple about to be married who have just processed up the aisle of a traditional Chr
Sacrificial Service -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54 -- David Coffin -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2023
In most churches I have served this is the week of Palm Sunday.
Connecting the Dots -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023
On this third Sunday of Easter, where does one find the new life of the Easter season?
Still in the World -- John 17:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Acts 1:6-14 -- David Coffin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023
It is early morning as a pastor opens up one of the small churches served in a multi congregational
Community Faith Questions -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- David Coffin -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2023
The 2018 movieThe Command narrated the disaster of the flagship Russian nuclear Submarine “

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Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
Faith Stretching Exercises -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
It is the second week into the Lenten season.
Spirit Movement -- Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world insti
Hopeful Voices -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Amidst this season of Advent, where can mainline church leaders find hope amidst headlines in many c
Fulfillment in Darkness -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 19
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 20
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
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John Jamison
Object: I had the youngest children in the group participate. When I came to the part of the story where Jesus asked the little children to come to him, I had the youngest come and sit closest to me. If you think it is possible with your group, when you ask how little children act when they receive a gift, actually ask your youngest children what they think the answer is. Do the same with the older children when you ask about how older people act.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For October 6, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I heard a sad story today about a pastor whose church essentially had to close as a result of a scandal surrounding his associate. The pastor himself knew nothing about his associate’s behavior, he was as blindsided by it as the rest of the church family was. But it led to such disruption and division in the church, that they shuttered their doors. And now, a friend told me, that innocent pastor is looking for a new ministry, but he carries with him this black mark that he doesn’t deserve.
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Job 1:1; 2:1-10

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.  But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are humans that you are mindful of them or mortals that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor’ (vv. 5-7)

Angels are popular in American culture.

SermonStudio

Christopher Keating
Copied on the front of the bulletin were verses from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, “Charged with Grandeur.” A globe was placed on a table near the front, emphasizing human’s place in the world. Video footage from NASA accompanied the sermon in order to reinforce how we are called to claim our vocation as stewards of creation. Images of an old car and glimpses of the Earth from space were also used as visuals.
Robert G. Beckstrand
Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me,
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
-- Psalm 26:1-3

Theme: A pledge of, and a plea for, loyalty

Outline
1-3 -- He pleads for God to give recognition to his integrity and single-hearted devotion.
4-8 -- Evidence of this is in his past conduct and his present joy in worship.
Wesley T. Runk
Object: a clock

Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
Reflections on the love of God.

Collect of the Day
Addressing the sovereign God who created us to live in loving community, petitions are raised by the faithful to be formed in faith to trust like children and so reflect Christ's image. Justification and Sanctification are again emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 26
* A prayer for deliverance from personal enemies; a lament traditionally attributed to David.
Donna E. Schaper
We find Job on the edge of town, his money gone, his children dead, picking at his innumerable sores and scabs. In the Joni Mitchell version of his sorrow, Job speaks of how the children of the wicked frisk like deer while his are dead and gone. In her version, we are also told that Job sees the diggers waiting, leaning on their spades, at the site of his grave. Job's three friends, Eliphas, Bildad, and Zophar show up to comfort him but they do so in a way that only pours iodine on his wounds. God is just, they say, therefore, Job must have done something wrong.
John R. Brokhoff
Robert W. Stackel
When William Jennings Bryan went to the father of the young woman whom he loved to ask her hand in marriage, he remembered that the father was a strong religious believer, so he quoted a proverb of Solomon from the Bible: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing." But the father surprised him by responding with a quote from St.
William G. Carter
We have a problem today. Here we are, gathered at worship as the household of God. Through baptism we belong to a worldwide community of faith. Each time we gather, we have an opportunity to pray together and recommit ourselves to peace. Now that we are here, we have to deal with a troublesome and potentially divisive text from the Gospel of Mark. Some Pharisees put Jesus to the test by asking him what he thought about divorce. His response, in turn, has always put a peace-loving church to the test.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What God has joined together, let no one separate." In our service today, let us consider our responsibilities to the whole of creation.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we have not always cared about our environment.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we have not always taken our responsibilities to animals seriously.
Christ, have mercy.

Special Occasion

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