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Do Not Be Afraid?
* The following transcript is from a homily given in Christ Chapel, based on Matthew 14:27, on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota) on September 21, 2015. Please note that the below manuscript was written with the intention for it to be heard, not read, thus the various grammatical choices (which are […]
Illuminating the Mission: 7 Days – 7 Pages: Office of the Chaplains to turn a page of The Saint John’s Bible in Christ Chapel each day of Pope Francis’ historic visit to North America (September 21-27, 2015)
As a symbol of unity and hospitality, the Office of the Chaplains will join schools, churches, libraries and hospitals in “Illuminating the Mission: 7 Days – 7 Pages” Beginning on Monday, Sept. 21, and each day of Pope Francis’s historic visit to North America, the Office of the Chaplains at Gustavus Adolphus College will join […]
Coming Out of the Closet
* The following transcript is from a sermon given in Christ Chapel, on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), to welcome the incoming Class of 2019 on September 6, 2015. Please note that the below manuscript was written with the intention for it to be heard, not read, thus the various grammatical choices (which […]
Prayer to Open the Legislative Session for the Minnesota State House of Representatives
The following prayer was offered through an invitation of the Minnesota State House of Representatives, to open their legislative session at the Minnesota State Capitol (St. Paul, Minn.) on May 8, 2015. Youthful and Spirited God, we gather: Thankful for the days that have been, enthusiastic for this day that is, and hopeful for the days that […]
Both Freedom and Form: Yearning, Learning and Jazz
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts” (Psalm 119:45). * The following text is taken from a sermon given in Christ Chapel, on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN), on April 12, 2015 for a Canterbury Jazz Mass under the musical leadership of the Theodicy Jazz Collective. Please […]
The Parable of a Prodigal Public: A Homily in Honor of my Son and the Staff at Parklands Hospital in Durban, South Africa
The following transcript is from a homily given in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN) on October 13, 2014. As part of the faith and learning series in Daily Sabbath, the text for the day was Luke 15:11-32. The audio recording can be found at 8:45 on the below link: https://gustavus.edu/podcasts/chapel/2011/2014-10-13%20Daily%20Sabbath%20Chaplain%20Brian%20Konkol.mp3 Let us […]
The Path of Accompaniment: Presence and Presents (A Family Weekend Message)
The following is a transcript from October 12, 2014, in Christ Chapel of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN). As part of a Service of Holy Communion for Family Weekend, the following sermon considers Matthew 14:13-21. Let us pray. Help us to live, O God, with the grace of falling leaves, the serenity of old […]
On Being Maladjusted to the Status Quo
The following is a transcript from September 28, 2014, in Christ Chapel of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN). As part of a Service of Holy Communion for the Sunday Worshiping Community, the following sermon considers Matthew 4:1-11. When reading the Bible there are certain chapters that certainly capture our attention from the first verse. […]
Why the Body of Christ is Not White
The following transcript is from a homily given in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN). As part of the “From Segregation to Integration through Conversation” faith and learning series in Daily Sabbath, the text for the day was 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. The audio recording can be found at: https://gustavus.edu/podcasts/chapel/2011/2014-09-08%20Daily%20Sabbath%20Chaplain%20Brian%20Konkol.mp3 The color of […]
Thoughts for White People, From a White Person
The following reflection was published by the Star Tribune (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) on September 5, 2014. The online version can be found at http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/274024641.html I am white. Most of the people near my house are white. This is the way it is for most of us white people in the United States, and as we continue […]