49ers Fan Pastor Tim Christensen Gives 1-Minute Sermon So He Can Watch 49ers-Panthers Playoff Game [VIDEO]

A pastor in Butte, Mont., cut his planned sermon short on Sunday so that churchgoers could return home to watch the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff game against the Carolina Panthers.

Pastor Tim Christensen of the Gold Hill Lutheran Church in Butte is a big 49ers fan. When he realized that his second prayer service would coincide with the start of the 49ers’ NFC Divisional round game against the Panthers, he decided to make a few alterations to his sermon.

“For those of you who weren’t at the early service and are here, you may not be aware that there is a football game starting in just a few moments,” Christensen said. “Not that I have any vested interest in this game or the outcome of that game whatsoever, but I was thinking that we might have just a little bit of an abbreviated service.

“I was going to talk in my [sermon] about wine and about servanthood, but I think you probably know enough about that, right?” Christensen continued. “There’s some bread and some wine up here on the table, you feel free to help yourself, if you’d like to.”

Pastor Tim may have claimed to have no allegiance to either team in the upcoming game, but it didn’t take long for him to show his true colors. He dismissed his congregation, kissed each of his biceps -- a celebration made famous by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick -- and pulled back his frock to reveal a 49ers T-shirt.

In all, the service took about a minute, from start to finish. Both Christensen and his fellow churchgoers were back home in plenty of time to watch the 49ers defeat the Panthers, 23-10. Pastor Tim Christensen’s minute-long 49ers sermon can be viewed below.

[h/t For The Win]