Today, we begin a series of sermons on the narrative power of telling stories. Jesus told stories everywhere he went. He was a great story teller, stories about planting, lost sheep, and coins. Families and children gathered around Jesus to hear stories. They brought food and laid down their blankets to hear his teachings. Often, he would teach them in parables. Parable…
I wonder if you have heard this one: Several centuries ago in the 1300s, the Pope decreed that Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal: he’d have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in…
After the followers of Jesus had made it through the shock of the death of Jesus, they had amazed it through the resurrection of Christ. They lived in excitement in the 40 days of greatest hits of “tell me another.” The disciples looked at the sky with the ascension wondering where Jesus had really gone as he went up to heaven. Now,…
“DO Believe In Resurrection” Today, we begin a short series, three sermons on belief. Three weeks to ground us on three crucial beliefs that we hold in common in the larger Christian church – resurrection, the vital role of Holy Spirit as we celebrate Pentecost next week, and then the mystery of Trinity as we together ponder Trinity Sunday, the following week.…
This Easter, I received spinach seeds ahead of the planting season, along with a geoplanter, gardening gloves, and the right tools. So, after I heard the frost warnings had passed us by (a bit harder this season), we diligently planted our small spinach seeds in our planter and have been faithfully watering them each day. We are getting ready to plant our…
God has always called God’s people to remember that they were strangers in a land they did not know. Sometimes we might feel like we know exactly where we are and, other times, what is going on around us. When the people of God were enslaved in Egypt, God reminded again and again to care for others and not mistreat those who…
In the gospel lesson, we find the crowds, perhaps even Jesus’ own family, accusing and worrying that Jesus is out of his mind! Things have gotten out of control and Jesus might have gotten a bit more here! What should we do!? They find themselves wondering. What is Jesus doing!! The complexities of family are not glossed over in anyway. In fact,…
This year, we have been taking the challenge to read together the gospel of Gospel of Mark. After a slight detour with Holy Week and Easter readings, we pick up back in chapter 3. The writer of Mark gives a quick clear account of the gospel immediately as rushing us towards to the words that require our action and attention. Immediately, we…
Throughout my message today, you will notice Waldos. When I was a little girl, I had books called, Where’s Waldo. On each page, you would look for this gentleman named Waldo. He was hidden in plain sight. You merely had to train your eye to find him. This is Waldo. You have a picture. And in each picture, you want to find…