Christmas Future

Matthew 24:36-44 On December 19, 1843 the first edition of a relatively short book was published in London, England.  By Christmas Eve all 6,000 copies had been sold.  By January 2nd it had gone to press a second time, and by the end of 1844 thirteen editions of that same book had been released.  Since...

Apocalyptic Hope

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Today’s Scripture might seem like an odd choice for All Saint’s Day.  It does to me.  Today we’ll remember those among our congregation who have died in the past year; it’s kind of like a funeral service.  So you’d think we’d read one of those passages that often give us comfort at...

Quiet Enough to Hear the Unexpected

Psalm 46 Before I say anything else, I have two important words: Thank you. Thank you for allowing me this renewal leave.  Neither you nor I was totally sure what a clergy renewal leave meant – but I was sure I needed it, and you took the leap of faith with me to provide it. ...

In the Beginning… Rainbow and Baptism

Genesis 7:1-5, 7:17-18, 8:1-3, 9:12-16  Today is a good day, a very good day, because today I get to baptize a special 21-year-old man in a local river.  I feel the Holy Spirit at work every time I baptize someone.  An important part of that for me has been the liturgy:  the traditional questions and...

In the Beginning… Disobedience and Blame

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7  I’m a relational person, so I tend to define myself by my relationships.  I’m a wife and a mom.  I’m a best friend and a buddy.  I’m a pastor to a congregation.  I’m a daughter.  I’m an older sister to two brothers. I was just three years old when I became a...

The Seventh Day

Genesis 2:1-3 Last week we went back to the very beginning:  the story of creation in Genesis 1.  We remembered how God created light and dark, heavens and earth, plants and animals – and us, human beings, made in God’s image. The end. But wait – there’s more!  That’s just what happens on the first...

In God’s Image

Genesis 1:1 – 31 The story of creation goes like this: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there...

Taco of Christ

Romans 12:1-8 Today we’ll celebrate back-to-school with tacos.  Who doesn’t love tacos!  In my house, if the kids get to choose dinner, it’s one of two things:  pizza or Mexican.  So – you’re welcome children.  Let them eat tacos! Adults like tacos, too.  But the way we enjoy them is so different, they could almost...

Small-but-Grand

Luke 18:9-14  In Luke 18 Jesus tells a story that takes place – right here!  In church!  (Well, in the temple, which is different in some significant ways… but similar enough we can act it out in our sanctuary.) So during worship, when I preached this sermon, I asked for two volunteers.  One who would...

The Parable of the Prodigal Son… *and* the Older Brother

Luke 15:11-32           This summer we’re listening to the stories that Jesus told.  It’s been fun to preach, because they’re good stories – relatable stories.  Stories about borrowing from a neighbor, helping a stranger, throwing a party, saving for the future.  In Luke 15 we get one of the most famous stories of all:  the...