2 Lent C—2/21/16 Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 Pr. Scott Kramer You may recall that Sunday readings for the season of Lent began last week with the story of Jesus’ temptations. We were reminded that the temptations Jesus experienced during his life were much like those that we face: very ordinary, very every-day. One of the greatest of these ordinary temptations is the desire to create a God in our own image. You may remember from the Book of Genesis that … [Read more...]
Eyes Wide Open
Mark 10: 46-52 by Melody Kroeger October 25, 2015 Now what do you imagine Bartimaeus did after his eyes were opened? Did he have a family – a father or mother whose faces he longed to see for the first time? Was he stunned by the beauty of clouds shifting softly against a clear blue sky? Perhaps his breath was caught up by the colorful chaos and hustling of the marketplace. Or, was Bartimaeus disappointed in what he saw – his rags, misery and filth? Once the sharp edges of … [Read more...]
Whatever You Want…
21 Pentecost B—10/18/15 Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45 Pr. Scott Kramer Imagine being a teacher in a classroom, when two of the students stand up and say, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. What were James and John thinking!? On the other hand, maybe they knew Jesus better than we do! In John’s gospel, chapter 14, for example, Jesus says: I will do whatever you ask in my name... If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do … [Read more...]
Grown-up Conversations
20 Pentecost B—10/11/15 Amos 5:6-7,10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31 Pr. Scott Kramer I have learned from parents of young children that one of the things they miss most is a “grown-up” conversation. I was talking this past week with one of my pastor colleagues in the area whose children are now teenagers, and I asked how they were doing. “Oh,” she said, “it is so nice to be able to have adult conversations with them!” The past two weeks we have heard Jesus praise … [Read more...]
Living Discipleship
September 13, 2015 Mark 9:30-37 by Melody Kroeger Many of you might be familiar with the slogan - WWJD – "What Would Jesus Do?" Based on a book written by Charles Sheldon in 1896, this popular slogan can be seen on bracelets and bumper-stickers. It appeals to the common human trait of empathy. We are encouraged to imagine ourselves in the shoes of Jesus as our model for the behavior that we are to strive for in true discipleship. But, sometimes, I wonder about how or why we would … [Read more...]
Sourdough Starter
11 Pentecost B—8/9/15 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35,41-51 Pr. Scott Kramer One of my pastoral visits this past week was to see Jim. Some of you know Jim. Before reading the scripture lessons for the week I explained to Jim that this time of year the gospel readings are all about Jesus as Bread of Life. Jim thought about that and then said, “I make bread. Sourdough bread.” In fact, Jim told me he has sourdough starter in the fridge. And guess how old … [Read more...]
Leaving Home
10 Pentecost B—8/2/15 Exodus 16:2-4,9-15; Psalm 68:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35 Pr. Scott Kramer Have you ever felt homesick? Maybe it was summer camp as a child, going away to college or work, or getting married. For some, moving to a new city or even a new country can leave a person longing for the familiar faces and foods and things of home. If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread. It’s … [Read more...]
Perfect In Weakness
6 Pentecost B-7/5/15 Ezekiel 2:1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 Pr. Scott Kramer “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Wow! Such a big family. If you’re in the habit of imagining the Christmas Eve version of Jesus’ family—Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus—this passage might come as a surprise. Jesus may have been the firstborn but according … [Read more...]
I Spy
Holy Trinity B—5/31/15 Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 Pr. Scott Kramer Funny the things we remember from childhood. I don’t remember much but for some reason I think of toys. Some of the first toys I remember were spy toys. Those of you of a certain age may remember decoder rings, invisible ink pens. One of my favorites was a toy gun from 1964. I didn’t know anything about the Cold War but I knew that I liked this spy gun. It looked like a portable transistor … [Read more...]
Holy Impatience
3 Easter B—4/19/15 Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48 Pr. Scott Kramer Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have! Jesus is impatient. Easter is a season of holy impatience. Earlier in Luke, the first ones at Jesus’ tomb were some women. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw “two men in dazzling clothes.” … [Read more...]