Easter banner in the church 4 Easter A—5/3/20 Acts 2:42-47 Pr. Scott Kramer You just heard this reading from the Book of Acts: Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods, and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and … [Read more...]
Out Ahead of Us
Easter Sunday—4/12/20 Matthew 28:1-10 Pr. Scott Kramer Of all the images in Matthew’s account of the Easter story, the one that I identify with most this year is the empty tomb. Here we are, Jakub and Marissa and me, just the three of us. The worship space is empty. Those of you who are here week after week are not here! Today, as we conclude the season of Lent and continue the season of social distance, you—the Body of Christ—are not here. Some of you have a lifetime practice of … [Read more...]
Cast All Your Anxiety On Him
7 Easter A—5/28/17 Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10,32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11 Pr. Scott Kramer It’s already been over six months since the election but in some parts of the country you might think we are still in campaign season! Driving through rural Washington recently I’ve seen huge signs still in place on barns and fences: “Make America Great Again.” We live in anxious times, and once anxiety takes hold of human hearts it’s not easy to let go! As those campaign signs and … [Read more...]
A Living Christ
EasterA17—4/16/17 Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2,14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18 Pr. Scott Kramer Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again! This is the message of Easter morning. Death gives way to new life. Despair gives way to hope. Forty days of Lent have led to this day. Forty days in which again and again God’s people have been invited to the task of repentance. We have been reminded that repentance is not about feeling weighed down by guilt for what we have or … [Read more...]
Cast All Your Anxiety on Him
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” Is there anyone among us today who does this well?? Part of what it means to be human is to experience anxiety. The question for us is not whether or not we experience anxiety. The question is what we do with our anxiety. What do you do with your anxiety? Jesus’ disciples serve as a mirror of how we seek relief from our own anxiety. "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" His disciples were clinging to … [Read more...]
Unexpected Jesus
by Elizabeth Rawlings And we walk together on the road to Emmaus. Waiting to see Christ in our lives, waiting for the death and resurrection of Christ to turn our worlds upside down, to change us for the better, to change our world for the better, we walk. As we walk, we talk of the impact Jesus has had on our lives, and we wonder where is he now? What happened? Why can’t we see Jesus in our lives today – all the while, looking down at our feet, focused inward on our troubles and our confusion. … [Read more...]
Doubt is Part of Faith
by Kathryn Buffum I bring you greetings this morning on behalf of your good friend Bishop Kirby Unti, and your friends in Christ in the 105 congregations and 20 mission starts of the NW WA Synod. One of the gifts of serving as Assistant to the Bishop is being able to get to know some of these congregations. I was here last November for Pastor Scott’s ordination anniversary, so I’ve had a chance to see that you at Lakeridge bring real heart to your worship. You’ve kept the best of what is … [Read more...]
He’s Not Here
My wife and I live here in the neighborhood just down the hill from the church. On clear mornings from our front patio we can see the sun rise. I couldn’t see the sunrise this morning because of the clouds. But even if it were clear I wouldn’t have seen the sun rise today because it was too early. That will change! As the days get longer and the weather gets nicer I will miss many sunrises because the sun rises earlier and earlier, and I am not a morning person! Over the next few weeks when I … [Read more...]
Slave-girls
lately, I’ve found that in reading God’s Word I don’t have to use my imagination too much. In today’s first reading, for example, Luke writes that one day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. All we have to do is check the news and learn about three women in Cleveland who were kidnapped as girls and held against their will for ten years. Slave girls of the 21st … [Read more...]
Wanting Wellness
Our sister Jill is moving. Jill has been with us now for most of the past ten years. For many years before that Jill was a member of a sister congregation. Part of Jill’s story is that she lost Joe, the love of her life. One day he was here, the next day—suddenly—he was gone. She was devastated. Fortunately, Jill has a strong circle of love—family and friends who supported her then, and continue to support her. Jill’s story is not unusual. All of us have faced major life transitions: loss … [Read more...]