23 Pentecost A—11/8/20 Matthew 25:1-13 Pr. Scott Kramer Well, what do you make of this story? It all seems pretty straightforward. “Then the kin-dom of heaven will be like this,” Jesus says, and he tells the tale of ten bridesmaids who are waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. Five are wise, five are foolish, and the foolish ones are shut out of the wedding banquet. Near the end of the church year we can expect to hear stories about the end times, and this is one of … [Read more...]
I Can Breathe
7 Easter A—5/31/20 Acts 2:1-21 Pr. Scott Kramer This past Friday, I returned from a two-night camping trip with friends. Backcountry camping is finally allowed—thanks be to God! One of the great joys of the trip was breathing fresh mountain air. That’s always a joy for me, but now more than ever! Part of wearing a mask in public these past three months has meant breathing stale air. I’m happy to do that for the sake of other people’s health and well-being but it does get old. … [Read more...]
Distractions to Justice
22 Pentecost C—11/10/19 Job 19:23-27a; Luke 20:27-38 Pr. Scott Kramer Susan Goldberg is the tenth editor of National Geographic magazine and the first woman to hold the post. It’s good timing. Next year marks 100 years since the United States Congress ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. The November issue of the magazine is titled “Women: A Century of Change,” and reflects the struggles and successes of women around the … [Read more...]
Free Advertising!
7 Easter C—6/2/19 Acts 16:16-34 Pr. Scott Kramer Our church, as you know, is not necessarily easy to find. I like to tell the story of how I got lost the first FIVE times I tried to find it—this was before GPS—and those five times were even before I was called to be pastor here! From a marketing point of view, we are at a disadvantage. We’re not on the main drag, not near shopping and major services. Over the years, I’ve heard of neighbors who did not even know … [Read more...]
Rest for the Slave
3 Pentecost B—6/3/18 Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:23--3:6 Pr. Scott Kramer I’ve noticed over time that one of the most common conversations I have with you is related to work: How do I transition from a lifetime in the work world to the world of retirement? How do I find a job that matches my gifts and skills? Or, how do I simply make ends meet? How do I decide when it’s time to move on to a different job or even a whole other career? How do I manage the multiple responsibilities of … [Read more...]
Power to Choose
15 Pentecost A—9/17/17 Genesis 50:15-21; Exodus 14:19-31; Matthew 18:21-35 Pr. Scott Kramer This past Friday my wife and I returned from a visit to Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. Over the course of the week we put almost 1800 miles on the car! Turns out that it was more than just a road journey. For me, it was a spiritual journey, as well. I’d like to share some of that road-trip with you this morning because a lot of what we experienced over the past week ties in with our … [Read more...]
Just Business
4 Epiphany A—1/29/17 Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 Pr. Scott Kramer As you know, after worship this morning we will hold our congregation’s annual meeting for 2017. Likewise, on May 20th, Lutheran congregations from around Western Washington will come together for what we call Synod Assembly. These two gatherings are often described as the church’s annual “business meetings.” What would you say is the church’s “business?” Some of us might talk about budgets, … [Read more...]
Loyalty or Love?
8 Pentecost C—7/10/17 Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-10; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37 Pr. Scott Kramer On our day off this past week my wife and I did what we often do this time of year: head into the mountains for a hike. Hikers have a list of what’s called the Ten Essential systems: Map and compass (navigation), sunglasses and sunscreen (sun protection), extra clothing (insulation), headlamp (illumination), matches (fire), repair kit, extra food (nutrition), extra water … [Read more...]
Power to Change
3 Pentecost C—6/5/16 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 30; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17 Pr. Scott Kramer Over the past few weeks the church calendar has made a transition from the season of Easter to the season of Pentecost. We are now in the long season of green, in which God’s Word instructs us in the ways of spiritual growth and maturity. And yet, both our reading from 1 Kings and our reading from Luke are very similar resurrection stories. This sounds like Easter! What’s going on here? The first … [Read more...]
Stoned Prophets
Second Sunday in Lent February 21, 2016 Luke 13:31-35 Melody Kroeger The Attorney General of the United States came to warn him. “We have reports that there’s a sniper in the outskirts of Montgomery waiting to shoot Dr. King.” King refused to leave his supports behind and seek safety in a northern state. “I don’t care what happens,” Dr. King told his advisors, “I have to march and I have to be in the front line”. Martin Luther King was in trouble. The same sort of trouble that … [Read more...]