Advent1A—11/27/16 Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Pr. Scott Kramer Anybody remember the 1970 book “The Late Great Planet Earth?” Some of you who are younger might be more familiar with the “Left Behind” series of novels and movies that appeared in the 1990s and early 2000s. These best-sellers used today’s reading from Matthew, with other Bible passages, to describe the “end of history.” The idea is that God will suddenly one day appear in the clouds to snatch away … [Read more...]
Love to the Very End
Christ the King—11/20/16 Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Pr. Scott Kramer Last Sunday, you may recall, was the end of the world—as has every day since! That includes today, and it’s a special ending. Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the church year. Today’s gospel reading may seem strange. Although we’re still weeks away from Christmas, today’s reading from Luke is from Holy Week, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, which we won’t hear again until next … [Read more...]
End of the World
26 Pentecost C16—11/13/16 Malachi 4:1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Pr. Scott Kramer In case you hadn’t noticed, today is the end of the world! Some of you have been feeling that way since Tuesday’s election. If the election had turned out differently others of you would have felt the same way! Today’s gospel reading, as it happens, is about the end of the world. The days will come, Jesus said, when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown … [Read more...]
Short, Changed
24 Pentecost C—10/23/16 (Reformation Sunday) Isaiah 1:10-18; Psalm 32:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12; Luke 19:1-10 Pr. Scott Kramer I grew up in the church so I often heard the word “stewardship”--and I didn’t like it. This was before I even understood what it meant! I just didn’t like the sound of the word. I guess to my young ears it sounded too much like the word “sewer,” which is neither a beautiful-sounding word, nor a beautiful thing! What I learned just recently didn’t help those … [Read more...]
Greatness
23 Pentecost C—10/23/16 Jer. 14:7-10,19-22; Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18; Luke 18:9-14 Pr. Scott Kramer “There but for the grace of God go I.” In response to another person’s misfortune or tragedy, have you ever found yourself saying or thinking these words? “Sucks to be you!” is how we might put it in contemporary language. This is the spirit of the Pharisee in Jesus’ story, a man who has ordered his world into familiar categories of good and bad. I thank God that I am not like those … [Read more...]
Lessons from Rialto
19 Pentecost C—9/25/16 Job 39:1-8,26-30; Psalm 104:14-23; 1 Cor. 1:10-23; Luke 12:22-31 Pr. Scott Kramer One of the headline news stories this past week had nothing to do with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. The news is that Rialto has a new home! Rialto, in case you don’t know, is the baby sea otter who was found on Rialto Beach along the Washington coast. This little guy was almost dead when some big-hearted humans rescued him and gradually nursed back to health at the Seattle Aquarium. … [Read more...]
Deep Waters
16 Pentecost C (Season of Creation: Ocean Sunday)—9/4/16 Job 38:1-18; Psalm 104; Ephesians 1:3-10; Luke 5:1-11 Pr. Scott Kramer This past week’s Seattle Times reported that life on earth may have begun far earlier than we thought. Scientists in Greenland found a fossil that they believe is 3.7 billion years old, which is more than 200 million years older than the previous fossil evidence suggests. Our readings for this first Sunday in the Season of Creation (Oceans) speak of ancient things. … [Read more...]
Whitewater and Thin Ice
15 Pentecost C—8/28/16 Proverbs 25:6-7; Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16; Luke 14:1,7-14 Pr. Scott Kramer Last Sunday was an occasion for the baptism of Aidan William Rippe, and we explored the risky nature of baptismal water. Holy baptism can make our lives complicated, even dangerous! This was the case for a man named Dirk Willems. The year was 1569. Dirk Willems was a Dutch Mennonite imprisoned for refusing to participate in violence, and for arguing against infant baptism. After months of … [Read more...]
Red Carpet Treatment
12 Pentecost C—8/7/16 Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Pr. Scott Kramer Following worship every Sunday many of us head downstairs for coffee hour. There your attention likely is on the coffee, the food and the conversation. It may be, though, that on occasion you’ve happened to glance at the floor and if you have you’ve probably noticed the red carpet. Well, it’s not so red anymore. These days it’s more like shades of red mixed with shades of black. And you … [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...]
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