Last Sunday and the weeks leading up to it was a celebration of all that God is doing in this place. Read your annual report, review your congregation’s Facebook page and you will see a story of loaves and fishes-- blessings multiplied--and miracles great and small! You will see stories of love and hope and courage. Why do Christians do what we do? Because Christ came to save the world. We, the Body of Christ, continue his saving work for a world, providing shelter to those without, clothing … [Read more...]
Building Shelter
In 1946, on this high place overlooking Lake Washington, a Lutheran congregation was founded. In the beginning, it was called Lakeridge Community Church. It was a name far ahead of its time. Today many congregations call themselves “community churches.” Later, it became Lakeridge Lutheran Church. A building was needed and the first worship space was constructed, next door to this worship space, what continues to serve as our library and meeting place. Later, when the congregation outgrew the … [Read more...]
Growing Into Love
If you were here at worship a couple of weeks ago you may remember the children’s message. The second reading for that day was about spiritual gifts. There were half a dozen kids up front and I asked them what they’re good at—what gifts they have. There were different answers but one three year-old replied, I’m smart! And I thought to myself, “This child has a bright future.” If, at age three, he can already start to understand his God-given gifts and without embarrassment celebrate those … [Read more...]
A Gospel of Freedom
Last Sunday, as you know, President Obama took the oath of office. On Monday he delivered his second inaugural address. This Sunday we hear another inaugural address, but not from any politician. This one is from Jesus himself, in which for the first time he states his mission to the world: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed … [Read more...]
Saving the Best for Last
After choosing his disciples what do you think is the first thing Jesus does? They all go to a party! John writes that three days into their ministry these thirteen men attend a wedding banquet to which they had been invited. It must have been quite a party because the wine ran out! Jesus’ mother Mary sees this and says to him, “They have no wine.” It sounds like a “mom” thing to say! I can imagine that Mary has been saying things like this for all of Jesus’ adult life. She’s known all … [Read more...]
Baptized for Life
On June 21, 1959, I was baptized. It was one month to the day after I was born. In the Lutheran church, once we’re baptized, that’s it. I have not returned to the font to be re-baptized. But in today’s readings we find different kinds of baptism. Today is the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, what we call the Baptism of our Lord. The Scriptures for this day show us that baptism is not simply a one-time deal but repeated again and again. We might even say that baptism is a way of … [Read more...]
Blessed from Outside
The Christmas season is now officially over. As of today, we begin a new season in the church year, the season of Epiphany. And yet, it’s interesting, isn’t it, that the story we just heard from Matthew’s gospel sounds like Christmas! It’s the story of the “Three Wise Men,” or, The Magi. These people had traveled a long distance. They looked different from the people of Israel. They dressed different. Their beliefs were different. I was browsing the Christmas card choices in local stores … [Read more...]
Generation to Generation
Once upon a time there was a little boy riding in his parents’ car. He and his younger sister and brother, with their parents, were returning home from a family vacation. Along the way, they pulled off the interstate highway at a rest area for a bathroom stop. Everyone piled out of the car and walked to the restrooms inside. But when the little boy came out of the building and headed for the car...there was no car. In fact, there were no people! His family had left the rest area without … [Read more...]
A Blessed Mess
What do you think—as you heard the Christmas story read just now, did it sound like a Hallmark card? We might want it to be. The world of advertising has done a great job of managing our expectations, packaging this story as if it were neat and tidy: Christmas cards with cozy fireside scenes, families gathered in perfect harmony. But the Christmas story we just heard starts out not with cozy fireside scenes but with emperors and governors. People with names like Augustus and Quirinius. … [Read more...]
Mary’s Song
What better news could we hear than the Word of God that comes to us today! Mary was as young as thirteen, as old as fifteen, when she learned that she was to be the mother of Jesus. Her response was fear and confusion, so she ran as fast as she could to the only person who could possibly understand her situation: her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a miraculous baby. And there, her fear and confusion give way to singing, which is our gospel reading for today. Mary wasn’t the … [Read more...]
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