3 Epiphany A—1/26/20 Matthew 4:12-23 Pr. Scott Kramer It was about this time of year probably 25 years ago that my wife and I heard about an opportunity to fish for smelt. I love to fish, and this sounded like a fun adventure, so one day we drove down to Castle Rock, Washington, to try our luck for Columbia River smelt on the Cowlitz River. Now, the kind of fishing that I’d always done was the rod-and-reel method we use in lakes and rivers, the kind of fishing that involves deception … [Read more...]
For All the Saints
All Saints Sunday—11/4/18 Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44 Pr. Scott Kramer Does anybody recognize this tool? Yes, it’s a scoop for “gutter clutter.” When leaves fall on the roof this time of year, I scoop them out of the gutter and the water flows as it should. Keeping the water flowing is not the only reason to scoop out the leaves. In the gutter they’re not much use. But if they’re put in the yard waste bin or on the yard, over time they become compost that … [Read more...]
Rewriting the Story
Pr. Sara Yoos, Guest Pastor and Preacher Lakeridge Lutheran Mark 8:27-38 9/16/18 You may have noticed that I’m pregnant. Now, the first few months, people were really cautious about asking. But after 4 months, it was pretty obvious this was more than just a big lunch. But once it was obvious that I am pregnant, it became especially awkward around strangers. See, I’m a foster parent as well to an eleven month old baby girl. So when people see me carrying around a baby – then notice that I’m … [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...]
Fall
It has felt more like winter these past weeks but by the calendar we’re only mid-way through fall. The word “fall” lately has been showing up regularly in my life. It’s our informal word for “autumn.” But its most common use describes moving from “upright” to “face-plant.” I’ve had some painful, first-hand experience with this use of the word. Two months ago I slipped on a large boulder while walking along a river. I hit the rock full force on my back. More recently, I fell off a … [Read more...]