12 Pentecost C—9/1/19 Proverbs 25:6-7, Sirach 10:12-18; Hebrews 13:1-3, Luke 14:1, 7-14 Pr. Scott Kramer This past Friday I was invited to the home of one of my hiking buddies for dinner. Those who gathered had hiked together some weeks ago over a hundred miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. Tonight, my wife and I are invited to another dinner, this time for an end-of-summer gathering with pastor and deacon colleagues. I meet with these folks every week to study and discuss the Bible … [Read more...]
Abundance
10 Pentecost B—7/29/18 Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21 Pr. Scott Kramer A week and a half ago there was a knock at the door and it was Sam, who works for Full Circle Farms. Full Circle Farms is a cooperative of 15 farms in the Northwest that together provide fresh, organic produce that they deliver to households that have signed up for regular delivery. Sam was enthusiastic and convincing. He’s only 23 years old and it was obvious that he wasn’t just a salesman but believes in the company he’s … [Read more...]
A Gracious Feast
19th Sunday after Pentecost Lakeridge Lutheran Church Matthew 22:1-14 Nathan Black Most of the time, when we contemplate the words of scripture, especially the words of Jesus, the message seems clear, the good news is directly declared, the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation is right there in the text, clear as day. And sometimes, the text leaves us conflicted, questioning, wondering. That has been my experience with this morning’s text. Is this really what the kingdom of … [Read more...]
Judged Worthy of Love
Pentecost 16A—9/24/17 Jonah 3:10--4:11; Matthew 20:1-16 Pr. Scott Kramer When I was a child, one of my favorite Bible stories was the tale of “Jonah and the Whale.” What little kid wouldn’t love the story of someone on a ship who was thrown overboard, swallowed by a huge fish, and spit out unharmed onto dry land? As an adult, this story is still one of my favorites, but not because of the big fish. The story of Jonah represents a very grown-up and difficult truth that all of us eventually must … [Read more...]
Baptismal Candle
4 Pentecost A—7/2/17 Matthew 10:40-42 Pr. Scott Kramer Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Hospitality is at the heart of what it means to be Christian. But through the example of Jesus himself we discover that the welcome we extend to family or friends is only the barest beginning of God’s welcome. God’s welcome is more than a handshake or a greeting. Christian hospitality represents the wide embrace of God’s love that sets aside one’s own … [Read more...]
New Beginnings
Baptism of Our Lord A—1/9/17 Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17 Pr. Scott Kramer Not many of us were here at worship last Sunday. On New Year's Day, mostly because of snow and ice, we were only 13! Last Sunday was also the first Sunday of the New Year. This past Friday marked the beginning of a new church season, the season of Epiphany, also known as the Season of Light. We are in a season of new beginnings, and today, when we remember the Baptism of Our Lord, our scripture … [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...]
A Holon One
18 Pentecost C--9/18/16 Cosmos Sunday Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 148; Colossians 1:15-20; John 6:41-51 Pr. Maggie Breen My dad died to alcoholism when he was 65. He had struggled with the loss of life much earlier. The ways of the world caused him great anxiety. He couldn’t work out how he fit, couldn’t find a way to the life he was made for, and so he drank. He lost his job, a job that never really used the gifts he had, in his early 40s. He never worked again, and he slowly, and painfully drank … [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...]
Whitewater
14 Pentecost C—8/21/16 Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 103:1-8; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17 Pr. Scott Kramer It seems appropriate that Aidan’s baptism is today. He is the son of athletes, and the Olympic Games closing ceremony is today. Some of my favorite events over the past 16 days have been water sports: swimming, diving, water polo. Of course, there’s rowing and sailing. And, yes, kayak! Michelle and Derek, you are runners and rock climbers, but you are also water people! Today’s worship is … [Read more...]
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