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...]
Wisdom
13 Pentecost B—8/19/18 Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Pr. Scott Kramer I was the slowest member of our team on the Pacific Crest Trail. Five of us set out on a hike from Stevens Pass on August 2nd, and finished at Holden Village some 98 miles later on August 9th. One of the reasons I was the slowest hiker is that I was also the oldest. I'm not 20 anymore! The next youngest on the team was a pastor friend of mine who is seven years younger. The other three are all around 22 or … [Read more...]
Seasons of New Beginnings
24 Pentecost A—11/19/17 Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30 Pr. Scott Kramer It’s that time of year in the church when we hear a lot about the end of the world. And, it makes sense! Next week marks the end of our church year, before the season of Advent signals the beginning of a new year. A few weeks after that, in the natural world, the season of autumn comes to an end, marking the beginning of winter. And soon after that, the end of one year and the … [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...]
Choose Love!
6 Epiphany A—2/12/17 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (Sirach 15:15-20); Psalm 119:1-8; Pr. Scott Kramer Clyde Ford is a retired chiropractor and psychotherapist who lives in Bellingham; he’s also African-American. In yesterday’s Seattle Times Clyde Ford tells the story of a lunch meeting he had one day in a small local café. As he and his luncheon companion were enjoying their conversation, without warning a woman outside the coffeehouse beat on the window, shot her middle finger into the air and hollered … [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...]