PentecostC19—6/9/19 Acts 2:1-21 Pr. Scott Kramer On Tuesday of this past week I met with my synod diversity team. (“Synod” is the name for the 100 Lutheran churches in our part of Washington state.) Our team’s job is to identify needs and opportunities for raising awareness within our synod concerning issues of race, sexuality and, more generally, power. When I say I “met” with the team, I don’t mean face-to-face. Team members serve in different parts of our synod … [Read more...]
Free Advertising!
7 Easter C—6/2/19 Acts 16:16-34 Pr. Scott Kramer Our church, as you know, is not necessarily easy to find. I like to tell the story of how I got lost the first FIVE times I tried to find it—this was before GPS—and those five times were even before I was called to be pastor here! From a marketing point of view, we are at a disadvantage. We’re not on the main drag, not near shopping and major services. Over the years, I’ve heard of neighbors who did not even know … [Read more...]
Stand Up!
6 Easter C—5/26/19 John 5:1-9 Pr. Scott Kramer Have you ever believed something, just because “everybody else” believes it? Not because it’s true, or a good idea, but just because that’s what people say, and it feels right, and we don’t have to change. We like to think of ourselves as free and independent thinkers, but all of us believe certain things because…"everybody else" does. Culture is like that! Some of these ideas and beliefs may even follow us from cradle … [Read more...]
No Wet Blankets
5 Lent C—4/7/19 John 12:1-8 Pr. Scott Kramer (This sermon was delivered to the people of Columbia City Church of Hope) My sermon illustration this morning is a blanket. As you can see, this is no ordinary blanket; it’s a wet blanket! If someone calls you a wet blanket, or says that you threw a wet blanket on a situation, what do they mean? That’s right; you’re no fun—a “spoil sport!” There are lots of opportunities over the course of a lifetime to be a spoil sport. I … [Read more...]
Signposts of Love
4 Lent C—3/31/19 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Pr. Scott Kramer Back in January two of my buddies and I decided to spend a few days hiking Death Valley National Park in late March. At the time we didn’t know that within three weeks my dad would die and our family would plan his memorial service for last Saturday. But, instead of canceling the hiking trip we decided that my companions would go ahead and I would catch up with them later. We met up in Death Valley on Tuesday of this past week and … [Read more...]
Chicken Wings
2 Lent C—3/17/19 Genesis 1:7-12,17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 Pr. Scott Kramer 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Did you know that God is chicken?? Today’s reading from Luke is a story of the fox in the chicken coop. The fox is Herod the king. Some Pharisees … [Read more...]
Better than Special
1 Lent C—3/10/19 Deuteronomy 26:5-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-12; Luke 4:1-13 Pr. Scott Kramer If you’ve been baptized, what did you sign up for? For many Christians, baptism is about the beginning and the end. After all, the Bible says, “Those who believe and are baptized will be saved.” Get yourself baptized, and you have it made in the life to come. But is this not faith based on … [Read more...]
Love’s InTentCity
Snow fell again this morning. For middle-class outdoor enthusiasts, winter camping is an adventure. For those without permanent shelter, not so much adventure as one more factor in the ongoing challenge to survive. Life in Tent City 3 is intense. Recently, we were informed that campers could count on only two meals this week. Most food doesn’t appear on a schedule. Supplies are less predictable in the weeks and months following holiday patterns of abundance and … [Read more...]
Love and Family
7 Epiphany C—2/24/19 Genesis 45:3-11,15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; Luke 6:27-38 Pr. Scott Kramer Today my wife and I have been married 29 years. I am grateful for my wife. I love my wife. And I think she loves me, too! So, I confess I am not happy about the gospel reading assigned for today: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? … [Read more...]
Let Me See Again
Reformation Sunday—10/28/18 John 8:31-36; John 9:39-41; Mark 10:46-52 Pr. Scott Kramer This coming Wednesday, October 31st, millions of people across our land will celebrate Halloween, as our friends in Mexico will celebrate the Day of the Dead. In Celtic tradition October 31st marks the first day of the “natural year.” Over the past 500 years Lutherans around the world have known it as Reformation Day. For me, the day is more personal. It’s my mother’s birthday, for one thing. And, twenty-five … [Read more...]
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