3 Easter B—4/15/18 Acts 3:12-19; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48 Pr. Scott Kramer This court is now in session... Last Sunday some of you met my niece and her fiancé from Texas. They are both attorneys and I was wishing they were here today. I’m wearing a judge’s garb this morning because today’s readings sound like something out of a courtroom. In the book of Acts, Peter’s speech to the people sounds like a prosecuting attorney. He accuses them of crimes against Jesus: the God of our ancestors … [Read more...]
Faithful Thomas
2 Easter B—4/8/18 1 John 1:1--2:2; John 20:19-31; Mark 16:1-8 Pr. Scott Kramer Our gospel reading for this second Sunday in Easter picks up where last Sunday’s Easter reading left off. Last Sunday we heard John’s account of the Easter story. But Mark’s account is the gospel that we follow this year. It, too, has an Easter story. (Read Mark 16:1-8) So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. The … [Read more...]
Spiritual Astronauts
6 Lent B—3/18/18 Psalm 119:9-16; John 12:20-33 Pr. Scott Kramer Two weeks ago I was introduced for the first time to one of my relatives. Emma is the six year-old daughter of one of my cousins whom I rarely see, but this cousin was also at my uncle’s funeral and so I got to meet her family. Emma is a delightful child and within a couple minutes of meeting her you might become her latest best friend. One morning several of us were taking a walk when Emma announced that when she grows up she … [Read more...]
Superheroes
4 Lent B—3/11/18 Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 Pr. Scott Kramer Three weeks ago I drove down to The Landing movie theaters in Renton. I was hoping to be among the first to see Black Panther, the latest of the Marvel superhero movies. I couldn’t get in; it was sold out! Apparently, this movie is not only a big deal here. In only three weeks, worldwide Black Panther has grossed $1 billion. I read in the paper this morning that it is now the all-time greatest superhero movie, … [Read more...]
Onto the Podium
1 Lent B—2/18/18 1 Peter 3:18-22; Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 Pr. Scott Kramer I’ve been enjoying the Olympics, and maybe you have been, too. One of the most surprising events of the first week was the women’s Super-G Slalom. This is a downhill ski race, and American Mikaela Shiffrin was the favorite to win gold. Earlier in the week she’d won gold in a different event, but this Super-G Slalom is her specialty. In the end, though, she failed in that event even to make the podium—no medal at all! Part … [Read more...]
Just Showing Up
5 Epiphany B—2/4/18 Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 Pr. Scott Kramer I shared with you last week that my Uncle Rod died at the age of 85, following a few brief months of living with leukemia. Here’s a line from his published obituary that gives you an idea of what he was like: He loved meeting new people and would often choose to go in the “singles” line at the chair lift while skiing just to have the opportunity to meet and talk with others on the ride up to … [Read more...]
Saints
2 Advent B—12/10/17 Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 Pr. Scott Kramer Can you imagine John the Baptist driving a sleigh through the night with eight tiny reindeer? Imagine John, dressed not in red and white winter gear but camel’s hair. Imagine John dropping down the chimney and happy to find not milk and cookies but a plate full of locusts and wild honey! Hard to imagine? It’s not difficult to see why John was not chosen as the model for our modern-day Santa Claus. But St. Nicholas … [Read more...]
Big Vision, New Beginning
1 Advent B—12/3/17 Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37 Pr. Scott Kramer In our reading from words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! It’s the first Sunday in Advent, but today we start with the Christmas story! In our reading from Mark's gospel Jesus cautions his followers to be alert, to be awake. Wise words, for Christmas sneaks up on us fast! There were no shopping malls in Jesus’ day. There was … [Read more...]
Willing
Christ the King Sunday November 26, 2017 Matthew 25 Nathan Michael Black Good morning! It’s a joy to be with you all on this weekend of gratitude, feasting, and spending time with loved ones. I hope this holiday time has been good for each of you. And I know the holidays can be difficult times for many of us. Please know that we hold each of you in our hearts and if you need anything during this season, please call the church to speak with us. Let us go to God in prayer: Dear … [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...]
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