(In lieu of a sermon, this pastor’s perspective on the process of writing a sermon, with a bit of commentary on John 20:19-31, the gospel lesson for the Second Sunday of Easter, near the end–couldn’t help myself!) When I was serving at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver a few years ago, members of the congregation … More How Does a Sermon Come Into Being?
Remember. Receive. Respond. These are the three lessons I took home with me from the interfaith Seder I attended at our local Jewish community center last Thursday….. But before I continue, I just have to say: As gifts from God, these lessons are by no means confined to ritual seders and sacraments; they can—and do–show … More Seders, Sacraments, and the Stuff of Life
I have a friend who reminds me of a butterfly….. Like a butterfly that struggles and thrusts its way out of its cocoon, my friend is fluttering and fighting to escape the trappings of the temporary tomb where she was trapped for too long. In that tomb she was held captive by fear and by … More The Messy, Beautiful Miracle of Resurrection
Jesus didn’t see “a blind man.” Jesus saw “a man.” “Blind from birth.” Do you hear the difference?… But wait—there’s more! You know how things tend to get lost in translation? Well, in the original Greek of the New Testament it says Jesus saw an “anthropos,” a fellow human being, as in the word … More Learning to See Our Own Blindness
When we meet up with Jesus in today’s gospel lesson, he’s been walking all morning. So, by the time he finally sits down near Jacob’s well, he’s really tired and thirsty. (I think we all know what that feels like! Amen?!…) To be in need of rest and refreshment after a long journey … More Jesus Was a Rule Breaker
(Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent A, March 12, 2017, based on John 3:1-17) “The time is surely coming when we must all become mystics, or we will all become atheists….” These thought-provoking words were posted on Facebook several days ago by a retired pastor-friend. In response, I typed, “Amen!,” and I’ve … More We Must All Become Mystics
(Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany A, January 15, 2017 + Commemoration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on John 1:29-42 and Isaiah 49:1-7 ) Our sons, Peter and David, just moved into their dorm room yesterday afternoon. Of course, we’ll miss having them at home, but since they’re right here … More Called to Be Light in the Darkness
