Curiosity. Faith. Questions.

A short sermon for "annual meeting season."

It was a day. Discipleship and the baptized life are life long.

Jesus fulfills all righteousness, obedient to God's right and just will. Like his foremothers and fathers.

A little recap-ish of the Advent Mothers, comparing Mary in Matthew and Luke, and how Jesus is part of it all.

2 Samuel 11-12 (13-14 for the narrative pairing concerning Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom), and 1 Kings 1-2. Content warning: rape, murder, infant death. NOTE: God's casting judgement upon David for his sins results in the death of their first son. Despite seeing such things happen in scripture throughout this series, KNOW that God does not kill in judgement of our sins.

Ruth is bold, risk-taking, and intensely loyal, steadfast in loving kindness.

Reading selection: Joshua 2:1-21. For all of Rahab, read Joshua 2, 6:15-25. Hymn not recorded/ included.

Genesis 38:13-19, 24-27 read. Read all of Gen. 38 for the full story. Hymn lyrics written and sung by Kate Drefke. Set to the tune of "Rejoice, Rejoice Believers" and available upon request.

Hear the hymn referenced, You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd at https://youtu.be/4_63xC8cy5g

After the destruction of the Temple, Luke's writer uses Jesus to speak to the present/future fears of the people.

Because it's Election Day in two days, and I didn't explicitly work it into the sermon, and in case anyone reads this: VOTE! Vote for your neighbor's well-being. What do they need? Who will help? Who will hurt? Vote as if your neighbor's life depended on it.* *Your neighbor's life really could depend on how you vote. Is there a proposal on your ballot to expand access to or coverage of mental heal...

What are some of the changes, reformations, transformations, you have witnessed here? … What are, or have been, some of your fears in times of uncertainty or transition? … What are, or have been, your hopes in times of uncertainty or transition? … Sing: The Church of Christ, in Every Age (ELW #729) https://youtu.be/Q35unipWCuI

There's a long quote from The Jewish Annotated New Testament citing several passages of scripture. They are: Luke 11:4 Genesis 18:24-33 Luke 18:14b Luke 14:11 Mathew 23:12

The widow cried "avenge me!" The judge feared a black eye so did as the woman said. But what is justice- not vengeance- in the hard and impossible times?

How do you respond to God's activity in the world?

Anchor does not (yet) allow episodes to be arranged as a playlist, so here's the super episode of summer 2022 mission and discernment series. Individual episodes can be found by searching this podcast for "Trinity Sunday 2022" (#1), "Mission and Discernment" 2, 3, and 4.

Anchor does not (yet) have a way of sharing episodes as playlist, so I've created this super episode of the Grief and Loss sermon series done in summer 2022 at the two ELCA congregations I serve: Faith, Troy and Evangelical, Poestenkill. The series used William Worden's four tasks of mourning, a clinical model for grief counseling and therapy. My intention was to balance the clinical grief educati...

Worden's fourth task is, "to find a way to remember the deceased while embarking on the rest of one's journey through life." Death is not the end of our relationships with loved ones, just the end of how they were. We create continuing bonds that carry our relationships forward in transformed ways, and make room in our lives for new relationships. Readings: John 11:14-17, 21-26a; 1 Corinthians 15:...

Ever wonder why Jesus just can't speak "plainly"? Me, too.

Scripture readings: Luke 9:1-6; Matthew 10:5-8, Acts 6:1-7 see/compare Lk 9:1-6, Mt 10:5-15, Mk 3:13-19 Hymn: We All Are One in Mission (ELW #576): https://youtu.be/UqTdphvJODY

A brief consideration of Paul's letter to Philemon (et al.), reviewing the top two theories about the letter's intent and what they might mean for us today.

Worden's third task of mourning: “to adjust to a world without the deceased.” A reading from Psalm… 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;  and by night but find no rest. (Ps. 22:1-2) A reading from Bonnie Raitt… And just like that your life can change If I hadn't loo...

Jesus liberates us from the legalisms used against us, AND those we use against others.

This does some brief cross-talk with the congregation. Scripture readings: Exodus 3:7-12 and Romans 12:1-8 Spiritual Gifts Assessment tool referenced: https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Spiritual-Renewal/Assessment-Tools

Assigned epistle reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16. Preached on v. 1 & 3- definition of faith. lyric video of hymn, "Faith Begins By Letting Go": https://youtu.be/HoGpu2P4rTA