Christmas Eve 2020: Joy overcoming fear!

Christmas Eve, 2020

Into our world — and year — of fear the angel proclaims:  Do not be afraid, for a I bring you good news of great joy for all the people!

What is this news and where we can find joy, joy that finally overrules the pervasive fear in our world?

Advent 4: Joy

Advent 4

December 20, 2020

Pastor Rob requests permission to be joyful.  That might seem like a strange request, but in a world awash in grief, fear and anger, Pastor Rob felt the need to ask and to extend permission to be joyful!

But you might ask, why can we be joyful when we cannot gather for Christmas Eve worship?

Reflecting on 2 Samuel 7, Pastor Rob offers a message of a God who does not need buildings to be worshiped.  Our inability to gather as we are accustomed has not stopped nor will it stop God’s joy in Jesus’ birth from entering into our world, into our homes and into our hearts.

Advent 3: Love

December 13, 2020

Christmas is all about love, right?!  In contrast to much of pop culture music, the love in the Christmas story is neither sentimental nor romantic.  It is a long-suffering, enduring and generously given to us by God.  Pastor Rob reflects on the love demonstrated by Joseph to reflect on the nature of love in the Christmas story.

The hard truth about love and Christmas, though, is that this year we don’t feel all that loving…nor all that lovable.  Perhaps this is the best preparation of all for Christmas, though, that we recognize our profound need for a savior, one whose love is enduring, long-suffering and freely given.

Advent 2: Peace

 December 6, 2020

“Comfort ye my people…”   These are words near and dear to my heart, as they were played every year (on a record!) in my childhood home to announce that Advent was beginning.

They are not simply words we hear every Advent, but they are words that speak anew to our situation.  The ancient prophet Isaiah was addressing a people who lived at a time of living with a future hope while suffering a dismal exile.   Likewise, we find ourselves in a time of hope (a vaccine is coming!) but also exile (covid!).

What can we learn from Isaiah (40:1-11) as well as Mary (our nativity person featured today) about pursuing God’s peace in times of hope amid struggle?

Advent 1: Hope

Advent 1 

November 29, 2020

This Advent we being with a message of hope.  But hope is not on the minds and hearts of many this holiday season.  So we turn the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, to find hope.  Unfortunately, there meet Zachariah (Luke 1:5-25) a priest whose small faith disappoints the angel Gabriel.  The story is story of hope though, because the story isn’t about Zachariah.  The story is about the coming of Christ and the community of expectant faith.  May we, as we struggle with our own frustrations and disappointments in 2020, find hope in Christ and the community which Christ has given us.

A Sheep’s Guide to Pandemic Holidays

 November 22, 2020

“A Sheep’s guide to surviving the holidays during 2020!”

The last few weeks have brought a return to the anxieties and concerns of the spring regarding COVID.   As we approach the holidays we confess our frustration!

Pastor Rob offers a guide to living as a sheep of the good shepherd during these times.

The preaching text is Matthew 25:31-46, which of course, means we must address the issue of whether we are sheep or goats.

A Common Word?

November 8, 2020

What do you preach to a congregation that is in a deeply purple town after such a divisive election and emotionally charged week?

Pastor Rob seeks to find a common word for us in the baptismal liturgy – the Apostle’s Creed and the words from Matthew’s Gospel to let our light shine.

As Christians we must care about the politics of our day, but recognize our true allegiance, hope and identity are not found in the ballot box, but in the waters of baptism.

Which story are you choosing?

All Saints Sunday, 2020

Pastor Rob’s sermon focuses on an unnoticed passage from the Old Testament:  the burial of Abraham by Isaac and Ishmael.

This is a story of grief, fellowship and reconciliation amid division.  It is a story we need to hear this All Saints as we grieve so much in 2020.  It is a story we need to hear this All Saints as we will live in such a divided time.

Pastor Rob ends his sermon, not by asking whom you will vote for, but what will our story be?  A decent into tribalism?  Or a meeting of each other in grief, in the holy act of mutual consolation?

Whose Opinion Matters Anyway?

October 25, 2020

Reformation Sunday:  Giving Thanks for the Gospel

I focused my sermon today for the youth who were being confirmed.  

To be a youth is to receive lots of advice.  Pastor Rob offers that one can successfully ignore one particular piece of advice often given to young people:  The opinions of others don’t matter.

This is not true at all — what others think does impact our lives.  However, we know that youth tend to listen a great deal to the voices of their piers, which often lead them astray and beat them down.  How do we learn which opinions and whose voices we are to listen to?

In confirmation – and in our lives as baptized Christians – we are confirming the desire to be a disciple of Jesus, which means to put his voice, his counsel, his “opinion” first in our lives.

Most importantly, and this is the Gospel, God has rendered his judgement, publicly declared his opinion in the cross and in your baptism:  You are a beloved child of God.

A Community of Care

 October 18, 2020

Pastor Rob explores a mystery of history:  How was it that a rag-tag group of disciples with a totally counter cultural message spread the Gospel?  The pious answer is, of course, through the Holy Spirit.  But Pastor Rob explores the more concrete answer, namely, the Christian community.  In the early church, communities of Christians gathered and lived out the faith, hope and love of Christ.  This stood in total contrast to the pagan world around them in which people looked out for themselves.

We live in a world today that is also in need of a different kind of community, not one based on achievement, class, race or popularity, but one based on faith, hope and love.  That is our Holy calling as a church, and one that by God’s grace, we are living out!  As we continue in our Season of Thanksgiving at St. Paul, on this Sunday we give God thanks for the congregation of St. Paul and the church in our lives today

Putting on Christ

 Sunday, October 11, 2020

Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14).  This is a great image, full of generosity and joy.  Yet there is a catch — you gotta have the right clothing to be at the wedding!

Pastor Rob reflects on the clothing that we are given and called to wear as Christians.  Looking at Philippians, Pastor Rob puts forth that living for others and praising God are the clothing we wear as Christians.  Lastly, Pastor Rob returns to the passage from Matthew’s Gospel to consider where we can find such clothing!

Empty

 September 27, 2020

Empty!  This is a word that resonates with many of us in 2020; we’ve all felt empty at some point in the past six months.  Pastor Rob reflects on the times in life when Jesus is empty, exploring both Philippians 2 and Matthew 4.  Turns out that being empty may not be the worst thing; in fact, being empty allows God to fill us up with love, hope and faith.

It's Not Fair

 Sunday, September 20, 2020

“It’s not fair!”  These are words we learn quickly as children; “It’s not fair” is also the grumbling of many in the Scripture passages today (Jonah 4 and Matthew 20:1-16); “It’s not fair” is also something that many said about the events of this past week in Lancaster — a tragic succession of events that shook the community.

So, what is fair?  How might God’s justice differ from our own?  Pastor Rob looks at the story of Jonah, arguing that God’s justice is not focused on retribution and reward, but on reconciliation and renewal.  Justice is served when all has been made right.  The work of the cross is bringing about this kind of justice; the work of prayer is figuring out how we can live in a world that still needs retribution and reward, yet always hoping for God’s justice of reconciliation

77 Times!

 Sunday, September 13

Forgiving people is hard work!  As Pastor Rob reflects on the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), he unpacks some of the particular challenges in forgiving people.

Why do we forgive people then?  First, as Jesus reminds us, NOT forgiving people is even harder!

Second, we’ve been claimed by God and grafted into the family of God…and this family has a particular business, namely, forgiveness.  Fortunately, Jesus challenge to invite people 77 times isn’t a sales quota for forgiveness, but an invitation to turn to him for the strength, wisdom and compassion to forgive others.

Another Way to Communicate

 Sunday, September 6

Pardon the Interruption, a popular ESPN show, typifies what we strive for in communication:  Quick, witty and loud!!  This kind of communication isn’t limited to sports talk, but permeates everything in our culture, from social media to marriage.  We end up talking at and even past each other.

It turns out that communicating where we try to score points isn’t going to work in real relationships and real community.  (Or as it turns out, in social media and in politics either!)  Jesus presents a different way of communicating, one that opens the path to reconciliation.  We realize that in this kind of communication, there is an audience, not an audience of people from whom we need approval, but an audience with our savior, who is working a ministry of reconciliation.

Grasping at Straws

 Sunday, August 30

The problems of the world are so upsetting, so complex and so much out of my control — what can I do?  When I hear Jesus say to “Pick up your cross” I feel a bit like all I can do is grasp at straws, unable to accomplish anything.

Jesus today tells us to pick up our cross, not THE cross.  It is his job to save the world; our task is following him.  While we may feel little agency when it comes to national issues, there are plenty of neighborly issues, here and now, where we are needed.

But alas, how do we know if we have done enough?  Pastor Rob reflects on the remainder of Jesus words: “deny yourself and follow me” to challenge us to consider whether we are truly picking up our cross.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

 Sunday, August 23

“Should I send my child back to in person school?”  This is one of many questions people are asking these days.  It is a season of decisions, decisions and decisions.

To explore how we can make decisions, Pastor Rob reflects on Paul’s words:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2)

In a nutshell, Paul offers some very practical spiritual counsel.

• The moral map the world gives us is distorted
• Worry about more about the heart than the decision
• There is only one to whom we are accountable

Underneath it all is the good news about decisions:  The most important decision, namely, God’s decision to unfailingly love you, has already been made!

What then shall we say?

July 26, 2020

St Paul asks, “What then shall we say to these things?”  (Romans 8)  Pastor Rob delivers a sermon, honestly, more of a poem, on “What can we say to these things, namely, the unrelenting situation with COVID.”  It is a tour of Scripture, a blurred re-telling of sacred story.  For others have faced challenges and God’s faithfulness is revealed continually.  As we ponder this, we hope and pray that we can confess with St. Paul:  Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ.

 

The wheat and weeds in each of us

July 19, 2020

Jesus describes the human condition today in terms of wheat and weeds.  It can be easy to read this parable, imaging that we are the wheat and others are the weed.  Pastor Rob asserts that bad religion is what encourages us to think of our tribe as wheat and the other tribe as weed.  This kind of thinking is becoming pervasive in our country.  Good religion — faith in Jesus Christ — challenges us to confront the weed in our hearts, all while celebrating the wheat God has planted there as well.  Only when we have done this, can we engage meaningfully with people of another tribe, humble to see their wheat and empathetic to sense their weeds.

The Parable of the Sower

Sunday, July 12
The first parable Jesus ever uses is about a sower who sows seed on different types of soil.  Jesus uses the parable to give a warning to us about the forces that draw us away from God.  Jesus also uses the parable to remind us of God’s power to “bear fruit” in us, that is, produce good works!  The parable invites into deep reflection, not on seeds and fruit, but on our spiritual lives – what blocks us from God?  It also draws us back into reflection on The Sower, that is God, who generously gives us the word of promise, even in hard and uncertain times.
Preaching passage:  Matthew 13:1-9;18-23

Freedom of a Christian

Sunday, July 5

It is July 4th weekend, a time when we Americans celebrate our freedoms.  We often define freedom as freedom from — freedom from British rule (July 4!), freedom from rules by parents, freedom from worries.  But a biblical definition of freedom is just as much about freedom FOR something as it is freedom FROM something.  The freedom we have in Christ is freedom from death and sin; but also freedom for serving him and caring for our neighbor.  Pastor Rob moves from unpacking this dual understanding of biblical freedom to applying it to our lives today.

The main preaching passage is Matthew 11:25-30 with references to Exodus 9.

The Little Commission

June 28, 2020
Many are familiar with Jesus’ Great Commission — to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This week we hear Jesus Small Commission (Matthew 10:42) — “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”  This passage reminds us that discipleship is not about grand and glorious things, but humble acts of service to the least of these.   Likewise, God’s love to us isn’t always about grand and glorious things, but daily acts of love and service toward us that give us new life.  Throughout the sermon, Pastor Rob weaves in reflections on the Great and Small of Baptism and life as a baptized Christian; not simply because this made sense theologically, but also because this Sunday we had the baptism of two elementary school boys.

Broken people, broken God

June 21, 2020
The story of Sarah (and Abraham) banishing Hagar is a painful story (Genesis 21).  It reveals truly broken individuals, a broken family and a broken society.  Yet God finds a way, in spite of this brokenness to bless the world through these people.  Likewise, God finds a way, in spite of our brokenness, to bless us and others through the work of Jesus Christ.

As one chapter ends, we praise God!

Sunday, June 14
We are moving from a time of pandemic to endemic; the virus is still with us and has become part of our lives, but pragmatism is replacing panic. 

As we conclude this chapter, this intense time of lock-down, it is worth pausing and…giving praise to God!  God’s people, again and again in the Bible, pause as one chapter of life comes to an end to give praise.  Praise of God is not only proper, but it can transform us into more hopeful people, better equipped to live as disciples in the next chapter of our lives…until the final chapter when all that remains is praise!

Where do we go from here?

Holy Trinity Sunday (June 7, 2020)
The last two weeks have been painful for our nation.  Where do we go from here?  Pastor Rob empathizes with the great grief we have all experienced and offers no simple answers.  However, the sermon is ultimately one of hope, as Pastor Rob reflects on the church’s basic confession of faith in the Holy Trinity:  The Apostle’s Creed.
The Creed suggests some ways that we might move ahead as individuals, families, community and ultimately a society.  These steps include honoring the sabbath, listening to others and confessing our sins to Jesus.  (How did we get there from the Creed?  Listen to the sermon!)

Pentecost 2020: The Church in NOT a building

Pentecost 2020 (May 31, 2020)
Today we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to give birth to the church (Acts 2).  On this day, the Holy Spirit led the early Christians outside of their building and gathering place.  Likewise, we have been led out of our building.  We have learned anew that the church is not a building!  Pastor Rob reflects on the ways in which the Holy Spirit has kept our ministry vital and vibrant the past months.
When we look at the challenges — the truly crises — our world faces today, it is clear that the world does not need a building, but the world needs a people, a people shaped by Christ and led by the Spirit.

Humpty Dumpty, Ascension and Assurance

Ascension 2020 (May 24, 2020)
Humpty Dumpty has a fall and cannot be put back together again.  In the same way, our lives — the way we remember them — cannot be put back together.  We are slowly realizing that life will not be restored to what it was.
The early disciples also wanted things restored, namely, the Kingdom of Isreal (Acts 1:6-8).  Jesus lets them know that this is not the plan, but that they will instead be witnesses to his death and resurrection to the ends of the earth.  Their response to being told their hopes and plans would not happen…that there was a new normal, out of their control and without Jesus on earth…  Worship with joy!  (Luke 24:51-53).
What causes the disciples to embrace this new normal?  What can help us move forward?  This ascension, we hear the assurances —  the promises of Christ — that allowed the disciples then and allow us now to forward into the new normal, one where God, as always, is with us.

Easter 6: You Will Also Live!

Easter 6 (May 17, 2020)
“Because I live, you too shall live.”  These are the words of Jesus to his disciples (John 14:19).  But what does he mean by “live”?  “Living”, we all acknowledge, means more than breathing in and out, so we must probe a bit deeper.
To understand the “living” that Jesus is talking about, we consider Paul’s trip to Athens (Acts 17).  In Athens, the ancient city of philosophy and beautiful temples, Paul encounters many other answers to this profound question.  Paul puts forward another idea and for this, he will be taken to the ancient court of ideas — the Areopagus — to defend his own answer.  From this platform he puts forward the crucial claim that “living” is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter 5: Re-learning

Easter 5 (May 10, 2020)
Our current political debate is about “re-opening.”  In this sermon Pastor Rob suggests we need to focus instead  on “re-learning” – re-learning how to do everything, from going to the grocery story to re-learning how to love people in our lives.  This is a daunting task, but Jesus spoke to his disciples in such a time.  The night before he died, the night before everything in their world would change, the night before they would have to begin re-learning everything, Jesus offered them sweet words of comfort:  “Do not let you hearts be troubled.”  And those are the words for us.

Easter 3: Road to Emmaus

Easter 3 (April 26)

“But we had hoped…”  Today the disciples find themselves disappointed and downtrodden, unable to see Jesus in their midst.  Likewise, as we move on the road of life — especially these days — we are often so overwhelmed that we cannot see Jesus.  Yet the Good News it that Jesus walks with us, just like he walked with those first disciples.  Pastor Rob reflects on the Luke Gospel passage, sometimes called “The Road to Emmaus, on where Jesus is revealing himself to us during this time:  in our homes, in creation and in our sharing.

Easter 2: Back to Basics!

Easter 2 (April 19, 2020)

Most of the important rules in life — play fair, don’t hit, clean up your own mess — are things we learn at a young age.  But we must re-learn them again…and again.  The same is true with the basics of faith.  For example, we know the church is not a building, but we must be reminded of this again and again.  Pastor Rob reflects on John 20:19-31 ; this passage presents some very basic truths that our time in the corona quarantine have re-taught us.  The most important truth revealed and relearned is:  Jesus is Lord, whose love for you cannot be stopped.

Easter: Living in Hope!

Easter 2020 (April 12)
“With fear and great joy” is how Matthew describes the women on Easter morning.  This year we know all too well what it is like to come to Easter with fear and great joy!

The angel challenges and commands the women to leave the tomb, living in hope.  Likewise, we too are commanded and challenged to live in hope.

As the women live in hope and move in faith. Jesus meets them!!  Likewise, we are given permission to live like there will be a tomorrow, always rejoicing as Jesus shows up today.

Listening to creation

Palm Sunday (April 5, 2020)
This Palm Sunday Pastor Rob concludes the Lenten theme of listening, with a focus on “Listening to Creation.”  Creation is very much alive in Scripture including in the Palm Sunday Gospel (Luke 19:28-40).  The sermon calls us to listen to creation, learning from a sunrise, a donkey and a virus…about God’s faithfulness as well as our faithful response to God.

Listening to the Grieving

March 29, 2020 (Lent 5)
“Listening to the grieving.”  Months ago that was the intended theme for this week.  Turns out that it is entirely appropriate, although instead of thinking about a handful of people who are grieving, we all are grieving.  Pastor Rob reflects on John 11 as Jesus encounters a grieving community.  Jesus is at work, even in the midst of grief:  bringing us together, weeping with us and finally bringing about new life.

Listening to the Ignored

March 22 (Lent 4)

“The man named Jesus opened my eyes.”  This is the confession of the blind man who was healed by Jesus.
It is also my confession.  During these days of Corona Virus, Jesus has opened my eyes to the situation and even suffering of my neighbors around me.

A reflection on the work of God to open our eyes, even amid suffering, to God’s light and work in this world.  Based on John 9:1-12.

We shall not fear

Lent 3 (March 15, 2020)

Our world has been turned upside down by Corona Virus, which is finally working its way into the Lancaster/Lititz area.  The last week brought home the reality of this virus and the accompanying fear, anxiety and uncertainty.  Pastor Rob reflects on why we can live with hope in times like these.  Pastor Rob also challenges us to consider the traditional Lenten disciples:  fasting, giving and praying, in light of the Corona Virus and how we might respond to the situation as the Body of Christ.

Listening to Others

March 8, 2020 (Lent 2)

Due to fears over Corona Virus, Pastor Rob introduces a new way for “Passing of the Peace.”  It uses sign language for peace, which actually consists of two signs:  “Become” and “Calm.”  Pastor Rob then reflects on our broader theme of listening in Lent.  “Becoming calm” is an essential part of listening to others and even listening to God. 

The last part of the sermon reflects on Abraham in Genesis 12:1-4.  At first glance, it seems like Abraham has a direct connection to God; but further reflection shows how Abraham must, like us, struggle to follow and hear God in everyday life.

Listening to the Word

March 1, 2020 (Lent 1)
Listening to the Word

Our world’s knowledge has grown so exponentially, we are literally sinking in data.  In spite of all this data, we lack the wisdom with how to move ahead as individuals, communities and nations.  Pastor Rob reflects on how we “Don’t live by data alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”  We are called to Listen the Word, because this is where, in spite of how old the Bible is, we can find the wisdom for this life and hope for the next.

Based on Matthew 4:1-11

Listening to the Body

Listening to the Body
Part 1 of the Lenten 2020, Listening Series

Many of the disciples for lent, it turns out, involve the body.  Pastor Rob invites us to begin our Lenten journey of listening by listening to our bodies.  The body offers some profound insight and spiritual truths regarding our condition before God.

Riding the Wave

February 23, 2020: Transfiguration Sunday
I love riding waves!!  I find myself saying, “This is really good.  And I want it to keep going!”
There were essentially the words of Peter when he had a “mountaintop experience” with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.  He is in awe; all he can say is that it is good and he wants it to last.
But it doesn’t.  The good and awesome “God moments” — “mountaintop experiences” — fade away.  As disciples, we are called to live off of the mountaintop.

So what do we make of God’s choice to give us mountaintop moments, even if they don’t last?  For as Christians, we are about to enter Lent, definitely a time of living off the mountain top!

A reflection on Matthew 17, not just the transfiguration, but the whole chapter!

Why Philly Fans are Crazy

February 16, 2020
Why Philly Fans are so Crazy!

Subtitle:  What is the Good Life?

The Good Life is often thought of in terms of individual achievement or happiness.  Moses, in the book of Deuteronomy, offers a different version of the good life.  The pieces (family, health, food, meaningful work, rule of law) are likely the same as today, but the big difference is how they are framed.  They are framed in terms of a community, a community ground in God’s faithfulness to the past and the present.  The good life isn’t about finding someone to love or something to do but finding our place in a community, something bigger than ourselves.
And yes, all of this explains why Eagles fans are so crazy.
Based on Matthew 5:21-26 and Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Blessed are they who grieve

February 2, 2020
Why is it that when basketball star Kobe Bryant died, so many people, regardless of whether or not they liked Kobe (or even really knew Kobe), they found themselves grieving?

Pastor Rob reflects on Jesus’ words, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  Our culture often shuts grief down, rather than allow us to be healed by God.   Pastor Rob reflects on first Jesus and then the church’s ministry of comforting those who grieve.

On this Sunday, we also commission people for a listening ministry, called Stephen Ministry, who accompany care receivers through grief.  Based on Matthew 5:1-11

A bigger God than we can fathom

Epiphany 2 (January 19)
Pastor Rob reflects on how Jesus’ Mission is huge:  Take away the sins of the WORLD.  In spite of how BIG God is and how BIG God’s mission is, God still cares and relates to us personally.
Pastor Rob reflects on how God’s grandness but also God’s intimacy with us blesses us with great patience.  The sermon also discusses the work of the medical missionaries we support, the Swansons.  For they are indeed a witness to patience and the relationship with God that gives us patience.

Based on John 1:29-42; Isaiah 49:1-6 and Psalm 40.

Baptism of Jesus 2020: All Righteousness

Baptism of Jesus (Jan 12, 2020)

“Why do you come to me?”  This is what John asks Jesus, as Jesus meets him in the waters of Baptism.  In our Baptism too, we might ask Jesus:  Why do you come to me?  The answer Jesus gives is, frankly, “churchy”:  “To fulfill all righteousness.”  Pastor Rob unpacks the huge significance of Jesus answer for our lives.  Jesus comes to us in our Baptisms to claim Lordship every aspect of our lives; but Jesus also comes to us in our Baptisms to save us, not partially, but totally.

Based on Matthew 3:13-17.

2020: A Year of Listening

Christmas 2 (January 5, 2020)

What is the difference in a good doctor and great doctor?  The good doctor knows her or his stuff; but the great doctor is also a good listener!   As we begin the new year, Pastor Rob invites us into a year of listening at St. Paul.  Listening is the foundation of all our relationships, including our relationship with God.  Pastor Rob reflects on the story of the Magi (or Wisemen) visiting Jesus through the lens of listening.  This story reveals how important it is to listen to God’s word and also listen to people unlike ourselves.

The visit of the magi to Jesus as a baby:  Matthew 2:1-13

Christmas Eve: Time

Christmas Eve 2019

Time does strange things.  Weeks can fly by; moments can seem to hold an eternity.  Christmas too is a time when time does strange things, and our minds are filled with past, present and future.  Pastor Rob reflects on Jesus Christ and the timelessness of his birth.  Based on Luke 2:1-20.