Christmas Eve: A melody of joy; a harmony of grief

 

Christmas Eve 2023

Christmas songs stir many memories; some bring us comfort and warmth, but others bring us grief.  The whole Christmas season is filled with many memories and layers of emotion.

Pastor Rob unpacks how the Christmas story, as told by Luke (2:1-20), has a layer of lament, a song of grief.  In this story, we can also find our own song of grief.

Yet Luke also has a layer of rejoicing, a song of joy, as the angel proclaims the birth of Jesus.  In this story, we can also find our own song of joy in Jesus.

The song of joy, first sung by the angels, does not drown out the song of lament, but finds a way to make the song of lament a harmony that is woven together with the song of joy in glorious praise of the creator.

Advent Peace 4, Mercy leads to Peace

 Advent 4, 2023

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

…to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Zechariah (Luke 1:79)

As we wrap up our Advent sermon series on peace, we give the last words to Zechariah, as a he foretells the work of Christ: “To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

These are lovely words, but how do we get there?  How do we break out of cycles of hatred, resentment and violence that lead to constant retribution?  Zechariah points the way by indicating that the God’s mercy has to start a new day before peace can begin.  A reflection of how we live with our hearts open to God’s interrupting mercy.

Note:  This last Sunday in Advent was to focus on “Peace in the World.”  While the sermon does touch on this, ultimately this is so out of our control, that the focus is on what we can contribute, namely, moving with God’s mercy that brings about a new day.

Advent Peace 3: Peace in our Communities

Advent 3 (December 10, 2023)

Sometimes it feels like the fabric of our society is coming apart.   When it comes to divisive issues, we often feel like we lack the common moral framework to find common ground.

How can we stitch society back together and find ways to live in peace with people with whom we disagree?  Pastor Rob explores two proposals

a)  to use politics to enforce our values

b)  to avoid the messiness of life altogether

While both of these may be attractive, Mary in her song of praise (Luke 1:46-55), warns us against seeking political domination as well as quietism.  What then is the way forward?  Pastor Rob reflects on the way of the cross as a way to stitch society back together.

This is the third in the Advent sermon series on peace.

Advent Peace, Part 2: Peace in our Families

 Advent 2 (December 3, 2023)

Mary and Elizabeth are the first two sisters in Christ!  (I love the painting.  I have used it before as a web image, but its just so good!)

It seems that Mary’s announcement of her pregnancy was not received well among her close family; so instead she travels far away to visit her kin, Elizabeth.  They embrace, share their story, and become sisters.  Faith in Christ allows us to build such deep friendships with people — not of genetics, but of a common story.  (To put it more bluntly: friendships not of human blood and contracts, but of Jesus’ blood in the new covenant.)

A reflection on peace in our families, which often seems so elusive.  God seems to employ a two strong strategy – create new friends in faith that become our brothers and sisters in Christ; ultimately, in the end, heal the wounds in our family.

Advent Peace, Part 1: Peace in our hearts

 

Advent 1 (Sunday, Nov 26)

It turns out that changing gears on a bike is simpler than changing gears in life.

But changing gears we must, for life is filled with situations that demand that we recalibrate.  These forced recalibrations often rob us of our inner peace.  This season of Advent we will reflect on peace and Christ as our peace, beginning with peace in our hearts.

The angel’s visit to Zechariah (Luke 2:5-20), foretelling both the birth of John (  the Baptist) but also Jesus, reveals about how God works peace in us amid seasons of recalibration.  In this story, and in our lives, God invites us into silent reflection, not simply on our sins, but on God’s faithfulness, power and mercy.

The Gospel According to Barbie (the Movie)

Christ the King Sunday (November 19, 2022)

In Matthew 25, Jesus separates sheep and goats (vs 31-46); the sheep, who are righteous, go to eternal life; the goats go to damnation.  Within the passage, Jesus tells the righteous that what they did “to the least of these” they did to him.  The passage serves as prod to help our neighbor in need; it also unnerves us with the final sense of judgment.

Is there anything but law and judgment here? Well, actually, there is plenty of good news!

To get at why this passage contains so much good news, Pastor Rob begins with a reflection on this year’s Barbie move and the scene in which Barbie cries for the first time.  There is heartache in this world; there is also beauty.   Where is Jesus in the midst of this and what is Jesus doing about the heartache, both in the present and in the ultimate?

I found this image on “Emily Writes”‘ blog about the movie.

What Would Jesus Dare

 

Sunday, November 12

Of the many fashion trends that come back into style, recently “WWJD” bracelets are fashionable again.  Given to teens by parents and youth workers, the hope is that teems will remember to refrain from certain activities by recalling to mind the teachings of Jesus.  But maybe we should embrace the youthful willingness to try new things, in addition to teaching them to avoid temptation. 

Living in faith, as it turns out, means taking risks amid life’s uncertainties.  In that light, Pastor Rob suggests changing “WWJD” from “What Would Jesus Do?” to “What Would Jesus Dare?”

A reflection on the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), taking risks and God’s generosity.

Apokatastatis

 

November 5, 2023 (All Saints Sunday)

What food would you want to eat with a beloved person in your life who has died? We all have those foods and those memories with those dear to us who have joined the church eternal.

We tend to think about heaven as a place where our soul or spiritual substance goes.  It turns out though, this isn’t really what the Bible teaches.  Working with Revelation 7:9-17, Pastor Rob offers that what God intends is an “apokatastatis”, that is, a restoration and renewal of all things in Jesus Christ.

This restoration includes our bodies!  Which means, of course, we can dream of eating our favorite cookies with our beloved ones.

A Reformation of Love

 October 29, 2023 (Reformation Sunday)

Jesus tells us that there are two great commandments:  Love God (with everything you have!) and Love your Neighbor as Yourself.

One of Martin Luther’s Reformation re-discoveries was that Loving God IS Loving your neighbor.  You cannot love God simply by doing “holy” or church things, but this must live itself out in service to the neighbor.

However, in serving and loving our neighbor, we discover a big problem:  We don’t have enough love and we feel like we’ve hit a wall.

Turns out (and why I like this image) that sometimes hitting a wall is really running into the cross.  

And that is precisely where we can find the Gospel.

Render unto God the things of God

 October 22, 2023

“Render unto Caesar the things of Caesar; Render unto God the things of God.”  (Matthew 22:21)

What does Jesus mean here?  That we should have two separate lives — one for the secular world and one for the spiritual kingdom?

Nope!  

Jesus calls us to live as disciples in the real world and in fact, calls the Pharisees hypocrites for not doing this.

So what might it look like to “render unto God”?  A reflection on humility, faith and thanksgiving.

Masks of God

 Sunday, October 15, 2023

The tapestry of human history is woven, sadly, with many stories and images of violence, retribution and suffering.  This week, the events of Hamas and Israel add another bloody strand to this tapestry.

The parable Jesus tells this week (Matthew 22:1-14) reflects a violent world, one in which God seems a participant in this violence.  While this is not shocking, it is disturbing to consider the role of God in the violence of human history.  Pastor Rob offers counsel from Martin Luther – do not seek to unmask God (read God’s will from the annuls of history) but rather seek to find the cross of Christ (see places where God’s mercy and reconciliation are breaking in).  This movement to see the cross of Christ in Scripture and in life is a bold move, made in faith.

The photo is of the Bayeux Tapestry accessed through the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh website.

Jesus as Cornerstone

Sunday, October 8

We build our lives by the decisions we make.  Whether we acknowledge it or not, we all have a cornerstone in our lives – the core set of values upon which be base the decisions of our life. 

Pastor Rob challenges us to reflect on what it means for Jesus to be the cornerstone of our life and how we align ourselves to Christ’s teachings and grace.  Where do you see a Sunday to Monday connection, where you sense your life aligning with God’s purposes?  Where do you see a Sunday to Monday gap, where you life is not aligned with Christ?

Ultimately the parable that Jesus — a harsh one indeed (Matthew 21:33-46) — reveals that Christ is the cornerstone independent of our actions.  Even when we do not get it right, this does not change that the cosmos is oriented around Jesus.  The brings with it the reality of justice but also the promise of mercy in our lives.

Jesus as Teacher

October 1, 2023

It turns out, being human is hard!  We often find ourselves at crossroads without much moral signage directing us.  In these cases, we need a teacher, not simply teachings or principles.

In the Gospels, Jesus presents himself as a teacher (including in Matthew 21:23-32).  Often times protestants have shied away from Jesus as teacher because we want Jesus to be savior first and foremost.  In this sermon, Pastor Rob invites us to linger a bit longer with the understanding that Jesus is the teacher.  As we discover and relate to him as teacher, we also discover the beauty and power of Jesus as our Savior.

Making Room for Others

 September 24, 2023

For the children’s message today, Deacon Emily showed everyone how even thought the one on the bottom looks bigger, both arcs are the same.  In our eyes as humans, sometimes others seem more important or even more loved.  But in God’s eyes, we are all equally as big, as important, as loved.

God has a heart to bring all God’s children to the table, but as humans we have a far harder time making room for each other.  A reflection on the parable of the whining workers (Matthew 20:1-16) and the challenge of making room for others.

Forgiveness sounds good…but…

 

September 17, 2023

A Christian knows:  We are to forgive others as we have first been forgiven by God.  We pray weekly, if not daily, as we pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This Fall we are pondering the gap between Sunday and Monday, the gap between faith and life, the gap between the teachings of Jesus and the messy world we live in.  Forgiveness is ground zero for this tension: it is beautiful to talk about, but quite hard to implement.

In this sermon, Pastor Rob reflects on the tough parable of the forgiven yet unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35).  This parable exhorts us to forgive others.  Not only is this hard, but frankly, forgiving someone might look different depending on the relationship and what they’ve done.  In all cases though, Jesus gives us the gifts we need to swim along in the ocean of God’s forgiveness.

Is Anyone Listening?

 September 10, 2023

We know the cycle:  Something happens.  Someone is enraged.  Internet explodes.  Other people shout in opposition.  Fragmentation and Exhaustion Result.  Repeat.

Jesus today offers a very different path (Matthew 18), one that is based on people listening, restoring relationships, and then coming to an agreement.

A reflection on the role of listening to each other and to God in pursuing reconciliation.

Reconciliation also involves Jesus listening to us; so I offer this piece of art (from the website of “Good Shepherd Church” in Elgin, IL.) that shows Jesus listening.  Obviously Jesus imparts wisdom.  But he also listens.

Deny Yourself and Pick up your Cross

 September 3, 2023

“Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me” summons our Lord Jesus.

In a world that praises self-fulfillment and even self-indulgence, tells us “Hakuna Matata”, these words undercut the foundations of our way of life.

Pastor Rob unpacks what it might look like, if in fact, we live in a world in which the heroic still matters and crosses are still meant to be borne.

Who do YOU say that I am?

 

August 29, 2023

“Who do you say that I am?”  This is the question Jesus poses to his disciples on the road to the city of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-20).

It is a question that we are asked as well — a question that we must answer in church, in the world and finally to Jesus.  A reflection on the challenges and ultimately joy in answering this question.

Some of you may find the cicadas in the outside recording distracting.  I think it is a better version of the sermon, but here is a link to the version preached at the early service. 

I am not enough. True?

August 13, 2023

In life we often find ourselves in situations where we are out of the boat, out of our comfort zone and frankly out of our league.  We hear the voice and tell ourselves “I am not enough; “I am not enough…for this job, this relationship, the situation.”  This is the predicament Peter finds himself in when he gets out of the boat to walk to Jesus!  As he tries to walk on the water, he realizes that he isn’t enough for this task and begins to sink.  As he cries out “Save me” he discovers the hand of Jesus is pulling him out of the water. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Pastor Rob considers the interaction of Peter and Jesus today to play around with the line “I am not enough” so that we can still tell ourselves the truth, but do so in a way that allows for us to move forward into life and life with Jesus.

This image comes from a Pinterest page.  There is other really good art on this site!

An Alternative to Bad Religion

 July 23, 2023

Bad religion makes us divide the world into people who are wheat and weeds (that is, good and bad; see Matthew 13)

Martin Luther, instead of seeing the world in terms of good and bad people, offered that each of us has wheat and weed in our lives — we are “Simul justus et peaccator” (saint and sinner).

Pastor Rob does not simply offer a history lesson, but offers a way for us prayerfully to wrestle with the weeds within and opens our hearts to glorify God for the wheat in our lives.  This practice, in turn, can open us up to find common ground with the people whom we likely consider weeds.

The image is actual a decal you can purchase:

DECAL: Simul Justus et Peccator

The Patient Sower, A Supernova and Kneelers

 July 16, 2023

This Sunday we heard Jesus offer the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13).   This is a parable that speaks two hard truths:

First, that evil is at work in our world.

Second, that God is also at work in our world; but God works on a different time horizon than we do.

A call to patience (where the kneelers come in) and the promise of God’s patience (where the supernova comes in)

Yokes, Ted Lasso and Anti-Heros

 

July 9, 2023

“Come to me, all you are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul” ~ Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew (11:28-29)

Jesus offers us profound words of comfort today.  To explore the power of these words, Pastor Rob reflects on the difference between a burden — something we are dealing with in our lives that is hard — and a yoke — something that is like a burden, but it emerges from our past and drives us into the future.

A friend can help us with a burden; but to deal with a yoke, we need a savior.  Why?  Because to deal with a yoke requires wrestling with demons and forgiveness.  This savior is Jesus, who toke our yoke upon himself in the cross.

A Cup of Cold Water…produces ripples

 July 2, 2023

Freedom in the world means “I am free to do whatever I want.”

Freedom in the Bible means “I am free to do what Jesus wants”

And what does Jesus want?  This week we hear Jesus commanding us to give a cup of cold water to people who are in need.   

A reflection on how Christ frees us from the forces of cynicism and fatalism and frees us for generosity and hope.

What Does New Life Look Like?

 June 25, 2023

What does “New Life” look like? 

We are promised new life in Baptism.  The whole life of the believer then, is one of experiencing new life.  How can that be when we are older?  A reflection on how the crucified and risen Lord shows up in our lives, again and again, to put to death the old life and bring about the new life!

The image comes from a website “New Life Requires A New Lifestyle“