Rejoice with those who rejoice

 Lent V (April 6, 2025)

Who are people with whom you can share your joy and happiness? 

In our world of work, school, activities and even family, this kind of friendship and community is surprisingly rare.  Too many relationships have competition, jealousy and shame for this to happen readily.

As we wrap up the book of Ruth, we encounter a rejoicing Naomi.  She is holding a grandson.  Admittedly, it is not directly her grandson, but after the chaos, grief and loss of her life, she is rejoicing at this baby in her arms.  She is also surrounded by the women of the village, who rejoice with her.

A reflection on how the community of Jesus, the community of the cross and empty tomb, can provide this community of rejoicing for a hurting and lonely world.

The artwork comes from Gospel Images, https://www.gospelimages.com/paintings/115/naomi-receives-a-grandson  It was chosen because it emphasizes the whole community around Naomi and Ruth.

When Fairness isn’t enough

 

Lent IV (March 30, 2025)

We know well the look of the older brother in the painting.  His whole body shouts:  “It’s not fair!”

He is not wrong.  As the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-35) plays itself out, the story is unfair.  Which justifiably angers the older brother.

As humans, we all protest when we don’t think things are fair.  In order to make life together work, we need their to be fairness. 

Yet…  It turns out in life that we encounter situations in which we need more than fairness.  Sometimes the wounds and situations call for compassion, an unfair extension of mercy, an intentional bending of the rules to help someone.

A reflection on when life together needs compassion and where to go for the at compassion.

The painting is by Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal.

Life Together: Outsiders and Insiders

Lent 3 (March 23, 2025)

Life Together — our Lenten theme — sounds great, but what about the times we found ourselves as an outsider?

Pastor Rob reflects outsider-insider dynamics by looking at the book of Ruth, as Ruth begins her new life in Bethlehem (Ruth 2:1-7).  As we work with the story, we see that at certain points in our lives, we are like Ruth, an outsider; at other points, we are like Naomi, a bridge builder; at other points, we are like Boaz, the insider.  As it turns out, each role can be a sacred role.

Perhaps though this story isn’t just about our lives though, but also foreshadows the work of Christ, who becomes an outsider for us that we might become an insider with him.

The image comes from a leadership website about insider/outsider dynamics.

Life Together: In the Face of Death

Lent 2 (March 16, 2025)

Naomi, Ruth and Orpah are three women who are grieving (Ruth 1).  The deaths they have encountered force them to make tough decisions that include both separation but also deeper connection.

When we experience loss, through death, break-ups or illness, it often impacts our relationships.  Some come to an end; others are new or renewed in a profound way.

We find that even in the face of death and loss, God is still the God of easter and resurrection, who gives us life together.

This painting is likely actually a poster by Veronica McDonald.  

You can find it here.

Two truths and a lie

 

Lent 1 (March 9, 2025)

Two truths and a lie – a game we’ve probably all played.

Today, the devil plays a far higher stakes version of the game, sowing a lie amidst the truth as he tempts Jesus.

This Lent we are focusing on Life Together; there is nothing more toxic to life together than lies.  And while lying has always been part of the human story (the prince of lies is always at work!), our modern world’s technology makes it so hard for us to figure out how to distinguish between truth and lies.

A reflection on what it means to build a community of truth.

Eat Less Fear; Behold More Glory

Eat Less Fear; Behold More Glory

We eat a LOT of fear in daily lives.  This works disease in our souls, blinding us to God’s glory and blocking us from living as disciples.

In the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-38), we learn another path of dealing with fear and beholding the glory of God:

Going to the mountain, praying and listening to Jesus.

What might it mean to go to the mountain?  One example:  Watching children at the church’s early learning center fascinated by a visiting dog.

A reflection on how to eat less fear and behold more glory; wrapping up with the promises of Jesus, who listens to us, prays for us and gives us his glory. 

Love your enemies: An impossibility?

 

February 23, 2025

“Love your enemies… Turn the other cheek.”  (Luke 6)   

Does Jesus know how the world works?

Turns out that Jesus knows very well how the world works:  He knows our world needs mercy.

In fact, he invites us into the heavenly family business of mercy.

A reflection on the possibility and even necessity of loving our enemy.

The God who calls us

 February 9, 2025

Jesus calls Peter and his fellow fishermen to push out their boat a little and then cast their nets into the deep.

In the same way, Jesus calls us.  Sometimes this call is for something small; other times for something that seems riskier and harder.

Peter laments this call of Jesus, saying that he is worn and the fish aren’t moving.  Peter doesn’t believe this his actions will make a difference.

In our lives and in our world today, we can also often feel like our actions will not make an impact.

But we are not called to figure it all out.  Instead, we are called to obey our call and let go of the results. 

This as it turns out…is also a challenge, not just for us, but for Jesus to take on.

Where is the love that is patient and kind?

February 2, 2025

Love is patient and love is kind.

Yet the people want to throw Jesus off a cliff (Luke 4:18-30)!  Where is the love?  Pastor Rob offers that the people in Jesus’ hometown do have love, it is just misguided and blinding. 

We struggle with this today as well as our love can be misguided and blinding.  Our love of one person or one group can block our loving another person or another group.   As humans, we have a strong inclination to love “us” and not “them.”

A reflection on Jesus’ patience and kindness toward our misguided love that finally breaks down the “us” and “them.”

THE Inauguration Speech

 3 Epiphany (Sunday, January 26, 2025)

Today we hear Jesus’ inauguration speech as he gives his first sermon (Luke 4:11-21).  In this sermon, Jesus lays out the fundamental direction of his ministry:

• Uplifting the poor
• By…opening the eyes and hearts of the rich to share what they have
• so that… all may live in a “body” that loves God and loves neighbor

It turns out this message was fundamentally different than the way the world worked 2,000 years ago.  The message continues to be different from how our world works today.  Then, and today, the culture’s moral foundation was a trinity of the self:  self-expression, self-achievement and self-pleasure. 

Which brings us the image for the sermon – bubbles of potential college majors.  Pastor Rob invites us to a different way to talk to young people about their futures, one that would be less pagan and more focused on Christ’s teachings.

Confirming God is the God who turns Water into Wine

 January 19, 2025

Today St. Paul celebrates the confirmation of five adults.  (Confirmation is a public affirmation by a teen or adult of their baptism, which typically happened at a younger age).

The story of Jesus turning water into wine at Cana (John 2:1-11) provides a framework for thinking through:  What then are we confirming?

We are confirming that God is a God who turns water into wine.

We are confirming that we are not gods who can turn water into wine, but we can fill the cup to the brim, trusting that God in Jesus Christ will make water into wine, for God’s glory.

What do we tell the next generation?

January 12, 2025 (Baptism of Jesus)

Today we have a special event at St. Paul — the Baptism of five youth/older children.

It gives us an opportunity to reflect on the question — what do we want to pass along to the next generation about faith?  What is most important to know about our Baptisms and our life as a disciple of Jesus?

Pastor Rob offers three things

1.  You are loved
2. Others are loved too
3. …well, you will have to listen to find out 🙂

S.T.A.R. Goals

 Christmas II/Epiphany (January 5, 2025)

What are your resolutions, dreams and goals for 2025?

Are they about your star rising or orienting your life to the one who causes the stars to rise?

Pastor Rob recommends “S.T.A.R.” goals, reflecting on the journey of the magi (aka wisemen)