Sermons of Pastor Rob Myallis: Recent Episodes
Pastor Robert Myallis
This website is based on: http://www.zionslutheranjonestownpa.com/Sermons. This provides a way to podcast the sermons.
"Increase our faith" the disciples cry out (Luke 17:1-7)
When we read the news, when we struggle with health diagnoses, when we worry about the next generation growing up, we feel overwhelmed and pray, like the disciples, "Increase our faith."
In our series on What Matters, we reflect on the power of faith and our culture's need for faith to confront the challenges it faces.
Unfortunately (fortunately, really) we cannot gain faith from Jesus. Rather, we recognize that it is not about what we have or don't have, but that all Jesus has and has given to us is sufficient. And so, we get to work, invited by Jesus, to use what little faith we have to move mulberry bushes!
The artwork is "The Mulberry Tree" by Vincent Van Gogh, currently on display at the Norton Simon Museum.
In the middle of the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31), Jesus tells a haunting parable about a rich man, a poor man (Lazarus) and a heavenly messenger (Abraham). It would be easier if the parable simply spoke about ultra rich, but the more we ponder it, the more we realize it is about us, our money and the people in need around us. The parable makes abundantly clear, that in God's eyes, Lazarus and others in need are in help and in need of care. Which makes us wonder -- do we do enough for the Lazarus's of our lives? Are we like Abraham (or even Jesus), who show unending compassion for those in need?
The more we ponder the parable, the more we realize that we too are in need of help, help that only Jesus can give.
The artwork is by James Tissot and is housed at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Love your neighbor. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. and ... when you are gonna lose your job, cheat your boss by making side deals with his clients so you can get a future job. What???
Jesus today tells a bizarre parable (Luke 16:1-13) that highlights the reality that this world isn't one that is full of mercy and honesty. How do we as Christians navigate this, where we know we are supposed to live as Christians in a world that isn't very Christian?
It can be tempting to compartmentalize -- but Pastor Rob offers another way. When we live in our daily life we inevitably have to make hard decisions. We cannot escape real life and its problems. Nor can we decide we don't have to be Christians with this decision. Instead, we decide, confess the sin inevitably embedded in the decision and then trust that the Lord can make good out it.
Pastor Rob acknowledges living in two worlds: "Real Life" and "Screen World," with an increasing effort to block out "Screen World." Yet certain events from "Screen World", that is the national news cycle, enter into our "Real Life" in touching ways. This week brought some of those events.
Into that swirling storm, we hear the beloved and familiar story of the good shepherd seeking the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-10). Pastor Rob reflects on how we can become like sheep, eating a diet of fear, anger and affirmation of prejudices until we have wandered from the teachings of Christ. Our society has become lost in the bramble, focusing on demonizing the other rather than seeking the lost.
The way forward is repentance, repentance that requires humility and hope, precisely the kind of repentance made possible by God.
The image is from Artist Miki de Goodaboom. She has an online art gallery that includes Biblical images.
Jesus is locked in! (Luke 14:25-33). As he turns toward Jerusalem, where he will be crucified, he is no longer interested in drawing crowds, but his interested in making disciples. To winnow out those not focused, he challenges his disciples to pick up their cross. Pastor Rob reflects on what it means to pick up our cross. This does not mean to die for the sins of the world like Jesus.Rather, carrying our cross means doing challenging things, even sacrificial things, for others. But with this command also comes the pitfall of thinking that every person's suffering and challenge is ours to redeem. It is not. Following Jesus also means entrusting others and situations to his cross, not ours.This is a hard thing to figure out - when to carry the burden and when to entrust it to God. For this reason, we must follow Jesus, because working through this decision involves time with Jesus, in prayer, holding to the promise that in the cross of Christ, there is finally redemption.
"Where do I sit?"
This is the question that most students ask the first day of school, especially at lunch. This involves more than simply convenience or even friendship, but the question of "coolness" and the reality of social status and rank.
Ultimately, this question isn't simply for first day high school students, but for all of us, as we face the lunch rooms of life, those situations where we have to figure out our social status.
In a parable today (Luke 14:7-14), Jesus takes us the reality of social status and the question of "Where do I sit?" He first teaches humility but then goes deeper, turning the whole status game on its head.
When Jesus heals a woman in today's Gospel reading (Luke 13:10-17), the first step is that he sees her. There is something powerful in life when we are seen by another person. In this case, "to be seen" does not mean "to be noticed" by others, but when somebody else understands what we’ve been through and where we want to go. The other person sees in us the pain and the possibility of our lives.
We yearn to be seen.
Yet, we often make it difficult, if not impossible for others to see us. Shame around illness and the way in which illness becomes our identity cuts others off from seeing us.
Jesus, as savior and Lord, does see us, and therefore can heal us.
The artwork is done by Artist Barbara Schwarz, a Dominican Sister. Her gallery is found here.
August 17, 2025
"I come not to bring peace, but division..." Harsh words from Jesus (Luke 12:49-53), especially because he talks about division in our families.
Jesus knows the gap between the way the world should be and the way the world is. He grieves this. He also knows that he alone can bridge this gap, hence the fire and hence the passion.
As disciples of Jesus, we are blessed with passion, a holy fire to work towards a better world.
Yes as disciples, we must also learn this passion must be met with humility. For we ourselves have a gap between the people we should be and the people we are, a gap bridged by the cross of Christ.
When was the last time someone really listened to you?
For many this is a matter of weeks and months, not days. Listening is a lost art!
Reflecting on the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), Pastor Rob reflects on Mary listening to Jesus. This passage not only uplifts listening as a love language, but reveals ways in which we can be a better listener, to each other and ultimately, to Jesus.
Given how hard it is truly to listen, especially to one who lived 2,000 years ago, we dare ask the
question: Who is this one who summons us to listen to him?
Photo Source: Case Kenny, https://cheezburger.com/19582213/36-wholesome-love-languages-for-singles-and-those-who-are-in-relationships
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), a stranger has compassion on an injured man and heals him. Not only is the extent of care surprising, but Jesus pushes the ancient world's buttons by surprising his listeners that the one who showed mercy was a Samaritan, definitively "the other."
We continue to live in a world, much like Jesus' time, when there are all sorts of division and boundaries that exist, which make it challenging for us to become neighbors to each other.
But this happens -- at the holy cross-section of wounds and compassion.
The artwork is a sculpture by artist Daniel Borup
What is on your packing list?
Jesus sends out his disciples on a mission trip (Luke 10). He begins by warning them that he is sending them out as sheep among wolves. Then he gives them a very strange packing list - no bags, no sandals, instead
Faith, Hope and Love
A reflection on how each week, Jesus sends us out as his disciples, into a weary and broken world with simply this: Faith, Hope and Love.
For Freedom, Christ has set you free! Paul to the Galatians (5:1)We love our freedom as Americans and later this week will celebrate our independence.
Yet, freedom can go awry, as Paul warns; in fact, he tells us not to use our freedom for our own self-indulgence.
How shall we live then? Relish our freedom or discipline ourselves against it? It can often seem as if we live (and especially try to raise our kids) caught in between a Scylla and Charybdis, between a "Do whatever I want-ism" and a "Legalism that becomes exclusiv-ism."
Paul offers a different way of thinking and moving forward: focus on how Christ has set us free FOR loving and serving our neighbor.
Jesus heals a man possessed by demons (Luke 8:26-39).
The healing begins with the naming of the demons. Naming demons has the power to begin the freedom from them. This is especially true when we name them ourselves.
Yet...
The disciples never learned the name of the man; they simply referred to him as the demon possessed man. A reminder that we can demonize other people, ignoring their name and identifying them by their demons, their trauma, their sins and all the ways we don't like them. This demonizing people is always the first step away from peace and reconciliation. On the other side, learning someone's name is the first step toward peace.
In Baptism, we discover the power of Jesus both to give us the name that drives away the power of evil, but also the name that gives us back our humanity: beloved child of God.
Holy Trinity Sunday (June 15 2025)
"Suffering produces endurance; endurance produces character; character produces hope" (Paul to the Romans, 5:3)
In light of this passage, Pastor Rob asks two questions:
Where has God been in your life in the midst of suffering?
Where has God called you into the sufferings of others?
Given how crazy our world is, the second question turns out to be quite difficult. For an answer, we need to turn further to the words of Jesus.
Pentecost 2025
Jesus promises us peace (John 14:27) In a world of anxiety and conflict, we yearn for this peace from Jesus.
What might this peace look like? Maybe its like a walk home with friends.
Yet...a reflection on peace makes us realize the church's need again for Pentecost (Acts 2), to have the Spirit push us through the boundaries that block people from the peace of Jesus.
What might this Pentecost look like today? Maybe its like an inflatable bounce house on a warm summer evening.
The image comes from the website "Why do Christians celebrate Pentecost", a Welsh church website.
Ascension (June 1)We are swimming in information today, but this hasn't made the truth easier to find.
Today's sermon is intended for all people, but especially the 8th graders being confirmed. (They were making a public confession of faith, saying yes to the promises made to them in their baptisms). Where can we -- above all young people -- find a truth to build our lives on?
This issue of truth is brought to the fore this particular Sunday, when we celebrate the Ascension (Acts 1:1-11), because Jesus sends out the disciples "to by my witnesses." To be a witness means there is a truth we are called to point to in our lives.
Pastor Rob offers that in the ancient proclamation of faith -- Christ has died, Christ is Risen and Christ will come again -- we find a truth we can stand on and one we can witness to all the days of our lives.
Easter VI (May 25, 2025)
"Do you want to be made well?" Jesus asks the man who has been sick for 38 years!
The obvious answer should be "yes", but it isn't. In our lives too, we often fall into cycles and situations in which we are not well, but we aren't quite capable of rising above the situation.
Into this situation comes Jesus, willing to offer compassion and challenge beyond anything we've experienced before.
The art is by Nathan Greene. You can purchase it here. I am sensitive to images of Jesus in which Jesus looks European instead of middle Eastern, but I loved the combination of compassion and power in this artist's rendition.
"A New Commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, love one another."
How can Jesus command love, something seemingly impossible to command?
And what might it mean to love others as Jesus has loved us?
To get at these questions, we look at the setting of Jesus giving this new commandment, namely, when he washes the disciple's feet. As we ponder this act of service, we discover not only the depth of challenge in Jesus words to love as he loved, but also the word of grace and promise contained in them.
This is a screenshot of an artwork by Alida Bothma. You can view the Etsy site to purchase the print.
Easter IV (May 11 2025)
What is your “full name” — the thing that people say after your name that completes their description of you?
For example, “That is Jane, she is a great teacher” or “That is Sam, he is an amazing basketball player”
Today we learn the full name of an early believer in the book of Acts (9:36-43): Tabitha, aka Dorcas, “was always doing good and helping the poor…” What a beautiful full name!
Pastor Rob offers a word of challenge today: In your quest to make a good full name for yourself, have you focused on the right things? It is very tempting to focus on the “resume” virtues instead of the “obituary” virtues!
There is also a profound word of grace today in today’s reading, a reminder that ultimately, God has the last word on our name and not our mistakes, failures or bad things that have happened to us.
Note: I do not have permission (yet) to post this artwork by a Christian artist named Sarah Beth, but I found it so beautiful! You can purchase the art here.
Easter III (May 4, 2025)The story seems like comfortable at first: The disciples go fishing, they eat breakfast with Jesus and then Peter tells Jesus he loves him. (John 21:1-17)
But once you start digging, you realize this is a story about the power of shame. Peter is ashamed of his denial of Jesus and this manifests itself in all sorts of typical shame behavior
- Avoiding
- Covering Up
- Focusing on self and past mistakes
How then can Peter move forward? How can we move forward in our shame?
It turns out that nice guy Jesus isn’t going to cut it. Instead, we need the son of the living God to redeem us from sin and shame.
The painting is by Tissot. It is on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art
Easter 2025
Easter is a time of memories, including memories of our loved ones who have died.
The first Easter, in fact, began with a trip the place of memories — the word for tomb in Greek is memory!
A reflection on memories and how the resurrection changes everything, including how we understand our memories.
The image comes from the Kid’s Corner Bible site.
Good Friday 2025
Where you there? It is a more haunting question than it sounds. (Based on the passion of John, found in chapters 18-19).
In the end, yes, yes, you and I were there.
Palm Sunday (April 13, 2025)
What does it mean to have power?
The Roman Empire displayed a type of power we know: The ability to get what you want, when you want it. Their imperial parades were the example of power, as the leaders rode in on majestic horses. You could call this horse power.
Jesus offered a different vision of power: The ability to help others. His parade, as he rode on donkey, showed what this power looks like. You could call this donkey power. Helping others through acts of love, humility and service. Definitely not as glorious in the eyes of the world. (I mean, really, look at the picture of the donkey. Not the most inviting!)
A reflection on Horse power and Donkey power.
Hint: Horse power isn’t all bad, but it finally takes the back seat.
The donkey comes from a blogpost called “Donkeys, Kings and Outcasts“
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.
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.
September 22, 2024
Jesus today offers words we like want to soften: He calls his disciples to be last of all and servants of all (Mark 8:30-37).
At first, this sounds impossible. The only person who ever was servant of all was Jesus.
Yet, Jesus does show us a way forward. Right after calling the disciples to be servant of all, he embraces one child. Jesus is servant to all…one person at a time.
Likewise, Jesus invites us to serve others, one person at a time.
September 15, 2024Peter has committed his life to follow Jesus.
Peter is the shining student, confessing Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 8:27-38).
Then, all of the sudden, Peter is being rebuked by Jesus.
What gives?
Most Christians do not succumb to blatant worship of idols; but we often lose ourselves, even when pursuing the faith, hope and love.
A reflection on our capacity to make the good into a false god…and God’s capacity to cause repentance and resurrection.
The image is taken from a church website about our tendency to make idols.
September 8, 2024
As Jesus is healing a man’s blindness, the man says “I can see people, but they are like trees walking.” (Mark 8:14-26) This prompts Jesus to work more on the man’s eyes.
It turns out that Jesus really has to work to heal the man! The story serves as a key to understanding Mark’s Gospel in that Jesus repeatedly has to work on the disciples to open their eyes and hearts.
Like the original disciples, we too are works in progress. We are beloved, capable — saints; but we are also broken, selfish — sinners. Our whole life Jesus is working on us.
If we take it that we are, indeed, “Works in Progress”, what doors to relationship does allow for? And what does it mean for us that our society remains a “Works in Progress”?
Perhaps the short answer is — our hands are going to get dirty!
September 1, 2024Once again, Jesus is criticized by religious leaders for his mealtime practices (portions of Mark 7). Turns out, he is always being criticized for WHO eats with him, WHAT he eats and HOW he eats.
It would be easy for us to judge the religious leaders of his day, but turns out, in our world today we have lots of rules, judgement and shame around the WHO, WHAT and HOW of food.
So what do we do? We can’t quite give up on food!
Pastor Rob picks up the idea of “spiritual calories” and our need for spiritual nourishment. While there are many ways to find “spiritual calories”, this particular Sunday we are invited to consider ways in which we might reclaim our eating as a spiritual practice. In so doing, our physical nourishment also becomes our spiritual nourishment. Ultimately, we cannot give up on food and eating as spiritual, for Jesus himself does not, choosing to become our physical and spiritual bread. In so doing, he turns our shame into joy!
August 25, 2024
A google search on “Sunday Morning” comes up with a lot of images — but almost none of them church (or the Bible)!
As we live into this time – a great unchurching of the United States – we hear the question of Jesus to the disciples: “Do you also want to leave?”
For many of us, though, we say no, we want to stay in the community of faith, we want to follow Jesus.
Why? Why do you attend and participate in a community of faith?
August 18, 2024“Take heed therefore — making the most of your time” St Paul, letter to the Ephesians (Chapter 5:15-16)
YOLO — You only live once. This is what is often said now when someone wants to encourage us to pursue adventure and indulge ourselves!! In short, play hard! This is especially true in our post COVID world, one that has realized how preciously short and fragile this one, holy and previous life that we have is.
But is YOLO the Christian response to the shortness of our life span?
Pastor Rob reflects on how for Christians we are called not simply play hard; or do avoid play altogether, but discover where our play and work meet each other. When our work and play become each other, then we discover we are praising our creator.
Yet…there are times when work and play do not overlap. What then? We discover we need something more than YOLO — We need YOLG — You only live by grace!!
August 11, 2024
“Be gracious, as God graced you in Jesus Christ” Paul, to the Ephesians.
What does grace look like in our lives? (Standing out in the rain listening to Taylor Swift concerts from the city park?) How do we extend grace to others? (Including neighborhood bullies?)
A reflection on how God gives us our daily bread, the grace that forgives and opens our hearts to forgive others.
July 7, 2024
The Presidential debates of this past June were met by many with frustration and anxiety; they felt like one more sign of the dysfunction and malaise hanging over our political world.
Pastor Rob reflects on Mark 6 when Jesus sends out his disciples. The world they lived in was a world of brutal political and social realities. Yet Jesus still sent them out.
It turns out, that Jesus has sending his disciples out over the past 2,000 years, even though the world has been — at all times — complex, fragmented, broken and sinful. This includes countless Christian women — who couldn’t vote in the 19th century — making quilts to guide slaves along the underground railroad. The political dysfunction of society does not limit the capacity of disciples to be faithful to God.
Pastor Rob exhorts us to focus less on the political reality we live in and give more heed to what we can do for our neighbor.
The sermon concludes with a reflection on what this might look like for us to live as a people of hope in this time and place.
The artwork is from the Smithsonian Museum website.
June 30, 2024
Sickness is like an iceberg in that we often only see the tip of the situation. The Gospel writer Mark takes us on a deep dive into the emotional undercurrents of illness, exploring what is going on in the hearts of the families of two women who are healed by Jesus (Mark 5:21-43). These stories speak to the reality of our emotions, but they also speak to the compassion and faithfulness of Jesus as he moves towards suffering to bring salvation.
The way that Mark tells this story, he not only draws us closer to these two women and their families, but he draws us into the story, inviting us to recall the times in our lives when we’ve encountered chronic and acute illness. This reveals to us how Jesus is also at work during those times in our life — offering compassion, summoning faith and finally carrying us.
The emotional iceberg comes from a website selling products that can be used for working with people in tough times
Sunday, June 23
"Do you not care that we are perishing?" The disciples cry out to Jesus, who is asleep during the storm.
Inevitably, we will go through storms. We will encounter hard times and observe terrible situations in the world. We will wonder where God is in the midst of all of this. Is Jesus sleeping? During these times, we or those whom we love will cry out to God: "Do you not care that we are perishing?"
A reflection on possible answers to one of life's most haunting questions.
The image comes from a blog by Eugene Luning (couldn't find art credit)
June 16, 2024
Did you know that a butterfly flapping its wings can change the path, intensity and even existence of a massive storm, like a tornado or hurricane!?
“The Butterfly Effect” is the term to describe how in a complex and interconnected system, the smallest change of one variable can lead to a big change in the outcome.
As Christians, we’ve confessed a belief in the “Butterfly Effect” before mathematical models were developed around it. We have long worshipped a God who causes — in this interconnected world — butterfly wings to flap and change the world. Pastor Rob develops this theme by looking at the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4).
This is a message we need to hear, especially in our world of “big and terrible” news in which we lose all sense of our and even God’s capacity to make a difference.
June 9, 2024Things go wrong for Jesus after his “graduation” – he leaves town, makes friends with the wrong people, gets in trouble with the law and finds religion. When he gets home, its a bit too much for his family who confront him about this. At this point, things get even worse, with him renouncing them (Mark 3:20-35)
The end?
Because our God is a God of forgiveness and reconciliation, the story goes on and does work its way toward new life. Ultimately Mary, his mother, will come back — as Jesus is dying on the cross. And his brother and he will be united — after the resurrection.
This is certainly good news for us, because time and time again in our families, we run into situations in which frustration and unaligned expectations cause deep hurt in our families. We often pray for years for healing.
A reflection on how the Holy Spirit brings forgiveness into our families.
Holy Trinity 2024 (Also Confirmation!)
Decisions, decisions, decisions!!
Life is full of decisions; for young people, each decision comes with so many options. Their life feels very much like a “Choose you own adventure” story: What to study, whom to befriend, whom to love, where to live, what teams to try out for…
This all sounds exciting, except that with many choices comes the potential to make wrong decisions. This can lead to lots of anxiety — did I make the right decisions?
A reflection on a man with a decision to make – Nicodemus (John 3). Turns out he doesn’t make the right decision, but God has decided that he isn’t done with Nicodemus!
(Note: The sermon today is especially targeted toward the 14 year-olds being confirmed, but it likely resonates with all of us who face decisions in life and worry about the past decisions we’ve made.)
Pentecost 2024 (May 19)
Life speed is fast and only gets faster.
As life gets faster, making sense of life becomes harder and harder to do. A reflection on where we go to find still waters.
(Hint: Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the church!)
Also, an admission of what to do when, no matter what, it doesn’t fully make sense!
Ascension 2024 (May 12)
Pastor Rob reminds us of the crafty gifts we gave to our mothers on Mother’s Day (and other such days) using a poem called “Lanyard.” While such gifts are sentimental and cute, they really don’t adequately repay the mother for all that she has done.
The disproportional love of parent to a young child is a great illustration of God’s love for us, which is far greater than we can comprehend.
On the Ascension Jesus gives his last instructions to his disciples. Not surprisingly, he asks not for lanyards from them. Rather, he asks for them to be his witnesses, those who speak the truth.
The truth we speak about — including on Mother’s day — includes the reality that sin and death are powerful forces in this life that grind away at relationships and bring us grief. But chiefly we bear witness to God’s extravagant grace in Jesus Christ.
Easter V (April 28, 2024)
“He removes every branch in me that does not bear fruit.” These words often sound threatening and cause us to ask: “Am I one of the branches that will be pruned or not?”
Pastor Rob invites us to see this a bit differently. Rather than be concerned with “Who is in and who is out?” instead we are to ask ourselves “Which me is in and which is out? Each of us a side of ourselves — truly a version of ourselves — that needs to be pruned. Yet, each of us has another side — another version — that is bearing fruit. Our life in Christ, abiding in him, means that we are constantly being pruned, yet also raised up to new life to bear fruit.
Once we embrace ourselves as people who are pruned to bear fruit, we can embrace the humility and charity Christ intends for us. This humility and charity, as it turns out, is what enables us to live in community; these virtues are also, as it turns out, in short supply right now. This presents an opportunity and challenge for us at St. Paul.
Easter IV 2024 (April 14)Good Shepherd Sunday
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd powerfully communicates the fundamental truth “God loves you.” When push comes to shove, this is the fundamental truth we live by and we want to pass on to the next generation of faith.
However, there is another vital truth – even embedded in Psalm 23 – that we want to pass along too: It is not about you! Our lives have an importance to God for the sake of our neighbor and God’s purposes in this world.
A reflection on Baptism, Psalm 23 and how God teaches us these two truths again and again in our lives.
Easter III (April 14, 2023)
This past week our nation was fascinated and delighted by the eclipse. It was a reminder of the glory of the heavens, the place where the beauty and complexity of the creation bears witness to the creator.
This past week our nation was heartbroken and afraid of violence and further escalation around the world, particularly in the Middle East. It was a reminder of the muddiness of life of earth, the place where the tragedy and complexity of human interactions bears witness to the power of sin.
Given this tension, it is easy to see why many develop a theology in which Jesus comes to lead an escape mission, to get us out of earth. But as the story of the risen Jesus shows (Luke 24:36-48), Jesus isn’t interested in giving up on earth; he offers his disciples no packing list for their trip to heaven. Jesus is not intending to an escape mission, but a reclamation one, as he wins back earth for God’s purposes. For you see, the fundamental constant of the universe isn’t the speed of light or the gravitation constant, but the faithfulness of God’s love.
This is true in our lives: God is faithful not just to creation, but to you as well. Therefore, we are to expect to see repentance and forgiveness into our lives. And…therefore…our job then is to share — much like we shared photos of the pictures of the eclipse — the stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives and in this world.
For more photos of the eclipse from space, you can check out NASA’s website.
Easter Sunday 2024 (March 31)
We live in an age of pessimism, in which it is easy to be cynical about present and gloomy about the future.
The women who go to the tomb of Jesus had every reason to be pessimistic, cynical and gloomy (Mark 16). Yet they do not succumb to this attitude, but choose instead to do an act of love, courage and hope.
From where does their home come from? Where does our hope come from? What can move us to act in love, courage and hope in an age of cynicism?
Pastor Rob offers that the antidote to fatalism and cynicism is the forgiveness of sins and resurrection of Jesus. For God's forgiveness means that the story goes on -- that Jesus, not our sins, is the author of our salvation. In that hope, we can keep doing the loving, courageous and hopeful thing. We do this, not confident that it will all turn out as we want, but trusting that Christ's death and resurrection means God will keep the story going, arcing it toward life, thanksgiving and love.
The artwork is from the Catechesis Presentation of an Episcopalian church.
Palm Sunday 2024 (March 24)Throughout his ministry, Jesus transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary: donkeys, jugs of water and scraps of food. Again and again, through faith, the ordinary becomes an extraordinary vessel of God’s love.
He further sends out his disciples to unbind things, animals and people so that which is unbound, the ordinary, can fulfill its extraordinary purpose, to become a vessel of God’s love.
Sometimes this unbinding is easy and straight-forward, like untying a donkey. Other times the unbinding is more complex and requires undoing lies that we’ve internalized.
A reflection on the work of Jesus, in his ministry, in our lives and on the cross, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
These ordinary Legos were transformed for an extraordinary purpose by Deep Water Baptist church in a YouTube video.
Lent 5 (March 17, 2024)Jesus was the most empathetic human who has ever lived.
But for Jesus, like for all humans, empathy exposes him to the pain and suffering of others. In the cross, this empathy is taken to another level, a wholly divine level, whereby Jesus fully empathizes and fully takes on our suffering, shame and sin. This brings him to cry out “My God, My God, Why Have you Forsaken Me!” (Mark 15:34)
The good news of the Empty Tomb is that one day, we will get to proclaim to our sin, suffering and shame: “It — namely you — are finished.” But for seasons of our lives, we live bearing a cross that prevents us from such confident and joyful proclamation. In those days, we know that Jesus prays with us, even our deepest laments…slowly tilling the soil in our suffering to raise up a harvest of empathy in our own hearts, enabling us to carry the cross for another.
The art of Simon carrying Jesus cross comes from a Roman Catholic devotional website.
Lent 4 (March 10, 2024)“Into your hands, I commend my Spirit”, Jesus from the cross, praying Psalm 31:5
In life, we will hear the phrase “Let go and Let God!” What does this look like? Jesus here seems to be embodying this letting Go and letting God, resigning himself, surrendering control and putting his life in God’s hands. This certainly is Letting Go and Letting God.
But does it always look like this? A deeper dive in Luke 23 suggests that Letting Go and Letting God – Commending ourselves – also means letting go of our things (generosity ) and letting go of our fears (courage).
This is quite a summons then. What empowers this? The answer lies in the second half of the Psalm: “For you have redeemed me, O faithful God!”
Lent 3 (March 3, 2023)
“Woman, behold your son; behold your mother.”
Jesus today creates a new family – an authentic community out of people who have experienced trauma and heartache.
As we go through life, we often encounter the need for new relationships and for authentic community. Today’s reflection is about how we often look for it in various places…but finding it remains allusive.
The authentic community, the community we seek: One in which the other is a gift to us and we are free to be ourselves, this is the congregation of the cross. This is the community that Jesus inaugurates with these words and the community into which we are invited.
This beautiful woodcut is found on an online slide show but if you know the piece of art, let us know!
Lent 2 (February 25, 2024)
“Today you will be with me in Paradise”; Jesus, Luke 23:43
We long for paradise, a world in which mercy has the last word and God’s peace reigns. But so much evidence mounts in our lives that the opposite is true: armed violence writes the story of judgement and retribution.
In this story, we hear of Jesus extending beautiful mercy to a man who has been justly condemned. In this case, mercy has the last word! What about in our lives? What gives us the audacity to hope for mercy? A reflection on the cross, mercy and…heat packs.
The artwork was drawn by a 1st grader who was listening to the sermon.
First Sunday of Lent (February 18, 2024)Word of the Cross: I thirst (John 19:28)
Jesus’s cry of “I thirst” reminds us, even reveals to us, that he is human.
The ancient church confessed that Jesus is “truly human.” Pastor Rob explores what it means for Jesus, not just to be human, but to be “truly human”:
- Faith in the face of human death
- Compassion in the face of human boundaries
- Servanthood in the face of human need
A reflection too, on how Jesus death and resurrection make it possible for us, not just to be human, but “truly human.”
*Transfiguration Sunday (February 11, 2024)*After the super bowl tonight, reporters will ask the players “How does it feel to win the Super Bowl?” Chances are, none of them will say anything remotely coherent. The event is too overwhelming for them.
Today, we remember the Transfiguration of our Lord (Mark 9:2-10), certainly an overwhelming event for the disciples. They don’t know what to say; they are in awe of the goodness but also terrified of its implications.
In life, how to we make sense of these events in life that we know are good, but also cause us to tremble, because we don’t quite know what they mean for our life?
The picture is from the best Super Bowl ever, in which the Philadelphia Eagles won.
Sunday, February 4 (Epiphany 5)
Often in life we must say “no” to something in order to say “yes” to something else.
In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:29-39), Jesus says “no” to stay in the town where he was. He says “no” to the expectations of the disciples and he says “no” to healing people there. He does this so he can say “yes” to God’s purpose in his life.
Pastor Rob challenges you to consider what Jesus is calling you to say “no” to in your life; and what Jesus is calling you to say “yes” to in your life.
It turns out, this wrestling with “no” and “yes” is not an easy thing and must be in prayer. And in prayer we are promised to meet the one has who already said “no” to sin and death in our lives as well as said “yes” to God’s resurrection and love in our lives.
When in your life have you encountered something that you considered not just bad or wrong, but evil?In the Gospel of Mark, we hear a story of Jesus encountering evil (Mark 1:21-28). While Mark tells the story so briefly that one might be tempted to overlook it, further reflection forces one to recognize the connection between how evil works in the passage and how evil works in our world. This unsettling reality leads us to hunger for champion, one who is mighty enough to contend against the forces in this world and in our lives.
This story is an epiphany story, a story that reveals who that champion is and what it means to live under his cross.
The photo is from the US Holocaust Museum and was used to transport people to concentration camps.
January 21, 2021 (3rd Sunday after Epiphany)
“After John (the Baptist) was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee began to proclaim the Good News…” (Mark 1:14)
The arrest of John meant Jesus could no longer continue with business as usual. In our lives, we often encounter situations in which we cannot go back to life as it was. What have been those situations in your life? And how did your respond? Frankly, we all likely have responded well to some adversity; and not so well to other challenges. Why is this? What makes people or at least people in certain situations more resilient? What could make you or me more resilient?
A reflection on Jesus calling his disciples and teaching them resilience.
The image comes from “The Ursuline Sisters” webpage.
Baptism of Jesus (January 7, 2024)Have you kept your resolutions?
Pastor Rob offers a word of encouragement and challenge to refine and revitalize your resolutions in light of Jesus’ Baptism.
(Didn’t make resolutions — not a problem — this sermon is what Jesus baptism and our baptisms mean for the direction and purpose of our lives).
Christmas II (Dec 31, 2023)
You beat the level Mario — but as it turns out, they moved the real princess to another castle!
It is a metaphor for life, where the goal posts of achievement always seem to be moving. Questions, based on the story of the Magi and their gifts, which are an invitation to move out of doing life as it is a video game.
- If you get where you are going, will you have found what you are looking for?
- Are your friends…friends for the party or friends for the feast?
- What will you need to leave behind to move ahead?
Note: Jan 6 is traditionally the date reserved for Matthew 2:1-11, the Magi arriving in Bethlehem to worship Jesus. However, this year January 6 is on a Saturday and Sunday, January 7 is the Baptism of Jesus; therefore, we moved up reflection on the Magi and their journey.
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 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 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 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 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.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
September 10, 2023We 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.
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.
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.
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!
July 23, 2023Bad 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
July 16, 2023This 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)
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.
July 2, 2023Freedom 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.
June 25, 2023What 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“
June 18, 2023
Pastor Rob returned from his trip to Tanzania, where he visited the medical missionaries, Jodi and Stephen Swanson. They are a nurse and doctor who work with children in pediatrics and neonatology.
In the Gospel this week (Matthew 9:34-10:8), Jesus sends out medical missionaries. It was powerful for Pastor Rob to see this same ministry of healing, inaugurated nearly two millennia ago, continue on in the ministry the Swansons do.
Pastor Rob also commissioned the congregation today, reminding them that all who are baptized are also medical missionaries. Well, sort of; not that we all go back to medical school, but we are all participants in God’s mission of healing the body, mind and soul of others. With this commissioning comes the assurance and discover of two things: The cross and the resurrection.
The above picture is of Dr. Stephen Swanson. The picture here is of Jodi ministering to a child in the NICU.
Pentecost 2023 (May 28)
What do coffee and dynamite have to do with each other?
Funny you should ask. Pastor Rob preaches a sermon on confirmation Sunday about the limits of parents and the unlimited power of prayer. The image Pastor Rob offers of God inviting us to prayer is a grandmother with a cup of coffee in one hand and a stick of dynamite in the other.
(What is confirmation? When a child is baptized, their parents, along with godparents and the congregation, make promises to raise the child in faith. As a child grows within a home and community of faith, their faith becomes more deeply connected to the faith of others. They start understanding more personally, learning how to live faith in daily life. Confirmation is a rite, typically following a period of instruction in the basics of the faith, in which youth or adults publicly confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, affirming the promises God made them in Baptism. It is not an end point in the journey of faith, but it is a key point in embracing the life of a disciple. Confirmation invites the whole congregation to affirm the faith of the confirmands.)
Ascension Sunday (May 21, 2023)
In Marvel movies, bad guys keep coming back, even after you were entirely sure they were killed. In this way, art mirrors life, in that the sins, evil and brokenness of the past continue to haunt us in the next chapter of life.
The Ascension story (Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53) is a pivot story, in that we end on “episode” and begin the next one — moving from the ministry of Jesus to the ministry of the early apostles. All too quickly though it seems like the old sins are going to come back to write the next chapter. But nope! God’s love is too powerful.
Pastor Rob offers that the good news of Jesus Christ is that his death and resurrection, which brings about the forgiveness of sins, means that even though sin and evil linger, God’s love has the upper hand and ultimately writes the story of our salvation. The crucified and risen Lord does this as he heals wounds, transforming them into scars. They bear witness to the past hurt, but also the strength of God to redeem and transform our lives.
The picture is the ascending Christ from St. Paul’s stained glass windows. Note the raised hands — the hands that will always bear the marks of crucifixion.
Easter 6 2023 (May 14)What is a good inheritance? Pastor Rob offers that a good inheritance is the gifts the dead leave behind for the living to go on living. This can be money, heirlooms, photos, recipes, hymns, stories and even values.
Pastor Rob offers that in today’s Gospel (John 14:15-27) Jesus explains, the night before he will die, the inheritance the disciples will receive, namely, the Holy Spirit. This inheritance is a good and glorious inheritance, one that allowed disciples then and allows disciples today to live!
Decades ago, this congregation received an inheritance of land. We have finally found a way to put this inheritance to work, creating life from it as we building our Sacred Grounds. Yesterday, as we moved stone into the prayer labyrinth, we took one more Spirit-filled step in building an inheritance for the next generation.
Easter V (May 7, 2023)
“I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus, Gospel of John (14:6)The world has plenty of divisions and a strong tendency toward exclusion. Are the words here of Jesus just simply one more example of religious exclusion?Pastor Rob argues that Jesus does exclude – not people, but sin – so that ultimately, all people will be included at the table of the LORD.The image comes from an article found in The Financial Tribune about social exclusion.
Easter IV, Good Shepherd Sunday (April 30, 2023)
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” ~ Jesus, the Gospel of John (10:10).
What does it mean to have abundant life? The photo comes from Ethiopia, where members of our church did medical work through the Medan Initiative. There stories challenge a lot of our conventional notions of what abundance means. To put it another way: We all know that abundant living involves more than stuff. But what then does it consist of?
Working with the image of the sheet and the Good Shepherd, Pastor Rob offers that abundant life involves intimacy with God, fellowship with others and generosity toward our neighbor.
Easter III 2023 (April 23)
Why can’t see disciples see Jesus as they walk with him on the road to Emmaus? (Luke 24)
Pastor Rob suggests that what lenses we wear in life powerfully impact why we can see. (The glasses in this image are from the movie National Treasure; without them, one cannot see the treasure map on the Declaration of Independence). After witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples are looking at life through a lens of violence, defeat and death; Jesus must renew their lenses of resurrection.
Likewise in our lives, Jesus also needs to renew the lenses of resurrection, that we can see his presence in worship but also on the road of life.
The glasses above were for sale on Ebay.
Easter Sunday 2023Jesus is assumed to be a gardener by one of his early followers on Easter morning.
This is not a coincidence. Pastor Rob reflects on how Jesus must be raised in a garden, for the restoration of the garden is his mission. However grand though, this mission is, like a good gardener, Jesus tends to each person individually, including you. A reflection on how THE gardener, Jesus Christ, connects the cosmic with the individual as he restores THE garden.
The photo comes from a Best Pick Reports gardening website.
Palm Sunday, April 2 2023Jesus rebukes Judas, telling him “The Poor will always be with you.” These are words that can feed our growing cynicism, if not our greed.
Pastor Rob reflects on where we’ve been in John’s Gospel, showing how Jesus’ actions are again and again about helping the people in need, in poverty and on the margins. It turns out that we cannot eliminate all the problems in the world, but we are called embrace and serve our neighbor. Jesus words to Judas about the poor being with us remind us to turn our attention away from the big, grand problems that are beyond us and turn our gaze to the people who need our help.
This Lent we focused on encountering Jesus. Pastor Rob concludes the sermon by reflecting on how we encounter Jesus in serving others and our need for something more than Palm Sunday.
The picture is of the youth helping to read our Gospel reading, in which Jesus encounters Judas.
Lent V 2023 (March 26)
It turns out that nothing forces us to be “real” about life like dying and death. Today Jesus meets two grieving sisters, Mary and Martha (John 11). They are completely real and authentic with him, declaring “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Their real grief brings out the real love of Jesus, who reveals that he is truly the resurrection and life.
What about your story? When has Jesus, as the resurrection and the life, showed up in your life, over and against the cross?
We know that people share stories in times of comforting others in the grief, often at or around funerals; what story will people tell of you?
As they tell the story of you, may the ultimately tell the story of the who died and rose for you!
Note: The picture of our youth readers during Lent.
Lent 4 2023 (March 19)
The more things look the same…the more they’ve actually changed.
In this week’s encounter with Jesus and a blind man (John 9), we open and close the story with two similar scenes: a man, on his knees, humbling looking up to Jesus. But reflection quickly reveals the situations are very different.
Likewise, if we looked at our life in early March 2020 and early March 2023, we might say, wow, things look the same. But reflection quickly reveals the situations are very different.
Pastor Rob works with how Jesus encounters the man, taking on his shame to heal him, as way of understanding how God has encountered us these past three years.
The picture of is former and current camp staff as we hosted “Camp Sunday” today.
Lent 3 2023 (March 12)It is beyond debate that we live in a world with many divisions, some ancient and others new.
When Jesus encountered the woman at the well, he was encountering a millennia old divide. Yet he finds a way to make a common sacred ground between the two people, building a bridge over the huge cultural chasm that existed between him and the woman.
How does Jesus do this? How might we be able to follow Jesus in doing this too?
The answer, as it turns out, is neither breaking relationships nor watering down the truth, but something else.
(The picture is of our youth readers)
Lent II 2023 (March 5)The Pharisee Project
“Hi. I am Rob. I am a sinner. And sometimes a Pharisee too.”
Jesus encounters Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Turns out we meet Pharisees in our world today. Sometimes they are in the mirror looking back at us.
Pharisees are people in Jesus’ day — and today — who decide to make obedience to the law the fundamental orientation of the life. In doing sp, they inevitably becoming blind to God’s love and their own sin.
A reflection on what it might mean for us to be a confessing church instead of those who advance the pharisee project.
The picture is of our youth who read the Gospel (John 3) this morning.
Lent 1 2023 (Feb 26)“What is this matter between you and me woman?” Jesus speaks harsh words to his mother, Mary.
We begin our Lenten Series with an emotionally intense encounter between a mother and her child. While we could understand this as an interaction between a disciple and her Lord, by focusing on the human interaction between parent and child, we learn something about God’s relationship to us.
A sermon on vulnerability in the most enduring yet vulnerable of relationships, parent to child. What might it mean that we are invited to call on God as a heavenly parent?
The picture is of the youth who read the Gospel today.
February 12, 2023Jesus has really challenging words for us today (Matthew 5:21-32). He speaks about hard topics: anger, adultery and divorce. His words likely make us uncomfortable and even convict us.
Are we simply to cut them down to size, so they don’t hurt? How can we hear these words as words of life?
Note: If you are listening to the sermon instead of watching, you may need to look at the attached image. About half way through I began to cut a piece of paper in various ways; the three stages are shown in the image.
February 5, 2023“You are the salt of the earth.” Jesus Christ, Matthew 5:13
The picture is of a group of women that Pastor Rob encountered in Tanzania. They were clearing a field with machetes! Talk about salt of the earth!
Pastor Rob unpacks Jesus’ words about salt and light. With these metaphors, Jesus paints a picture — offers a compelling vision — describing the purpose of his disciples’ life.
Sunday, January 29
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” ~ Jesus Christ, Gospel of Matthew
Blessed too, Jesus says, are the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and those who hunger and thrust for righteousness. This world of blessings sounds beautiful, but profoundly unlike the world in which we live. As much as we might be tempted, we cannot so easily shake off the compelling words of the our Savior and his vision for the world. For in truth, we long for a world in which they would be fulfilled. How do we get there?
A reflection on peacemaking, the cross and Siri.
January 22, 2023There is something evil happening in Ukraine.
There is also something evil happening as a backdrop the story of Jesus calling his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew (4:12-23)
What is the response of Jesus to such evil? To proclaim a simple message: “Repent, The Kingdom of God is at Hand.”
A reflection on what repentance means and what Jesus is doing in the face of evil.
The photo comes from an open-source website documenting the damage and atrocities in Ukraine.
Sunday, January 15, 2023Jesus asks his would be followers “What are you seeking?”
A simple yet challenging question. We too are invited to hear the question for us: “What are you seeking?”
There are many things in life we are seeking, but Pastor Rob offers that his and likely our deepest longing is for the reconciliation, righteousness and joy in all things to be restored.
John the Baptist claims this is the work and mission of Jesus when he declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Beautifully, John does not claim this will happen only in the future in heaven, but acknowledges that Jesus is doing this work now, of making all things new and restoring what was broken and marred by sin.
A reflection on the work of Christ and modern “John the Baptists” who point us toward the one taking away the sin of the world.
The art comes from a Jewish website, Chabad. You can read more about the artist, Sefira Lightstone.
Baptism of JesusJanuary 8, 2023
We have way more choices than people in the past had, even compared to two or three generations ago. We have choices about what we wear, what we live, what technology we use, whom we befriend, what occupation we pursue, whom we love…the list goes on and on. We live a world of “designer me” in which we can be who we want to be.
Yet, in spite of all of those choices, we don’t find ourselves and happier. Pastor Rob reflects on the self-absorption and anxiety that these decisions create. Where shall we turn?
The waters of Baptism.
As we reflect and celebrate Jesus Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17) and learn about Jesus mission and identity, we learn about our own mission and identity.
A reflection on decisions, anxiety and the good news that the fundamental choice in life — that God has claimed us beloved children — has already been decided for us.
The image comes from a website on anxiety, https://www.aconsciousrethink.com/10482/decision-anxiety/
Christmas Eve 2022
Do you hunger for good news in the world and in your life? Come with Pastor Rob to the hills and hear the message of the angel to the Shepherd:
“I bring you good news of great joy for all the people!” (Luke 2:1-20)
Pastor Rob explores why this is such good news, even though it existed then and exists now in a world filled with troubling news. In a nutshell, the birth of Jesus means that God isn’t going to let the hardness of the human heart determine the fate of the human race; rather God chooses to infuse the world with love in Jesus Christ!
The artwork is by Cornelis Monsma, Glory to God in the Highest.
Advent 4 2022 (Dec 18)
Joseph is asked to become a step-father. This is an overwhelming task! Many in our congregation (and in my family) have been asked to assume responsibility for a child that is not their own. And like Joseph, they faithfully do this.God equips Joseph for this task; God does not leave Joseph alone — for God in Jesus Christ is “God with us” – “Immanuel”. He sends Joseph a person with a very different set of gifts and personality — Mary. Mary proclaims God with creative prose; Joseph sings to God through his quiet obedience.A reflection on how God works through our differences and ultimately even sin to draw us together in Christ. The Art Work is from a Caritas website on foster parenting.
Advent 3: Joy
The meeting of Elizabeth and Mary exudes joy (Luke 1:39-55). Mary even proclaims the beautiful words: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
There is joy we often experience at Christmas time: joy in our stories, our singing, our gift giving and even our eating! All sorts of traditions and interactions that reveal mercy and joy across the generations, just as Mary and Elizabeth meet across the generations to prepare for Jesus’ birth. A reflection based on their encounter of how we open ourselves to the joy God intends this Christmas.
The sermon concludes with a deeper dive too into the reality that family relations are often complex and are in need of mercy.
The photo (which I’ve used before is from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel‘s website.)
Advent 2 (December 4, 2022)
How do you measure time? In Luke chapter 1 time is measured by trimesters of pregnancy. The ancient world measured time in different ways than we do today. We measure time typically in minutes, but the ancient world tended to measure time in terms of seasons or even moments.
For today’s sermon, we reflect on the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary. The words of the angel acknowledge that that our hopes and prayers are not fulfilled in the time we would like. In many ways, Advent is the season of the church year in which we openly acknowledge that the world needs God to come in way that God has not yet come! It is a season of waiting, waiting for God’s timing. But Pastor Rob also claims that rather than simply waiting, this is a season of expecting!
The artwork is “Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dali, found on Wikipedia
Advent 1, 2022 (Nov 27)
“Do not be afraid” declares the angel to Zechariah. Turns out that 2,000 years later, we need these words too. We live in a world saturated with fear that affects just about every aspect of life.
How do we know when our fear has moved from biological necessity to a spiritual obstacle? And when we realize our fear is too great, what do we do?
The angel realizes that Zechariah’s fears are too much and so the angels gives him the “medicine” of silence and listening. Likewise, Pastor Rob commends us to a season of listening this Advent.
The image is from “When God speaks, doubt nothing” by Christine Darg.
Christ the King Sunday (Nov 20, 2022)
Associating “King” and “Jesus” is often uncomfortable for many people, for Jesus seems to embody the opposite of what we think about in a king.
A reflection on Luke 23 and how the kings of this world demonstrate “The Love of Power” whereas the Jesus, the true King, embodies and gives us “The Power of Love.”
The artwork is from Wikipedia, an article on Huey Lewis and his song “The Power of Love”
November 13, 2022
“O Sing to the Lord a New Song!” (Psalm 98)
Sometimes in life we found ourselves filled with joy and we cannot help but sing a new song.
At other times, however, our grief traps us and prevents us from singing a new song. What to do then?
Pastor Rob reflects on the “6th stage” of grief, singing a new song. While this can be hard, our God is a God of resurrection and enables us to bring the past into the future, to sing a new song, even in seasons of grief.
All Saints Sunday, 2022One of the many beautiful visions of heaven in the Bible appears in the book of Revelation (Revelation 7:9-17). This vision of heaven is completely counter-cultural to the cultures of its day as well as the cultures of today. It would not have occurred to anyone then or anyone now that this is actually what heaven looks like; it becomes clear that this image of heaven is of divine and not human origin.
A reflection on how unique and compelling the vision of heaven is that is presented in Scripture.
The image was found on this blog; however, I could not find information about who the artist is.
Zacchaeus is a lonely man. He is a lonely fortress, locked down and locked out of relationship.
Jesus will restore him to relationship with his community by freeing Zacchaeus, enabling vulnerability and forgiveness.
This is what Jesus does.
The mighty fortress, who is our God, becomes the vulnerable and lonely one on the cross, so that we can have relationship with God and each other.
Note: I realize that this sermon did not directly address some of the common reformation themes or life of Martin Luther, but I would like to offer it as a Reformation sermon. For it proclaims the Word as Law and Gospel, expounding the power of grace poured out from the cross and faith lived out in real life.
(The image comes from: https://sanctuarybaptist.org/2016/10/30/true-stories-at-the-zacchaeus-tree/ I did not see any credit for the artist or any copyright image there)
October 23, 2022
Today we wrap up the preaching series on Joseph with the powerful scene of Joseph reconciling with his brothers.
The story resonates deep within us because we all have experienced reconciliation in our families OR more likely, are longing to experience such reconciliation.
The more we wrestle with the story, the more we realize it is not simply about reconciliation in the family of Joseph or even reconciliation in our family, but reconciliation between the families of the earth.
The Artist is Yoman Raanan.
- I believe this art work is called: Joseph embracing Benjamin
- I found his art here: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/blog-posts/1918
- You can read about his work here: https://www.yoramraanan.com/artists-statement
October 16, 2022The man in the picture is Judah (Genesis 44). You might not remember his name.
In many ways, what he does suggests he should be forgotten: Judah is someone who betrayed his brother and had an affair with another family member. Currently, his family has no food and his brother has been arrested.
And yet…Judah acts as an agent of God’s reconciling love, making a huge sacrifice. Turns out that God can work through all types of people, including people with pasts they are not proud of and present situations that overwhelm them.
Last week was a sermon about God helping us through hard times and enabling us to become resilient in faith. This week is about God working through us – broken sinners like Judah – to help others in their tough times!
The picture is from one of the children’s bibles that are being used during the children’s sermons.
The question the past few years is not whether you got knocked down, but where you got up again! We’ve been pushed and challenged again and again, calling for resiliency.Pharaoh’s dreams will mean an incredible challenge for Joseph. Even though he has been pushed down repeatedly, he is willing to rise up and accept this task.
It turns out that perhaps the most resilient person in the Bible (after Jesus!) is the Joseph. A reflection on how Joseph became resilient and how our Christian faith can help us become more resilient.
This artwork shared is from a Philadelphia native Bill Bell. I had never heard of him before, but what amazing stuff! You can see more here:
Bill Bell – Art Licensing International, Inc.
or
Rita Shoemaker’s Bill Bell Pinterest Page
October 2, 2022
“What am I to do with my life,” the young man asked me. I responded with a typical answer: “Find your passion!”
Years later, I regret such an answer. A reflection on Joseph in prison, our purpose in life and how I would answer this question today.
The image is from the quilts in our sanctuary, which will be given away. They point toward a deeper sense of purpose.
September 25, 2022
The story of Joseph being sold into slavery is a tragic one. Some many people could have done something differently to avoid the situation.
Pastor Rob focuses on the lack of courage in the story, specifically in the person of Reuben. It is easy to talk about relationships and character, but then come the moments of real test and challenge.
Turns out that “growing loving relationship with Jesus and each other” (St. Paul’s mission statement) requires courage in the face of sin, death and broken relationships.
The image comes from a University of Michigan website on caring giving for someone who is dying.
September 18, 2022
“Is there enough to pay for groceries?”
“Do I have enough patience for this challenge?”
“Am I good enough to find a partner in life?”
Questions about whether we have enough or even more deeply, if we are enough haunt us our whole life.
As we begin our sermon series on Joseph, we recognize that the story of Joseph focuses on the question of scarcity and abundance. Throughout the story, we encounter questions of physical and emotional resources — is there enough, enough food, enough wisdom and enough love? The answer we hear from life is a bit disturbing, a bit like our life — there may, actually, not be enough.
We need to hear another voice, not simply a word of affirmation, but a word of promise, that in Christ, we are enough.
The image is from https://karlamrose.weebly.com/blog/christ-is-in-me-i-am-enough
September 11, 2022
Can one be lost in one’s own home? In the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:1-10), the coin is lost in its own home. Furthermore, the being lost is entirely not of its own doing, simply a result of how life flowed.
In our own lives, we too can feel lost and disoriented, even in our own homes, for reasons entirely beyond our control. A reflection on the work of God in those times.
Note: The art work is by Godfried Schalcken. This copy may be found at https://artvee.com/dl/the-parable-of-the-lost-piece-of-silver/
We have our own copy at the church, but the lighting prevented a good photo from being taken.
September 4, 2022
Doing the right thing is hard. Life gets messy!
Sometimes, in fact, we might be tempted to think that following Jesus occurs in the wilderness, away from things and away from others. While getting away for a bit is good and healthy, ultimately, Jesus calls us to follow him and live our out discipleship amid the messiness of life.
A reflection on the messes we make — middle school hallways, home construction projects and college admission processes. Turns out not only are we called to live in the mess, but that God can make things beautiful there too.
The image comes from an article on the website Ignatian Spirituality about God in the Mess.
August 28, 2022
Was your childhood filled with audio cassettes, powdered milk or touch screens?
Turns out the times are always changing! And its not just technology, its every facet of our lives: the broader culture, the relationships and even our bodies.
We discover a need for something constant, something upon which we can build our lives.
A reflection on how Christ promises to be the cornerstone on which we can build, the one who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The photo is from a Forbes Magazine article on a revival of interest in audio cassettes.
August 21, 2022
Jesus heals a woman. The healing he brings is on many levels: physical, emotional, spiritual, relational and communal.
Jesus wants to bring us this healing.
Jesus brings this healing on the sabbath.
And that is the rub. We live in a culture that no longer has any sabbath. So what might it look like to practice sabbath in our culture today, to allow for Jesus to heal us? A start of a conversation.
This image came from an Episcopal Church website. I did some more research and I see it is by an artist named Barbara Schwarz.
August 14, 2022
Are those who have died still with us? Can they still speak to us? How thin is the veil between heaven and earth?
Pastor Rob ponders some of the mysteries surrounding the “Cloud of Witnesses,” those who have gone before us in faith.
August 7, 2022
Jesus today tells us not to worry, assuring us of God’s provision. This is a reminder than even 2,000 years ago humans had worries!
Yet, these days, we seem to have a such a high base level of anxiety. Why? There are many reasons, but Pastor Rob reflects on the impact of media and social media on our lives and hearts. The media (in all its forms), seduces us into anger, fear, jealousy, lust and gluttony, leaving us with haunting questions like: “At whom should I be angry today?”
As we seek to follow Christ and hear his word, he transforms our question into the far better one: “Who are my neighbors and how can I serve them?”
The image (from a sewing website!) points to the story that Pastor Rob ends with, in which one Christian choses, in a chaotic world, to help their neighbor by sewing clothing.
July 31, 2022“Life does not consist in the abundance of things.” With these words, Jesus offers us wisdom we know is true. Yet in this word of things and possessions, it is easy for us to lose our way. What brings you and us back to realizing what is truly important? Ultimately, Jesus words today challenge us to consider – what is the good life? What is the abundant life?
The picture is of the former Trinity Church in Dresden. Carpet bombed in World War II, this church has finally been restored to a church and community center for youth. Pastor Rob reflects on his time in this church and how this church is an example of the abundant and beautiful life.
July 3, 2022
Lititz (where St. Paul is located) does July 4th very well. There is such a sense of community. Pastor Rob reflects on our society’s hunger for community. The church (St. Paul in particular and more broadly the Christian church) can offer people the gift of true and lasting community, one in which we bear each other’s burdens.
In the photo, a group gathers after worship today to support a member whose spouse has been healing. An image of the community at work, bearing one another’s burdens.
June 26, 2022
Brushing teeth — and many other things in life — are important. However, it is not essential.
Often the important things in life (and things more important than brushing teeth!) — our work, our activities, our politics — become more than ‘important.’ We confuse them for essential. We allow them to have the first place in our heart. The real challenge of discipleship often isn’t avoiding terrible and dark sins; rather, the challenge is making sure that as we do good things, we avoid getting ourselves confused as to what is important vs what essential, namely, our relationship with God in Christ.
A reflection on Jesus’ hard words in Luke 9:51-62 and the distinction between the important and the essential.
June 19, 2022We all have been there — waiting for medical test results. So much energy is put into testing in medicine. Why? Because in order to cure someone of a disease, you have to correctly identify the problem.
The is true socially, emotionally and spiritually as well. Until we can name the issue we cannot possibly begin to cure it. To put it more spiritual language, until we name the evil (or demon), we cannot exorcise it. In Luke 8, Jesus does exorcise a demon, but only after getting the demon to say its name.
After some background about how evil is identified in the Bible, Pastor Rob reflects on the connection of naming, curing and loving.
June 12, 2022 (Holy Trinity Sunday)
In his letter to the Romans (5:1-5) St. Paul offers “a hope that does not disappoint.” Pastor Rob reflects on the difference between hope and optimism. Optimism involves outcomes; hope is about purpose. In life, we can’t always be optimistic, but we have been given glorious hope.
Pentecost 2022 (June 5, 2022)
Do you have any other family members that speak the variety of English called “Star Wars Lego English”? If you want to be in relationship with them, you need to speak their language.
On the first Pentecost, the people gathered from around the world can hear the disciples speaking in their own language. In so doing, God chose to make relationship possible by speaking in our language.
This is a miracle in itself, but points to a deeper mystery, if not itself a miracle: God lets God’s message be heard in people’s native languages.
Each language of the world is so different, with some limitations and other possibilities. These difference can shape how we imagine God.
This further suggests that God is okay with human limitations; our limitations do not stop God!!
It also suggests that God is open to the possibilities that every language, every culture and every person can create.
Ascension Sunday (May 29, 2022)
This week our nation is grieving the shooting in Uvalde, Texas; we are not simply grieving the children, but the loss, as a nation, that we can promise our children a safer and more prosperous tomorrow.
Pastor Rob names this grief and helps us see how this the background grief for the whole New Testament. In that grieving and fallen world — the same as ours — Jesus invites us to witness to THE story of hope.
The image is from the song at Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Easter 6, 2022
“Do you want to be made well? Jesus asks a simple but ultimately challenging question.
The reply to Jesus reveals the person does not want to be made well, but in fact, for some reason are okay with the dysfunction in their life.
How does Jesus respond? By shaming the man? No — with something more powerful!
Easter 5 (May 15, 2022)
“Where do you experience God?” It is a simple question that we feel that we should be able to answer as faithful questions. Yet it is surprisingly difficult to give a confident answer. A reflection on experiencing God doing churchy things…and not-so-churchy things! Based on John 13:31-35 as well as Acts 11.
The picture is from a website entitled Had any surprises lately
Easter 4, Good Shepherd Sunday (May 8, 2022)It turns out that people of sincere faith can come to different conclusions. This fact can lead some to arrogant confidence: I am right, you are wrong. In response to this, others succumb to cynicism, rejecting the whole religious life.
Pastor Rob offers that there is another alternative – the way of the cross, the way that seeks to follow Jesus’ teachings…but always with a large dose of humility that we might be wrong!
Easter 3 (May 1, 2022)
Are you a medical missionary? Most of us would say no. However, Pastor Rob looks at the story of Ananias (Acts 9:1-20) and the medical missionaries we support at St. Paul (The Swanson family) and finally suggests that we are
a) sent by Jesus
b) out of our comfort zones
c) to bring healing in Jesus’ name
And that is the work of a medical missionary!
Easter 2022 (April 17, 2022)
In a world swimming with negativity, we hunger for a message of positivity. Turns out though, we need more than a message of positivity, we need the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. For in this story, we can find acknowledgement of our and the world’s sorrows AND hope for God’s Kingdom to break into our lives!
The picture is from our early service as the children spell Alleluia!
Palm SundayApril 10, 2022
“Why am I here”? Pastor Rob reflects on our purpose in life by looking — of all places — at the donkey in the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Where do you sense God calling you — claiming a need for your heart and your gifts? And where in your life do you find yourself calling out, proclaiming “Lord, I need you!”
The image is from the “QuoteFancy” website.
Lent 5 (April 3, 2022)
Do you believe in miracles? I reflect on the miracles of Abraham’s journey. I argue the biggest miracle is that God chooses to be faithful and love them, in spite of all they do. A reminder that in our lives, God shows up too!
The image is from my bible, where he keeps the four leaf clover from the day of his grandmother’s funeral.
Lent 4 (March 27, 2022)
When things fall apart, the ‘prodigal son’ knows that his ‘father’ is good and ‘they way home.’ Spiritually, this means that the prodigal knows that God is merciful and the prodigal knows that God’s mercy can be found at “home.” In our world today, so many people don’t know this — they don’t know that God is merciful; they do not know of a “home” a place where they can go and receive God’s mercy.
Pastor Rob reflects on the call of St. Paul to be a church that will reach out to those who do not ‘know the way home.’
PS The artwork is “The Prodigal Son” by Rembrandt. We have a print of this at St. Paul. It was found online here: http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/prodigal_son_large.html
PPS We took a break from the sermon series on Abraham. The reading from Genesis was about Hagar fleeing Sarah’s abuse. Given the adult nature of this story, it was covered in bible study, but not the sermon.
Lent 3 (March 20, 2022)
We all learned a lot during the pandemic — for example, how to mute ourselves in zoom! Pastor Rob offers we likely learned something deeper: What is really important to us and what really matters!
March 13, 2022
Lent 2
We continue with Abraham on the journey of faith. This week Abraham really makes a big mistake. One of those moments where “It seemed like a good idea at the time” just doesn’t cut it.
A reflection from Pastor Rob on the “Three temptations of Abraham.” These are really “Three temptations of every man and woman”, ways in which we are led off the path God intends for us.
Apparently there was a mid 1970s movie with this title!
The images of the destruction in Ukraine have shattered our illusions of peace. They have produced in many of us a profound sense of hopelessness — what can I do in the face of such violence?
A reflection on how God responds to the violence in this world by calling individuals — including you — to tasks. These tasks may not produce “peace in our times”, but they produce goodness and peace in ways we cannot see. Our call is not “to seek to make a difference” but to respond to God’s calling in our lives, trusting that God will make the true difference for goodness and peace.
The preaching text is Genesis 12:1-8
The image comes from an NBC site.
February 20, 2022
“Love your enemies.” It remains one of Jesus’ most difficult teachings. Pastor Rob reflects on how our hearts can grow hard, making it impossible to love our enemies! Then Pastor Rob reflects on how we (really God!) can cultivate a heart of mercy, out of which love can flow again.
February 13, 2022
“Haters gonna hate” says Taylor Swift — and she is correct! We live in a world in which its all to easy to “sit in the seat of the scoffers” and to give into the noise that is all the world’s bad news.
This week our community wrestled with some very bad news of a young girl’s death. Pastor Rob offers that ultimately, there is still grace, love and hope. This can be found in our actions and ultimately the song unleashed by the resurrection of Jesus.
Today people were invited to draw what heaven looks like. The image shows some of the drawings arranged after church.
February 6, 2022
Jesus calls Peter to go deep. Yet this is not the only way in which Jesus interacts with Peter. As a closer look reveals, Jesus subtly interacts with Peter in different ways to move Peter to a time of growth, of going deep.
A reflection on the way in which we process trauma and how Jesus interacts with us differently at each stage.
January 30, 2021
Where is the love? From Saint Paul we hear the poetic words — “Love is patient, love is kind.” Yet the Gospel story (Luke 4:21-30) tells of Jesus almost being killed by his hometown. This Gospel story at first seems devoid of love.
Pastor Rob reflects that the story of Jesus’ hometown visit is all about love — but not the pretty kind.
The image of the heart and cross is from Love, Inc, a Christian charity in Lancaster that our church supports. You can read about them here: https://loveinclancaster.org/
January 23, 2022We have lost our ability to live in community. But all is not lost.
A reflection on a blind mechanic, one messed up city and how Christ enables us to be his community, his body in the world.
January 16, 2022
What is your jug? That is, what is the simple task to which Christ has called you?
In a world that tells us that we are not enough, Jesus calls us to simply tasks through which he works wonders.
Jesus also gives us permission to celebrate in a world that is never enough because he is always enough.
Photo link here.
January 9, 2022TMD stands for “Therapeutic Moralistic Deism.” This mouthful, as it turns out, is the kind of god that the masses of people who are neither atheists nor church people actually believe in. I unpack what this means and more importantly, how our baptisms bring us into relationship with a very different type of God than this!
I am unaware of the name of the artist. I found the painting here.
Celebration of Epiphany (Magi)
January 2, 2022
When Pastor Rob first lived in Germany, he wanted something to bring him comfort and stability. So he sought it out in a McDonalds. But there he found out, like the magi, you can’t move ahead they way you got here… A reflection on God in times when we are called into the unknown.
Christmas Eve 2021
I love me a crowded nativity! A reflection about Christmas and making room; for in Jesus Christ, God making room for us!
Advent 4, 2021
December 19, 2021
Truth and Peace often don’t seem to coincide. We seem to have to sacrifice one for the other. A reflection on “life after the hallmark movie,” when we face moral ambiguities. What is the name for Jesus in this case, as we seek a way forward that honors the truth, but cultivates peace?
Advent 3
December 12, 2021
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” so they say. In this sermon, Pastor Rob reflects on how Mary (and Joseph) might have influenced and shaped Jesus. Ultimately, Mary does not save us — Jesus does. But there is much we can learn from Mary’s story.
Advent 2 (2021)
December 5, 2021
Luke’s Gospel, including the stories leading up to Jesus’ birth, are filled with miracles. Rather than invite us into Scripture, this often puts up a boundary for us modern readers as we are trained to have faith in reason and be skeptical of miracles. A reflection on miracles, reason and a not-so-distant God.
The art comes form “Global Christian Worship” website. This piece is by Mike Meyers. (Comment by Pastor Rob: I am impressed thoroughly by the modern art of the Annunciation)
Advent 1 2021
November 28, 2021
Names, names and more names! This Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas), we will focus on the names of Jesus. Pastor Rob unpacks why names are so important in the Bible (and in life!). The focus this week is on the name “Prince of Peace.” Jesus is the peace that our world and hearts need so desperately.
Christ the King SundayNovember 21, 2021
“What is truth”? This is the cynical question asked by Pilate as he sentences Jesus to crucifixion. Pastor Rob reflects on Pilate’s cynicism and acknowledges the continuing reality of a broken world in which truth is determined by the powerful. Then, Pastor Rob offers an alternative witness to truth and power, that of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. This is our hope: the foundation of the universe is not retribution, but reconciliation through Jesus!
Ecce Homo by Antonio Ciseri
November 14, 2021
We are in the midst of the “Great Resignation” as people quit their jobs in record numbers. The pandemic has rocked the foundation of people’s lives and many are changing various facets of their lives, including their work. Reflecting on Jesus’ words (regarding the Temple’s destruction, Mark 13:1-8), Pastor Rob reflects that Christians have been through many times of challenge and change, periods of “great resignation.” Jesus invites us as we move forward not into a “great resignation”, however, but a “great recalibration” or truly a”great rebuilding” with Christ as the foundation.
The image comes from https://uvaro.com/blog/the-great-resignation
All Saints Sunday, 2021In many families recipes are passed on from generation to generation. These recipes are so meaningful, especially after someone dies.
Yet these recipes can also cause some sadness as we realize that those who have gone before us in faith — those who have died — cannot be brought back to life through our recipes and traditions. Pastor Rob reflects on Revelation 21 and the hope we have as Christians…a hope that might just include family recipes.
(This particular recipe photo is from a website about a particular individual's grandmother (here). I can’t vouch for the recipe, although I am tempted to try it)
Reformation Sunday (Oct 31), 2021
Today is not only Reformation Sunday, but also the Sunday in which we confirm youth in our church.
The youth in our society are the most evaluated, analyzed and assessed youth in the history of our country, if not human civilization. Living under this microscope, many youth are developing a deep fear of failure. Pastor Rob offers the (Reformation) Gospel to such youth and to all of us: You are free to fail! A sermon on youth culture today, the fear of failure and ultimately the promises of God’s love.
The image comes from: https://alittlecounseling.com/blog/2019-02-24-fear-of-failure/
October 24, 2021
Jesus asks a simple question to the blind beggar, Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52): What do you want?
It turns out, this is a very simple question that is a challenge to answer. In this spirit, Pastor Rob asks three other questions of us:
- What makes you cry out for mercy?
- Whom are you called to stop for?
- What is your cloak?
The sculpture is by artist Gurdon Brewster. You can find his website here
October 17, 2021We all know of the fault lines in California. But here in Lititz, we exist on a political fault line, a community that has lots “red” and “blue” people and every shade in between.
What does it mean for us to be the church on fault lines? Pastor Rob offers his vision of what it means for us to be church in this time and place: not necessarily purple, but committed to being peace makers, people who strive to make life together possible. A reflection on Jesus’ words in Mark 10:32-45 and the really, really dumb question of James and John.
October 10, 2021
In life we move from dependent (on our parents, etc) to independent. Yet the deeper move is from independent to interdependent, in which we realize that we and others bring gifts and have needs. Pastor Rob describes how unfortunately money can get in the way of realizing our deep interconnectedness as people.
A reflection on the rick young man from Mark 10, what it means to grow up…and a God in Jesus who loves us even when we don’t want to grow up!
Image is from: Daily Theology’s Post on “The Rich Young Man and Privilege.”
September 26, 2021
Jesus speaks of a dark place of suffering: Gehenna. This word is sometimes translated as hell, but it means something less (and something more) than this. Pastor Rob reflects on the “gehennas” or hells we make in this world. Jesus gives a word of warning to us about not entering hell, but also a reminder that the alternative, entering into life, doesn’t rest on our shoulders.
The image comes from: https://redeeminggod.com/gehenna-hell/
September 19, 2021
Breaking News–There is always breaking news!
What do we as Christians do with the constant news feed of world problems? As Christians we feel a call to serve; this week (Mark 9:30-37) Jesus explicitly here a call “to be a servant to all.”
Pastor Rob reflects on how Jesus does the impossible work: saving the world, saving your neighbor and saving you; we instead of saving people are free to serve others. But what do we do about the “all” part of serving?
This image comes from an article on “Avoiding being overwhelmed by the news“
September 12, 2021The images and recollection of Sept 11 brought to our mind many images of sacrifice, courage and even the cross. Pastor Rob reflects on courage, sacrifice and the call of Jesus to pick up our cross (Mark 8:27-38). What might this look like in our lives today?
September 5, 2021
Jesus puts his spit in the man’s eyes! (Mark 8:22-26)
What kind of God is this, one who gets down and dirty to heal? Precisely the God we need and the God we meet in Jesus. A reflection on dirty hands, vulnerability and healing.
Photo is from: http://www.danielhechtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Mud-hands-fixed.jpg
August 29, 2021
It is easy to be angry with what happens in the world. But it is also easy to get sucked in, because there are people who profit from our anger: Anger, Inc. How then should a Christian respond to the brokenness and sin in our world? Pastor Rob looks at the letter of James, who presents us with another alternative to what Anger, Inc. is selling; namely, the way of Jesus Christ.
The image is from a Capital One page on anger.
August 1, 2021
Life is moving along. Crazy event happens. Everything changes. Eventually a new norm is reached. But what about that in between time? After the disruption but before the “new normal”? You know, the kind of time we are living in now?!
The Bible describes this kind of time as a time in the wilderness. As we consider times of wilderness in the Bible, there is much we can learn about how God is at work in our lives in times of wilderness.
The picture is called Manna in the Wildernesss by Sieger Köder. For more on manna, check out the sermon. For more on the artist, you can click here.
July 25, 2021
Before Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6:1-14), his disciples tell him that there is not enough. It is a rather silly scene, telling Jesus there is not enough. However, in our life as well, we often are forced to confess to Jesus: I am not enough.
What if this is how it is supposed to be though — that we are not enough? Pastor Rob unpacks the lie of self-sufficiency. Instead of seeking our own sufficiency, we rejoice that Christ is enough.
And instead of trying to be enough, we bring to the table what we have — our loaves and our fish. Christ does the multiplication work to produce an abundant harvest.
The picture is of loaves and fish made by the Senior Shepherds group at St. Paul.
Also, the second half of the sermon has slightly different sound. This had to due with a failure of batteries…they, alas, lacked enough juice.